- Hong Quan styles -
Guandong and Guanxi routines - these are supposed to be related to sets from the Shanxi area.
-
Shaanxi Hong (Red) Quan says that their foundational set is called Tai Zu Hong Quan 36 Postures, which they say came from when Zhao Kuangyin was in his early 20s and while traveling in Shanxi (I think rather than Shaanxi), he learned the local Guanzhong boxing there and developed this set. (Note: Hong (Flood) character was later changed to Hong (Red) during Qing dynasty.) This style is practiced between Shandong / Henan and Shaanxi / Gansu areas, so it is pretty widespread and influenced almost all the Hong Quan style found today.
-
Wudang Hongquan - According to the legend of its foundation, this style was created by a Taoist monk on Wudang Mountain during the Song dynasty. As the secular family name of this monk was Hong , the style was called Hongquan Wudang. Among the empty hand forms are included the:
-
Guandong Jia (Eastern Pass Frame);
-
Guanxi Jia (Western Pass Frame);
-
Tai Ping Jia (frame of peace Supreme or Grand Level);
-
18 Lu Dui Lian Da Chui (18 Roads of Connected Hammers);
-
36 Shuai (36 Throwdowns);
-
72 Qinna Shou (72 Seizing Hands);
-
Zhao Men Dao Gongfu (Snatching School Way), and others.
Among the weapons forms are:
dan dao - ; Shuang guai -; Shou shao zi - ; Si jie tang - ; Chun qiu da dao - ; and others.
But, two sets from this style, the Guandongjia and Guanxijia, correspond to two routines said to be created by Song Taizu, respectively the 36 Lu Chang Quan (36 Road Long Fist) and the 366 Shou Chang Quan (366 Hands Long Fist) . Also, there is a correspondence of movements and correspondence of many names in the Taolu with the Shaanxi Hongquan, despite their claim that the origins are different, indicating that they share a common origin.
-
Hubei Hong Quan - The roots of this style come from the Taizu Chang Quan. It is also influenced by Wudang Quan. Two-way spear holding plays are the main methods to deal with the Hubei Hong Quan, which emphasizes both attack and defense. Most of the routines of the Hubei Hong Quan are empty hand sets, such as the general hand plays, defensive hand plays, Jingang (Buddha’s warrior attendant) hand plays, etc. Its major sets are:
Gold General’s Hand (Jin Zong Shou), Jamming Hand (Feng Shou), Big Combination Hand (Da Zhong Shou), and Gold Splitting Fist (Jin Pi Quan).
-
Sichuan Hong Jia Quan – This style is very rare to see and is practiced by the direct descendants of Zhao Kung Yin’s relatives (nephews) who moved to Sichuan province during the flight out during the early part of the Southern Song dynasty and lists the following hand sets: Xiao Hong Quan, Da Hong Quan, Hong Men Chui, and Hong Men Shou (red door hand).
-
Er Lu Hongquan, Two Section Red fist (not flood character) - Shandong province is the birthplace of this two routine style. In the Red fist legends, it is said that Zhao Kuangyin, the first emperor of the Song Dynasty had created it. But, the real time for the systematization of the style was recorded in the Qing Dynasty (1368-1911). At the 13th year of the Kangxi emperor reign (1674), the Two Part Red fist had been created between the provinces of Shandong and Shanxi.
Besides these there are these uncertain ones:
- Lai Zhou Taizu Men - During the Qing dynasty, Shaolin monks traveling in the Ying Kou area of Liaoning province, in northeastern China, passed a series of martial art sets south to (Sheng) Cheng Lixian () of Shandong province. He became a bodyguard in Qingdao, returning later to his home in Laizhu ().
Some of the sets that they practiced were Taizhu Quan (3 parts and 4 sections) Chang Quan of 32 Postures and 108 Techniques, Tang Lang 13 Zhao, Small Tiger Swallow), Yui Jia Duanda Chui (Yue family Close Strike Hammers), Hei Hu Quan (Black Tiger Boxing), Da Hong Quan (Small Flood Fist), and 8 Drunken Immortals, among others: , , , , , , , and . The weapon sets were taizhu and Plum Flower based implements: , , , , , (), , and .
Most of these sets are VERY similar to Misong / Yangxing Quan style from Shandong, which is also supposed to date back to early Song era in origin.
-
Bei Shaolin Quan Men – the Northern Long Fist Gate (School) that was developed by Han Qingtang (originally from Jimo County) includes a Taizu Chang Quan set amongst its 10 famous sets. Han studied Long Fist as a first generation pupil from the Nanjing Central Guoshu Guan. In Jimo, he first learned Shaolin Meihua Men from a Shaolin monk, Sun Mao Lin () and Jiang Benhe (), both being from Liangshan originally. This Meihua boxing is made up of three forms: Maifu Quan (); Shizi Tang (); Taizu Chang Quan (); also taught is a Duilian named Xiao Wushou ().
