Kung Fu Yoga festival
As Chinese New Year approaches, students of all levels of skill and experience join together to celebrate the ancient traditions of fire, water, and wood as symbolic ways to strengthen relationships, maintain well-being, and advance knowledge. This past September, more than ten thousand participants gathered in Beijing, China for the fifth annual Kung Fu Yoga Festival. This multi-day event featured traditional Chinese martial arts demonstrations as well as yoga sessions with masters from around the world.
Key events in the festival
During the first day of the festival, archeologists from China’s Xingjian County unearthed two ceramic busts. The busts, over one thousand years old, were considered the oldest known pieces of authentic kung fu yoga medallions in the world. The discovery was made near the Hebei town of northwestern China. Archeologists estimate that the busts may have been displayed at the nearby Yin Ruins (a large sandstone formation). Yin Ruins possesses a similarly unique dimension of detail compared to the busts uncovered in India’s Darjeeling (also in the Indian state of northeast India). In both cases, the discovery marks an important milestone in archeological discovery-exceeding even the most optimistic expectations.
Another surprise was discovered in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan. A plaster cast portrait of a man (presumably the leader of a tribe) was discovered near a tribal leader’s tomb in the Takhtabaron area of Pakistan. Further research by the Pakistani archeologist Zafar Ahmed has determined that this man was the very first documented reference of kung fu yoga being used as a spiritual practice by the people in pre-classical times. The discovery makes this region of Baluchistan an important archaeological site. It is believed that the portrait was created between the fifth and tenth centuries before Christ.
In Bangkok, Thailand, archeologists made an interesting discovery while conducting a low-cost renovation project on a temple at the Chiang Mai University. Excavations led by Dr. S.R. Yapak, unearthed coins and a bronze sculpture of a man with a sword and shield. The discovery of kung fu yoga combined with the presence of coins and other Asian-themed motifs indicates that this may be the earliest reference of kung fu yoga to the east.
What makes Kung Fu Yoga so special?
In the Chinese culture, there are many references to kung fu yoga practices. One example is the existence of the kung fu dance sequence. In the north-western Chinese province of Henan, there exists a village called Nanqung(in hanying it), which possesses a temple with a Kung Fu temple attached. In addition to the temple, there exists a complex of houses with courtyards and a kung fu dance sequence, which demonstrate that the concept of the discipline spread beyond China’s borders. The existence of the dance sequence shows that the concept of kung fu yoga had reached Japan, where it was applied to form of karate.
What’s the connection between Kung Fu Yoga and India?
It is not in India that kung fu yoga is believed to have originated. One reason for this could be the way in which the Indian form of yoga developed. In the main part, the Indian form of kundalini yoga has been influenced by yoga practices of the southern portion of India, namely, Raja Yoga. Another reason for the existence of such a possibility could be that, in the early part of the twentieth century, Dubai experienced rapid development and evolution due to the impact of global events on the country, including oil shocks. Therefore, Dubai and India share a common cause, namely the need to revitalize traditional cultures.
Another possible connection between the ancient practice of kung fu yoga and India is the fact that both places have a rich population of followers who are keen on carrying out the traditions of their forefathers. Such people often try to adopt the methods of kung fu yoga that their forefathers practiced. For example, while the Chinese were renowned for creating the tiger cage and the dragonfly dam, the Indians also sought to create such spectacular works of art using kung fu techniques. This could be seen in India’s classical ballet forms such as the Mahabaleshwar. Such examples prove that it is possible for kung fu yoga to have roots in India as well as China.
In a nutshell
All in all, it is clear that there is an ancient Indian treasure waiting to be tapped into. Whether that treasure is a form of kung fu or not will be decided during future discussions between historians and experts. However, for those who are interested in learning more about the subject, all they need to do is look for authentic documentation. In other words, try to find some well-written articles on the subject by authors with a background in the history of martial arts.
