Meihua Quan (Chinese: 梅花拳; literally “Plum Flower Fist”) is a very common name in kung fu:
- 1)a style of kung fu that originated in the northern provinces of China centuries ago. Meihuaquan is also known as Meihuazhuang 梅花桩.[1]
“Meihuazhuang” (“pillars of meihua plum”) is a brief variant of “ganzhi wushi meihuazhuang” (“trunks, branches and five forms on pillars of meihua plum”), this style also known as “meihuaquan” (“fist of meihua plum”). It has more than thousand year history. This style origins from monks and belong to Kunlun’s branch of chinese martial arts. During long time it passed from father to son, from son to grandson, i.e. only through male line, this was a reason to the name “fuziquan” (“fist of father and son”). Because of it although this style is known from ancient time, it spread only at the end of Ming – beginning of Qing dynasty in countyes, placed on the joint of Hebei, Henan, Shandong and Shanxi provinces.[2]
—Meihuazhuang (pillars of meihua plum)
- 2)other styles, with this name, like Meishanquan from southern China;
- 3) many Sets inside other styles, like Da and Xiao Meihuaquan in SongshanShaolinquan.
Meihuaquan and Its Branches
Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang
Ganzhi wushi meihuazhuang 干支五式梅花桩 (can are translate Plum Blossom Piles of stems and branches) is a branch of Meihuaquan, that can are shorten in Meihuazhuang (Plum Blossom Piles). Ganzhi is a contraction of Tiangan Dizhi, then the name can are Tiangan Dizhi Wushi Meihuazhuang. Starting to the eighth generation master Zhang Congfu create a new kind of practise and the new way toke the name Xiaojia (Little Frame) in opposition to old manners that became known as Dajia (Big Frame). Meihuazhuang are divided into two sections:[3][4] Wenchang (Civil Field) that work about theory; Wuchang (Martial Field) that work about martial tecnics, like Jiazi (frame), Shoutao (sparring exercise that train combat skills), Chengquan (combat choreography), Yingquan (combat), Gongquan, Ningquan (moving in war).[5][6] Jiazi is characterized by five static positions (Wushi, 五式 five pattern or 五势 five postures) intermixed with dynamic motion (Xingbu, 行步) consisting of light rapid footwork and large flowing movements. With a simple expansive posture and built-in poise, Meihuaquan releases and strengthens the flow of energy to expand concentration of the mind[1] The basic training methods of Meihuaquan are simple and strong yet relaxed and highly adaptable.
Baijiazhi Meihuaquan
Baijiazhi Meihuaquan 白家支梅花拳(Plum Blossom Boxing Branch of Bai Family) is a Meihuaquan that are practised in South West part of Shandong Province. It is founded by Bai Jindou (白金斗, Pai Chin-tou in Wade-Giles) a Nine Generation master of Plum Blossom Boxing. In Taiwan this school take the name Beipai Shaolin Meihuaquan 北派少林梅花拳 (Plum Blossom Boxing of Shaolin Northern Faction) or Meihuamen 梅花门(Plum Blossom School). Jiazi of this school are named Meihuaquan Laojia (Old Frame of Plum Blossom Boxing). After studying this set, disciples train many exercises in pair: Duida (hit in pair) and Duilian (train in pair) with and without weapons. In Basic Level Duida are only for two opponents and two kind: for hands and kiks tecnics or for falling tecnics. In itermediate, disciples study combat against 2,3,4,5 peoples. In High level, maybe study war and Plum Blossom’s Arrays (梅花陣攻防, Meihua Zhen Gong Fang).
Leijia Meihuaquan
Leijia Meihuaquan (雷家梅花拳)is a branch of the Meihuaquan. This school derives its name from the fact that gives the fifth generation has been practiced near the Leijiacun village in order then to diffuse itself in the surrounding areas.This branch is referred clearly to the Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang, as it identifies in own lineage Zhang Sansheng (also considered second generation here), but called Zhang Zhenshu (张朕书);This type of Meihuaquan differs from the Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang and the Baijiazhi because it possesses 4 posture rather than to the five usuals that are: dashi, aoshi, xiaoshi and baishi. Dashi is roughly identical to the shunshi of the other branches. Attitude of the hands during the basic structure (Jiazi) is that of the Palm.[7]
Wuzi Meihuaquan[edit]
Wuzi Meihuaquan (武子梅花拳)[8] is a name shorten from Sun Wuzi Chuanxin Meihuaquan (孙武子穿心梅花拳, Plum Blossom Boxing Piercing the Heart of Sun Wuzi ), but is also named Sun Wuzi Meihuaquan (孙武子梅花拳) or Chuanxin Meihuaquan (穿心梅花拳), orZhongxin Meihuaquan (中心梅花拳). Disciples of this school think that the founder is Sun Zi, also known as Sun Wuzi. Famous master of this branch is Kou Yunxing (寇运兴). This is sets of Wuzi Meihuaquan: Shilu Tantui (十二路弹腿); Da Meihuaquan er lu e san lu (大梅花拳二、三路); Xiao Meihuaquan er lu (小梅花拳二路); Meihuadao (梅花刀); Meihua longxingjian (梅花龙形剑); Meihua qiang (梅花枪).[8]
Luodi Meihuaquan
Luodi Meihuaquan (落地梅花拳, Plum Blossom Boxing on ground) is a generic name of Meihuaquan, but can indicate a branch that was teaching by Li Zhenting (李振亭) in Peixian. The core of this system is Luodi Meihuaquan Bajiao (落地梅花拳八角, Eight Angles of Plum Blossom Boxing on Ground).
