The Mysterious Transmission of Zhao's Martial Art

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Shaolin Kung Fu
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I have noticed several references to Zhao Kuangying having transmitted martial arts on this forum.

Besides oraltransmission what other documentation exists showing or stating that the first Song emperor trained empty hand (or weapon) fighting or passed it down?

From a Chinese historian, Ma Mingda, I read that the first reference:
“Zhao Taizu Longfist” and “Zhao Taizu Longfist often uses legs”

First appearing in Wu Bian (Martial Classification) by Tang Xunzhi (1507-1560)
I have not come across the publication date of this book but from the death of Zhao Kuangying (976) to the birth of Tang Xunzhi (1507) is a span of 531 years!!!

It seems like an unusually long time to transmit a martial art without change in a country living through almost perpetual turmoil and upheavel.

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Published in

Wu Bian ( Martial Classification)
Was published in the Jia Qing period of the Ming Dynasty which puts it somewhere between 1523 and 1566.

BTW, the martial art book from the period of Song Taizu published around 960 is called Jiao Li Ji(Book of Wrestling)
It is about what we presently call shuai jiao. I have not seen this book, only going by references, in this case Zhong Guo Wu Shu Li Shi (History of Chinse Wushu) by Song Tian Long Zhi.

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Both an ancient Song era book titled “Feng Chen Quan Shu Mi Lu” – ‘Dust in the Wind Boxing Method Secret Record’ () and Shaolin’s oral history handed down through the generations say that Zhao created the original Shaolin Hong Quan sets, and left them his martial art manuals and notes. Zhao stopped in Shaolin for a short period when he was traveling and exchanged martial art knowledge with the monks; while there he was taught Rou Quan (Soft Boxing) and he gave the monks a gift of a set of Hong Quan movements that he developed. According to the “Feng Chen Quan Shu Mi Lu” , after Zhao left Shaolin, he went into the military, became emperor, and later unified China into one empire, saying he “attacked Guandong to create (or wound) Guanxi” – “Da Guandong, Chuang Guanxi” (,). Both this book and also the Shaolin Hong Quan song formulas for these sets mention this same saying. The Shaolin song formula calls the full name of the three-section Da Hong Quan set as the “Taizu Guandong Da Hong Quan”.

Being that Song Emperor Zhao Kuangyin grew up in a military family that was originally from the Luoyang and Kaifeng areas, it is possible that the Da Hong quan ( - Big Swan or Vast Fist) style influenced the military arts of Zhao’s region. The Dengfeng village Lao Hong Quan sets attributed to him feature a “Shoot the Big Swan Gate” posture, used as closing salute (it looks like someone about to shoot an arrow with a large bow).This posture is the main movement found in the Big Swan or Vast Fist style. Zhao’s father, grandfather, and uncles were all military leaders. His grandfather was a general; later Zhao was made commander of the palace guard, the elite fighting core of the Zhou army, before he became a Zhou army and navy general. The Imperial guard was considered the best fighting force of the Zhou military. As a famed military commander and later as the first Song Emperor, it can be seen why his name would have been attached to Hong Quan.

While in the military for so many years, Zhao must have learned what was prevalent there at the time, since he lived in the Kaifeng and Luoyang areas of Henan. Besides the Kaifeng area ‘Hong Quan’ and ‘Bai Chui’ fighting techniques prevalent in the military of his time, he also most likely practiced a type of whipping movement that was called Bian (whip) at the time (done with double or single sword or knife and also empty handed), which is the classic signature movement seen today in Piqua and Tongbei long fist. Short range joint-locking techniques also were used, both of which were effective against foot soldiers dressed in armor. Also, Shuai Jiao like grappling takedowns were always popular amongst the military, both as a sport and for defense.

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;948629]It seems like an unusually long time to transmit a martial art without change in a country living through almost perpetual turmoil and upheavel.[/QUOTE]energy is like a driven wedge. :slight_smile:

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How much has Shuai Jiao changed in the thousands of years of its existence?
Not Much.
Same for the thousands of years of Sword routines, not much.
Same for various family styles here and there in China, they haven’t changed much in many hundreds of years.

