The Meaning of Kung Fu

The Chinese term ‘Kung Fu’ means has several meanings. In the west, it usually refers to the general body of Chinese Martial Arts. There are many different styles systems or classifications of these arts, but collectively they are called ‘kung fu.’ A few examples of the various kung fu systems are Northern Shaolin, Southern Shaolin, Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-I Chuan, and Pa Kua Chang, Shuai Chiao, and Fukien White Crane.

In Chinese, the term has a more specific meaning. ‘Kung Fu’ means hard work, or skill obtained through hard work. Thus defined, the term can be used to refer to broad category of skills. Using this definition, one could say, for example, that a master chef has ‘kung fu.’

Sometimes, the term ‘kung fu’ is used in the extended sense of ‘time well spent.’ Thought of in this way, kung fu takes on a more sublime meaning. Good kung fu neither wastes nor rushes. It is the mindfulness and skill of the adept. This idea is expressed in I-Ching Hexagram 61 ‘Chung Fu’. This hexagram is called ‘Inner Truth’ and refers to kung fu as a complete mind-body discipline.