Research on Ideal Personality of Traditional Wushu from the Perspective of Moral Cultivation of Neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming Dynasties

Based on the theory of moral cultivation of Neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming Dynasties, it systematically discusses the ideal personality of traditional Wushu. Influenced by the moral cultivation theory of Neo-Confucianism of Song and Ming Dynasties, the goal of ideal personality cultivation in traditional Wushu is to be a gentleman. The moral cultivation theory of Neo Confucianism in the Song and Ming Dynasties had four positive effects on the shaping of the gentleman's personality of traditional Wushu: 1) “Setting high goals first” to lead the Wushu exercisers to lay a foundation of being a gentleman; 2) understanding the truth of things thoroughly to promote the Wushu exercisers to achieve the “knowledge” of gentlemen; 3) highly advocating the virtue subject to promote Wushu exercisers to achieve the “benevolence” of gentlemen; 4) building a solid foundation for practice to promote Wushu exercisers to achieve the “courage” of gentlemen. From the perspective of Neo-Confucianism moral cultivation theory in Song and Ming Dynasties, the methods and approaches of traditional Wushu gentleman personality cultivation can be detailed as follows: The way of external tempering from “ignorance” to “knowledge”; the way of inner self-cultivation from“learning” to “morality”; the way of uniting inside and outside from “skill” to “Tao”. The contemporary value of ideal personality cultivation of traditional Wushu from the perspective of Neo-Confucianism moral cultivation theory in Song and Ming Dynasties is mainly as follows: Setting up lofty aspirations with Wushu “ambition” to temper individual will and strengthen the national spirit of constantly striving; cultivating “awe-inspiring righteousness” with Wushu “knowledge” to lead people to seek truth and goodness and develop the right values in life; strengthening moral self-discipline with Wushu “benevolence” to maintain a stable and harmonious relationship between the group and the individual and promote the development of the harmonious socialist society;enhancing the sense of responsibility with Wushu “courage” to promote a high unity between moral cognition and practice, and promote the construction of national civilization.