Da Lei Tai (Full Contact Fighting)

(chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2020-04-09

Da Lei Tai is an ancient form of wrestling which was popular in areas around Mount Tai.

According to historical records, wrestling had become a military training program in the pre-Qin period (c. 2100-221 BC), and it became popular as a local sport during the Qin (221-206 BC) and Han (206 BC-AD 220) dynasties.

Every 28th day of the third lunar month in the Chinese calendar, during the Dongyue Temple Fair, a number of martial arts masters showed off their skills at Dai Temple and competed for prizes. The first Chinese martial arts opera, originating in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), featured Da Lei Tai.

Though Taishan Wushu grew out of Da Lei Tai, it gradually died out due to pressure from Chinese ancient rulers. In 1994, the Dongyue Temple National Wushu Invitational Competition was held again, aiming to help promote the history and culture of Taishan Wushu in the new era.