The Origin and Evolution of Chinese Wrestling
Wrestling has a long and storied history in my country. According to both historical records and legends, the art of wrestling—what we now call Chinese wrestling—existed over four thousand years ago in primitive societies. In those early times, survival depended on strength and skill; people used wrestling as a means to hunt for food and defend themselves in the struggle against nature and inter-tribal conflicts, which eventually gave birth to ancient wrestling.
According to the "Kỳ Sự Ký" of Nham Phương from the Southern Dynasty, during the Qin and Han periods it was said that a figure named Xi Vưu possessed ear hair as sharp as swords and spears, along with horns atop his head. He would battle opponents like Hiên Viên using his horns to ram his adversaries—a feat no one could withstand. Today, a performance known as “Xi Vưu Drama” is staged in Yichou, where groups of two or three participants, donning buffalo horns, charge at one another. The Han Dynasty even created a style of horn-fighting music, likely inspired by this very spectacle. This Chinese wrestling performance is considered the prototype of ancient Chinese wrestling, tracing its origins back to the era of the Emperors.
By the 11th century BC, during the early Chu Dynasty, wrestling had evolved into a military discipline for training soldiers. The Book of Rites: Monthly Commands records that "in the first month of winter, the emperor ordered his generals to receive military instruction and to practice archery, chariot driving, and wrestling." At that time, due to the rudimentary state of weaponry, archery, chariot driving, and wrestling were fundamental components of military training, solidifying the role of Chinese wrestling in the art of combat.
During the Spring and Autumn as well as the Warring States periods—a time of dramatic transition from slave to feudal societies—wrestling was widely practiced as part of military training amidst frequent clashes between powerful states. According to Kong Yang's commentary, Tống Mẫn Công had a renowned general named Thường Uyển. When Tống Mẫn Công revealed that Thường Uyển had been captured by the Lỗ army, "Văn became furious and engaged in a fight with Tống Mẫn Công, tearing his garments apart." As a result, Tống Mẫn Công met his end at the hands of Chang Wan. Such accounts highlight how the spirit and technique of Chinese wrestling were interwoven with the military and cultural fabric of early China.
In the Qin and Han dynasties, wrestling was not only a vital military training tool but also a popular form of entertainment during festivals and at the imperial court. After the Qin Dynasty unified the six kingdoms, a series of initiatives—often summarized as “unifying vehicles and scripts”—was launched. A remarkable wooden relief (Figure 1), excavated from a Qin tomb at Fenghuang Mountain in Jianglang County, Hebei Province in 1975, vividly depicts an ancient wrestling match. Dated to 208 BC, this artifact is the earliest known historical record of Chinese wrestling. In the scene, three men are engaged in an intense wrestling match, with a referee positioned on the left and a decorative curtain symbolizing a stage setting. Judging by its grandeur, the event appears to have been held in the imperial palace, underscoring that after the unification of the six states, wrestling had become both a sophisticated court entertainment and a popular sport among the people.
This rich legacy not only underscores the historical significance of Chinese wrestling but also its evolution from a primal survival skill to a refined art form, celebrated both on the battlefield and in cultural festivities.
Download: HERE