It’s all based on necessity, some styles are more generalized and they can go with the flow, the ones that were more specialized where the styles that most changed and adapted as they went from one area of China to another.

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[QUOTE=Sal Canzonieri;951614]Both an ancient Song era book titled “Feng Chen Quan Shu Mi Lu” – ‘Dust in the Wind Boxing Method Secret Record’ ()[/QUOTE]

I don’t recall coming across this book.
I have several lists of MA books of past dynasties, but don’t recall this one.

Can you provide more information about it?

Kevin

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;953047]I don’t recall coming across this book.
I have several lists of MA books of past dynasties, but don’t recall this one.

Can you provide more information about it?

Kevin[/QUOTE]

A few articles in Chinese about Taizu Quan origins and relationship to other styles mentioned this book.
I’ve been looking all over for any more information about this book.

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[QUOTE=Sal Canzonieri;951614]… Shaolin’s oral history handed down through the generations say that Zhao created the original Shaolin Hong Quan sets,
[/QUOTE]

To my knowledge the first known mention of Song Taizu having been to Shaolin is the following quote (see attachment for Chinese text).

[INDENT]“Fist method is originally from Shaolin Temple. Ever since Song Taizu studied it there it has been famous all under heaven.”[/INDENT]

The story goes on to mention other styles there at the time.

[INDENT][B]"Afterwards came the Wen Family’s 72 Moving Fist, 36 Connected Locks, 24 Qi Pat on Horse. The Eight Dodging Turns has 12 Short Strikes, Lu Hong has the 8 Hard, Shandong has Li Ban Tian’s kicks, There is the Eagle Claw Kings grasping and Zhang Jin Bo’s strikes.

Reknown within the seas each one is profound. None of them are perfect, but they all can be used to defeat the enemy."[/B][/INDENT]

This book, Quan Jing, shows up in the Qing Dynasty. The above portion is mostly a repeat of what Qi Jiguang wrote in his chapter, also called Quan jing (1584) with the main difference being that he does not have the quote,

“Fist method is originally from Shaolin Temple. Ever since Song Taizu studied it there it has been famous all under heaven.”

Instead, when Qi mentions Shaolin he only mentions that they are known for their stick fighting.

That leaves us with the first mention of Zhao’s longfist during the mid 1500’s and the first mention of him at Shaolin between 100 to 200 years later.

I don’t have the ability to pour through the totality of 1000 years of books to seek out the answer so instead I am mostly relying on the research already made available by modern Chinese historians such as Ma Mingda.

Sal,
As for the book ‘Dust in the Wind Boxing Method Secret Record’ ()

If it has not been mentioned by the scores of historians since Tang Hao then how reliable a source can it be?

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Journal of the Chen Style Taijiquan Research Association Of Hawaii, Vol. 4, No. 2, 1996
Author of Lost Ming Boxing Treatise Identified
By
Stanley E. Henning

As an important element of Chinese popular culture from earliest times, the martial arts comprise an exciting field for scholarly research. The most exciting aspect of such research is the discovery of new or previously overlooked information, which can help us gain a better understanding of the history and nature of these arts. One such piece of information is the named of the actual author of a lost ming boxing treatise titled Baida Yaopu () or Essential Manual on Boxing by a heretofore unknown author named Wang Boyan.
While researching the origins and evolution of Chinese boxing, I ran across the following short entry on the Essential Manual on Boxing (6 chapters), under “Military Writings” in Dushu Minqiu Ji or Reader’s Handy Selection Guide (c. 1795)

[1]: “Today’s widespread Song Taizu 32 Form Changquan [Long Boxing named after the first Song Emperor]; 24 Qitanma [throws and grapples]; 8 Shanfan [rapid turning moves; 12 Duan [close hitting]; and Soft Zhang’s Duanda [close hitting]; all have their strong points and are well known. Yangchuan [place in Anhui Province] Wang Boyan [author] has recorded the movements of each style and composed essential formulae for them in the same manner as Shaolin Staff and Yang Family Spear.”

