Life Expectancy in Ancient China

Life expectancy in China has varied significantly over its long history, from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE) to the present day...

Shéng Biāo 繩鏢 – ‘Rope Dart’

The rope dart 繩標 or shéng biāo 繩鏢 in Mandarin is a type of soft weapon consisting of a darthead and rope..

Traditional Certificates of the Warrior Heart School 戰士心門

Gǔ Chuān Cì 骨穿刺 – ‘Bone Piercer’

The bone piercer 骨穿刺 is often associated with stealth and surprise attacks, as it can be easily concealed and used in close quarters.

The Legend of Swallow Li the Third 燕子李三

The legend of Swallow Li the Third 燕子李三 has long captured the imaginations of many in China, blending history, myth, and cultural fascination..

The Old Way 古道 of Martial Arts 武術 (古道武術)

The old way 古道 of martial arts 武術 is deeply intertwined with traditional values and philosophies, viewing martial skill as more than mere combat techniques – it is a discipline aimed at the cultivation of mind,...

Bihu Gong 壁虎功 – Gecko Skill

Bihu gong 壁虎功, or 'gecko skill,' is an advanced Chinese martial art skill named after the gecko’s ability to cling to surfaces and move stealthily...

Warrior Heart School 戰士心門: Surviving the Cultural Revolution and Multi-Cultural Transmission

This essay expounds on the preservation of the Chinese art of stealth within the Warrior Heart 戰士心 lineage, detailing how its survival was ensured across  strict Chinese lines of transmission and even the destruction of the...

The Warrior Heart School 戰士心門 and Feiyan Zoubi 飛簷走壁 – ‘Flying Eaves Running Walls’

Feiyan zoubi 飛簷走壁, which translates to 'flying eaves running walls,' refers to a skill in Chinese martial arts associated with stealth and evasion. Practitioners of this skill are often depicted as possessing the ability to move...

The Chinese Cultural Revolution: An Assault on Arts, Religion, and Martial Traditions

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) unleashed a fervent wave of destruction upon traditional Chinese art forms. Visual arts, literature, and historical artifacts were often the first targets..

Du Feibiao 毒飛鏢 – Poison Darts

There are two primary variants of poisoned darts: the feathered dart, or daiyi biao 帶衣鏢, adorned with red and green..

Shenshui Pentong 神水噴筒 – Divine Water Spray

The diagram illustrates a bamboo device, segmented and hollow, which was used to store and release a mixture...

The Warrior Heart School 戰士心門 and the Principle of ‘Faster Than the Speed of Thought’

In the realm of martial arts, there exists a rarefied level of skill where reactions flow not from conscious deliberation but from deeply ingrained instincts. This level of mastery, sought by Warrior Heart School 戰士心門 practitioners...

Lian Dao 鐮刀 – The Sickle

As early as the Neolithic period, early forms of the sickle were crafted from stone and were essential for harvesting grains like millet and rice. Archaeological findings from sites like

The Complex Legacy of Thieves in Ancient China

Thieves in ancient China developed an extensive variety of skills and classifications. This ‘professionalisation’ of thieves divided them by their methods and areas of operation, and each type employed unique tools and techniques.

Anqi 暗器 – ‘Hidden Tools’

In the realm of ancient weaponry, anqi 暗器, or ‘dark weapons,’ were tools of choice for swift and stealthy attacks. Small, light, and easily concealed, these weapons were designed primarily for ambush. In general, they are...

Lu Ban Shu 魯班書 – Book of Mystery

Lu Ban Shu 魯班書, or the "Book of Lu Ban," is a collection of texts traditionally attributed to Lu Ban 魯班, a legendary Chinese craftsman...

Lelang 樂浪 Han 漢 Commandery 郡 – Korea

The Lelang 樂浪 commandery offers a fascinating glimpse into China's influence on early Korean society, politics, and culture. Established in (108 BCE) by the Han 漢 dynasty..

Hua Yuan 華元: The Earliest Record of Stealth in Chinese Strategic Warfare

The earliest recorded instance of stealth in Chinese strategic warfare occurred in 594 BCE when the Song 宋 capital, under siege for five gruelling months, found itself in a state of desperation...

Shuangshou dao 雙手刀- two-hand sword

The shuangshou dao 雙手刀, or two-hand sword, shares historical parallels with the development of two-handed jian 劍 but has a distinct history rooted in the evolving needs of Chinese warfare...

Péng Yúnzhōng 彭雲中: The Righteous Thief

In the annals of Chinese folklore, the figure of Péng Yúnzhōng 彭雲中 emerges as a quintessential yìzéi 義賊 yizei, or righteous thief...

‘Breaking the window paper’ 捅破窗紙

In many film and television dramas, assassins clad in black night clothes are depicted lurking in courtyards, piercing paper-covered windows to spy indoors

Warrior Heart 戰士心 Colour Belt Grading System

Back in 1987, the Warrior Heart School 戦士心門 introduced the colour belt system to enhance group interaction and motivate modern practitioners. This shift was driven by a suggestion

Origin of the 9 Rank System

The Jiupin Zhongzheng Zhi 九品中正制, commonly referred to as the 'Nine-Rank System' or 'Nine Grades System', was a method of official recruitment and classification used primarily during the Wei 魏 (220–266) and later the Jin 晉...

Bo Biao 保鏢: The Role of Bodyguards in Ancient China

In ancient China, the term bo biao 保鏢 refers to bodyguards who played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of individuals, especially those of high status. Their duties extended beyond mere protection..

The Evolution of the Warrior Heart 戰士心 Tradition: From Assassins to Protectors

Through this revitalisation effort, the tradition has come to embody the balance between past and present, war and peace, destruction and protection. The transition from a deadly assassin’s art to a means of cultural preservation is...

Weapons Crafting of Warrior Heart 戰士心

The handcrafting of tools and weapons in the Warrior Heart School is a time-honoured tradition, blending martial prowess with artisanal skill. This process not only creates weapons of great beauty and effectiveness but also serves as...

The Role of Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 and Zhuosheng 捉生 in Military Intelligence During the Ming 明-Qing 清 Transition

This essay utilises the core analysis from the 2005 article by Qí Měiqín 祁美琴 on Ye Bu Shou 夜不收 and Zhuosheng 捉生 as foundational references.

Warrior Heart 戰士心 – Certification

As is common in modern martial culture, the black belt holds special significance. Warrior Heart 戰士心, black belt certificates..