Person Featured: Adrian Chan-Wyles Age: 20-years-old Location: Back Garden - 29 Siddalls Gardens, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6DG Time of Year: Late Summer - August-September Year: c. 1987 Photographer: Cousin visiting from Oxford - with her family. I would often practice Shukokai Karate-Do (and our Chinese gongfu family style) in the back garden of my parental home during the Summer Holidays of the academic year (when I was studying at college in Hereford). Master Chan Tin Sang (1924-1993) had given me the task of surreptitiously practicing various lineages of Japanese Karate-Do and studying the Chinese cultural origins of these martial arts! My cousin caught me performing the various 'Katas' - the 'middle' photograph is 'Yoi' in Japanese Karate-Do - or the 'Ready' and 'Alert' posture and attitude assumed prior to (and after completing) the performance of the various 'Pinan' Katas - and then carried-on watching whilst I performed the Chinese gongfu 'Basic Form One' [小形一 - Xiao Xing Yi] (the 'lower-block' performed in 'Horse Stance' in the third photograph on the right) - and the 'flying front-kick' found in the '3rd Advanced Form' (離拳- Li Quan) from our Longfist style (first photograph on the left)! From 1983-1984 I practiced one-year of Wado Kai (Southern Karate-Do) in Reigate and Redhill, I then trained in the Shukokai Karate-Do Federation (SKF) between 1984-1987, and then Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do (1987-1989) - both in Hereford. I also occasionally trained in the odd Dojo here and there around Devon (usually 'Shotokan') and I trained in Goju Ryu in Finchley (North London) a few times. However, as I matured and my mind and body developed into the inner and outer structures required by our family (Hakka) gongfu style - my experiment with other martial arts ended around 1993 as I started moving out of my youthful days. Eventually, once a style is properly practiced - then the inner (chemical) and outer (physical) body transforms into the 'shape' the style requires so that the correct 'functions' (or 'techniques') are developed. This means that eventually the techniques of other styles cannot be practiced in a deep or fundamental manner as the building blocks are completely different. Of course, this does not mean that nothing can be learned from other styles - but the profound knowledge must be transformed (or 'translated') into the dialectical language of the style that has been regularly practiced. In other words, when traditional martial arts are practiced over long periods of time - the inner and outer mind and body 'change' due to the continuous effort being exerted in a particular direction. When young, however, the energy channels in the body are still malleable and flexible - but this changes with age and experience.
0 Comments
Dear Tony
Chinese Language: Saifa = Lion Law '碎破的SAIFA发音,其实是福建话当中的『狮法』, 除了隐喻这个套型有著狮子般的战斗动作外,其实仔细看本套型的动作,也会发觉它的动作构成与『狮阵』、『弄狮』的招式颇为类似,我曾经学习过台湾狮阵拳术当中的『狮战拳』也与这个『狮法』颇为类似!' As Fuzhou exists in Southeast Fujian province, I am assuming that the dialect spoken when Higaonna Kanryo was taught gongfu - was a version of South Hokkien (Min Nan). Kata Preserved in Okinawa = 'Saifa' Chinese Ideograms: 碎 (sui4) 破 (po4) Translation = Shatter - Break (Tear) Fujian - Hokkien = Sui Pho Alternative Name 'Shi Fa': Chinese Ideograms = 狮 (shi1) 法 (fa3) Fujian - Hokkien = Sai Hoat Ten Logical Arguments Against this Theory: 1) Miyagi Chojun possessed 'inside' knowledge regarding Higaonna Kanryo's gongfu transmission from China and said nothing about this. 2) Contained in both ideograms of the 'Saifa' (碎破) Kata title is the left-hand particle of '石' (shi2). This is a 'rock' perched on the edge of a cliff - before it suddenly drops - generating tremendous power! Many movements in the Saifa Kata generate power by 'dropping' the bodyweight (together with the depth and width of stance). I believe the secret to Goju Ryu power production lies in these ideograms and that they are 'correct'. 3) This situation is exemplified by the fact that Miyagi Chojun used the first ideogram of 'Saifa' (碎 - sui4) as the 'second' ideogram of his 'Geksai' (击碎) Katas. a) Saifa = 碎破 b) Geksai = 击碎 4) If 'Saifa' really derived from the 'Lion Law' - why did Miyagi Chojun not use the '狮' (shi1) - or 'Lion' - ideogram in 'Geksai' and project a greater sense of tradition into his new creation? This would have read '击狮' (Gekshi) and translate as 'Strike Lion'! 5) The ideogram '破' (po4) - even if replaced with the ideogram '法' (fa3) - has no correlation with the Hokkien 'Hoat' pronunciation of the latter ideogram. 6) The second ideogram of 'Saifa' is '破' (po4) - whereas the title of the Goju Ryu Kata 'Kururunfa' (久留顿破) - also uses '破' (po4) as its final ideogram. a) 久 (jiu3) - Hokkien (Ku) = Long (Duration) b) 留 (liu2) - Hokkien (Liu) = Hold (Detain) c) 顿 (dun4) - Hokkien (Tun) = Sudden (Abrupt) d) 破 (po4) - Hokkiem (Pho) = Break (Tear) 7) If the logic of the 'Saifa = Lion Law' argument is retained for a moment, then the final ideogram of 'Kururunfa' which is '破' (po4) - should be replaced with the alternative ideogram of '法' (fa3). 8) The Kata name 'Kururunfa' would then be spelt '久留顿法' and mean 'Long Hold Sudden Law'. 9) The argument seems to be that the ideogram '碎' (sui4) [shatter] should be replaced with the ideogram '狮' (shi1) [lion] simply upon the grounds that the latter is pronounced 'sai' in Hokkien! Furthermore, the ideogram '破' (po4) [break] should be done away with altogether and replaced with the ideogram '法' (fa3 [law] - whilst retaining its (Putonghua-Mandarin) pronunciation of 'fa' and quietly laying to one side its Hokkien rendering of 'hoat'! This all seems very selective and designed to take advantage of a Western lack of experience with the Chinese language. 10) There seems to be a trade in dubious styles all referring to themselves as being various incarnations of the 'Lion' in Taiwan - all competing for Western money and diverting the onus for Goju Ryu enthusiasts away from Mainland China and onto Taiwan (The Chinese language author above states that he has attended a number of different classes of various 'Lion' styles whilst visiting Taiwan). Higaonna Morio is very popular in Mainland China and the 'Saifa = Lion Law' phenomenon appears to be as political as it is unconvincing. All Chinese gongfu was banned in Taiwan between 1895-1945 - whilst the KMT destroyed the Shaolin Temple in 1928 due to Chiang Kai-Shek preferring Christianity, etc. Dear Tony
