The Legends, History, and Lineage of Wing Chun Kung Fu - Martial Journal

[Xue Sheng]

The Legends, History, and Lineage of Wing Chun Kung Fu​

Wing Chun Kung Fu, a traditional Chinese martial art, is renowned for its practicality, efficiency, and elegance. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, its evolution is intertwined with legends, historical milestones, and the lives of those who carried its teachings forward. The following article explores the rich tapestry of Wing Chun Kung Fu, delving into its legendary origins, historical developments, and diverse lineages.

 

[windwalker099]

Yim Wing Chun, according to the tale, used this system to defend herself against an aggressive warlord who sought to force her into marriage. Demonstrating remarkable skill and ingenuity, she defeated him, proving the effectiveness of Ng Mui’s teachings. Whether fact or fiction, this story embodies the core principles of Wing Chun: adaptability, strategy, and empowerment.

Interesting article

The origin history I've always heard about growing up.
A style developed by a nun for a woman...

Considering some of the later teachers I was aware of, it seems like the emphasis shifted.
Or was it just the teacher's preference?"

"Most of the first section of Wing Chun's Mook Yan Jong In this rare clip of Grandmaster Chris Chan, first generation student of Ip Man. Chris Chan still teaches in San Francisco."

Once watched Chris working out on the mok jung, impressive at the time.

 

[Xue Sheng]

 

[Xue Sheng]

Interesting article

The origin history I've always heard about growing up.
A style developed by a nun for a woman...

Considering some of the later teachers I was aware of, it seems like the emphasis shifted.
Or was it just the teacher's preference?"

"Most of the first section of Wing Chun's Mook Yan Jong In this rare clip of Grandmaster Chris Chan, first generation student of Ip Man. Chris Chan still teaches in San Francisco."

even Yip Chun doubts the legendary origin story based on one of his books

 

[isshinryuronin]

"The origins of Wing Chun are steeped in myth and folklore. According to legend, the art was developed during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties by Ng Mui, one of the Five Elders of the Shaolin Temple. Ng Mui, a nun skilled in martial arts, fled after the Qing government destroyed the Shaolin Temple. Seeking refuge in the White Crane Temple, she began devising a new system of combat that focused on efficiency, precision, and the use of natural body mechanics over brute strength."

The italicized is from Xue Sheng's referenced article. In the version I know, the woman's name was Feng Qiniang who with her father, Zhonggong, fled south to Fukian province. But she couldn't have fled to the White Crane Temple since she had not invented White Crane yet!

"...inspiration allegedly came from observing a fight between a crane and a snake." There are a few other versions, all involving a white crane sans snake. Her revelations in each were the same, however.

"...according to the tale, used this system to defend herself against an aggressive warlord who sought to force her into marriage. Demonstrating remarkable skill and ingenuity, she defeated him. The version I know, this guy was Zeng Chisu and he did end up taking her as his wife as well as Chuan Fa master. From there, the Okinawan karate Crane lineage continues:

Zeng > Wang Faodang > Lin Shixian > Pan Yuba (creator of whooping crane) > Ryu Ryu Ko > Okinawan Te masters Arigake Seisho and Higashionna Kanryo. This stream supplied about 1/3 of what was to become karate.

Wing Chun and Okinawan karate are distant cousins, probably diverging after Wang who had many students. They are also linked by fighting doctrine:

"Simultaneous Attack and Defense: Wing Chun techniques often combine defensive and offensive actions into a single motion, maximizing efficiency and minimizing vulnerability.
Close-Range Combat: Unlike many martial arts, Wing Chun specializes in close-quarters fighting. Its techniques are designed to neutralize threats quickly and effectively."

TMA has many interconnections, crisscrossing among a variety of styles and regions. An interesting history that can shed some light on what we have today. I think it's pretty cool.

 

[windwalker099]

even Yip Chun doubts the legendary origin story based on one of his books

Donno

Just something I had heard growing up...Had a friend who's uncle taught Wing Chun different branch.
much softer...As I would expect of something developed according to the history for a woman...

 

[Same Trick]

Wing Tsun has striking similarities of history with Taijiquan and White Crane(Bai He) of Fujian/Fukien-Province.

Wing Tsun and White Crane where both founded by women with focus on method of the weaker can defeat the stronger, just as is the core concept of Taiji.

The founder of Wing Tsun learned from a Shaolin nun who developed her martial art from an observation of a fight between a snake and a crane, similar to how Zhang Sanfeng who had resided at the Shaolin temple also come to develop TJQ from an observation of a snake vs crane fight.

The legendary founder of White Crane gongfu settled in a village called Yong Chun and her style of gongfu came to be known as YongChun BaiHequan , “Yong Chun” in Cantonese would be Wing Chun. This is interesting since the nun Ng Mui settled in a temple called “white crane”.

I recall reading in the big book “Wing Tsun Kuen” by Leung Ting the story of Leung Jan(a legendary historic figure in Wing Tsun) initially learned from spying on his teacher, when he was found out and tested he became a disciple student, as for profession Leung Jan was a herbal medicine doctor. This is remarkable similar to the story of Yang Luchan the founder of Yang-TJQ, Yang Luchan as a young apprentice at a herbal medicine store came to follow the store owner to his home village - the Chen village, while there Yang Luchan spied on the group that was practicing the village gongfu, when found out and tested he became a disciple student.