The styles listed in this concise entry are among those mentioned in General Qi Jiguang’s New Book of Effective Discipline (1561). General Qi used techniques from these styles to develop his own 32 form set to train his troops in Yiwu, Zhejiang. This 32 form set appears to be the foundation for Chen style Taijiquan. In other words, if this manual were ever to resurface it could provide us with valuable insight into the most prominent Ming styles as well as well as the origins of Taijiquan. The significance of this information further piqued my curiosity. Who was this Wang Boyan from Yingchuan, Anhui – who was so knowledgeable in
the techniques of boxing? Early in 1995, I was pursuing Professor Ma Mingda’s introduction to the People’s Physical Culture Press edition of Qi Jiguang’s New Book of Effective Discipline, wherein I noticed that a prominent official and compatriot of Qi’s, Wang Daokun (), played a major role in getting Qi’s training manual published.

[2] Noting that Wang Daokun’s surname () was the same as the unknown Wang Boyan’s, I decided to check out Wang Daokun’s biography. My effort was made easier by his importance as a “Jinshi” or holder of the highest degree in the Chinese bureaucratic examination system. I was excited to find that Wang Daokun was also from Anhui (Shexian) and that his literary style name, Boyu () was strikingly close to Wang Boyan’s given name, Boyan (). Furthermore, Wang Daokun was indeed responsible for training citizen soldiers of Yiwu, Zhejiang () to participate in General Qi Jiguang’s anti-pirate operations.

[3] Based on the striking coincidences associated with the names and places of origin of Wang Daokun and Wang Boyan, plus Wang Daokun’s close association with Qi Jiguang’s troop training program and publication of Qi’s New Book of Effective Discipline with its chapter on boxing, I concluded that the actual aouthor of Essential Manual on Boxing must in fact be none other than Wang Daokun.
During a visit to Chengdu in February 1996, I was able to compare notes on this subject with one of China’s top physical education historians, Professor Kuang Wennan of the Sichuan (Chengdu) Physical Education Institute, who confirmed my belief that Wang Daokun was likely the real Wang Boyan.

[4] While it seems almost certain that Wang Daokun was the real Wang Boyan, this conclusion is admittedly tentative, based as it is upon circumstantial evidence. Did Wang Daokun publish Essential Manual on Boxing under the alias “Wang Boyan”, or was this a printer’s error which should have read “Wang Boyu”? Another question is, did one of Wang’s staff publish the manual with the biographical information altered? We may never know the answers to these questions, but the intellectual exercise involved in trying to trace such information can provide us further insight into the history of the Chinese martial arts.

Notes
Qian Zeng (c. 1795), (Reader’s Handy Selection Guide), , 1984, p. 88.

Qi Jiguang (), (New Book of Effective Discipline), annotated by Ma Mingda, Beijing: People’s Physical Culture Press, 1988.

(Big Dictionary of Chinese Names), , 1993, 481.
Discussions between the author and Professor Kuang Wennan, Sichuan (Chengdu) Physical Education Institute (Chengdu, PRC), 25 February 1996.

Professor Kuang is on the editorial committee of the Physical Culture Section, China Grand Encyclopedia and was the lead author for Outline of Chinese Martial Arts Culture , Sichuan Jiaoyu Press, 1990. He has also written numerous articles for Physical Education Literature and History and other publications.

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Ji xiao xin shu by Qi Jiguang (1528 - 1588) -
“Song Taizu had 32-posture long boxing . There is also Six-step boxing , Monkey boxing , and Decoy boxing (E Quan) . Although they have different names, they are mostly similar.”
“Nowadays, there is Wen family’s () 72 moving boxing , 36 Lockings , 24 Runaway Scout Horse , 8 Dodging Tumbles , and 12 Short ; these are also the best of the best.”
"Lu Hong’s 8 Moves are hard "
Cotton Zhang’s Short Strikes
"Shandong Li Bantian’s Kicks
Eagle Claw Wang’s Seizing
Thousand-Falls Zhang’s Throwing
Zhang Bojing’s Strikes .

Wu bian by Tang Shunzhi (1507 - 1560)
"Zhao Taizu’s long boxing uses many leg techniques… Zhao Taizu’s long boxing is especially practiced in Shandong; it is also commonly practiced in the Jiangnan [Southern] region.
"Wen family’s 72 long strikes , 24 Seeking Legs , 36 Lockings…
"Lu’s six roads of short strikes "
“There are six sets of Zhang’s Short Strikes, which use hand techniques and low kicks.”
“Shanxi Liu’s Short Strikes has six sets; they use the head and the elbow.”

