Hi Daniel.
Granted I see your point.
But “Menkyo” is a Instructor licence.
The “Menkyo Kaiden” is the “Full Transmission” licence, after which you can than go out and create your own system or make changes to the current one.
The “Densho Scrolls” are the proof of being the Head of the style, this scrolls normally contain the full knowledge of the System and are only passed onto the next “Soke” or Lineage Holder.
As far as I know the TCMA didn’t follow this System of Skill/style transmission.
But anyhuh, time to break out the Lunch.
Chinese system is different because in Japan MA were a lot more respectable. Having a clearly defined system was important because running a ryuha was often times a financial as well as martial enterprise. The Yagyu made quite a tidy living off teaching the Tokugawa for example.
Chinese systems are different because MA was not the sole domain of the wealthy upperclass. MA’s were often but not always members of criminal organizations or acted as bodyguards. Prevalent wisdom–which I have no basis to judge either way–states that literacy was relatively uncommon amongst martial artists in china, so a written record like the the Menkyo system seems to be unlikely.
Hope that helps.
Like I said, check out the Wu style background, I think it’s a pretty good example.
BTW, thanks for typing out the whole menkyo vs menkyo kaiden thing. I knew it, but I only mentioned it as a point to help you for reference. I didn’t think about others who might not have been familiar with it. My bad.