Meihua Changquan
Meihua Changquan 梅花长拳[9] is the name given to Taiwan to a branch of Meihuaquan taught on the island from Han Qingtang, inside of a wider system that included also other boxings of the north of China,for which its students who continue to transmit its instruction call it or Changquan or Beishaolin. Han Qingtang learned this Meihuaquan in Jimo from Sun Maolin (孫茂林) and Jiang Benhe (姜本河), two masters originally of Liangshan[disambiguation needed].[10][11] This Meihua boxing is made up of three forms: Maifuquan (埋伏拳); Shizitang (十字趟); Taizu Changquan (太祖长拳).[12][13] Also is teaching a Duilian named Xiaowushou 小五手.
Shangsheng Meihuaquan
Shangcheng Meihuaquan 上乘梅花拳 (plum Blossom Boxing of optimal quality ) is a branch of Meihuaquan taught in the Fujian from Wang Jincheng (王金城) to the son Wang Ding (王鼎, 1882–1985).[14]
Shaomoquan – Wang Xiangzhai and Meihuaquan
Between the several styles analyzed by Wang Xiangzhai in a famous interview[15] there is also the Meihuaquan that it indicates also with the name of Wushizhuang (五式桩, Five figures pole) and asserts that to the age he was diffused in Henan and Sichuan. The more meaningful contact with this style, Wang Xiangzhai had it in the within of its travel of search through China: in 1928 it knows and alloy in friendship with master Liu Pixian,[16] twelfth generation of Meihuaquan,[17] with which it exchanges methods and acquaintances.After this experience Liu Pixian created a new style to which it gave the name of Shaomoquan (少摩拳).
Weapons
The first book about Rarely seen weapons is Genyuan (根源), that
said that Master Zou Hongyi came from Xuzhou, with a little chariot. When He traversed the Yellow River with four disciples, He separate this object, to do Liuxingchui (流行锤), a Fenghuolun (风火轮), some Sanjiegun (三节棍, also named Da shaozi 大梢子), a Qijiebian (七节鞭), two Wenbang (文棒), a scale (上天梯Shang Tianti), a Qunqiangmu (群枪母), two Xiaoguai (小拐) Liangtianchi (量天尺), Yiben sanqiang (一锛三枪) , etc.[24]
—Le armi nel Meihuaquan
Origins of Meihuaquan
Origins of this style are lost in legend. It is said that, when Zhang Sansheng taught in public, there were 100 generations of teachers before.
In many of the rural areas in which meihuazhuang has been practiced for centuries, the founding of the sect is attributed to the mythological figure Yun Pan. Villagers often say “Meihuazhuang existed since the beginning” and folk legends claim that its history extends to the Han dynasty. Meihuazhuang’s oldest written records, genealogies and textual date to the records of 2nd generation master Zhang Sansheng.[25]
— History of meihuazhuang
Other sources claim origin before Han Dynasty, but also in Shaolinquan:
Different versions on the origins of the Meihuaquan: a legend would make to come from the Shaolinquan in order to endure a successive change. An other quite maintain that the Meihuaquan would have been present before the times ofHan Wudi Emperor(187-140 B.C.). Because lacking written reports it turns out impossibile make a textual search and informations depends from what my old Master, Liu Baojun, told: the Meihuaquan would have origin from an ancient founder lived in not specify age, it synthetizes the ancient military tactics of our country and it is the quintessence of both Shaolin and Taiji. Meihuaquan is the result of experiences during years and years of study, of transformations and successive experimentations, becoming typical Chinese martial art. The author of the narration is a master of old generation . Meihuaquan is critical search of the movement models of Wushu and, in spite of the resemblance with Shaolin and Taiji, already it is changed (in a style to if being). Its meaning is deep and searched, for this reason becomes absolutely improper to compare it to the Shaolin or the Taiji. In the Meihuaquan there are many moving movements that they are instead absentees in the Shaolin and the Taiji. The oral story of my old Master has the value, therefore, of a written report.[26]
—Chang Dsu Yao, Meihua Quanshu – Jianjie
Meihuaquan and History
