Fan Hsudong's Beng Bu poems

[Tainan Mantis]

Hi NPM and all,
The following is a quote from a poem supposedly written by Fan Hsudong for all the postures of Beng Bu.
A poem consisting of 4 lines of 7 characters each accompanies each posture.

The following is an example from the folded elbow technique in the first road of Beng Bu.

"Dropping with the folded elbow will break one thousand catties.
In his day Yenching's paste and grab was real.
Lean in with enter the ring.
Secretly transmit the mysterious method will brighten heaven and earth."

Although it may not be clear from this rough translation, but the first line and third line go together as do the second and fourth lines.

What I would like to do is find out if Fan Hsudong wrote this or else who?
It was a common practice in Chinese literature to attribute your own personal work to your teacher so that may be the case here.

NPM,
Since you have seen many of the original texts maybe you could shed some light on this question.

[mantis108]

Hi Tainan Mantis,

I think it is quite clear in the line associations. It is interesting to see the YingChing reference also. It seems that it suggested a possible application with line 2.

Regarding who wrote the text, could the inspiration or the ground work was done by Wang Yun Sheng?

Warmest regards

Mantis108

[NPM]

Tainan Mantis,

Well, there really is no way of proving whether or not Fahn, Yook Tung actually wrote these poems himself. In the WHF book that you quote, he simply states before each line, “Fahn Gung Yu” meaning “Master Fahn Said”. So WHF did not explain nor claim that FYT composed these poems himself. It may have been FYT himself or someone may have written it for him or it may have been passed down to him by his sifu, Wong, Wing Sung. We can not know and there is no way to trace it back.

Your translation of the poem is close to how I would translate it except for the third line and here is how I would interpret it: “relies on the precision of the circle entering stance”.

“Yin Tsing” was a famous martial artist of the Sung dynasty who was portrayed as a playboy and one of the 108 bandits of Mt. Leung in the novel, “The Water Margin”. He was famous for his sticking, grappling, and takedown techniques. Therefore, this technique in Bung Bo, which is a takedown technique, is accredited to Yin Tsing or supposedly passed down by him.

NPM

[Tainan Mantis]

NPM,
Thanks for your comments and corrections.
This poem seems to be written by someone who well understood PM.
Do you know of a complete English translation or would that be a good future project?

Mantis108,
I don't know much about Wang Rongsheng, but it is my understanding that people attribute their works to their masters as a show of respect so I don't see any link to Wang Rongsheng.

I was thinking it may have been written by a student of Luo Guangyu, but I have no proof either way.
It would be nice to prove that it was really written by Fan Hsudong.

[mantis108]

Hi NPM and Tainan Mantis,

Thanks for the info. These are great stuff. :)


<<<I don't know much about Wang Rongsheng, but it is my understanding that people attribute their works to their masters as a show of respect so I don't see any link to Wang Rongsheng.>>>

I found some info on the mantis cave. So, it would be hearsay on my part.

<<<I was thinking it may have been written by a student of Luo Guangyu, but I have no proof either way.
It would be nice to prove that it was really written by Fan Hsudong.>>>

As NPM suggested "Fahn Gung Yu" means Master Fahn Said. It is almost like a templet of Confucians writting style in which oral teachings were recorded by the students or grandstudents in some cases. So the possibility of this work is recorded after Fahn and not written by Fahn is quite high.

Warmest regards

Mantis108