There are many conditions and reasons for the formation of sports cultural characteristics in China, which can be summarized as the following ten points.
First, in terms of natural geographical environment, China is a landlocked country, with inconvenient land transportation with foreign countries in the north, west and south, and the sea in the east, making it even more difficult to reach foreign countries by water, while China has a vast territory and great room for development. This natural condition makes China an introspective nation.
Second, from the perspective of economic development, agriculture has been the foundation of the country for thousands of years, emphasizing that agriculture inhibits business and is closed to the outside world. The natural economy has occupied an absolute dominant position, it is difficult for industry and commerce to prosper, and there is little competition in the commodity market economy.
Third, from the political system, autocratic monarchy prevailed for thousands of years, lacking democratic politics. The annual national sports event "Li She", which was formed in the 50 years of the Western Zhou Dynasty, was abolished in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period because of the large number of small countries and constant disputes. After Qin Shihuang unified China in 22 1 BC, the autocratic monarchy with a high degree of centralization was strengthened, forcing most people to become subjects and obey orders, which inevitably affected the development of sports.
Fourth, from the perspective of military struggle, China has a vast territory, long-term emphasis on military defense, living in harmony with neighboring countries, and rarely launching wars abroad, which also restricts the development of military sports and folk sports.
Fifth, from the perspective of national cultural psychology, the Chinese nation has thrived from generation to generation in the above-mentioned natural and social environment, and gradually formed this national character, that is, conforming to nature and society, striving for self-improvement, being virtuous and kind, being good at hard work, being self-reliant, having strong endurance and not seeking external competition.
Sixth, from the viewpoint of world outlook and society, China emphasized the harmony of all things in the world, "harmony with realistic creatures" and "harmony between man and nature" from the Book of Changes. Infinite change and infinite derivation contain simple materialist dialectics. Later Confucianism emphasized "harmony but difference", the doctrine of the mean, not going to extremes, and "integration of heaven and earth". People should live in harmony with nature and society, and sports should achieve physical and mental balance.
Seventh, from the point of view of life preservation, the ancients in China used the theory of vitality to explain human life, believing that human life is the product of the harmonious combination of Yin and Yang of parents of heaven and earth. From the Western Zhou Dynasty, sports was "guided" and later developed into Qigong, striving to achieve the balance of Yin and Yang and the unity of spirit and form through the combination of movement and static, thus achieving health and longevity. Shaolin Temple Wushu, which originated in Sui and Tang Dynasties, originated in Tai Ji Chuan in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, and also attached great importance to luck and internal strength.
Eighth, from the moral and ethical point of view, the ancient people in China emphasized "courtesy" from the Western Zhou Dynasty, that is, they emphasized etiquette and comity, took virtue and benevolence as moral standards in words and deeds, took "don't do to others what you don't want others to do" as ethical norms, advocated "not being the first" and "not fighting with others", warned that "fighting is chaotic, and chaos is poor" and despised fighting.
Ninth, from the theory of God and religion, the ancient people in China believed in monotheism, and there was no distinction between God and God. They regard the emperor as the son of heaven, and everything in the world is arranged by one god and sacrificed to one god. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism after the Han Dynasty all advocated obedience to destiny, providence, providence, self-discipline and indisputable.
Tenth, from the educational and aesthetic point of view, the ancient people in China regarded sports as personal self-cultivation and physical fitness. Moral, intellectual and physical education is not listed as the three major priorities of school education. Since the Han dynasty, civil and military education has been separated, and ordinary scholars in schools do not learn martial arts, which is regarded as the professional training of a few people who practice martial arts.