empty-hand fighting techniques by both men and women, and there were organizations ( she 社 ) dedicated to martial arts training.9 Other sources mention popular sayings which refer to the martial arts, and the names of particular fighters ( often with colorful nicknames like those found in wuxia novels today ) who had achieved reputations for consummate skill.10 Oral anecdotes detailing deeds of chivalry and fighting skill were recorded in collections such as the Yijian zhi 夷堅志 .
 
11 By Ming times various of the prominent martial arts schools had appeared, such as the Shaolin 少林 and Wudang 武當 .
 
12 The spread of martial arts among the general population was a cause of concern for the authorities. In 1263 the Yuan court issued the following decree : All ritual weapons in temples must be replaced with objects made only of wood, earth, paper, or silk ; the use of real weapons is prohibited... All Han people are prohibited from 8Chen, pp. 177-183. 9Meng liang lu 夢 粱 錄 , in Dongjing meng hua lu wai sizhong 東京 夢華錄 外 四 種 ( Beijing : Zhonghua Shuju, 1962 ) , 20.312 ; Xihu laoren fansheng lu 西湖 老人 繁勝錄 , in