About Kung Fu
Thank you to James for doing the research and putting this together.What is Kung Fu?
Kung Fu is a term that in Cantonese has come to mean martial art however the more accepted term in China is "Wu Shu". It is also sometimes known as Kuo Shu (national arts), a title coined in the 1920's, which has mostly reverted back to the original Wu Shu. An authoritative study on the history of Kung fu is difficult because for a large period of china’s history the Martial Arts were outlawed and the practitioners subject to death. Many of the documents detailing the martial arts were completely destroyed. By accessing many sources and authorities on the subject, we have been able to provide the history that appears below.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF KUNG FU
Kung Fu can trace its origins back some 4000 years to 2674 BC, when Emperor Huang Ti of China used a rudimentary form of martial arts called Chiou Ti (or Go-Ti)as a form of individual combat and military tactic. Chiou Ti eventually developed into Shuai Chiao which is a form of Kung Fu that involves strikes, elbow strikes, knee strikes, joint locks and throws. When done competitively it is similar to Judo and the emphasis is on quick clean throws. At the time a career in the army was a life long one, and one of the only ways to "retire" was to join a monastery. Thus Kung Fu found its way into the temples and was used by the monks as a form of medical gymnastics - sometimes called Cong Fu
In about 600 BC, Confucius declared it necessary to cultivate the martial arts - further encouraging its assimilation into everyday society and culture. Lao Tzu (a Taoist sage), living at the same time, composed the Tao Te Ching (The Power and the Way), the original book and foremost source of Taoism. Taoism (pronounced "Daoism") is a philosophical system, and is also considered a way of life and a method of achieving higher consciousness. Legend has it that it was passed down from a legendary culture, known as the "Sons of Reflected Light" some 14000 years ago. It taught scholarship, meditation and alchemy. T
Taoism became enmeshed with the arts of Cong Fu and Go-Ti, which by this time had become fused into one system. Taoist monks became Cong Fu/Go-Ti experts, and martial arts practitioners began to follow Taoism. This Cong Fu/Go-Ti system formed the beginnings of what we now know as Kung Fu. Although the term has many meanings, for example "hard work", it can be best understood as "patient accomplishment" - the mastery of a skill through the investment of time and energy. The term became associated with martial arts because the mastery of any martial arts system does require years of dedicated practice.
Although the martial arts were well enmeshed within Chinese society for many hundreds of years, many do not begin the actual timeline for Kung fu as we know it until well after Confucius's endorsement. Many begin its history in 527 AD, when Ta Mo, an Indian Buddhist prince came spread what would later be called Ch'an or Zen Buddhism in the Buddhist Shao Lin Temple, a Buddhist monastery. After crossing the Himalayas and the Yangtze River he eventually reached Loyang, the capital of Henan Province. He found the Shaolin Temple, then famous for its scholarly translations of Buddhist writings into Chinese. Ta Mo sought entrance to Shaolin but the abbot of the day, Fang Chang, refused to let the foreigner in. Rejected by the monks, Ta Mo went to a nearby cave and meditated until he gained the respect of the monks and was admitted. No one knows how he did it, but there are many different legends, including the following:
- He sat facing a wall for most of the next nine years at the end of which time Bodhidharma's deep blue piercing eyes had drilled a gaping hole in the cliff wall.
- He fell asleep meditating. When he awoke he was so distraught that his eyes had closed that he cut of his lids to prevent it from happening again.
- He was visited by monks and supplied with food and water. During these visits he was able to demonstrate a deep knowledge of Buddhism and was admitted to the temple.
From Ta Mo comes the mystical concept of "empty mind" and other meditations. Breathing techniques in Kung Fu were also further developed in Ta Mo’s teachings. Breathing exercises were developed to improve health and strength to the body’s inner organs. Although physical exercise can strengthen the body and limbs, Ta Mo felt he needed to keep the inner organs healthy since they provided the fuel to keep the body going. He believed that as a person's breathing becomes better and his or her organs become stronger, that person would begin to develop stronger "Chi". Chi is power from within the body itself. This power comes directly from the "Dan Tien" which is located in the lower abdomen.
As time went on the Shaolin sect began to diverge from other Buddhist sects, in part because of their emphasis on the martial arts.
