Er Lang is the name of a Chinese folk hero and as such becomes fair game to be tacked onto any martial arts form someone decided to choreogragh. Erlangquan is also a complete martial art taught in Northern China.
Hello Buddhapalm
Speaking about the northern system, I think it is call Er Lang Men not Er Lang Quan.
In the case of the system, if I recall correctly, the charater for ‘er’ (Manderin / pinyin) means 2
the charater used for for ‘lang’ means ’ city’ ie. an ancient city
and ‘men’ means - gate.
The form you speak of maybe something different entirely.
By the way is this a two man form?
The form I practice is not a two man set. It features lots of long range punches, uppercuts, chops, also some jumping double front kicks, sweeps and tornado kicks.
I thought that “Er Lang” meant 2 Dragons, I didn’t know it meant 2 City. Actually my form is called “Er Lang San Quan”. Which means God (3 Eyed ErLang God) Fist. Do you think this may be related to ErLang Men ?
Several routines have been featured in Chinese martial arts magazines over the years. Lots of long low stances, typical northern shaolin stuff.
There is also a book (in chinese) “Shaolin Wushu - Erlang Martial Skill” by Li Chunyu and Li Chunyu (different characters for chun)features empty hand sets, weapons, and fighting.
This Chinese page uses the character “gentleman” (which in erlang means second son) for “lang”. The page uses erlangquan and erlangmen interchangeably, which seems to be common practice in Chinese naming.
I think that ‘lang’ references a Buddhist deity but also has been taken to mean ‘2-men’ - that is why I asked if this was a two man form.
As far as the pinyin ‘lang’ I’ve seen some writers use the Chinese character for ‘ancient city’ for lang.
However, I think that the correct character is the one that refers to the Buddhist deity.
Some sources say that Erlang Men was Tung Hai-Ch’uan’s first art.
The term ‘Quan’ and ‘Men’ are used interchangeable but their meaning is different and give reference to nature of the arts lineage. ‘Men’ references to Buddhist monastery architecture and in this way identifying an art coming form the ‘front gate’ as in Shaolin Lohan Men.
r.Ã
I have the Chinese characters for the form Erlang San Quan. I was told it was translated as the Buddhist God/Deity ErLang, he had three eyes. I am not sure if the form is from Erlang Men system or just has the same name.
I was told that Sifu Leung Shum of Eagle Claw teaches an Erlang Quan form, and that their form was from Long River Style of Hebei, I dont know if its the same though. I would like to find out.
Dear R.
I also have a pole form called Bak Men Gwan, or Eight Gate/Door Pole. Do you think the “Men” of Bak Men Gwan has a temple connotation, or do you think it may refer to the eight directions, or gates of attack and defense ?
STMA is right on the money and the style was taught at Ching Wu Schools. Leung Sifu of Eagle Claw style has his roots to GM Lau Fat Ming who taught at the Ching Wu in H.K.
I believe the set, ErLang Chuan, is the same as the one you know or very similar since your sifu.Louie Sifu ,learned from GM Ma Ching Fung who learned from GGM Sun Yu Fung who was the head instructor of Ching Wu in Canton.