Do all Chinese know Kung Fu?

Revered martial art superstar Bruce Lee famously described Kung Fu in the following: empty your minds, be formless, shapeless, like water. now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. you put it into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

The impression that “everyone in China knows Kung Fu” comes from pop culture. In Hong Kong action movies Chinese people are always shown to know Kung Fu or are flying through the air all the time. Jet Li, who is also known for his lightning fast moves and inventive choreography, is seen to have continuously promoted Kong Fu and Bruce Lee’s heritage. Li first became famous during the peak of the Hong Kong action film era, then later brought Kong Fu to Hollywood, along with another famous Chinese actor Jackie Chan. The two largest contemporary movie stars in Asia are, not so coincidentally, the largest martial arts stars in particular.

Kung Fu had long been the spokesperson of the Chinese culture in the world and one of the main ways that garners interest from other cultures. For example, in the Confucius Institutes around the world, martial art classes are oftentimes provided as part of the program offered. Kung Fu performances are offered in the diplomatic receptions of foreign guests In the early days and nearly every year at the Chinese New Year Gala.

The Wuxia genre of Chinese fantasy literature depicts “martial heroes” who practice a code of chivalry and fight for righteousness. The heroes most likely are also Kung Fu masters that are there to do right and redress wrongs. The stories written by Jin Yong and Gu Long also enchanted many Chinese through their fantastical nature, but they are well aware that those forms of martial arts featured in the spellbinding Wuxia tales are not real. With that being said, not all Chinese know Kung Fu, just like not all Texans know how to ride on horseback.

觉得中国人都会武术这一认知很大一部分来源于香港动作片，以李连杰为代表的中国武术，继承了李小龙的功夫之路，仍然是电影动作片辉煌时期。另外，武术是一直是中国作为软文化的一种输出形式，诸如：在世界各地孔子学院都有传授武术课程，早期接待外宾时也有武术套路的表演，中国的春晚几乎每年都有武术表演。金庸、古龙等作家写的武侠小说也让更多的中国人对功夫充满向往，但事实上，轻功、气功、点穴等招式也仅仅存在于小说之中，也并不是所有中国人都会武功的。