As Peter Lorge argues, no Han Chinese in Qing imperial China could openly criticize the Manchu, but you COULD
critique the “foreign” religion of Buddhism. Daoism, of course originated in China and was distinctly Chinese. Furthermore, consider the concept of “internal”,
the man who appears weak but with “internal power” is actually stronger than the muscled barbarian. This contrasted the apparently weak China, compared to the apparently strong steppe warriors of the Manchu.
“In reality” the weak was actually STRONGER and BETTER than the “external” who appeared strong. Thus, rather than serious martial arts history, it is veiled political commentary. Perhaps this is why Huang even included a disclaimer as to the accuracy of the content of the Epitaph. He never intended for it to be taken literally, yet 100 years later it was taken just that way and in many sectors continues to be embraced as gospel.