Zhen ji by He Liangchen (1506 - 1600) -
“… Song Taizu’s thirty-six posture long boxing, Six-step boxing, Monkey boxing, and Decoy boxing – although their names are different, they use the same method to achieve victory.”
“There is Wen family’s () 72 moving boxing , 36 Lockings , 24 Runaway Scout Horse , 8 Dodging Tumbles , and 12 Short ; these are also the best of the best.”
"Lu Hong’s 8 Moves "
Cotton Zhang’s Short Strikes
Li Bantian’s Kicks "
Deaf Cao’s Kicks
Wang’s Eagle Claw… Seizing …
Thousand-Falls Zhang’s Throwing
Zhang Bojing’s Elbows
Tang Yanghao’s Seizing

Wubei yaolue by Cheng Ziyi (late 16th - 17th C.)
"Song Taizu’s short-range boxing .
"Lu Hong’s 8 Moves "
Cotton Zhang’s Short Strikes
Eagle Claw Wang’s Seizing
Thousand-Falls Zhang’s Throwing

Shaolin gunfa chanzong by Cheng Zongyou (published c. 1621)
“Taizu’s long boxing”
Wen family’s long boxing
Cotton Zhang’s Short Strikes
"Ren Family’s Short Strikes "

Tongbi quanpu by Zhou Quan (written ca. 1629).
"Taizu Guandong [East of the pass] Walking Boxing (Xing Quan) and Southern Tang 24 Leg Throwing Methods … 24 Legs Short Strikes … Song Taizu rarely traveled West of the pass, and often traveled East of the pass. In his middle years he went down to Southern Tang…
Wen family’s fighting moves .
Cotton Zhang’s Short Strikes
"Liu Zhong’s Short Strikes "
Ye Family Cannon Boxing
Zhou Family Slanted Kicks
Sha Family Crafty Boxing

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;955840]Sal,
As for the book Dust in the Wind Boxing Method Secret Record ()

If it has not been mentioned by the scores of historians since Tang Hao then how reliable a source can it be?[/QUOTE]

Here’s an original Chinese article source that mentions this book:

[B][/B][B][/B][B][/B]


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1991

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Thanks for posting that Sal.
The top shows books and approximate dates of publication that name Song Taizu’s Longfist.

The 2nd post with the Chinese article is a little hard on the eyes (my jian ti zi is not too good).

But it is an article that doesn’t itself quote a source for the Zhao was at Shaolin idea as far as I can see.

Under its section 2 it does mention something that I find very interesting.

.

Are you familiar with 9981?

This is a big deal within old Mantis, but I haven’t found anyone who knows it.

The closest I have found is that the 6 Essentials of Zhai Yao come from it. Don’t know if that is true.

I have two versions of these manuscripts with techniques. What makes it interesting are the descriptions of the applications.

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;955919]
Under its section 2 it does mention something that I find very interesting.

.

Are you familiar with 9981? This is a big deal within old Mantis, but I haven’t found anyone who knows it. The closest I have found is that the 6 Essentials of Zhai Yao come from it. Don’t know if that is true. I have two versions of these manuscripts with techniques. What makes it interesting are the descriptions of the applications.[/QUOTE]

I am familiar with the Hong Quan 9981, but just from reading, like you.
I haven’t ever seen it either.

If I can ask a favor from you, here’s some notes I have from an article I am putting together about Taizu related style, it has a section of Tanglang Quan, please correct it as necessary, maybe there is something of value for you in it? Please let me know, thanks! I’m very happy to share information with you, if that is cool with you. I’m sure that our research is going to overlap in some points.