Thank you for your emails - I am glad you have made very good connections and breakthroughs! Our cultural aspect is Hakka Chinese - and I wouldn't wish that on any one! Our gongfu is passed on within the Chan (陳) family lineage but young people today have no interest because the world has changed! I have a daughter who lives in Beijing - she mastered one element of our family style - and my two younger daughters are learning another element - but this is the internal aspect passed on between father and child. As regards my partner - Gee - her family name is 'Yau' (邱 - Qiu) named after Confucius. Her family were servants of Confucius who possessed no surname (most ordinary Chinese people did not have surnames at that time and were not allowed to venerate their ancestors at family graves) - but so grateful was the Kong (孔) family for their loyalty and good behaviour that Confucius gave her family one of his first names - '丘' (Qiu) - to be used as their surname and they rose up in society as a consequence! The Yongzheng Emperor (1677-1735 CE) during the Qing Dynasty, however, took exception to this and ordered that an 'ear' shape be added to the right-side of the surname - '邱' - to further distinguish her family from the Confucian name! Some people resisted whilst others conformed. My partner's family migrated into the Guangdong area (as Hakkas) and in Cantonese her name 'Qiu' is pronounced 'Yau'. When I spoke to her older relatives - they said that to obey the emperor without question is the essence of Confucian teaching - and not to obey is nothing but a betrayal of the trust Confucius placed in her family in the first place - so the right ear shape was added and has been retained (I believe it is two burial mounds placed on their side). Such is the history that shapes our present! Thanks Adrian The official Karate-Do class was held by Master Mekura Kenichi (铭苅拳一) (b. 1947) in Shanghai during 1988 – after he had respectfully approached the government of Mainland China with diplomatic support from Japan and Brazil! He stayed in China for twenty-five years teaching the Kobayashi lineage of the Shorin Ryu Karate-Do style. After spending a quarter of a century moving around and teaching throughout China – he retired aged 66 years and left China in 2013 leaving behind a great reputation amongst the Chinese people! Just nineteen years after the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese in 1945 – the British Authorities of the colony of Hong Kong permitted a rich Japanese business man named ‘Mr Harada’ to open a ‘private’ Dojo in 1964 (teaching the Japanese Goju Kai style of Karate-Do) within an exclusive health club located along the coastline of Hong Kong Island! In other words, well within the living memory of Chinese (and other people) who were the victims of Imperial Japanese atrocities – the British Authorities in Hong Kong allowed a previous vehicle of Imperial Japanese atrocities (I.e. ‘Karate-Do’) to be ‘sold’ to the general public as a ‘leisure’ activity! Although the British Colonial Authorities operated a strict ‘racial’ and ‘cultural’ segregation policy throughout Hong Kong (with Chinese men used as labourers and Chinese women as prostitutes)! The way these exclusive health clubs operated was that ‘Members’ had the right to ‘invite’ any friend or colleague they wished providing the other Members did not protest. Therefore, the Goju Kai Dojo was intended for ethnic ‘Japanese’ only – but this principle was short-circuited by the fact that a young Chinese man named ‘Lin Jingfeng’ (林竞峰) [1947-2018] - was invited into the classes by a Japanese Member. As none of the Japanese Members protested – Lin Jingfeng was allowed to stay and over the decades became a highly skilled (Japanese) Goju Kai and then (Okinawan) Goju Ryu Karate-Do practitioner. In 1979, the ‘International Okinawan Goju Ryo Karate-Do Federation’ (IOGKF) was founded in the UK. In 1980, the Head Instructor of the IOGKF – Higaonna Morio – appointed Lin Jingfeng the IOGKF Branch Supervisor of all Hong Kong AND Mainland China Dojos (registered with the IOGKF). As Lin Jingfeng was a Cantonese citizen of Hong Kong - and given that he was well-known as a high-ranking Goju Ryu practitioner amongst the many distinct Chinese ethnic groups that lived on Hong Kong island, the boats surrounding the Hong Kong coast (the Dan-Ka boat people), and all the different Chinese clans living throughout the New Territories – the idea that he was chosen as the official IOGKF Representative (or ‘Supervisor’) of all the IOGKF Dojos in and around the Hong Kong region that comprised the British colony and/or ‘Protectorate’ of Hong Kong was logical and legal. The IOGKF, however, possessed no political, cultural or legal right to appoint Lin Jingfeng as the IOGKF Representative of Mainland China! The British Authorities controlled Hong Kong only – and possessed no authority whatsoever anywhere in Mainland China! Placing Lin Jingfeng as the ‘Representative’ of Mainland China in 1980, then, was an ‘empty’ appointment that possessed no real substance. Lin Jingfeng only became (by default) the IOGKF Representative of Mainland China in 1997 – when the British Colonial Authorities ‘handed-back’ Hong Kong to direct Mainland Chinese control! The 1964 Goju Kai Dojo was established upon Chinese soil, but it was a part of China that had been artificially and viciously excised from the direct political control of the Chinese Mainland because of British imperialist greed and militarism during the 19th century! Hong Kong was a part of Mainland China – but was not under the direct political control of the Chinese people in 1964 - and so the Goju Kai Dojo does not qualify as the ‘first official’ Karate-Do class established within a fully independent and functioning Mainland China! As modern Japan (which is a close ally of the US) refuses to acknowledge its atrocities and war crimes throughout China (and Asia) committed during the 1930s and 1940s – it is doubtful that any genuine Chinese government would permit Japanese businesses and Japanese ‘militarised’ leisure activities at any time throughout the 1960s! Foreign powers aggressive toward Chinese interests, however, (such as the British, the Japanese and the ‘Nationalist’ Chinese), then it is more likely that activities such as Karate-Do would be taught! The Japanese invaded and brutally suppressed the Chinese and aboriginal people of the island of Taiwan during 1895. This resistance fighting carried on for about five years before the invading Japanese managed to turn Taiwan into a Japanese-controlled Police State controlled through the use of regular ‘mass’ public executions through beheadings! Chinese language, religion and martial arts practice were outlawed – and replaced with a full Japanese education syllabus typical of that found throughout Mainland Japan! In 1901, the racist Japanese government changed the name of ‘Tang Hand’ (唐手 - Tang Shou) - referring to the various systems of ‘Chinese’ martial arts transmitted to (and preserved upon) the island of Okinawa - into ‘Empty Hand’ (空手 - Kong Shou) - a Japanese ‘joke’ which suggests a martial activity now ‘emptied’ of ALL Chinese historical influence and philosophical meaning! Later, the mediocre Okinawan Karate-Do practitioner Funakoshi Gichin (who was in the pay of the Imperial Japanese government) would invent the bizarre falsehood that this ‘empty hand’ Japanese art was somehow linked to the Heart Sutra – a text popular amongst a certain stratum of well-off Japanese people – which discusses the inherent ‘emptiness’ of all phenomena. As the Imperial Japanese Army had subdued the war-like Taiwanese (Chinese) people by 1900, and given that the mass atrocities had killed many of the most effective leaders and removed tens of thousands of Chinese militants, I suspect that the very first Japanese ‘Karate-Do’ class (albeit ‘enforced’) was held on the subjugated