Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Sword typology and Edge Weapons forms of the Chinese Empire and related cultures with an emphasis on their relationship to Swordsmanship.

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Michael
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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by Michael » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:14 pm

The more time I spend on this forum, the less I feel like modern China has anything unique to offer when studying martial arts and martial history. I used to think I was missing out by not studying these arts in their places of origin.

Comforting, in a way, but also deeply disappointing.
Antitheses: A blog for martial artists in search of a good conversation.

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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by Nik » Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:16 am

Depends on what you call "unique". "Modern" China is heavily influenced by authorities who like to paint all things in rosey colors so everything "looks nice". If history doesn't appeal to them, they twist it.

On the other hand you still have a lot of things that are worth to pick up, but not necessarily "modern", and ,in the sense of having made the journey to other countries long ago, not unique. Like internal martial arts, daoist meditation exercises, etc. Basically a "simple thing" with a lot of room for getting artistic bodily skills or mental strength (in the sense of weathering the storm of emotion). The Nike slogan applies here.

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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:11 pm

Michael wrote:The more time I spend on this forum, the less I feel like modern China has anything unique...
Well China is like any other place, there are really great things there, horrible problems & lots in between. To be honest, you can get great training in Chinese Martial Arts & other traditional arts outside of China. Some years back, a woman from Beijing attended my sword classes in Baltimore & opening said she loved it & couldn't find anything like it in Beijing.

taiwandeutscher
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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by taiwandeutscher » Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:35 pm

Yes, I second Scott's opinion.

Here in Taiwan, we don't have to suffer from the results of the cultural revolution or party controll in our fields of interest. Still, we often are suffocated by Western commercialism or desinterest in traditional stuff by the young generation, and one has to look thoroughly to find authentic sources, mostly older teachers, probably the last of their kind.

But having done that in several areas of Chinese culture (ICMA, philosophy [Yijing], astrology, painting and carving, TCM], I also have to say that nothing of those topics can be learned like this in the west.

Of course, Scott's work in reviving Chinese Sword art is so very valuable and not available here, but I'm happy that he got his inspirations also here in my 2nd homecountry, right?

So, nowadays, cultural heritage of any colour is available worldwide, and it is in our own interest to work hard for preserving and developing the choosen arts.

Thank you, Great River!
hongdaozi

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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by alfanator » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:38 am

There are opportunities for great scholarship and a revival of Chinese traditional arts for the next generation. Many of the local friends i have met cling on to traditinal Chinese culture and are intellectually curious about them. Remember, the Japanese sword art almost died out twice, once during the Meiji restoration and once during the US occupation, it is alive and well today. It was the work and passion of a few that kept it alive. With time we will see similar revivals here in China as we have already seen in many traditional arts.

I would love to help set up a special exhibition in the BJ Military museum where the current scholarship on steel swords could be displayed, old swords polished to reveal their beauty and follow the transfer of sword making knowledge between China and her neighbors. The Japanese sword community do openly acknowledge that they learnt sword making from the Asian continent...

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Re: Visited the Military Museum in Beijng today

Post by Marko Kohv » Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:44 am

Just found a website with large collection of photos (blue dots next to the description) from the Military museum.
http://xenophon-mil.org/china/militarym ... museum.htm

spent lots of worktime ..:)

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Beijing's Military Museum

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:12 pm

When I was in China this past August, I went back to Beijing's Military Museum. Man was I surprise at how it has changed & disappointed. This Museum use to be sleepy at best, no one went. Then the government decided to make it free & part of "Patriotic Education." Now it is swamped with Chinese tourist. The disappointing part is that the Ancient Arms section is closed until further notice... I did manage to see a few Qing era pistols & one musket (photos below), but they really are no consolation for the Ancient Arms hall.
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Another Qing Pistol in Beijing's Military Museum

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:19 pm

The plaque with this pistol reads: Double Barrel Percussion Cap Handgun (Made in China)
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Qing Firearm in Beijing's Military Museum

Post by Scott M. Rodell » Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:24 pm

A percussion cap niaoqiang-
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