The History and Philosophy of Kung Fu An Introduction by Danil Mikhailov
October has seen the publication of “The History and Philosophy of Kung Fu: An Introduction”, the first book by Danil Mikhailov, instructor of the FWC Muswell Hill Club.
This book is the result of 15 years of research that Danil undertook first as part of his studies at the School of Oriental & African Studies, and then during his time as editor of the Wushu Scholar Magazine.
The book tells the story of the origins of kung fu in Ancient China, in the 4th to 2nd centuries BC, when Daoist internal cultivation practices were first added to the indigenous Chinese system of fighting skills. It then traces kung fu’s development through each successive dynasty all the way to the 20th century, and lastly considers the philosophical side of kung fu, looking at how it has been influenced by the three great religions of China: Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.
To mark the publication of the book Danil will be doing a series of lectures about Chinese culture, history and philosophy, kicking off with the first lecture, on the topic of the History and Development of Daoism, to be held on Saturday the 24th of November.
For more information about the lectures or to order your copy of the book, please speak to your instructor, if you are a student of FWC, or, if not, contact Danil direct on [email protected]