History of Taiji Praying Mantis
Based on An Article in New Martial Hero Magazine
Translated by Robert Hui
(Revised Feb 14, 2005)
Preliminary
1. When I first translated this article in 2001, I was at the very beginning of the search for the truth and facts. Information available in the original article and subsequently this translation reflect the oral tradition of CCK TCPM. This however may not be fully inline with other Taiji Mantis lineages or other Mantis lineages for that matter. It is important to remember that these tales are important as they reveal clues to how the style and/or lineage developed despite possible inaccuracies in historical facts.
2. This article appeared as installments in the New Martial Hero Magazine (out of print) Issue #118, #121, and #126. Possibly recited by a long time student of Grandmaster Chiu Chuk Kai, Sifu Kwong Kwan Wai, who once taught in Macao, and written by a journalist named Leung Kwong Yi.
3. All proper names appear in the translation of the article are in Mandarin pinying or Romanization. For example, Taiji is the Mandarin pinying of Tai Chi and is more popular in use these days.
4. All person names follow the Chinese convention with the surname first and given name follows. All person names are in Mandarin pingying except Grandmaster Chiu Chuk Kai’s name which is retained in Cantonese for the purpose of the style’s abbreviation namely CCK TCPM
5. All information and additional notes follow mainly CCK TCPM oral tradition. It may not be consistent with historical facts.
Shaolin Taiji Praying Mantis division was founded in Shandong province, China, by a renowned master named Wang Lang. [1] Wang's family lived in Gimo County in Shandong province. In their village, they owned the majority of the lands and properties. Wang's father hired scholars to tutor young Wang Lang at home. At the same time he was also educated in the martial arts by various masters. At age eighteen, Wang's father passed away. His last wish was for Wang to experience more of the out side world. Wang, being encouraged by his masters, was confident enough to travel around and hopefully test his skill with other great martial arts masters. One day, Wang arrived at Ling Yin Temple on Mt. Da Se where he was greeted by the abbot. Martial arts became a subject of the conversation. The abbot invited Wang to demonstrate his skill. Soon they engaged in a friendly match. In the end, the abbot commented that Wang's martial arts skill wasn't advanced enough to claim mastery. Wang argued that even Master Wang Jia Zhong (Shaolin Taizu division) [2], who was one of his martial arts masters, applauded his skill. The Abbot kindly pointed out that they were under Wang's employment. It is only natural for them to praise his skill. It cannot be taken as the truth.
Next day, on his journey home, he rested under tree depressed about his defeat. Suddenly, he was attracted by a praying mantis preying after a much larger cicada. He observed the skilled hunter for a while and he took a fallen twig and played with the insect. The reaction of the little insect seemed to have certain methodology. Upon this revelation, he captured another one and took them home to further study their skills. After a few years, he was able to merge the praying mantis inspired techniques with Master Wang Jia Zhong's "12 hands" techniques. [3]
Wang visited Ling Yin Temple again. The abbot was startled by his remarkable progress. He was unable to identify Wang's style despite of his vast knowledge of the many existing styles. The abbot was keen on finding out which style Wang had come across. Wang recited the story about the praying mantis and that his new techniques were inspired by the movements of the praying mantis. At this point, the abbot advised that the praying mantis being a four-legged insect did not have the ideal footwork, which could become a hindrance of the hand techniques. From that day on the abbot invited Wang as a guest in the temple and showed him where they could observe movements, mainly their footwork, of the mountain primates. [4] The Abbot reckoned that primates have agile footwork largely due to the fact that they leap and jump around their habitat mostly. After each observation, they would research the folic of the primates and incorporated their findings into the Mantis hand techniques. As time went by, Wang forged very agile footwork under the tutelage of the abbot. Six years had passed since the second match; Wang eventually formulated three routines with the praying mantis hand techniques and the footwork of the primates. They are Bengbu, Lanjie and Shang Xia Ba Zhou (Upper and Lower Routines of Eight Elbows) [5] respectively.
At this time, a conference [6] of Shantung martial arts community was being held on Mt. Da Se. Representatives of various schools and divisions from the community gathered to exchange thoughts and ideas. Wang seized the opportunity to showcase his Praying Mantis Kung Fu. The audience was deeply impressed. There was among them a Shaolin Taizu division practitioner named Hao Zi Yuan [7], who was known for his chivalry, from Laiyang County. Their respects for each other formed a friendship that later prompted Wang to become the mentor of Hao. Hao learned the Praying Mantis kung Fu and later taught the system to his brother, Hao Jie.
A few years later, Ma Qiang, who sought after Praying Mantis Kung Fu, befriended Hao Jie. Ma Qiang was a civilian prior to his learning Kung Fu. Unfortunately, he fell in the company of robbers similar to the ways of Robin Hood. On one mission, he broke into one of the palace resorts. Before he got the lucrative loot, he was captured by the imperial guards. The prison couldn't hold Ma Qiang for long. He soon became fugitive and was pursued by law enforcement people. Eventually, he fled to Laiyang County where he came upon a manor owned by Mr. Liang, who has a son by the name of Liang Xue Xiang. Mr. Liang senior was directing his men, who were working in the fields. He saw Ma Qiang in chains. Ma pleaded for mercy. To save Ma, they covered him with hay and misled the pursuing party to some place else. Ma thanked Mr. Liang and explained his predicament. Mr. Liang then freed Ma of his chains and offered him sanctuary in his manor. During his stay, Ma offered to teach Liang Xue Xiang Praying Mantis Gong Fu to reciprocate the kindness of the Liangs. Liang senior, knowing the benefit of Gong Fu, let young Liang to learn from Ma. Liang Xue Xiang spent 3 years to learn the system and spent another 3 years to further develop it. He developed a saber and a staff routine. Liang Xue Xiang became the 4th generation patriarch.