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Please comment:

Tanglang Quan (Mantis Boxing) was one of the most famous martial arts to come out of Shandong province during the 1700s. Interestingly, both the Tang Lang Quan style ( the most widely known martial art from Shandong) and Ba Fan Quan (which originally was developed in Shandong) use a distinct advancing hooked stance (Seven Star or Sitting Tiger Stance) that is known to be their classic signature leg technique, which is also seen in Henan Xinyi Liuhe Quan. All three styles have the same description for the stance: ‘Back leg bent front leg straight, lift the front foot up and turn it in.’ One of the sets of Tang Lang Quan is called “Hooked Step Jade Ring Hands”; the Jade Ring is one of the most famous weapons used in Ba Fan Quan style. Many important arm techniques from Ba Fan Quan can also be found in Tang Lang Quan, such as chopping with the hands and forearms using the movements of Beng (collapsing-the back fist) and Pi (cleaving).

The skills of Ba Fan Quan are considered to be one of the eighteen roots of the Northern Preying Mantis martial arts. Starting with two foundational materials called ‘Taizu Chang Quan’ and General ‘Han Tang’s Tongbi’ (Through the arm boxing), 16 masters and their inspirational skills are listed; they appear to be from the Song dynasty era and many were from Shandong. Also some are known from various fictional novels of martial arts heroes, though they may have historical counterparts. One person listed, Gao Huaide, was an actual famous Northern Song general and also the brother-in-law of Emperor Zhao Kuangyin. Another person listed, Zheng En, is mentioned in the History of the Song as being a regional commander that died in the 4th year of the Jianyan Reign (1130 AD) at the beginning of the Southern Song dynasty. The fictional Zheng En is described as a general living during the beginning of the Song Dynasty (around 960). Even a Wen Yuan and his Duan Quan (Short fist) is listed, alluding to the Song era Wen Family, from whence Ba Shan Fan and Chuojiao are said to come from and of which Duan Quan is part of their system (and are mentioned in General Qi Jiguang’s Ming era book).

The famous and real Southern Song era teacher of Yue Fei, Zhou Tong, is considered the Chuojiao teacher of two of the people listed: Lin Chong and Lu Chunyi (plus his famous legendary student Yan Qing is also listed). Many people think that the Lu Chunyi and Yang Qing mentioned on this list are from the fictional “Water Margin” Ming era novel. But, according to family records of the Lu family that practices Yan Qing Boxing, these two people were actually from the Song dynasty and were actual people, whose lives do not fit what the characters in the Water Margin book did. Perhaps the Water Margin novel based its characters on them, it is not known.

Interestingly, Ba Shan Fan has a Qi Bu Quan (seven steps fist) set, otherwise known as Yan Qing Fan, and a series of sets called Yan Qing Fanzi. In Emei, the Zhao Men system (named after Song emperor Zhao Kuangyin) also has a Yan Qing Quan set. Written records from the Ming dynasty show that a Zhou Jia Tui (Zhou Family Kicks) style was practiced in Henan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces, which eventually reached Shaolin as well. This Zhou family was known for their special Chuojiao style kicks.

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This material is considered to have come from the efforts of Shaolin martial monk Abbot Fu Ju (), as written in the Luohan Xing Gong Duanda () Tuo Pu (Arhat Exercising Merit Short Strike Illustrated Manuscripts). The book states that Shaolin martial monk abbot Fu Ju invited various martial arts masters three times for three years each (3x3=9), to help improve Shaolin’s martial arts, been received by a Wang Lang from the Shaolin area of Henan province sometime between the Song and Ming dynasties. Someone nicknamed “Wang Lang” had picked up their skills along with some Shaolin Quan, first developed a Praying Mantis style that eventually spread through Shandong province. A later variation of this book was called the Shaolin Robe and Bowl Authentic Transmission and it attributed to someone called Sheng Xiao Dao Ren; two versions may exist from 1762 and 1794.