On the face of it the study of martial arts appears a contradiction of Buddhist principles of non-violence. However, in Shaolin tradition, the practitioner of martial arts is never an attacker. Rather, understanding violence makes a person better equipped to avoid conflict. Failing that, a Buddhist who refuses to accept an offering of violence (i.e., an attack) merely returns it to the sender. The martial artist does not respond with the most devastating defense in all situations. The Kung Fu expert may choose to parry an attack, or even to run away. However, if an assailant is persistent, skilled, and determined to cause harm, a more definitive response may be required. The more violent the assault, the more devastating the defense in return. Buddhists are not, in this philosophy, seeking to hurt anyone; they "merely refuse delivery of intended harm."
Over the centuries war and conflict reach the original Shaolin temple in Henan and sometimes caused Shaolin monks to seek refuge elsewhere. The second temple to adopt the Shaolin traditions was the Fukien Temple. Others to join include Kwangtung, Wu-Tang (the Tiger Temple), and O Mei Shan.
Sometime between 621 and 698 A.D. (between the Sui and Tang dynasties), Emperor T'ai Tsung (Qin King Li Shi-Ming) asked the Shaolin fighting monks to aid him in war. General Wang-Shih-Chung had gathered a large army and had successfully captured the Emperor's son. A small group of monks (legend has it 13) answered the call and, together with the Emperor's army of 10,000 men defeated the rebels and rescued the Emperor's son. In recognition of their great bravery, T'ai Tsung awarded the monks approximately 600 acres of land, and bestowed upon the Henan Temple the title, 'Number One" temple.
In the year 900 A.D., a young nobleman and experienced martial artist joined the Shaolin Monastery and assumed the name of Chueh Yuan. He devoted his studies to martial arts and training and revised 18 Fists of Lo Han, creating what he called the 72 styles or movements. The 72 movements were very effective for both internal and external fitness. They incorporated much of what is being taught today. Chueh Yuan was still not fully satisfied with this and he went out to teach and learn, looking for Masters of other styles. This became a common practice for Shaolin, after reaching a certain level of knowledge and skill, to seek new skills and abilities and bring them back to the Temples.
Legend has it that Chueh Yuan witnessed how a 60 year old traveler repelled an attack by a bandit. He saw how the attacker landed an apparently very strong kick to the body of the traveler with little or no effect. The old man used only two fingers against the bandit's leg sending the attacker to the ground, seemingly unconscious. This impressed Chuen enormously and he introduced himself to the senior. Much to his surprise the old man did not know much of martial arts and what little he knew was taught to him by a local master Pai Yu-feng. Chuen convinced Pai Yu-feng to accompany him back to his temple. Over the next few years they integrated the 18 fists, the 72 movements and Pai Yu-feng's 'pressure point techniques' or joint locking (Chin Na) to form the 170 exercises that became the foundation of Shaolin Kung Fu as we now know it.
During the Yuan dynasty (around 1312 A.D.) the monk Da Zhi came to the Shaolin Temple from Japan. There he studied martial arts (empty hands and staff) for nearly 13 years after which he returned to Japan and spread Shaolin “Gongfu” to Japanese martial arts society - incidents similar to this are what most likely for the foundation for other Martail Arts like Karate and Tai Kwan Do. Later, in 1335 A.D. another Buddhist monk named Shao Yuan came to Shaolin from Japan. He mastered calligraphy, painting, Chan theory (i.e., Ren), and Shaolin Gongfu during his stay. He returned to Japan in 1347 A.D..
In many respects the Shaolin Temples were like universities. Students would learn from the best in every field. In order to graduate from the temple, they would have to exhibit phenomenal skills and pass through 18 testing chambers in the temple. If they survived the first 17 chambers, they would have to grip an iron cauldron with their bare forearms and have the raised relief of two symbolic animals burnt into their arms. These symbols probably varied from temple to Temple and may have been:
- A Tiger and Dragon (Fukien and Wu Tang Temples?)
- Two Dragons (Henan Temple?)
- Phoenix and Dragon (Kwan Tung Temple?)
- Two Cranes (O Mai Shan Temple?)
