A mantis history…
I found this in one of my archives. I thought you guys would find it interesting, if you have not seen/heard it already. This is a long post !!
This from a mailing list. I am posting it from there with the belief it is public info. The owner of this list is a Northern Shaolin Sihing.
Anyone wishing to join this “no nonsense†mailing list contact me I will put you in touch. Primary topics are Northern Shaolin & Mantis plus other Northern Styles & issues. These are mature discussions flamers are cut very quickly.
Enjoy:
>A bit more Tang Lang historical stuff…
>
>==============================================
>David Conches interviewed
>most of the shandong Masters of today in his numerous travels to
>Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, visiting also Liangshan. Horacio served him
>as translator with Master Lin Tung Chu, 7th generation master of
>Lin family of Seven Star Praying Mantis. Lin Chin San was
>classmate or Luo Kwan Yu.
>
>Claudio Di Renzo, translator from Spanish.
>=============================================
>Tanglangchuan
>By David Conches (Spain) Director of Golden Dragon Magazine
>
>The legend says that one day, Zhuang Gong, kinf of the state of
>Chi (Qi), during the spring and autum period (770-476 b.c.) was
>travelling with a carriage a rural road, and was suddenly stopped.
>
>-What’s wrong? -he asked
>-There is a big praying mantis on the way -responded the driver-
>and it is walking calmly despite your arrival, my lord.
>
>After hearing that, Zhuang Gong get off, took the mantis and put it
>softly on the grass aside the road. Some time later, in order to
>develop his soldier’s courage, this king created several weapons
>inspired in the insect’s limbs, and those which yielded them were
>called the “soldiers of mantis”.
>
> We dont know about truth and false in this story, but we know
>that in Shandong province, in a zone between Yantai and Qingdao,
>it is said that a very antique book called “Lio Tao” exists, looking
>like having around 4000 years of age, in which the mantis style is
>mentioned. (the writer could not corrobore this by himself)
>
> Inspired by this story the method Tanglang Chi Fa (methods of
>mantis fighting) was created, as a boxing containing some
>techniques as rising, holding, parrying, extending.
>
> Mantis style (Tanglangquan) is caracterized by speed
>successions of movements mixed of hand and legs, with elastic
>and expressive steps, with vigor and courage. It has been and still
>is one of the systems with more efficacy in fighting several
>attackers, which is the reason why it is so popular in Shandong.
>
>
>ORIGIN AND SPREADING
>===================
> According to old contrasted chronicles, Tanglangquan comes from
>Hua Yi temple, in Lao Shan mountain, specifically from the second
>chief of the temple, known as Tong Che. His real name being Sang
>Sao xia He.
>
> Hua Yi temple is the only temple existing today in Lao Shan (old
>mountain). Some years ago there was also the pagoda of Chong
>Yien Zu Chi Su Che Tao Su Che Gun Shao Xia, it is the reminding
>Tong Chie pagoda, which was destroyied some 25 years ago, and
>now tanglangquan descendants want to rebuild, generating
>donatives to Hua Yi temple.
>
>Before becoming a monk, Tong Che was called Wang Le Wu,
>being the seventh of brothers, reason for which he was called Yu Qi
>or “seventh born”.
>
>This great man was born in 1609 and died in 1702, his birth place
>Xixia town, Zimo district, Shandong province. Wang studied from
>his father Taizuchangquan, being recognized as a great martial
>artist at 20. He worked as an imperial guard or Ming under the
>official name of Man Shi.
>
>Wang family was rich and influenced Han government. But when
>manchu invaded their town causing several deaths, they destroyed
>the house killing all his family.
>
>During Manchu dinasty of Qing, Wang headed several
>insurrections, that is why people did not stop talking about Yu qi,
>but his movements were aborted and beyond defeat he was
>followed by Qing guards and he Wang Yu Qi, refuged in Hua Yi
>Temple in Lao Shan. The aboth of the temple helped him throwing
>him hot water to his face and making the guards believe he was a
>viruela ill.
>
> In those times manchus entered in Chinese territory, creating a
>period of calamities and chaos. During those invasions Wang
>fought bravely till one day, while in battle he was beaten, falling
>from a mountain and believed dead.
>
>He was rescued by a shaolin monk called Tung Chang, who took
>him to Shaolinsi and helped him recover. While that and later, he
>was taught the 17 martial systems taught at those times in
>shaolin.
>
>All this systems were composed originally or one routine or set:
>
>1 - Taizuchangquan (long boxing) created by Zhao Kuan Yin.
