From Narrative History to Structural History: Reflections on and Turning of the Study on Chinese Wushu History Since Modern Times

The paradigm shift of the study on Wushu history by using the dual thinking modes of historical reflection and reflectional history was explored. It proposed three key words, that is, the marker of Quan types, structural production, and pedigree construction.Two research methods were offered, including the method of source probe and textual research, and the method of inverse & sequential narration, which were clarified respectively in terms of the significance in the study of Chinese Wushu history and the inherent logical relationship between them. It is found that the structural production should be the new research object, the pedigree construction be the space-time narrative. The two methods (source probe and textual research, and inverse & sequential narration) should be regarded as methodologies to study and narrate Chinese Wushu. Following the pathway above, it will not only help to clarify the structural and functional changes of Wushu development and promote the innovation of its discipline system, but also help an in-depth understanding of the social structural changes that are more in line with historical logic behind the development of Wushu.