Around this time the 4th temple, O Mei Shan (Great White Mountain) joined the Shaolin order. It held a library and was devoted to the practice of medicine. O Mei Shan was located in a remote area of Szechwan. Just as the other temples attracted kung fu masters, O Mei Shan attracted healers and students wishing to learn the practice of medicine. O Mei Shan also had ties to the Crane Temple in Tibet, another major medical temple. It is probably that O Mei Shan chose 2 Cranes as its symbols instead of the traditional Dragon/animal pair.
One of the next major developments followed a drift away from the Buddhist influence and back into the Taoist influence. In 1417 a Taoist monk Chang San-fung invented a radical new element of Kung Fu known as "soft fist" or "internal style". This is a slow, relaxed and mystical style, as opposed to the older styles, which were hard and externally orientated. Chang San-fung believed that the intensive physical exertion of the former styles of Kung Fu was against Taoist philosophy. The focus instead should be on internal energy and harmony. Taoist temples became centers of Kung Fu knowledge. One such existing internal style derived from the Taoist way is "Tai Chi Chuan" or "Mind Fist". It is important to realize that the traditional “hard forms” and the newer “soft forms” actually follow different but parallel paths to the same goal. The hard forms work to bring strength, balance and discipline to the body and gradually transfer those qualities to the whole of the being. The soft forms work to bring strength, balance and discipline to the mind and gradually transfer those qualities to the whole of the being.
In 1530, the Shao Lin Temple once more gained great influence in the growth of Kung Fu. A Shao Lin Temple priest and martial art expert named Zhue Yuen joined the Shaolin. Like Chueh Yuan before him, Zhue Yuen traveled across China in search of new martial art styles. In the town of Lan Zhau he met Li Sou who introduced him to Bai Yu Feng, another famous martial artist. Zhue Yuen convinced both to return with him to Shaolin to develop kung fu. From the original 170 movements they developed the 5 animal styles of kung fu (Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Leopard and Crane). These styles were more than just fighting styles. They were also metaphors for handling confrontation and other situations. They also focused on different aspects of development - Dragon - to cultivate spirit, Tiger - to develop tough bones, Leopard - to build strength, Crane - to strengthen sinew, and Snake - to generate chi. Chueh combined hard and soft techniques in his forms.
Keep in mind Shaolin is a name which encompasses all styles of martial arts practiced in the temple. It is not an individual style.
After this restoration, the major milestones of development of Kung Fu became inextricably bound with historic events involving international influences on China. And it is here that the history of China and Kung Fu took a dark turn.
In 1644, invaders from Manchurian, led by the Ching Family, ended the Ming Dynasty. An internal rebellion contributed to this downfall. Thus Manchu's penetrated the great wall, and eventually conquered China. Some of those fleeing the Chings sought refuge in the Shaolin temples. The Shaolin, seeking to remain above politics, initially offered only passive resistance. By offering refuge to those fleeing the Chings, the Shaolin eventually became a de facto center of resistance. At this time the Shaolin had 5 elders (or Grand Masters that were Taoist or Buddhists monks):
Jee Shin – Founder of Shaolin Iron Cloth - (Iron Head Qi Gong master, Kung Fu expert, wooden dummy expert and weapons expert). Shin was the creator of Wing Chun Kung Fu and the founder of Hung Gar and Praising spring boxing.
Bai Mei – Founder of Golden Bell Iron Body - (Iron Body Qi Gong master) and White Eyebrow Kung Fu.
Fong Sai Yuk (Fong Doe Duk), Famous swordsman, founder of White Tiger Kung Fu (ancient Bok Fu Do).
Miu Hin, (elder but not an ordained monk) was founder of Five Shape boxing and helped develop Wing Chun
Ng Mui, (buddhist nun, Bil Gee master and Dim Mak expert) helped develop Wing Chun Kung Fu, founded Dragon shape boxing and Wu Mei boxing.
