Wude
武德
Chinese martial morality, literally “martial virtue”. A set of principles that master and student should observe so as not to misuse martial arts.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Wude (武德) combines wu (martial) and de (virtue). It denotes the moral principles that traditional Chinese schools require of students and masters alike. A master was to teach only students who observe them. A widespread division, described for example by Yang Jwing-Ming, distinguishes virtues of deed (humility, respect, righteousness, trust, loyalty) and virtues of mind (will, perseverance, patience, courage). Individual schools have their own rules, so there is no fixed code of wude.
Relations to other terms
See also
A short set of dojo principles that practitioners recite at the end of training. The best known is the five-point dojo kun of Shotokan karate.
Wuguan武館Chinese martial arts school and training hall, literally “martial hall”. In Cantonese mo gun, in English often kwoon. Counterpart of the Japanese dojo.