主办单位:成都体育学院
ISSN 1001-9154 CN 51-1097/G8

Journal of Chengdu Sport University ›› 2024, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (1): 102-111.doi: 10.15942/j.jcsu.2023.12.13

• HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES OF SPORTS: MARTIAL ARTS CULTURE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

From "Kung Fu Life" to "The Way of Martial Arts": 50 Years of Bruce Lee Research

LIU Hong, DAI Guobin, YUE Tao   

  1. School of Martial Arts,Shanghai University of Sport,Shanghai 200438
  • Received:2023-03-16 Revised:2023-08-25 Online:2024-01-15 Published:2024-02-19

Abstract: By utilizing literature review and logical analysis methods, this paper traces and sorts out the 50-year history (1973-2023) of Bruce Lee research. It has been discovered that both domestic and international studies on Bruce Lee mainly focus on three areas: "Life history," "Film," and "Martial arts." These studies have gradually evolved from "Kung Fu Life" to "The Way of Martial Arts," demonstrating a diverse and multi-faceted research landscape. Among them, life history research centered around Bruce Lee's martial arts practice is relatively prominent, highlighting its narrative, entertaining, and mass appeal aspects. In the field of Bruce Lee film research, the paper discusses the interactivity and multiplicity between "martial arts in films" and "films on martial arts," elucidating Bruce Lee's connection with the international dissemination of Chinese martial arts and the formation of Chinese cultural images. Martial arts research tends to explore the history and logic behind Bruce Lee's "Wing Chun" and "Jeet Kune Do," as well as interpret and clarify his martial arts philosophy, reflecting a fragmented and niche approach. Looking forward, Bruce Lee research needs to delve deeper and become more systematic. By comprehensively understanding and exploring Bruce Lee's Kung Fu practice, the paper aims to deeply analyze the core principles of his martial arts philosophy, unveil the technical and logical aspects of Chinese martial arts culture, which is not only necessary for inheriting and promoting excellent Chinese martial arts culture but also an mission of the Era for writing a confident Chinese martial arts cultural narrative.

Key words: Bruce Lee, Life history, Jeet Kune Do, Kung Fu films, Budo

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