In 1647 AD, the original Shaolin temple in Henan was almost completely destroyed by Ching troops armed with cannons. The monks who tried to defend the temple were slaughtered. In the Traditional story the 5 elder monks are said to have survived and later influenced or created other styles based on the Shaolin arts. It is unlikely that only five monks survived the fire. Of the 1000 or so monks residing at the temple, perhaps 30 or 40 escaped. The rest were killed, jailed and tortured. Of the 5 elders, Bai Mei offered his services to the Ching and is said to have betrayed the Temple. The remaining 4 elders also escaped and fled south. Gee Shin is credited with influencing Hung Gar and the Wing Chun Long Pole. Miu Hin contributed to Wing Chun. Fung Sai Yuk created Bok Fu or, Way of the White Tiger. Bak Mei developed Bak Mei or White Eyebrow,and the Buddhist nun Ng Mui created Five Plum blossoms and contributed to Wing Chun.
Many stories are told of the exploits of the five surviving monks. Fong Sai Yuk, founder of ancient Bok Fu Do, took refuge on Wu Dang Mountain in the Hubei Province. Both Fong Sai Yuk and Bai Mae eventually settled in the Taoist Fukien Temple. For two years Fong Sai Yuk traveled through mountains and nearby deserts gathering knowledge from the nomadic tribes. He continued to battle the invading Chings and gained renown and fame for his skill as a swordsman. With the aid of his lieutenants Bak Mei, Mew Hing, Jee Shin Shim Shee, and the nun Ng Mui, he organized a following of almost a million strong called the "Heaven And Earth Society". Fong Sai Yuk developed both a “hard" form, Bok Fu, the way of the White Tiger; and a “soft” form that became to be known over the years as White Tiger Tai Chi. Fong Sai Yuk was well liked by the villagers surrounding Fukien. His skills in both Kung Fu, and herbal medicines earned him the name Jung Shee meaning "accomplished one" or grandmaster
A relative of Fong Sai Yuk (his daughter or niece), named Fong Wing Chun, was a master of the crane system. She married Hung Gee Gung (also known as Hung Hei Gwoon, Hei Kwun, Hei Guen) and together they created the Southern Hung Gar style drawing from both the Dragon and Crane styles.
Another famous martial artist and Buddhist Nun was Ng Mui. Legend has it that Ng Mui taught martial arts to her female friend Yim Wing Chun after Chun was forced to marry a local bully. After studying for a short time, she beat him in a public showdown and won her freedom.
Abbot Jee Shin relocated at Fujian Shaolin temple, which was later also destroyed. Jee Shin escaped and roamed the countryside spreading the word "kill the Ching and restore the Ming". He finally joined the Red Junk Opera troupe as a cook. While there, he developed Wing Chun Kung Fu.
With the beginning of Ching rule, the Shaolin were outlawed and practice of Shaolin Kung Fu or any martial art was punishable by death. Between 1644-1911, the rulers of China considered the Shaolin a threat. Scrolls that documented the original forms of Kung Fu were lost or burned and destroyed. In order to preserve the arts, masters began to secretly teach various Kung Fu styles to lay society – this is the practice that we follow today. Some martial artists migrated to other countries including the US, Japan, Indonesia, Malaise, Taiwan, etc. In Japan it evolved into Karate, and in Korea it was known as Tae Kwan Do. Many believe that all Asian martial arts evolved from Kung Fu. It appears that all current styles are off shoots of the original Shaolin Kung Fu from Southern China.
Near the start of the 19th century, the Shaolin Temples were reopened for religious purposes (not martial arts training). The Ming resistance continued to oppose the ruling Chings. During the 1800’s, capitalizing on the weak central government of China, Western powers including the British, Russia, France and Holland, and later the Japanese and Americans, established footholds in large parts of China. A long period of warlordism ensued. The opium trade and drug use devastated the poor. By the late 1800s, China was effectively divided into many zones, each controlled by one of the outside powers (similar to post World War II Berlin, on a much larger scale). The long-standing animosities between China and Japan worsened, and extended to include all other "foreign devils" as well. Coupled with the now almost universal disdain by the Chinese for the Ching Empress, a nationalist movement was born. Among the front line soldiers of the new "order" were legendary and near-legendary martial artists--many Shaolin--known to the English as “Boxers”.
