Preface: Excerpt from Clearing the Mist of Misconceptions and Falsities of the History of Chinese martial arts,

Preface: Excerpt from Clearing the Mist of Misconceptions and Falsities of the History of Chinese martial arts, written by Yan Ziyuan (Dr Stephen Yan) Original Yan Ziyuan Authentic martial arts Yan Ziyuan Wellington New Zealand, 2018-01-11 （author）Preface I have been yearning to learn martial arts since I was a child. This has to do with my mother’s love of telling stories such as “Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties”, “Seven Heroes and Five Righteousness” and “Liang Shanbo Heroes”. At night, my mother was often surrounded by a group of teenagers from our neighborhood listening to the tales she told, so naturally I was influenced by them. I have looked up to and respected those heroes since I was young, hoping to have the same ability as them one day. When I was 13 years old, my obsession with martial arts began. Over the coming years I learned boxing from Master Du Baokun, a disciple of Tong Zhongyi. Later, I learned Mi Zong style from Master Lu Zhenduo and his son Lu Jun Hai including the Qingping sword. Continuing my martial arts journey, I learned Dahong boxing, Luohan boxing, Shuai Jiao (Chinese wrestling) and Zhang Enqing’s CuoJiao from Master Li Chunxing. I studied with Master Tang Jingyuan, learning Huang Yin’s E Mei martial arts. At that time, I also learned Xing Yi Quan and Ba Gua Zhang. I was also very fortunate to become a disciple of Master Zhu Yunfei (Who is Xie Yingzhai’s first disciple) to learn “Twelve segments of the original Yi Jin Jing” from the Bodhidharma, “Tie Dang Gong” and other internal skills. In 1981, I was accepted into the Medical College of Fudan University (formerly Shanghai First Medical College). When I was studying in the Medical Department, I signed up to join the “Kuaijia” Class, which was taught by Master Ma Yue Liang, the great master of Wu’s Taiji generation in the “Wantiguan” in Shanghai. Since then, I have forged an indissoluble bond with Grandmasters Mr. and Mrs. Ma (who are both recognized as “National Living Treasure”) until my last farewell in Shanghai in 1996. A few years ago, I wrote “Journey of Wu’s Tai Chi”, which recalled in detail the learning process with Master Ma and his wife. During this period, I learned the “TaiJi Gong-- Yin Yang 24 Segments” handed down by Song Shuming. As much of the art was lost in mainland China, I went to Hong Kong to retrieve the missing pieces by studying with Master Cheng Tin Hung, the founder of Hong Kong TaiJi Quan Association. In 1984 I met Master Ji Jing San, famous for his combative martial arts skills and successor of Xinyi Liuhe Boxing (a branch of Tang Wanyi branch). Master Ji is also well known for his Drunken Eight Immortals style. This was the beginning of me giving up Xingyi quan and beginning my journey of Xinyi Liuhe boxing with Master Ji, whom I studied with daily.In October 1987, Master Ji Jing San who was 80 years old but still strong, suddenly died of cerebral hemorrhage, which had a great impact on my life, deeply saddening me for a long time. Later, Master Ji’s friend, Li Zun Si, a Grandmaster of Xinyi Liuhe boxing, a successor from the Li Haisheng branch, asked me if I wanted to continue learning Xinyi Liuhe boxing with him, which rekindled my passion in the Luihe boxing. In the 1990s, I was obsessed with Xinyi Liuhe Boxing. Due to the conservative teachings of Xinyi Liuhe Boxing, it is very potent, and it is said that even learning a fraction of the Xinyi one can become a great master. Therefore, from the very early days, each master only learnt a branch of the original complete Xingyi Luihu boxing. However, I was not satisfied with one branch and wanted to learn the whole tree. I wanted to know more about its origin and development, including the technical components and the history. In order to do so, I searched for and tracked down the top lineage holders of the different branches of Xinyi Liuhe boxing. I went to Wang Shu Wen (Lu Song Gao’s disciple), Yan Long Chang (Yue Gui Ning’s disciple), Ma Hong Xian (Jin Hei Yan’s