Chinese island of Taiwan at some point from 1901 onwards – the date that the Imperial Japanese government introduced Karate-Do training as a keep-fit sport into all Japanese schools! Certainly, photographic evidence suggests that the Japanese (colonial) social control mechanism not only involved the brutality of public executions (often using traditional martial arts to kill the condemned), but also mass exercise sessions in public – very similar to how Japanese business personnel still start their working shifts today! Although Japan controlled Taiwan for fifty brutal years – until 1945 – the criminality did not stop there as the brutality of the dregs of the ‘Nationalist’ regime ‘invaded’ Taiwan and started a massacre of ALL those Chinese people who supported the Revolutionary Forces that finally came to power in 1949! This is a further ‘Crime Against Humanity’ and a ‘War Crime’ similar in magnitude to anything the Japanese committed – who also paid so-called Karate-Do experts to ‘Reverse-Punch’ condemned people to death who were tied to posts! This is part of the ‘dark’ history of Japanese-controlled Karate-Do that requires exposing! Chinese Language References:
http://k.sina.com.cn/article_6470899233_181b21621001005qlr.html#/ http://k.sina.com.cn/article_6420892685_p17eb70c0d0010027gi.html?cre=newspagepc&mod=f&loc=4&r=9&doct=0&rfunc=100#/ https://baike.baidu.com/item/台湾日据时期/19314241?fromtitle=日属台湾&fromid=22925746 http://news.sohu.com/20051024/n227289887.shtml https://www.krzzjn.com/show-1208-76563.html Dear Tony
In many English language texts the story is told that all the historical evidence collected by Higaonna Kanryo and Miyagi Chojun was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa (April 1st - June 22nd 1945) - however, a slightly different story is told in this Chinese language text: [空手] 吳賢貴 略傳[Empty-handed] A brief biography of Wu Xiangui From what I can gather, this is a blog of a Taiwanese IOGKF practitioner who visited Okinawa and carried field research whilst training with the Goju Ryu instructors living on the island (I believe the Miyagi family). He has gathered photographs of 'Wu Xiangui' but this person still has no proper Chinese name (the characters used '吳賢貴' are Japanese phonetics)! However, at one point in the story relating the adventures of Miyagi Chojun and Wu Xiangui travelling to and from China - the author suddenly says this: '只可惜其中預定要翻譯成日文的中國拳術書籍都在1944年10月10日的美軍空襲裡面被燒毀 .' 'It's a pity that the Chinese boxing books that were scheduled to be translated into Japanese were all burned in the US air raid on October 10, 1944.' This devastating event was a full five months prior to the catastrophic Battle of Okinawa! Of course, there may have been more than one collection of historical data and this statement might only be referring to the gongfu manuals (common in China) that Miyagi Chojun was presented with by the Head Teachers working at the Jing Wu Athletic Association! With Respect Adrian Mr Mekaru Kenichi (铭苅拳一) (b. 1947) Mainland China's First 'Official' Karate-Do Teacher! (15.1.2012)8/23/2022 Translator's Note: Master Mekaru Kenichi was born in '旧大里' (Jiu Da Li) Village in Okinawa during 1947 (that is the 'Old Big and Wide' Village) - as the island was still recovering from the cataclysmic (1945) Battle of Okinawa! His surname '铭苅' (Mekaru) appears to be a District of Northeast Naha City (perhaps named after a tortoiseshell) - whilst his first names of '拳一' (Kenichi) possess a definite martial connotation meaning a 'Single Fist' or a 'Fist that Unifies', etc! Times were hard when he was young and life was difficult - but Mekaru Kenichi and his clan were held together by their Karate-Do mind and body discipline - knowing full well that its inner structure was historically from China! During the early days of his life, his biography relates how even as a young child he was holding the 'Horse Stance' and participating in general 'Tang Hand' training with no particular 'name' or 'style' association (a typical situation amongst many traditionally minded Okinawans at the time)! In 1958, when he was 11 years old, his family emigrated to the Sao Paulo area of Brazil to join the already substantial Japanese and Okinawan population already living their and doing well with lots of open space to build and plenty of work opportunities! During 1977, when Mekaru Kenichi was 30 years old, he met Mr. Kakazu Yoshimasa - who had come to Brazil to participate in an 'Open' fighting competition! Upon his return to Okinawa - Mekaru Kenichi followed him and became his martial arts disciple! When returning to Mr. Kakazu Yoshimasa's Dojo in Naha City, he was tasked with mastering the 'Kobayashi Ryu' (小林流) - style of Okinawan Karate-Do - a branch of the 'Shorin Ryu' (少林流) fighting style - which uses the Chinese ideograms that read 'Shaolin Lineage'. - as there is a belief that this style of Okinawan Karate-Do was originally linked directly to the Shaolin Temple tradition of China. Kobayashi Ryu was founded by Chibana Chōshin (知花朝信) [1885-1969]. His family practiced the 'Chinese Hand (唐手 - Tang Shou) - and refused the Japanese order to change the name to 'Empty Hand' (空手 - Kong Shou) for decades! Master Mekaru Kenichi became a very great Master of the Kobayashi Ryu style and was renowned for travelling the world and relentlessly teaching anyone who wanted to learned genuine, Chinese-based Okinawan Karate-Do! This led to him eventually entering China and working very hard to introduce the modern Chinese people to a martial art that belonged to them - but which had been transmitted to another culture hundreds of years ago! Master Mekura Kenichi dedicated 25 years of life to China before retiring and leaving a place in 2013 (aged 66) he had called 'home' for quarter of a century! The record books now show that Mekura Kenichi was the first person to introduce an Okinawan Karate-Do style (Kobayashi Ryu) into an independent and thriving Mainland China during 1988! ACW (23.8.2022) Master Mekura Kenichi Demonstrates 'Basic Kata Number One'! Mr Mekaru Kenichi first visited China in 1988 – where he is well-known for performing what would become known as his inaugural Karate-Do cultural exchange performance at the Shanghai Wushu Academy! The reaction from the thousands in attendance at the time was very appreciative and supportive! Since then, people from all walks of life in Shanghai became very interested in learning the martial art of Karate-Do, and this positive reaction gave him the idea of developing the teaching of Karate-Do in Shanghai! In 1990, Mr Mekaru Kenichi was introduced by the Brazilian President in a letter and recommended by the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai. With the help of Mr. Zhu Rongji (朱镕基) the Mayor of Shanghai at that time - he was contacted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal Commission for Sports - and entirely at his own expense, established China's first officially recognised Karate-Do training class held at the Shanghai Physical Education Training Hall. At that time, a large number of willing practitioners flocked in an endless stream to the classes, and the registration was extraordinarily high! To help with the