Some say that various sources independent from Praying Mantis Boxing traditional history collaborate with this information. Two books that survived the fire when Shaolin monastery was burned down in 1928 are: the “Records of Shaolin Monastery” (Shaolin Si Zhi) - written by Ye Feng, who lived from 1623-1687, and the “The Record of Shaolin Boxing”. Both books have the same information about these same events from the beginning of Song Dynasty. One of the Shaolin monastery books provides almost the same list (with names in a different order) and ends it with the concluding passage, “All these were gathered and brought together by Chan (Zen) Master Fu Ju from Shaolin monastery.” (Ilya Profatilov, History of Praying Mantis Kungfu article).
The book Manuscript of Shaolin Boxing said that the Great Song Emperor visited the Shaolin Temple and sent famous generals to Shaolin to teach monks about the art of war and at the same time learn from Shaolin’s Martial Arts. The Shaolin Annals of Martial Arts Monks records “The Great Emperor of Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, as a grandmaster of Kung Fu. He supported the head abbot of the Shaolin Temple and helped organize three National Competitions of Martial Arts for monks, his generals, and folk martial experts.” This represents the first time in history that a national level tournament combined the talents of Shaolin, the military and civilian martial expertise. In total, 16 formal systems came together and competed, with 13 different people staying for three years each to advise them (according to the Shaolin Records book). This makes sense since after subtracting Taizu and Han Tong leaves 16 people, then subtracting the three inspirational people of Lin Chong, Yan Qing, and Liu Xing, leaves 13 people.
The names of the 18 methods from the Shaolin source are:

  1. Taizu Chang Quan Qi Shou (Ancestral Long Fist Rising Hands)
  2. Han Tong’s Tong Bi Wei You (Through Arm Serves Excellently)
  3. Zheng En’s Chan Feng You Miao (Binding Seal Especially Clever)
  4. Wen Tian’s Duan Quan Geng Ji (Short Fist More Unusual)
  5. Ma Jie‘s Duanda Zui Jia (Close Strikes Best [Most Fine])
  6. Kong Heng‘s Hou Quan Qie Sheng (Monkey Fist Also Flourishes)
  7. Huang Hu’s Kao Shen Nan Jin (Leaning Body Difficult To Approach)
  8. Jin Sheng’s Mian Zhang Ji Fei (Face Palm Swiftly Flys)
  9. Jin Xiang’s Ke-Zi Tong Quan (Knocking Through Fist)
  10. Liu Xing’s Gou Lou Cai Shou (Hook Pulling/Embracing Picking Hand)
  11. Tan Fang’s Gun Lie Guan Er (Rolling Thunder Piercing Ears)
  12. Yan Qing’s Nian Na Yue Bu (Sticky Hold Leaps Not)
  13. Lin Chong’s Yuan Yang Jiao (‘Mandarin Duck’ Kicks)
  14. Meng Huo’s Qi Shi Lian Zhang (Seven Forces/Postures Linking Palms)
  15. Cui Lian’s Wo Guo Pao Chui (Nest Confining Cannon Hammers)
  16. Yang Gun’s Kun Shou Lu Zhi Ru (Tying Hand Capture Vertically Enters)
  17. Wang Lang’s Tang Lang Ke Di (Praying Mantis Subdues Enemy)
  18. Gao Huai De’s Shuai Liu Ying Beng (Throwing Grab Hard Collapse)

In the Praying Mantis Boxing Manual (Tanglang Quanpu) recorded the late 1700s, the unknown author provides this list (as one can see, some of the names are different from the Shaolin version and they are told in a different order. Also in the Shaolin version Wang Lang’s is just another technique, nothing is said about it being the culmination of all the others, as in the Praying Mantis version.):

  1. In the beginning there was “Long-range Boxing” (Chang Quan) style of emperor Taizu.
  2. “Through the Back” (Tongbei) boxing of Master Han Tong’s considered parental.
  3. Hand technique “Rap Around and Seal” (Chan Feng) of Master Zhang En is especially profound.
  4. “Close-range Strikes” (Duanda) boxing of Master Ma Ji is the most remarkable.
  5. It is impossible to come close to Master Huang You who knows the “Close Range Hand Techniques” (Kao Shou).
  6. The technique “Blocking Hands and Following Trough Fist” (Keshou Tong Quan) of Master Jin Xiang.
  7. The hand techniques of “Hooking, Scooping and Grabbing Hands” (Gou Lou Cai Shou) of Master Liu Xing.
  8. The “Methods of Sticking, Grabbing, and Falling” (Zhanna Diefa) of Master Yan Qing.
  9. The “Short Boxing” (Duan Quan) of Master Wen Yuan is the most extraordinary.
  10. The style “Monkey Boxing” (Hou Quan) of Master Sun Heng is also flourishing.
  11. The “Cotton Fist” (Mien Quan) technique of Master Mien Shen is lightning fast.
  12. The “Throwing-Grabbing and Hard Crashing” (Shuailue Yingbeng) technique by Master Huai De.
  13. The technique of “Ducking, Leaking and Passing through the Ears” (Gun lou guan er) of Master Tan Fang.
  14. The strongest leg kicking technique is "Mandarin ducks kick” (Yuanyang Jiao) of Master Lin Chong.
  15. The “Seven Postures of Continuous Fist Strikes” (Qishi Lianquan) techniques by Master Meng Su.
  16. “Hand Binding and Grabbing” (Kunlu Zhenru) techniques of Master Yang Gun attack instantly.
  17. The techniques of “Explosive Strikes into the Hollow Parts of the Body” (Woli Pao Chui) by Master Cui Lian.
  18. “Praying Mantis (Tanglang) boxing of Master Wang Lang absorbed and equalized all previous techniques.