>2 - Dongbeiquan (long armed ape) created by Han Tong.
>3 - Chan Fong (rolling and closing) created by Chan Yin.
>4 - Duan Quan (short striking) created by Un Yuen.
>5 - Duan Da (strike shortly) created by Ma Chi
>6 - Hou Quan (monkey boxing) created by Sun Hong.
>7 - Kao Shen (body pushing) created by Huan Chang.
>8 - Men Chang Fei Chi (whip palm hitting) created by Tao Chang.
>9 - Suai Liao Yen Peng (holding and pushing strongly) created by
>Huai To.
>10 - Ko Lou Chai Suo (take, separate and break the circle) created
>by Liu Shin
>11 - Kun Lo Kuan Er (Separate and tapping the ears) created by
>Tan Fuan.
>12 - San Na Tie Fa (hold and control) created by Yan Ching.
>13 - Pien Yang Chiao (duck double kick) created by Lien Chou
>(one of the 108 heroes of Liangshan)
>14 - Chi Shi Lian Quan (seven continuous fists) created by Men
>Shan.
>15 - Kuo Li Puo Chuei (cutting the net in two) created by Chuei
>Nen.
>16 - Gun Chai Shu Lu (staff direct in spiral) created by Yan Kun.
>17 - Ke Sou Tong Quan (cover with continuous strikes) created by
>Chin Sien.
>
>His masters were the monks among who there were several
>importan Han governmnent people retired to monastic life. All of
>them were experts in several wushu methods.
>
>Aproximatedly in 1650 a.c. Shaolin temple was invaded and burned
>by manchu invaders. Many died and others could escape. Wang
>Le Wu fought the invaders, and later he tood refuge in Laoshan
>mountain, entering as a monk in Hua Yi temple. Changed the
>name to Tong Che and took the laic name of Sang Sao Xia Hi.
>
>The insurrects were defeated by Qing dinasty, but in places like
>Yantai,xixia, Chaoyuan, Pintu, Nayian, etc. some survived and
>they gathered at Hua Yi temple to communicate.
>
>Wang was allways at the head of the insurrects which he
>considered as sons, that is why he was known as Wang or the
>surname De Yi Shi, which means “having a son”. That is why he
>was called Wang Lang. Wang was his surname and Lang means
>son. Also during a time he was called in disguise Qian Si San, a
>fake name to spy the enemy.
>
>General headquarters of Wang was in Xia Gou temple, at the high
>of the mountain protecting Yantai, and even when Wang Lang
>ideated the Tanglangquan in Hua yi temple, it was in that mountain
>that he developed the style.
>
> Much later was discovered that one of the monks, called Tan
>Tung, was the responsible of the traition that made Shaolinsi
>burning possible. With avenging spirit Wang Lang decided to hunt
>the guy and execute him to avenge the innoble acts. That is why
>he got down the mountain once a year for three years studying
>gong fu with good masters, and looking for the traitor. Once he
>found him he was defeated by the traitor who was a consumate
>fighter of shaolin temple.
>
>During a hot summer, wang lang sat at a tree and
>
>(HERE COMES THE FAMOUS STORY OF THE MANTIS
>IMITATION AND THE MONKEY STEPS)
>
> After long study he selected 12 techniques of attack and defense
>inspired in mantis and monkey, and divided them in three
>categories:
>
>Beng Bu (demolition steps)
>Lanchen (attracting and neutralizing)
>Bachio (eight elbow attacks)
>
>In time he become an expert in mantis hand techniques. He took
>then the best of the 17 styles he learned in Shaolin temple and
>gathered it to mantis hands and monkey feet, creating a new
>fighting style.
>
>After maturing and practising continuously the new methods, Wang
>lang searched Tan Tung and at a first hand contact Tan Tung was
>throwed along. He asked furiously:
>
>-Which style is that?
>-Tanglang chi Fa! - Wanglang answered
>
>Tantung embisted with all his power but Wanglang using the
>mantis claw took Tan Tung head off and took it to Lao Shan
>mountain, showing his work was complete. Then he dedicated to
>teach the style in Hua Yi temple.
>In 1679 Wang lang was 70 years old and taught the new method to
>taoist monk Li Ping Hiao or Sheng Shiao, who showed it to other
>masters later.
>The original mantis style or tanglangquan was the birth of other
>mantis styles like:
>
>Mimem tanglangquan, Qi XingTLQ, Liu He TLQ, Mei Hua TLQ, and
>Ba Bu TLQ.
>
>David Conches Golden Dragon magazine issue 7
>
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ShaolinMantis-I