Some Meihuaquan disciples believe that there are 100 generations of masters before the 20 after Ming Dynasty. During Qing Dynasty people who practiced this style were involved in various uprisings, likeWang Lun in 1774, Feng Keshan in 1813 and Zhao Sanduo in 1900 Boxer Uprising.[27] (Meihuaquan was particularly linked with the early phases of the Boxer Uprising.[28]) Another disciple, Yang Bing, was an Imperial Palace guard:[29]
The history of this school (Meihuaquan) goes back at least to the kang-xi period, when it was taught by a certain Yang Bing, from Hua county in Henan, who had passed the highest military examination with third place honor, and served in the metropolitan garrison[30]
—The origins of the Boxer Uprising
Now we know that Yang Bing is a master of fifth generation and He born in Neihuangxian, not inHuaxian.[31]
About Feng Keshan and Meihuaquan:
In the 1800s, Feng Keshan developed the Mei Hua Quan or Plum Flower Boxing style. This style was strongly based on internal chi circulation and large external circular movements. It was developed out of the Shaolin system. In 1814, Feng recruited members for the Eight Diagrams Sect (Ba Qua Jiao) and participated in an anti-Ching uprising. He was caught by the Ching Court, found guilty, and executed by dismemberment. The Mei Hua style was attributed to Wu Mei (also called Ng Mui), who was a legendary figure – a Shaolin nun, in order to disguise Feng Keshan`s underground activities. The style was essentially a condensing of Shaolin`s best techniques into one system and with its own footwork patterns (five directions) unifying the techniques.[32]
—The history of traditional Chinese martial arts: Southern Style During the Qing Dynasty
Unfortunately there aren’t other sources who confirm that the style was attributed to Wu Mei. Feng Keshan is an Eighth Generation. The legend of Wu Mei came from another style named Wumeihuaquan or Wumeipai and are founding also in some tale ofYongchunquan, a field completely distant to Feng Keshan history and Meihuaquan.
Other Styles
Meishanquan
Meishanquan 梅山拳 (Plum Mountain Boxing) also known as Meihuaquan is a style created during the Song Dynasty in Meishancounty of Hunan.[33][34] It has 77 sets.
Hunan Meihuaquan
A style named Meihuaquan was spread in Hunan during the period of Guanxu (光绪, 1875–1908), by the master Wan Fuzi (万福子), who learned it in Sichuan.
Emei Meihuaquan
Informations on the Emei Meihuaquan (峨嵋梅花拳, Plum Flower boxing of the Emei mountain) are much insufficient: Zhou Beitao (周北涛) told that has created a set with this name, than it is made up of beyond 100 figures, after a long meditation of forehead to the plants of Meihua.[35] The book “Zhongguo Wushu Renmin Cidian 中国武术人名辞典” instead allegates that Zhou would have learned the Meihuaquan and the Taijiquan from Zhang Yimin (张镒民), in 1930.[36] They exist then varied forms Meihuaquan calls inside of styles from Sichuan.
De’ang Meihuaquan
Between the members of etnia the De’ang (德昂族) of the Yunnan and the area south of the Sichuan a Meihuaquan is practiced since to the age of the Ming dynasty.Between 1795 and the 1804 a revolt in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Henan and Hubei taken place, dictates Chuanchu Bailianjiao Qi Yi (川楚白莲教起义, Rebellion of shism of the White Lotus in Sichuan and Hubei)or Chuanchu Jiao Luan (川楚教乱, Chaotic Schism of the Sichuan and the Hubei) that it carried this Plum Flower Boxing, to put itself in defiladed position.
Meihua Jiequan
Meihua Jie Quan 梅花捷拳 (Plum Blossom Fast Boxing)[37] is a style of Chinese martial arts considered inner, although tasks are a ramification of the Shaolin School.Han Kuisheng (韩愧生), a man of the Shandong, practiced this boxing he transmitted and it to Fu Xiushan (傅秀山) from Yucheng (禹城). Fu has written and given to the press a book from the title it Jiequan Tushuo (捷拳图说)where it speaks about the style.[38] Meihua Jie Quan emits the fists like the Xingyiquan, door the palm blows as the Baguazhang and possesses of the figures, like Yunu Chuansuo (玉女穿梭) and Danbian (单鞭),identical to the Taijiquan.It possesses 5 Basics Figures (Wushi): Pi (劈), Tiao (挑), Shan (闪), Chong (冲),Xie (斜). It uses three plans (High, Medium, low) like method for l’ agility. The complete form is made up of 48 figures, comprised the start and the end positions, and is characterized from 12 ritmate formulas (十二字诀, Shier zi jue).
