Shaolin Kung Fu Styles
Tong
Bei Quan (Back Through Boxing) (02)
...Others
say it was created in either the period of the Five Dynasties(
907-960) or the Sung (960-1279) some attribute Tong Bei to one
General Han Tong, who was recorded in some books as one of the 18
ancient masters. Another version claims it was created by Chen
Tuan in the early Sung. Chen Tuan (Taoist name of FuYaoZi) died
around 989. A famous scholar he developed the Tai Chi diagram we
use today. He practiced in the famous martial center of Hua Shan (Hua
Mountain) a region known for great martial skills. Chen was also
said to have created 12 sitting exercises and to able to sleep for
100 days without arising.
Huang
TsongHsi, a Ming scholar, wrote in Essay of Southern Thunderbolts
that TongBei was the best of all styles of Kung Fu. In his
biography of Wang ChengNan, Huang Bai Chia called Tong Bei a Long
Fist style. We can at least see that Tong Bei was popular
throughout the Ming times.
During
mid-Ching times it was taught by Lu Yun Ching to Chi Tai Chang. In
the early 19th century TBC came to light through the teaching of
Lu Ying Ching, also a Taoist master. Yu had two disciples: Chi
Hsin and Shi Hong Shen. From these distinct disciples came two
branches of the Tong Bei family: Chi style and Shi style. Other
branches even developed from these two. Nowadays they both survive
with Chi style (also called Chai Chuan-separating fist) claiming
108 techniques and Shi style specializing in 24 special postures (Lian
Chuan form). Chi Hsin taught in HeBei during the late Ching.
Though called Chi style it was later renamed Tong Bei. Chi's son,
Chi TaiChang, developed the techniques so much further that there
are still two styles of this linneage, one from the father and
another from the son. A later student, Hsi ChianChi re-assembled
the two branches and left his findings in a series of valuable
writing for Tong Bei afficianados. This unusual history, in
which Tong Bei was a famous style of Kung Fu for so long and at
the same times almost invisible in WuShu history is due to its
very conservative, almost sectarian transmission. Instructors of
Tong Bei have been very reticent to openly pass on their knowledge.
Secret teaching was the rule, not the exception. Chi style, for
instance, was a little less secretive than Shi and the result is
that, today, the majority of players come from the Chi branch.
Some teachers of the more close-mouthed persuasion continued in
their secretive ways and became known as Black Fist instructors...