Han also learned from several famous masters in Shandong Guoshu Guan, like Chang Bing-Zhang and Yang Ming-Zai. Han taught the Jai Men (Islamic) and Meihua (Plum Blossom) systems of Long Fist. The material may originally have come from Liangshan city, Jining County. People have long wondered where his Taizu Chang Quan set came from, since it shares many aspects with Mi Zhong Quan, Hua Quan, and Cha Quan, which are other local long fist styles. Han’s Taizu Chang Quan set is similar to Laizhou’s Taizu Chang Quan, so they may have come from the same original source. The two sets may appear different outwardly as far as the set’s movements go; but they are the same in style, sharing their shen fa, jing fa, and techniques.
-
Shandong Wendeng – during the Guanxu years (1875-1908) of Qing dynasty, Liu Mingshan of Wendeng County learned Shaolin martial arts. Later he settled in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China (Manchuria). They claim it comes from Zhao Kuangyin's original 18 Road sets. In Huang County, the style was also passed to Meng Qingyue. Liu taught 6 sections of an 18 section Taizu Chang Quan set, 24 Tan Tui, 5 roads of Taizu Pao Quan, Xiao Wu Shou (Small Five Hands), Qi Bu Lienhuan Chui (7 Step Linking Hammers), Taizu Single Knife, and various other weapons. Almost all these sets appear to come from either the 1600s via Dong Cheng’s Tongbei Quan style or from the 1500s via Dong’s parent style, Bai Yufeng’s Wu Quan (Five Fists).
-
Yantai Taizu Chang Quan - this Yantai Shandong style teaches the Black Tiger and also the Hu Yan sets (Xiao, Zhong, and Da). It would appear from these sets that this style has been descended from Henan martial arts, including Mi Zhong Quan.
-
Ping Du area of Shandong - Shi Youshan spread this Taizu Chang Quan in Huimin County. It is thought that it comes from teachings of Chuan Zhangzhen. The sets practiced are: Taizu Chang Quan, Xiao Wu Shou, Five Fists Training, Ba Gong Chui (Eight Exercises Hammers) Training, Ba Feng Da Jia, and various weapons. These sets also appear to be from Bai Yufeng’s Wu Quan system, showing a Shaolin origin.
-
Also from Ping Du area - Wang Zhijun's Taizu Quan, coming from Qing Emperor Daoguang's reign (1820-1850). Sets practiced are: 24 Tan Tui, Xiao Wu Shou, 12 Gong Shi (postures), Eight Standing Postures, and numerous drills instead of sets. Again these sets appear to be from Bai Yufeng’s Wu Quan system, showing a Shaolin origin.
-
From Jimo area of Shandong - Gao Fang Xian's Sun Bin Quan system also practiced a Taizu Quan Four Sections set, as well as Taizu weapons sets.
-
Shandong General Leng Taizu Quan - this family style emphasizes the staff, was taught by Liu Yi. Style comes from a Ming era warlord named Leng. Supposedly it is more ancient? It has a Tang Dynasty Snake Staff set. They practice a Taizu Four Section Advancing (Jin) Chang Quan and Six Roads of Hammers (Bai Ma Quan Siang (White Horse Circles Toward); Ye Li Cang Hua (Leaves Hide the Flowers); Siba (Three Seizing); Ba Ge-zi (Eight measured Words); Zhan Na Chui (Beheading Grab Hammer); and Yan Qing).
-
Shandong Rushan area – Xiao Mingkui taught Zhong Yushun a Taizu Chang Quan set that was also called Xiao Hong Yan (Small Red Flame).
-
Mizong Quan / Yan Qing Quan – both styles are practiced in Hebei and Shandong province, and practice a Taizu Chang Quan set.
-
Cangzhou, Hebei province Taizu Chang Quan - came about during the Qing dynasty, from material taught by "a monk" in the Cang Zhou area of Hebei province. Two different versions of this style exist there. One is from Zhao Yao Tong, who taught Mi Zhong and Taizu Chang Quan to Liu Yun Qiao. This Taizu set is called ‘Supporting Slow Fist’ - Cheng Man Quan. The postures are not like other Taizu Chang Quan sets, but rather like the 32 postures in General Qi Jiguang’s book.
-
The second Cangzhou county Taizu Quan is from a Monk “Shun Yuan He Shang”, during the Kangxi era (1661-1722) of Qing dynasty. The style was passed to Song Yicheng and his son. Sets include: Yi Lu Taizu Quan, Er Lu Taizu Quan, Xing Bu Quan, 12 Tan Tui, and various weapons.
-
Sichuan Emei Zhao Men – the style is named for a series of sets done in Emei that are said to be collected from the Song dynasty. Despite linking itself to Zhao Kuangyin, it is pretty much the same sets as seen in Shaanxi Hong Quan.