training process, the Japanese government provided 300 Karate-Do training suits (termed ‘gi’) for free - for the newcomers to use! In Japan, karate is taught as part of the School Physical Education Curriculum! Therefore, Mr Mekaru Kenichi wanted to establish Karate-Do as a sport in China’s Primary and Secondary Schools and Universities in China, so as to popularise this martial art amongst the youth! In 1992, he taught for free and borrowed 100 further sets of Japanese Karate-Do uniforms for which he distributed for free. He founded the Fudan University Karate Association and opened the first Karate-Do training class to be held in a Chinese university and was hired as the Honorary President and Chief Instructor of the Association (which provided him with a small room to live, three meals a day and a small stipend). From this firm foundation, he opened a Karate-Do training course and served as the Head Coach for the Shanghai Metallurgical College. The following year, he aimed at establishing Karate-Do classes throughout the whole country yet again! This time he was successful, and he managed to establish fully functioning Dojos in Chengdu, Kunming, Xi'an, Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other major cities – attracting the huge number of 80,000 ethnic Chinese students! Mr Mekaru Kenichi was appointed by the Okinawa Fist Study Association of Japan to promote traditional Karate-Do all over the world! He has taught in major cities in dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. After 20 years, the number of students around the world has reached 35,000! He has stated, however, that as China is the birthplace of Karate-Do – China remains the country with the most potential for development. In order to spread and develop Karate-Do in China, he would rather give up the materially superior conditions of other countries, relocate to a remote part of China for meditative study, and invest whatever money he could raise and donate it to the Chinese people - to be used for the promotion of Karate-Do! After years of hard work by Mr Mekaru Kenichi , the regular practice of Karate-Do has developed rapidly throughout China – a process which has proven especially strong in Shanghai. Today, dozens of colleges and universities, including Fudan University, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade, Donghua University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and Peking University, have all established regular Karate-Do associations and offer Karate-Do courses (including medicine and weaponry). At the same time, many fitness clubs have also launched Karate-Do as a form of fitness exercise, training tens of thousands of students! On April 25th, 1999, China's first official Karate-Do body – the ‘Shanghai Wushu Association Karate Committee’ - was established through the authority of the World Karate-Do Federation! Through the introduction of Mr. Wang Zhaoji (王肇基) - the Director of the Karate-Do Committee of the Shanghai Wushu Association - Mr Mekaru Ginkari was hired as the first Consultant Head Coach. This appointment was confirmed at the inauguration ceremony, where enthusiastic Karate-Do students were called upon to hold a demonstration and competition! Mr Shimizu Seno - the Deputy Consul General of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai - also came to the Shanghai Wushu Academy to watch the inauguration ceremony! At the invitation of Mr Mekaru Kenichi important members of the World Karate Federation and All Japan Karate Federation attended the inauguration ceremony – including director Arakawa Tong and director Hasumi Keiichi! These Karate-Do experts personally guided Chinese students in their Karate-Do practice – and helped explain the competition rules as established by the World Karate Federation! Everyone who attended, regardless of rank, ethnicity or origination, all chose to support China by joining the Karate-Do Committee of the Shanghai Wushu Association! During May 2000, following negotiations between Mr Mekaru Kenichi and the Japan Kyokushinkaikan - the first Sino-Japanese karate exchange competition (for college and high school students) was held (including full-contact sparring, Kata and weapons demonstrations), with many more high-spirited Sino-Japanese exchange competitions being held since then! During February 2001, Mr Mekaru Kenichi invited the All-Japan Karate Women's Champion to Shanghai to participate in the exchange competition with Shanghai karate students – to offer advice regarding practice methods, Kata performances and actual combat (self-defence) experience! Chinese Language Source: 铭苅拳一介绍
铭苅拳一介绍2012年01月15日 13:46:07 铭苅拳一先生于1988年第一次来到中国,在上海武术院进行了第一次空手道交流表演,当时反映极为强烈。鉴于上海各界人士对空手道十分感兴趣,在上海发展空手道的想法产生于他的脑海之中。 1990年,铭苅先生经巴西总统致信介绍及日本驻沪领事馆的推荐,在当时上海市市长朱镕基先生帮助下,由上海市体委外事处联络,在上海体育宫自费创办了中国第一个公认的空手道训练班。当时大批学习者络绎不绝,报名极为踊跃,全部免费借用了从日本带来的三百套拳士会空手道道服。 在日本,空手道是作为学校体育教育课程的。由此铭苅先生想在中国各中小学及大学内开展空手道运动,在学生中进行普及。1992年,他义务免费授课,并免费借用一百套日本空手道道服,创建了复旦大学空手道协会及开设了中国高校的第一个空手道训练班,并受聘为协会荣誉会长兼总指导;同时在上海冶金高等专科学校开设了训练班并担任总教练。 次年,他又把目标指向了全国,先后在成都、昆明、西安、沈阳、南京、杭州、青岛、广州、香港等各大城市办班传授武艺,学生总数8万人次以上。 铭苅先生曾受日本冲绳拳士会委派,到世界各国推广空手道。在美国、加拿大、墨西哥、巴西、巴拉圭、阿根廷、哥伦比亚、秘鲁、法国、西班牙、葡萄牙、意大利等数十个国家的大城市都任教过,历经20年,学生达3万5千人次。但还是发现中国是最具有潜力可发展的国家。为了在中国传播和发展空手道,他宁愿放弃其他国家的优越条件,来到中国进行考察,投入许多资金在中国空手道事业的开展推广方面,为了能使中国的空手道运动更好、更顺利地发展。 经过铭苅先生多年的努力,空手道事业在中国发展蒸蒸日上,特别是在上海。如今包括复旦大学、上海外国语大学、上海对外贸易学院、东华大学、南京理工大学、北京大学等数十所高校都成立了空手道协会,开设了空手道课程。同时许多健身俱乐部也已开展此运动,培训学员数万名。 1999年4月25日,经世界空手道连盟认可,中国第一个空手道委员会——上海市武术协会空手道委员会成立。在上海市武协空手道委员会主任王肇基先生的介绍下,铭苅先生被聘为首任顾问总教练,并在成立仪式上召集空手道学员举办了表演比赛。日本驻沪领事馆副总领事清水濑野先生也来到上海武术院观看了这次成立仪式。在铭苅先生的盛邀下,世界空手道连盟和全日本空手道连盟的最高干部局长荒川通和理事莲见圭一亲临上海庆祝空手道委员会的成立,观看、指导中国学生的表演比赛,并对世界空手道连盟的比赛裁判规则作了讲解。 上海市武术协会空手道委员会成立以后,铭苅先生在沪上的所有在册学员都加入了空手道委员会成为会员。 2000年5月,在铭苅先生与日本极真会馆的协商下,进行了首届大中学生中日空手道交流赛,以后又举办过多次中日交流赛。 2001年2月,铭苅先生又邀请了全日本空手道女子冠军来到上海,参加了与上海空手道学员的交流比赛,进行了练习方法、套路表演及实战比赛的交流。 阅读(274)|**(0) Quanzhou: The Birthplace of Yongchun White Crane Fist – A World Famous Chinese Martial Art!8/15/2022 Translated By Shifu Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD ( © ) Yongchun (永春) White Crane Fist (白鹤拳 - Bai He Quan) is one of the seven major martial arts styles developed in Fujian Province. It was created during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties and has spread throughout China, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. It is a national heritage of immeasurable cultural importance! The Southern Shaolin Fighting Method (南少林拳法 - Nan Shao Lin Quan Fa) - which developed during the Tang and Song Dynasties – was popular in Fujian by the middle of the Ming Dynasty. In the Fujian area of Yongchun - no matter whether in the city or the countryside - there were countless practitioners of martial arts! The Southern Shaolin System was prevalent but with such styles as ‘Taizu’ (太祖) or ‘Grand Ancestor’ and ‘Houquan’ (猴拳) or ‘Monkey Fist’ being very prevalent! The area was economically and culturally prosperous! The ‘History of the Ming Dynasty’ (明史 - Ming Shi), Volume 91, Martial Aspiration Three (兵志三 - Bing Zhi San) - Recollections (记载 - Ji Zai) states: ‘The people of Yongchun possess tremendous fighting-spirit and are highly skilled in martial arts practice!’ Therefore, it can be historically proved that the Yongchun people's practice of martial arts has been highly developed as early as the middle of the Ming Dynasty! Yongchun White Crane Fist is one of the seven major fighting styles developed in Fujian Province. It was founded during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It takes the ‘White Crane’ bird as its spiritual, psychological and physical inspiration (形 - Xing) or ‘Form’ (‘Kata’ in Japanese martial arts) and manifests this inspiration in its general fighting method! The White Crane practitioner understands how to ‘move’ and remain ‘still’ - and how to transition between these two states with a smooth and non-confused accuracy controlled by an underlying higher knowledge that embraces the practitioner, the opponent and the environment! Furthermore, a White Crane practitioner fully comprehends the ‘empty’ (虚 - Xu) and the ‘full’ (实 - Shi) and how and when each is to be used so that the opponent is continuously ‘uprooted’ - whilst the White Crane practitioner is continuously strengthened! All the energy channels in the body (the eight extraordinary and the twelve ordinary) are opened, unified and fully functioning (transporting and strengthening Qi 精, Jing 氣 and Shen 神)! As this is the case, the mind, body and spirit are unified, just as the bones and joints are aligned (allowing the bodyweight to drop into the ground – and effortlessly rebound back up and out of the body – through the relevant striking areas). All movement is perfectly timed, and the speed is so fast that an opponent has difficulty discerning the blows as they are naturally ‘released’ from the limbs of the White Crane practitioner! The hands and feet alternate with a perfect timing and balance that is bewildering to encounter! The White Crane practitioner can ‘vary’ the 'speed’ of each blow so as to bypass the habitual (and expected) movements of an opponent’s defensive reactions! The White Crane practitioner can be as solid as a mountain or as light a feather – depending upon the ‘intention’ of the practitioner and the necessity of the moment! Those who master these ‘internal’ Shaolin martial arts can appear to ‘manifest’ and ‘disappear’ at will – as they manipulate the perception of the opponent! This is why there is said to be a blend of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ martial techniques! This style has been circulating in China and Southeast Asia for more than 300 years, and it is popular in Europe and the United States. As a consequence, this type of Chinese martial art is considered a quintessential manifestation of Chinese martial culture! According to research - Ip Man (叶问 - Ye Wen) who is well-known at home and abroad as the teacher of the great Bruce Lee – taught his style of ‘Wing Chun Fist’ (咏春拳 - Yong Chun Quan) which was heavily influenced by the fighting techniques of Yongchun White Crane Fist. Bruce Lee used all this martial arts knowledge to later develop his system of fighting termed ‘Jeet Kune Do’ (截拳道 - Jie Quan Dao)! Furthermore, Chinese, Okinawan and Japanese scholars all agree that the style of fighting known as ‘Goju Ryu Karate-Do' (刚柔流空手道 - Gang Rou Liu Kong Shou Dao) has its theoretical and technical roots firmly embedded in the fertile martial ground that is Yongchun White Crane Fist! Chen Hong (陈弘) - the President of the China Yongchun White Crane Fist Research Association - pointed out that there are many technical similarities between Fujian Yongchun White Crane Fist and the Guangdong martial style known as ‘Wing Chun Kune’ (咏春拳 - Yong Chun Quan)! For instance, before issuing a blow, the Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioner must first centre his or her own mind, body and spirit – gather up the accumulated energy and direct this ball of power toward the ‘centre-line’ of the opponent’s body! This gather and emitting ‘internal’ and ‘external’ power through the Conception Vessel 任脉 - Ren Mai) - whilst targeting the Conception Vessel of the opponent! This is the real meaning behind the ‘Centre-Line Theory’ which many only pay lip-service to. This is identical to the ‘Centre-Line’ theory as found in Wing Chun (and many other martial systems)! Furthermore, Wing Chun is also famous for the power its practitioners produce during their ‘one-inch punch’ demonstrations! This is termed ‘寸劲’ (Cum Jin) or ‘inch strength’ or the ability to generate ‘explosive short-range power’! Within Yongchun White Crane Fist, this same ability is known as ‘寸劲节力’ (Cum Jin Jie Li) or ‘inch power direct energy’! In both systems the feet are generally rooted with the knees remaining flexible to accommodate a dextrous upper body which delivers fast and massively powerful blows of all descriptions, landing at all levels! These include open and closed hands, fore-arms, elbow-strikes, upper-arms, shoulder and blows with the head! The torso ‘twists’ left and right through the pelvis and around the spine – whilst swaying and leaning left and right (forward and back at oblique angles) – all through, around, away from and back to the ‘centre-line’! The famous ‘chi-sow’ (黐手 - Chi Shou) or ‘stick hand’ technique of Wing Chun is very similar to the ‘pan shou’ (盘手) ‘enveloping hand’ technique found in Yongchun White Crane Fist! Although Wing Chun has been developed for more than 100 years, and is a renowned style of fighting, nevertheless, the shadow of Yongchun White Crane Fist still clearly looms in the background! Chen Hong (陈弘) has been researching the theory and practice of Yongchun White Crane Fist for many years, particularly with regards to practitioners living or taking refuge within Guangdong! During the Qing Dynasty reign of emperors Xianfeng (咸丰) [reigned 1850-1861] - and the Tongzhi (同治) emperor (reigned 1861-1875) - there lived a couple of Yongchun White Crane Masters named ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) and Chen Hu (陈湖) who took an active part in the Peasant Uprisings! Indeed, many such martial arts Masters participated in these uprising! Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全) led the ‘Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’ uprising which engulfed large parts of China – including Fujian province! ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) was personally appointed by Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全) as one of the ‘Strong Kings of Three Thousand Years’ - stationed in the Fujian area! This gave him command of thousands of Taiping troops! Despite many early victories and tremendous battles – the Taiping were defeated, and the surviving rebels had to flee! Many of these fugitives fled all over China whilst being pursued by a Qing Army led by ‘Zou Zongtang’ (左宗棠) - which drove them out of Fujian and into the Guangdong and Zhejiang areas – where the Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioners had to adopt disguises and live secret lives (whilst teaching disciples behind the scenes – often at night)! These survivors were inspired by ‘Lin Jun’ (林俊) - where his reputation is still bright and shining in China today! During the mid-Qing Dynasty, with the increasingly frequent unofficial cultural exchanges between Okinawa (Ryukyu), Japan and Taiwan, some White Crane Fist disciples went to Dongying (东瀛) to teach martial arts; many Japanese merchants who travelled to the Mainland for business and employment, also began to learn White Crane Fist and transmitted it back to Japan. During 1877, Higaonna Kanryo travelled from Okinawa to Fuzhou and studied Yongchun White Crane Fist. After three years of intense training, Higaonna Kanryo returned to his home in Okinawa – transmitting White Crane Fist as he went! After integrating White Crane Fist with Okinawan fighting techniques – the art of ‘Goju Ryu’ Karate-Do was eventually developed (by Miyagi Chojun – the key disciple of Higaonna Kanryo in Okinawa). It is clear from this example that White Crane Fist rejuvenated the Okinawan fighting arts! Another example lies with ‘Wang Xiangui’ (吴贤贵) who used to work for the Fuzhou Tower River Water Ministry (福州台江水部的 - Fu Zhou Tai Jiang Shui Bu) - but in 1912 he travelled to Okinawa where he met Higaonna Kanryo – who had established the ‘Eternal Light’ (永光 - Yongguang) Tea Shop (茶行 - Cha Xing). As he saw that Higaonna Kanryo and his disciples already knew ‘Yongchun White Crane Fist’ - he decided to teach the Okinawans the ‘Whooping Crane Fist’ (鸣鹤拳 - Ming He Quan) variant! It was the disciples of Higaonna Kanryo who had trained with Wu Xiangui that formed the ‘Okinawa Strong Foundation Association’ (冲绳刚泊会 - Chong Sheng Gang Po Hui)! Tokashiki, the President of Japan's Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do Association, has been searching for many years to find the identity of the Chinese Masters who taught Higaonna Kanryo! Finally, the source of Yongchun White Crane Fist in Okinawa was discovered in Fujian - and a "remarkable monument" was raised in the Fujian Provincial Sports Centre (in 1990)! During October 1928, the first national martial arts examination was held in Nanjing since its abolition in 1911 – following the overthrow and abolition of the Qing Dynasty and its feudalist and imperialistic system! Yongchun County in Fujian sent a martial arts expert known as ‘Jin jing’ (晋京) - who placed first in every category and won every available award! Indeed, Yongchun as a place was awarded with the title ‘Central Hall of Martial Arts Execellence’ (中央国术馆 - Zhong Yang Guo Shu Guan)! This meant that a government-sponsored centre of martial arts practice was established, legally protected and funded in the Fujian area! The advent of Yongchun White Crane Fist in the 20th century served to strengthen China not only in the eyes of its own people – but also in the eyes of those across the world – a view held and expressed by Mr. Tan Kah Kee (陈嘉庚) - who further stated, ‘China as a country has been strengthened by the vigour of our own martial arts!’ He also said, ‘Promote the strengthening essence and eradicate the weak!’ During August 1929, in his honour, he requested that the Yongchun White Crane Fist School contribute to the formation of a ‘Central Martial Arts Hall Southern Fujian Martial Arts Touring and Exhibition Group’ be formed to travel around China and to do so abroad! Its first performance was at ‘Xingma’ (星马) - but became the first martial arts delegation to go abroad in the history of Chinese Martial arts - creating a precedent for overseas cultural exchanges focusing upon martial culture! Mr. Tan Kah Kee met with all the members of the martial arts troupe many times to promote the concept of ‘strengthening the country by promoting martial arts’, and on the spot, he gave the correct title to the Southern Fujian Martial Arts Troupe: ‘Who is the sick man of East Asia – Certainly not the Chinese people! This shame is eradicated by the mastery of Wu Weiyang (武维扬)! Do not forget that the grandsons and granddaughters of the Yellow Emperor can be reborn anywhere – even as fishes! Perhaps the Heros of the Central Plane Create Cities that are dry!’ In 2008, Yongchun White Crane Fist was included in the national heritage list as being of immeasurable cultural value! Today, there are an estimated 100,000 practitioners of Yongchun White Crane Fist, with thousands of experts and hundreds of top-class Masters! Fuzhou has also successfully held the first World Conference for Yongchun White Crane Fist – which attracted thousands of diverse people from all over the world – including many hundreds of Karate-Do practitioners! Yongchun White Crane Fist has also been a vehicle for good-natured and friendly exchanges across the straits! Throughout the martial arts competitions of the world - Yongchun White Crane Fist practitioners won more than 1,000 awards in various competitions at all levels! This style of martial culture is deeply rooted in Okinawa and across the world! As the theoretical and technical foundation for Okinawan Karate-Do – particularly GoJu Ryu – Yong Chun White Crane Fist has inspired a rich academic research genre, that has spread from educational facilities and on to the internet, as well as in books and in films! There have even been theatre performances, plays and other ‘live’ action and educational activities! At the same time, Yongchun White Crane Fist is entering the fields of health, culture and tourism, etc., and its comprehensive and all-round positive effect is becoming increasingly apparent. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, Moldova, Poland, the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Iran, Malaysia and other countries, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, have all established professional organizations for the inheritance and practice of Yongchun White Crane Fist - in order to establish the ‘World Yongchun White Crane Fist Association' - which now has now laid a solid foundation. Reporter: Ceng Guangtai (曾广太)
Correspondents: Chen Hong (陈弘) & Zhou Lili (周莉莉) - Text & Photographs (Except Signatured) Translator's Note: The earliest editions of this story appear on the Chinese language internet on December 30th, 2019. This story is then circulated around and through the Chinese language media for at least another six months to a year. There appears to be two dates that are distinct - but which are 'merged' - during the reporting of this story. The two dates are as follows: a) 'September 16th, 1989' - when Lin Weigong made the official announcement that he had discovered the name of the Chinese Master of the 'Whooping Crane Fist' - that is 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) [1852-1930]- also known as Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) and 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - who was the teacher of the Higaonna Kanryo [1853-1915] (from Okinawa) during the 19th century. b) 'June 9th, 1990' - a black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo! Therefore, the year '2019' marks the 30th Anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) - whilst the year '2020' marks the 30th Anniversary of the raising of the black marble stele - and I believe the confusion (and conflation) of these two dates is the reason 'why' the news story continues to be associated with two different years (2019 and 2020). As not all of the historical data is present in any one single text (as the authors assume their readership already possesses a