It would seem that perhaps there was an ancient core tale told all over and it was adopted and slightly altered to fit the tale of different martial arts traditions history ??

 

[Callen]

It would seem that perhaps there was an ancient core tale told all over and it was adopted and slightly altered to fit the tale of different martial arts traditions history ??

It is largely due to the Chinese genre of Wuxia novels, which blurred the lines between fact and fiction.

 

[windwalker099]

It is largely due to the Chinese genre of Wuxia novels, which blurred the lines between fact and fiction

Story telling something all cultures do passing down traditions and values based on the heros of their time

 

[windwalker099]

@Xue Sheng

Any thoughts on Chi Sau (黐手) competitions ?

 

[Xue Sheng]

@Xue Sheng

Any thoughts on Chi Sau (黐手) competitions ?

Never been in one, not good enough to be in one, never even seen one, so I have no opinion at this time

 

[Buka]

The Legends, History, and Lineage of Wing Chun Kung Fu​

That was a great read, Xue.

 

[isshinryuronin]

It would seem that perhaps there was an ancient core tale told all over and it was adopted and slightly altered to fit the tale of different martial arts traditions history ??

Very likely. Also, many kung fu teachers attached themselves to the Shaolin legacy to attract students.

Zhang Sanfeng who had resided at the Shaolin temple also come to develop TJQ from an observation of a snake vs crane fight.

He was a Daoist acupuncturist as well, known for developing dual pressure point applications for combat. Didn't hear that he was into the snake/crane thing, though. He dates back to the 1300's. The white crane lady, Qiniang or whatever name she's called by, came about 400 years later and her story is part of the Bubishi. I would guess that after this time Zhang's fan club attached him to the crane story to piggyback off of white crane's popularity.

 

[Same Trick]

Very likely. Also, many kung fu teachers attached themselves to the Shaolin legacy to attract students.

He was a Daoist acupuncturist as well, known for developing dual pressure point applications for combat. Didn't hear that he was into the snake/crane thing, though. He dates back to the 1300's. The white crane lady, Qiniang or whatever name she's called by, came about 400 years later and her story is part of the Bubishi. I would guess that after this time Zhang's fan club attached him to the crane story to piggyback off of white crane's popularity.

Most of the Zhang Sanfeng stories came about in the 17th century. One tale tell he hailed from Fujian(Fukien) province, so there’s another point of possibly tjq - white crane boxing connection , also interestingly one of the (original)names of TJQ is “13 postures boxing”, “Seisan” comes to mind.

I could go more far out on Zhang Sanfeng connecting him to ancient Egypt and Greece, but that would be going too off topic so I leave that out

 

[isshinryuronin]

I could go more far out on Zhang Sanfeng connecting him to ancient Egypt and Greece, but that would be going too off topic, so I leave that out

Thank you.

 

[Xue Sheng]

Most of the Zhang Sanfeng stories came about in the 17th century. One tale tell he hailed from Fujian(Fukien) province, so there’s another point of possibly tjq - white crane boxing connection , also interestingly one of the (original)names of TJQ is “13 postures boxing”, “Seisan” comes to mind.

I could go more far out on Zhang Sanfeng connecting him to ancient Egypt and Greece, but that would be going too off topic so I leave that out

Zhang Sanfeng was REAL!!! well no​

 

[isshinryuronin]

Most of the Zhang Sanfeng stories came about in the 17th century.

Karate did not have defined styles till starting about 1930. Geographic descriptions as Shuri, Tomari and Naha-te MA started about 1920 by Funakoshi. A general description of either "shorin" (considered "hard") or "shorei" (considered "soft") was made by Itosu in 1908. But the art was generally referred to simply as "toude jutsu," or "Ryukyu kenpo" in those early years.

(Both Funakoshi and Itosu sort of walked back their above thoughts saying they were just being descriptive, not divisional in their statements. Even in the '30's, most of the great masters had reservations of having categorized styles and had thoughts of their unification, but the War put it end to it.)

Not that there was no difference in how the art was done by different people in different towns. It was just taken for granted that each had their own way of expressing the art they often practiced together or learned from the same teachers in common. It was basically one art done in slightly different ways. No attempt to was made to say, "If you do the art this way, it's called X, that way it's called Y, etc. till the mid 1930's.

Zhang Sanfeng from the 1300's seems to have the honor of having invented tai chi, internal/neijia CMA. Ascribing stories about him to the 1600's coincides with the trend to merge Daoist thinking into CMA during that time. I have read that written distinction between internal and external styles did not appear till after 1800. This does not mean some CMA wasn't done "harder" and other CMA done "softer," just that it was not named "internal/external." But once something is named, the name sticks. And once a thing is named it strives to live up to its name.

So, it could well be internal and external, rather than being two distinct divisions of CMA, were simply differences in what the teacher emphasized. One may have stressed breathing, another teacher, the physical execution. The physically stressed teaching may have been popular in the North, while the breathing emphasis was more popular in the South. Also perhaps playing a part is that Buddhism was more prevalent in the North while Daoism had a stronger root in the South.

It seems Chinese and Okinawan MA share a similar evolution in this respect, although China's was in an earlier timeframe. Sometimes, the act of naming a thing, rather than reflecting a divide, can actually encourage it. The more I learn of TMA, the less stock I put in names. At its root, all styles are MA.