Contemporary Chinese martial arts and the manipulation of cultural positioning

ABSTRACT Traditional Chinese martial arts have a long history. In terms of cultural positioning, traditional martial arts have two main functions, namely, to promote patriotism and to provide opportunities for commercial exploitation. These are primarily reflected in the combat style and the expressive nature of traditional martial arts. In addition, martial arts can be useful in the governance of contemporary Chinese society, as they have the potential to boost morale and patriotic sentiment among the public. However, there is evidence that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) manages traditional martial arts in a closed and independent way which obstructs the internationalization and scientific development of traditional martial arts.