MODERN KUNG FU
The fall of the Ching Dynasty began with the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. The rebellion itself was a total disaster for the Boxers. Some of the boxers, armed only with Kung Fu, believed magical spells would make them impervious to gunfire. The Manchu armies equipped with modern handguns and rifles massacred the boxers. After the defeat of the boxers, the remaining resistance adopted more modern weapons and tactics. The end of the boxer rebellion led to a new migration of surviving Ming loyalists (and many martial artists) from China to other countries including the US and Korea.
At the end of World War I, western forces began to withdraw from China. By 1931 almost all western occupants had left with one interesting exception. In the late 1930s the volunteer American airmen known as The Flying Tigers helped China repel Japanese forces prior to World War II. The major combatants within China were the Nationalists, the Communists, and the Japanese. The various occupying armies looted the old temples. O Mei Shan Temple ("Great White Mountain"), situated on a mountain in Szechwan Province was used for artillery practice. This site was rebuilt in the mid 1970s, and now serves as the National Park and Research Headquarters for the panda preserve.
The fact that the practice of marital arts was outlawed in China over such an extended period of time makes an authoritative study of Kung Fu history very difficult. Original scrolls and documents have been lost over the past three centuries. None of the styles that exist today exactly duplicate the original styles practiced by the Shaolin. All of the most popular styles use key elements of Martial Arts created by the Shaolin.
From the 1920's to the 1930's, many martial arts books were published. However, this was also a time of Civil War in China between the Communist forces of Mao Tze Tung and the Nationalists let by Chiang Kai-Shek. In 1928, there was a battle in the area of the Shaolin Temple. The Temple was burned again and all the major buildings were destroyed. With them, priceless books and records on martial arts were lost.
In Mainland China, under communist rule, all religion and all forms of martial arts were outlawed. However, Kung Fu was taught continuously in other parts of the world. Eventually, officials in Henan realized the importance of the Shaolin as a part of China’s heritage and its marketing value for tourism. The sport of Wu Shu is now popular in China and many of the Temples have been rebuilt to attract tourism. Today, martial arts have become a part of daily life for many citizens of China. It is an exciting turn of events that for the first time, in the 2008 Olympics, Wu Shu will be featured as an official event!
The 1960’s marked not only an awakening in the socio-cultural and political ideology of the West but also of the martial arts world. The 60’s brought the revolutionary influence of the late Bruce Lee. Lee is famous because of his appearance in numerous movies, but many people are unaware of his major influence on the martial arts. Lee’s profound contribution was the release of Kung Fu from its traditional bounds. He placed less emphasis on forms and particular techniques as ends, and more on training as a means toward physical and mental health, self-growth, inner harmony, and peaceful inner simplicity. Interestingly as you look back on the ancient history of Kung Fu, this was probably more in line with the philosophy of the ancient masters who were always looking for new knowledge.
Bruce Lee’s principle "Absorb what is useful and reject that which is useless" has become one of the most quoted statements in martial arts circles in recent years. Lee did not have one particular style that he trained – although he went from street fighting at a young age to training in Wing Chun. He taught that one must not bind oneself to the restrictions of a single style. He learned various martial arts including numerous styles of Kung Fu, Thai Boxing, Kali, Judo, Ju Jitsu, and Aikido. He also practiced western boxing, wrestling, fencing and French Savate. Bruce Lee’s impact spread far and wide, and has radically awakened the consciousness of many martial artists all over the world.
It is important to note, however, that a piece meal approach to Kung Fu is not usually best. Every style of Kung-Fu has a specific method or "Kung" that characterizes that style. Most of the time these methods are decidedly not transferable from one system to another. This is the reason why most great masters of Kung Fu focus in only one or two styles of Kung Fu in a lifetime.
The reason for this is that the methods of Ma Kung or stance, Bu Fa or stepping, Ging Kung or power generation and even Chi Kung (Chi Gong)or breathing/energy method differ so radically that to do one would degrade the training of another.
The ability to change all these elements from one to another notwithstanding, the very act of changing itself would take time, something which is precious in combat and means the difference between life and death.
Regardless, the combat effectiveness of either form being studied is lost for the most part. As renowned Sifu Bucksam Kong of the Sil Lum Pai has said, "It is better to know one form well than a hundred half learned."
There is another saying "You cannot control who is stronger in a confrontation. You cannot control who is faster or how many of them there are. The only thing you can control is the precision and depth of your own technique."