[8]Ma Qiang stayed at the Liangs for 3 years. After Ma's departure, Liang Xue Xiang spent another 3 years to research and further develop his Praying Mantis Kung Fu, resulting in the formulation of "Yin Shou Gun"- the double handed staff and "Bagua Lan Men Dao" - the nine ringed broad saber routines. Praying Mantis Gong Fu became more and more prestigious. Sun Yuan Chang (formerly from Laiyang County) and Jiang He Long (Haiyang County) [9] came from Yantai, the former capital of Shantung province, to study the famous system under Master Liang Xue Xiang. They came from far away to seek after this system, which is known for its effectiveness. Sun graduated and returned to Yantai where he opened a training hall to further popularize Praying Mantis Kung Fu. [10]Ren Feng Rui [11] (Haiyang county) and Chi Shou Jin [12] (Laiyang County) studied under Master Sun. When Master Sun passed away at an old age, Ren and Chi together operated their master's training hall for a while. Later Chi left Master Sun's hall and would open and his own hall in Yantai. Ren took over the Master's hall.
Master Chiu Chuk Kai, returning to Yantai from his study in a monastery on Mt. Da Se [13], was to reunite with his family. He acquired a living as a security guard for caravan through an acquaintance. Master Chiu learned Praying Mantis Kung from Master Ren soon after he started work. Three years later, Master Chiu and his peers employed Master Chi to further their studies. Under Master Ren, Master Chiu was exposed to the routines mostly, yet the applications were completed through the teachings of Master Chi. Hence, Master Chiu became most proficient in Taiji Praying Mantis Kung Fu both in routines and applications. [14]
Notes:
1. Some martial arts historians claim that Lang was not a given name. It rather meant a young male. So Wang Lang might mean a young male of Wang's family.
2. Shaolin Taizu division was and still is a popular northern martial art style. It is one of the major Long Fist schools.
3. According to this article, Master Wang Jia Zhong's teaching might have inspired the 12 characters principle of Praying Mantis. No detail on Wang Jia Zhong is available.
4. Most believe the primates are mountain monkeys with black furs. No detail on which specie of primates was given.
5. It is said that Praying Mantis uses medium bridges and strides. This is contrary to Wang Jia Zhong's Shaolin Taizu division, which uses long bridges and large strides. Wang observed that the mantis often flexes its talons without fully extended them. He deduced that mantis methodology should be medium bridges, which is at the ideal range to use Chin Na (joints and limbs manipulations). Lanjie articulates the mantis use of its "talons". The medium strides mimic the primates' leaps and bounces during their folic. Because of the mountain terrain and forest habitat, long strides would not give the primate their agility, as would a medium stride; therefore, Praying Mantis Kung Fu uses medium strides. Bengbu routine best exemplify primates' footwork.
6. The nature of the conference was unknown, although there are some speculations of an agenda to organize the rebellion forces against the Qing Imperial court. Some Kung Fu historians believe Wang was a revolutionist of his time attending such conference to recruit supporters.
7. Hao Zi Yuan had an alias. He was often known as "Zhen Dong Da Xia" the knight errant and guardian of the Eastern townships. Unfortunately, no written documents exist of his deeds.
8. Liang Xue Xiang (1810 - ? CE) was magnanimous and generous. He was well liked by other martial arts masters. It was said that masters from 17 different styles created a routine with the techniques of their styles and presented to Liang as a birthday present; hence, the birth of "Quan Zhong Zhai Yao" which means essential techniques of the styles.
9. Jiang He Long should be Jiang Hualong (1855-1924 CE), a prominent student of Liang Xue Xiang and a very important proponent of Tanglang system.
10. Master Sun officially named his branch Taiji Tanglang (praying mantis), which at the time had no affiliation with Taijiquan. Master Jiang designated his branch Meihwa (Plum Flower) Mantis for quite sometime during his teaching career before finally collaborated with his student Song Zide to create what is now known as Taiji Tanglang in Yantai, Shandong.
11. Ren Feng Rui and Chi Shou Jin enrolled at different time (could be quite a few years apart). Ren eventually took over the training seems to imply his seniority. He was proficient in transmitting the forms (routines) of the style. Ren’s grand students in Yantai City today called their style Meihwa Tanglang.
12. According to CCK TCPM's documentation, Master Chi was the lineage holder of Master Sun’s style whose expertise was in the applications of techniques. According to Master Chiu, Master Chi was the honorary son (God son) of Master Sun. The title of linage holder was passed from Master Chi to Master Chiu who attended Master Chi until his demise.
13. The monastery’s name is Zhi Cang Si (Canon of Wisdom)
14. Grandmaster Chiu's (1900 – 1991 CE) biography can be found in the Taiji Praying Mantis Wooden Dummy Book. It is largely his effort to include Taiji systems into Taiji Praying Mantis.
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