Shunshimen and Meihuaquan
Shunshimen (顺式门) appears as a style composite and a part of it are defined Meihuaquan. Queste le forme appartenenti alla parte del Meihuaquan: Meihuaquan (梅花拳), Chuanlinzhang (穿林掌), Bafangzhang (八方掌), Meihua Sanshou Ershi Shi (梅花散手二十式), Meihuaqiang (梅花枪), Wuhu qunyang gun (五虎群羊棍).[39]
Wumeiquan or Wumeipai
Wumeiquan (五枚拳, boxing of Wumei) or Wumeipai (School of Wumei) is a style of Chinese martial arts maybe put in Nanquanclass. In some witnesses we find Wumeiquan (五梅拳, boxing of “5 plums”) with other ideograms. In cantonese it is Ng Mui Kuen. In the “Wumeiquan Quanpu” (五梅拳拳谱) it is narrated that the style has been handed on from a buddhist nun (尼姑) whose religious name was Wu Mei (五梅). For other traditions Wu Mei was Taoist nun (Daogu 道姑).This nun transmitted it to Huang Baoshan (黄宝善, also known like Huang Baolin, 黄宝林) in the city of Lufengxiang (庐丰乡) in the district of Shanghangxian (上杭) of the Fujian, which handed on in its turn it to Gong Rongguang (龚荣煌) of Lanxixiang (兰溪乡) always in Fujian.Gradually the school has spread in the Fujian and the Guangdong.The “annals of the County of Shanghang” (上杭县志, Shanghang Xianzhi) tell that Wumeiquan (五梅拳), the Orthodox Shaolin Boxing, at the end of the age of the Qing dynasty were diffused in the districts of Lanxi (蓝溪), Huangtan (黄潭), Taiba (太拔) and of the same Shanghang.These are some sequences by hand knot taught to New York: Tianguangzhang (天光掌); Wuxingquan (五行拳); Shier Dizhi (十二地支); etc. It must but to specify that in this style they often come practiced “free forms” and gives wide space to the free application of the movements. These are the weapons used in the school of the area of Shanghang Sanchiba (三齿耙); gou lian qiang (钩镰枪); qinglongdao (青龙刀); mupa (木耙); dandao (单刀); shuangdao (双刀); jian (剑); it was (斧); shuang tongchui (双铜锤); tiechi (铁尺); hutoupai (虎头牌); bandeng (板凳); etc.
Many Sets
Many styles have inside their programs sets named Plum Blossom Boxing. For example in Cailifo, Tanglangquan, HongdongTongbeiquan, Songshan Shaolinquan, Hongjiaquan, ecc.
Shaolin Meihuaquan
There are two sets named Shaolin meihuaquan 少林梅花拳 in Songshan Shaolinquan:[40] Xiao Meihuaquan (Little Plum Blossom Fist) and Da Meihuaquan (Big Plum Blossom Fist). Xiao Meihuaquan is also known as Shaolin Ditang Meihuaquan.[41] Is said that this sets are created by Jinnaluo Wang (紧那罗王).
Cailifo Xiao Meihuaquan[edit]
Cailifo 蔡李佛 (Choyleefut) little Plum Blossom Boxing (小梅花拳)[42] is a famous set with this name.
Hongjia Meihuaquan (Hunggar Mui Fa Kuen)[edit]
Hongjia Meihuaquan (洪家梅花拳, Plum Blossom Fist of Hong Family) is a set of Hongjiaquan. Better known as Mui Fa Kuen, in Cantonese. Complete name is Shizi Meihuaquan (十字梅花拳, Crossing Plum Blossom Fist, in Cantonese Sap Ji Mui Fa Kuen).
Meihuaquan and Tanglangquan
Tanglangquan has varied connections with the Meihuaquan name. One of the main branches of the style is called Meihua Tanglangquan and another Taiji Meihua Tanglangquan.[43] some forms are said Meihua and in particular one is called Meihuaquan.[44][45] Others are Meihualu (梅花路)[46] e Meihuashou (梅花手).[47] This 3 sets together “3 bloomed hands” are said; Jiang Hualong (姜化龙), founder of the branch Babu Tanglangquan, would have practiced Meihuaquan before beginning to study the boxing of Praying Mantis.[48]
Qilu Chaquan Meihuaquan
In Chaquan exists a Taolu that calls Meihuaquan and that it is Seventh Way of the Chaquan 七路查拳.[49]
Gu Ruzhang Bei Shaolin Meihuaquan
Another Seventh Way (Qilu, 七路) is a Meihuaquan of Bei Shaolin of Gu Ruzhang, form and style probably derived from theChaquan.[50]
Qianhou Meihuaquan
Qianhou Meihuaquan, 前后梅花拳, is the name of a sequence of the Liuhequan.
Qimen and Meihuaquan
Qi School (亓门, qímén)[51] contains a form dictates Meihuaquan that is a method of preparation boxing all’ income in the school.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meihuaquan