| Wudang Sect | |||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 武當派 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 武当派 | ||||||||||||||
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The Wudang Sect or Wudang School,sometimes also referred to as the Wu-Tang Clan,is a fictional martial arts sect or school mentioned in several works of Chinese wuxia fiction. It is commonly featured as one of the leading orthodox sects in the wulin (martial artists' community). It is named after the place it is based,the Wudang Mountains.
The Wudang Sect is featured most prominently in Jin Yong's novels The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber and The Smiling,Proud Wanderer as a major power in the wulin,usually alongside Shaolin. Liang Yusheng's works also depict the Wudang Sect as the leader of all orthodox sects in the wulin. Most of its members are priests who follow Taoist customs and practices in addition to training in martial arts. However,unlike Shaolin's Buddhist monks,Wudang members are allowed to marry and start families. In some wuxia stories,Wudang has female members as well.
The sect was founded in the early Yuan dynasty by Zhang Sanfeng, [1] who was an apprentice of Jueyuan,a Shaolin monk. [2] Zhang Sanfeng accepted seven youths as his apprentices,who later became known as the "Seven Heroes of Wudang". The seven are responsible for spreading Wudang's name through their prowess in martial arts,exemplary conduct,and deeds of gallantry. [1]
In The Smiling,Proud Wanderer ,believed to be set in the Ming dynasty,Wudang has become one of the two major powers in the wulin (martial artists' community) alongside Shaolin,and both schools play significant roles in upholding justice and maintaining peace in the community. [3] In the novel,Wudang is led by Taoist Chongxu. [3] In Baifa MonüZhuan ,set towards the end of the Ming dynasty,the school is led by Taoist Ziyang and another four elders. [4]
The Wudang Sect's martial arts have their origins in the Shaolin Sect even though they are more associated with Taoism than with Buddhism. They revolve around the concept of taiji ,as evident from the skills named after the concept,such as taijiquan and taijijian . They also focus on the use of "soft and gentle" techniques to overcome opponents who rely on brute strength and force. [1]