The problem is that before the Ming era, there is an empty gap of 800 years where there is little information available about martial arts. With the Jin invasion during the later Song Dynasty (and the Song house moving south) and then the Yuan Dynasty Mongol invasion soon after, there were much war time and much moving around and much hiding out. Many temples were burned down, between the invaders and the big fights between Taoists and Buddhists, there was lots of turmoil. Also much information was lost during the many periods of temple burning, book burnings, and the events of the Cultural Revolution, all destroying much valuable information.

Some people believe that the Luohan Duanda material as a martial art belongs to Shandong as a folk fighting art rather than the Henan Shaolin temple. But, in various areas of China, there is the persistent idea that Ba Fan Quan was originally a form of Shaolin Luohan Duanda martial arts. In the Henan Shaolin area, there exist two sets that exhibit similar theory to that of the Luohan Xing Gong Duanda book, namely the ‘Shaolin Duanda’ (containing 19 sections) and the’ Jiao Shou Shiliu Shi’ (Crossing Hands in 16 Positions).

The Luohan Xing Gong Duanda Tuo Pu makes a point of saying that the foundational material is based on the Taizu Long Fist (which was also then called ‘32 Shou Duanda’ – ‘32 Hands Close Strikes’) and the Tongbi of Han Tang (who was an army general stationed at the Shandong gate that died in the battle against Zhao Kuangyin’s rebel forces that made him become Song Dynasty Emperor ‘Taizu’). The book has key text on how this long fist is short strike and vice versa. In the Shandong area, Taizu Hong Quan was a popular Ming Dynasty martial art. In the more ancient Henan Shaolin tradition it is related to, the Song Taizu Chang Quan also is a long fist style that fights in the short range, using a flowing fist (Hong Quan) method that overwhelms the opponent. The actual name for the Shaolin Song Taizu Chang Quan set is ‘San Er Shou Duanda’ – ‘32 Hands Close Strikes’.

Shaolin Taizu Chang Quan, Shaolin Lao Hong Quan, and Shaolin Rou Quan are based on using double weapons (such as the Double Sword, Double Knives, and Double Short Sticks) techniques for flowing empty hand fighting. Tang Lang Quan’s empty hand techniques appear to be based on those of the Double Short Sticks. Coincidentally, the book Chang Shi Wu Ji Shu (Chang’s Pugilist Volume), published in Henan during the Chien Long reign (1736-1795) of the Qing dynasty, references a Wang Lang and his double sword techniques. Note: Short stick chops crush and pound, while the knife and sword chops cut and slice. Henan area Shaolin also has a Ba Fan Quan set that uses the Fanche and Lulu technique seen in Tang Lang Quan. The original name for this Shaolin set was Xing Quan, Traveling Boxing (which was part of the Wen Family system).

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The article covers a broad scope of information.
I tend to get caught up in very monor details.
For example, I can’t accept the 1700’s as the origination of Mantis Boxing without any solid proof.

It may be correct, but I would like to see some definitive dates.
There is a history book called Ming Shi (History of the Ming) Which may mention Mantis.