working knowledge of the story at hand), I have borrowed from at least three versions and have weaved a coherent historical narrative together. There was around eight months between Lin Weigong's historical announcement - and the Japanese - Okinawan Karate Association (representing 'Goju Ryu') organising the fund raising, commissioning, construction and transportation of the black marble stele - which is inscribed using Japanese language ideograms. The primary pictures in this article feature the stele and are dated from 1990 and 2000. The main stone tablet (and supporting base stele) both commemorate - with great respect - the eternal friendship that exists between China and Japan. This very close and fraternal relationship is embodied (and epitomised) through the creative (historical) interaction that took place between Xie Chongxiang and Higaonna Kanryo! May this interaction between the cultures of these two countries be forever fruitful! ACW (15.8.2022) In the summer of 1988, the relevant Departments of Okinawa Prefecture Government hosted a banquet in Fuzhou to thank the Deputy Secretary-General of the Fujian Provincial Government and Director of the Provincial Tourism Bureau - Nan Jiang (南江) - and other leaders including the well-known and respected senior academic - Lin Weigong - (Editor-in-Chief of People's History of the Fuzhou Local Chronicle Committee) who sought out the roots of the "Thirty-Six Surnames of Fujian People" in the Ryukyu country. He has made unremitting efforts and contributions to the search for roots and ancestors in Okinawa for many years. On September 16th, 1989, after months of arduous research, Lin Weigong made the breakthrough that everybody had been waiting for - that he had discovered the Chinese teacher of Higaonna Kanryo! This led to a great outpouring of enthusiasm and excitement in both Okinawa and Japan - culminating in the idea of constructing an engraved monument to honour the Chinese ancestor whose martial arts style eventually evolved into style of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in Okinawa! Therefore, on June 9th, 1990, in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre, a solemn black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised. It is a monument erected by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo - who developed a style of Karate-Do - that evolved into 'Goju' (Hard-Soft) Ryu. His full name was 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥). Thirty-Years Ago - "People's Daily" Overseas Edition - "China Sports News" and Other Reports! Investigative Report Published in "Fujian Local Chronicle". The Chairman of Fujian Wushu Association Liu Zhonglu (刘中路) and Lin Weigong (林伟功) Cooperated to Publish a Report in "Chinese Wushu". The Inauguration Ceremony of the Outstanding Monument Held at the Fujian Provincial Sports Centre (1990). Wen Fushan (温附山) Vice Governor of Fujian Province - and VIP Leaders from All Walks of Life in China, Japan and Okinawa - Attended the Ceremony Took a Group Photograph in Front of the Monument. The Name on the Tablet - Decided by the Historical Investigation team - is that of 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) as the Martial Arts Master in Fujian Who Taught Higaonna Kanryo! From the left in the front row of the photograph: Lin Weigong (林伟功), Lin Xuanzhi [林萱治] (former Deputy Director of the General Office of the Fuzhou Municipal Government and former Director of the Municipal Local Records Office), Fang Baoyan (方宝炎) (the Great Master of Whooping Crane Fist - 鸣鹤拳 [Ming He Quan]), Huang Qiquan [黄启权] (former director of the General Office of the Municipal Party Committee, Director of the Municipal Office of Local Affairs), Wen Fu Shan [温附山] (Vice Governor of Fujian Province), Head of the Japanese and Okinawan Delegation - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤) - (President of the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association). In the back row are the Directors and Deputy Directors of the Provincial Sports Commission, as well as leaders of relevant Departments and other members of the Japanese and Okinawan delegation. Lin Weigong (林伟功) was hired as a Special Consultant by the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association to investigate the origins of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in China. The picture shows the esteemed Presidemt - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤) and Lin Weigong - taking a photograph together in front of the monument. A Photograph of President Yuika Tokashiki and Lin Weigong - Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Fujian Provincial Surname Origin Research Association, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Fujian Provincial Committee, and Head of the Liaison Office. The above pages are written in Japanese script and list a number of 'names' of honourable Japanese people who have contributed finance, time and/or expertise to the arrangement, construction and raising of the stone monument(s). These names include Moriyoshi Niizaki, Tomoyoshi Nakayoshi, Chuichi Uehara, Takakatsu Nakamura, Yasuhide Gibo, Antetsu Takehara, Yuki Dochu, Nobuichi Ishii, Koji Sugimoto, Noriko Sugimoto, Maki Sugimoto, Masashi Deni, Hiromi Miyagi,,Koji Miyagi, Hyakuna Ason, Hanashiro Seimei, Onaha Tsutomu, Nakazato Masayuki, Gakiya Hiroshi, Kamiesu Choho, Hirota Nakaima and Kosuke Kamiya, etc. Chinese Language Articles:
https://www.it610.com/article/1225060581883613184.htm https://88db.com.hk/QnA/Lesson-Instruction/空手道與褔建南拳的歷史淵源-剛柔流空手道的創造人在福建/1867 https://www.xuehua.us/a/5ebf28f07b5409df8eabbe2f?lang=zh-cn Selection of Important Extracts: 老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根 老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根1988年夏,日本冲绳县有关部门在福州设宴感谢福建省政府副秘书长兼省旅游局局长南江等领导及为琉球国“闽人三十六姓”寻根的总查证人林伟功(福州市方志委人物志主编)等多年为冲绳寻根觅祖作出不懈努力及所做的贡献。 1989年9月16日,有關專家再次對謝如如是否做了進一步的論證,最後一致認為:謝如如(宗祥)確系日本沖繩剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量當年在福州所拜的中國武術師傅,並於1990年6月9日在福州市新體育中心西南角,矗立著一座莊嚴肅穆的黑色大理石“顯彰碑”,是日本沖繩空手道總會為紀念日本空手道剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量的中國師傅謝如如而立的紀念碑。這是中日武術界傳統中有源流方面影響的明證。 席上日方高野代表在再次致谢之余,提出希望请南江秘书长再安排林伟功主编将寻找日本刚柔流空手道中国鼻祖担当起来,南江秘书长给予接受,并让林伟功主编正式接受任务。宴后,在市方志办主任林萱治、黄启权的支持下,林伟功开展了艰辛的调查论证,发表了报告,并在副省长温附山的主持下通过论证会,确认福建省鸣鹤拳一代宗师谢如如是日本刚柔流鼻祖东恩纳•宽量的师傅,1989年取得圆满成功,并在省体育中心建立了显彰碑。 Dear Tony