On the 7* step…

[QUOTE=Sal Canzonieri;955921]

a distinct advancing hooked stance (Seven Star or Sitting Tiger Stance) that is known to be their classic signature leg technique, which is also seen in Henan Xinyi Liuhe Quan. All three styles have the same description for the stance: ‘Back leg bent front leg straight, lift the front foot up and turn it in.’ One of the sets of Tang Lang Quan is called “Hooked Step Jade Ring Hands”;

[/QUOTE]

This article talks about that and I have included an example of Hooked Step Jade Ring Hands

http://www.plumflowermantisboxing.com/Articles/hooked%20step.htm

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As for the dates that you list for manuscripts I would like to know what the reference material is for that.

About the other arts you mention I do not know much about them.

Most of my work is in the Short Strikes manuscripts that you mention.

As for the people mentioned in the 18 Surnames of Masters.
I suspect that this comes from popular novels of the Qing Dynasty.

Historical information on figures such as Han Tong is scarce, but within old novels he is a big figure.

As far as I know none of these novels have been translated into English and that is outside the scope of my language skills.

Are you familiar with the “7 Long” of Han Tong?

The “7 Maneuvers of Meng Su” within the 18 Surnames of Masters?

Or any of the other material within 18 Surnames of Masters?

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Fanche Lulu Fist Six Six Thirty-Six

Here is a portion of the Short Strike manuscript. I would be interested to know where else besides mantis that this turns up.
If other styles have the same manuscript then they should have this fighting method within their style.

Within the Shaolin that I have seen I don’t see anything like this.

[B][INDENT]Fanche Lulu Fist Six Six Thirty-Six

As for the word che; it is a cart’s wheel ever turning.
As for the word lulu; it is like a windlass flowing endlessly.
To speak of both fanche and lulu; the single hand is lu and both hands make a wheel.
A cart is like lulu. Adding the “fan” character means to turn this way and return that way, falling without end.

Fanche lulu interconnects with the hands of collapsing, smashing, adhering (nian) and grasping along with the maneuvers of pasting (tie) and leaning (kao). Adding the fists and elbows as well as applying the knees and feet constitutes mantis striking (da).
Fanche stays afar while mantis approaches.
Fanche is distant while mantis is close.
Actually fanche is not distant, it only seems that way when compared to mantis.
When using fanche your opponent has no place to hide.
When using mantis your opponent has no way to defend.
Adopt yourself to the changing circumstances using the entire body* for hitting.
This is the profoundness of short strikes, the highest extreme of technique.

Mantis has a blade, it is the fists and elbows. Therefore, it is also called “warding off blade (jufu)”.
For those looking to relieve boredom (hao shi zhe) and use a twig to provoke a mantis, it will display the movements of adhering (nian), striking (da), collapsing (beng), beating (pu), dodging, deceiving, opening and shutting. It is an entirely unknown subtlety.
Therefore, the hands of mantis are the invincible method of short strikes.[/INDENT][/B]

The following combination

[INDENT]Fanche stays afar while mantis approaches.
Fanche is distant while mantis is close.[/INDENT]

Can be found within the 8 Elbows form. A form of almost no punches.

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;956157]The article covers a broad scope of information.
I tend to get caught up in very monor details.
For example, I can’t accept the 1700’s as the origination of Mantis Boxing without any solid proof.

It may be correct, but I would like to see some definitive dates.
There is a history book called Ming Shi (History of the Ming) Which may mention Mantis.

On the 7* step…

This article talks about that and I have included an example of Hooked Step Jade Ring Hands

http://www.plumflowermantisboxing.com/Articles/hooked%20step.htm[/QUOTE]

It only says that the style came out of Shandong (as in ‘became known to others’) during the 1700s, the origin is from way earlier than that. I have also read of the mention of Mantis Boxing in the Ming Shi.
Thanks for the article link.

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[QUOTE=Tainan Mantis;956157]On the 7* step…

This article talks about that and I have included an example of Hooked Step Jade Ring Hands

http://www.plumflowermantisboxing.com/Articles/hooked%20step.htm[/QUOTE]

What is very interesting to me is that the earliest set I have seen that features a move that goes the (left) hook step while doing a (left) hook mantis hand movements is a set called Shaolin Rou Xing Chui, it is supposedly from the early Tang Dynasty.