It is interesting how the inner and outer body develops in relation to each fully rounded system, style and school, etc. Each lineage, although comprised of diverse elements from various and very different historical and/or cultural backgrounds, are welded together by a dominant founding-figure, so that a central (interpretating) ethos makes sense of it all! Therefore, if an individual practices a particular system for decades, the inner and outer 'frequency' of how their psychological and biological processes operate - takes on this exact ethos to the exclusion of all other alternatives. In other words, an individual becomes the epitome of the very martial tradition they have committed their life to following! Their thought and physical processes all start to manifest in a specific manner. Health is optimised - even when accidents happen or genetic illnesses appear. A transcending awareness starts to operate whereby the body (regardless of its state or function) is perfect just as it is regardless of conventional issues of health, well-being, ability or disability, etc. This is the mind transcending the body, with the body learning to operate through and around its own limitations, hindrances and obstacles. From a martial perspective, the job is done with efficiency and through the path of least resistance. This is particularly important for the experience of the ageing process - whereby a certain type of inexperienced strength and vigour gives way to a far more profound depth of understanding that is so powerful and exact that it lifts up the physical body (regardless of its state) like a cork floating on the ocean. The young people do not understand this and cannot predict its movement - hence their youth renders them susceptible to defeat through not paying attention and not applying the learning experience. Furthermore, although all aged Masters from different traditions no longer conflict and are well aware of the uniqueness of one another's path, they themselves also appreciate that their own style has bestowed upon each a specific frequency of functionality. Although they can progressively exchange technical information and advice - they also know the true meaning of 'lineage' and how it is like a flowing river from the past to the present, and from the present to future! I suppose we all get used to our own particular frequency of current! Before Japan annexed the Ryukyu Islands in 1879, this region was considered a Tributary State of China at least since the early Ming Dynasty – with extensive cultural connections for hundreds of years prior to this. Exactly when China made contact with Ryukyu is a matter of academic debate and interpretation, as there is written evidence that suggests the earliest interaction occurred during the Latter (Eastern) Han Dynasty (25-220 CE) - where it is recorded as a place named ' Yi Zhou' (后于) in a text entitled the 'Later (Eastern) Han Dynasty Book - Biography of Dongyi' (后汉书‧东夷列传)' as later penned by 'Chen Shou' (陈寿). During the 'Eastern Wu' (229-280 CE) period of the 'Three Kingdoms' era (220-280 CE) - the same name of 'Yi Zhou' ('Barbarian Continent') is used again and recorded in the text entitled 'Three Kingdoms Annals: Book of Wu - Biography of Sun Quan' (三国志·吴书·孙权传). In fact, during the middle to late Sui Dynasty (6th century CE), emperor ‘Yang’ (炀) sent out envoys in search of new lands – and this is when China rediscovered and established regular diplomatic and economic contact with the island nation now termed ‘Ryukyu’ (琉球 - Liu Qiu) which seems to mean something like 'Flowing Jade' or 'Flowing Sphere', etc. Quite often, the Ryukyu Authorities could not regularly send tribute to the government of China – and China could not enforce the tribute due to the treacherous seas! Although there was a general cultural exchange between the two countries for hundreds of years – this exchange was intermittent and difficult to maintain. The General historical background information is as follows: ‘1392年,明太祖有见于琉球对于来华使节海上航行的困难,特赐闽人善于造船航海的技术者三十六姓人家移居琉球。这一点是后来促进琉球对海外贸易的关键。闽人三十六姓中包括“知书者,授大夫长史,以为朝贡之司;习航海者,授通事,总为指南之备”。可知他们不仅是善于操舟者,且担任通译和其他与朝贡有关的事务。他们在琉球定居以后,便成为代表明王朝长期协助琉球,增进中原王朝和琉球关系的一群优秀人员。他们子孙繁衍,为琉球人尽过许多劳积。’ The above extract is a modern Chinese language encyclopaedia entry regarding the history of Okinawa which translates as follows: ‘In 1392, the Ming Dynasty emperor named ‘Taizu’ (太祖) understood the difficulties faced by the envoys of the Ryukyu region of China, particularly involving the safe navigating of the often-treacherous sea route between Ryukyu and China! To remedy this the emperor Taizi granted a ‘special status’ to thirty-six carefully chosen ethnic Chinese families from Fujian province (with different surnames) who were skilled in the arts of shipbuilding, navigation and deplomacy. The objective of this was to open and maintain permanent and efficient sea routes between the Ryukyu Islands and the seaports along the coast of Fujian province. This improvement would establish trade and help the people in both geographical locations to flourish whilst exchanging cultural information. The 36 families were chosen from those clans who were well-educated and who could read and write. The people had to have a history of good health and possess a general knowledge of medicine. The families had to also know how to build a strong sailing boat and navigate the seas in all kinds of weather. Furthermore, these families had to possess a pioneering spirit, and be willing to help others when in need! They were not only good boatmen but could also act as interpreters and preside over other tributary-related affairs. After these people settle in Ryukyu they became exemplary citizens! Indeed, these 36 families performed their intended task of developing a ‘bridge’ with regards to sea trade between the two countries – with the settlers representing the Ming Dynasty of China in Ryukyu for many generations! These families became responsible for the collecting and transportation of tribute sent by the Ryukyu Authorities to the Imperial Court of China. Not only this, but the families grew considerably until today and their numbers comprise a substantial percentage of the Ryukyu population. These Chinese settlers have assisted the native Okinawan population and have transmitted the Chinese language, religion, philosophy, history and martial arts, etc. They have retained their Chinese identity whilst integrating with the indigenous Okinawan population.’ The 36 surnames of the Fujian family clans that were chosen by Ming Dynasty Imperial Degree (in 1392) to resettle in Ryukyu (Okinawa) are as follows: Shen (慎), Liang (梁), Zheng (郑), Jin (金), Cai (蔡), Mao (毛), Chen (陈), Lin (林), Ceng (曾), Gao (高), Wu (吴), Li (李), Ruan (阮), Shen (沈), Wei (魏), Tian (田), Wang (王), Ma (马), Qian (钱), Weng (翁), Mu (穆), Han (韩), Zong (宗), Kun (昆), Yin (尹), Cha (查), Wu (伍), Xiang (向), Wu (武), Ji (吉), Ying (英), Tao (陶), Wu (邬), Yu (俞), Song (宋) and Zhou (周) - although the ancient lists also include the further surnames of ‘Ceng’ (曾) and ‘Sun’ (孙) - making 38 in total. As a community they lived in a settlement known as ‘Tang Dou’ (唐朵) or ‘Chinese Surname’. This place was also known as ‘Tang Ying’ (唐营) or ‘Chinese Encampment’ - in later times – and under Japanese influence, this place became known as ‘Kume’ (久米 - Jiu Mi) Village. (This seems to be a complete name change with the new name meaning ‘Long-Term Rice-Growing'). Added to this text is this note: ‘其中慎姓有 空手道祖师爷慎善熙。’ The first name on the above list is ‘慎’ (Shen). Later, a famous descendent of this Fujian clan in Ryukyu (Okinawa) was one ‘Shen Shanxi’ (慎善熙) - known in the Japanese language as ‘Higaonna Kanryo’ - a famous practitioner of Karate-Do! Chinese Language References:
https://baike.baidu.com/item/冲绳县/4977210 https://baike.baidu.com/item/闽人三十六姓/5864591 https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1725729779272242847&wfr=spider&for=pc |
AuthorShifu Adrian Chan-Wyles (b. 1967) - Lineage (Generational) Inheritor of the Ch'an Dao Hakka Gongfu System. |