disciple) and Bai Wen Yi (Yang Xiang Lin’s disciple) to learn the different branches of Xinyi Liuhe boxing, becoming a disciple of each master. During this period, I also received the guidance and instruction from Xinyi Liuhe Masters Zhang Zhao Yuan, Lu Shao Jun (son of Lu Song Gao), Ma Gui Long, Li Qing Shan, Su Xun Zhao (son of Su Chuan Wen), Shi Yao Zu, Mai Gui Sheng (great grandson of Mai Zhuang Tu), Yang Shi Jie, Ni De Sheng, Ni De Fu, Shui Pu Ci, Lü Hong Yang and Yue Jian Zu (son of Yue Gui Ning). After moving to New Zealand in 1988 I invited Master Ma De, the “Northwest staff king”, to New Zealand to teach the Wu Yin Qi Shou thirteen methods of the Bian Gan, Pipa Tiao Zi and Feng Mo staff. I also invited Master Bai Yan Ying, the daughter of Master Bai Rui Cai, to New Zealand to exchange martial arts skills and use my “Liuhe Fangtianji” in exchange for learning her complete “Six sets of Fangtianji” which was passed down from Master Liu De Quan. Later, in the process of searching for the lineage holders of the famous Li Er nicknamed “Long Spear Li” of the early Ming Dynasty, I fortuitously came across some information about Li Cun Hu and Li Cun Hai’s lineage successors. Li Cun Hu and Li Cun Hai of Anyang, Northern Henan Provence, were the early disciples of Grandmaster Ji Long Feng - Founder of XinYi Liuhe Boxing. They passed down the Shi Er Da Si Xinyi Liuhe Boxing and Yi Jin Jing Guan Qi Jue. I searched for and found the lineage successors, Master Zhao and Master Zhang whom I studied with - and I also exchanged skills with Master Liu Jun Jie of this style. Without my extensive journey of studying from many XinYi Luihe masters, I would have been like a blind man touching an elephant – never seeing the whole picture. The expansiveness and intricacy of Xinyi Liuhe boxing is likely the reason why there was no complete history of Xinyi Liuhe boxing in the past. At the beginning of this century, I searched far and wide, eventually finding Master Liu Hong Jun, the disciple of Ren Zhicheng - master of Yin Yang Ba Pan Zhang. Over seven years, I finally got all the unarmed forms and weapons of Yin Yang Ba Pan Zhang. Because of its profound and original nature, I replaced my existing Ba Gua Zhang training with Yin Yang Ba Pan Zhang. I have also visited Jiyuan at the foot of Taihang Mountain in Henan several times to investigate the scriptures known as “Shenquan Pu”. I exchanged views, historical information and techniques with Jiao You, Jiu Tong Biao, Jiu Xiao Lang and other successors of “Shenquan boxing” and discussed the historical origin of “Shenquan Pu” with Master Yuan You Guang and Miao Bu Chao. In Jiaozuo, I met with Master Xu Wei Zhan, a successor of the Xu Family, who were the lineage holders for the Tongbei boxing, taught in a direct line from the founder Master Dong Cheng. We discussed the boxing theory and historical origin of Tongbei boxing which was pivotal to my understanding of martial arts history. In search of Wu Guang’s successor who was another early disciple of Ji Long Feng, the founder of Xingyi Liuhu boxing, I went to the Taihang mountain where I met Mr. Wang in Liyi town of Lingchuan County near Jincheng. He told me that their boxing was called “Ba”, not “Quan”, that is, “Xinyi Liuhe Ba”, not “Xinyi Liuhe Quan”. But the last successor had passed away a few years ago. Mr. Wang only knew a few incomplete practices and the branch was basically lost. Some of the original scriptures were handed down to Yishan as early as the Kangqian Period in Qing dynasty. Yishan also collected other martial arts scriptures, eventually compiling them together to create ‘Yishan Wulun’. 100 years after the Kangqian Period, in the first year of Emperor Xianfeng (1831 – 1861) Yishan Wulun was copied and sold under three different names with varying dates: Yishan Wulun, E Wang Wulun and Quanlun. In 2008, with the help of Mr. Xu Wei Zhan, the successor of Tongbei boxing, I found the most important teacher in my martial arts career: Master Li Zheng Fu, the only successor of Dong’s Liuhe Qiang –- big spear (also known as “Wangbao Qiang”). I was lucky to be accepted as a disciple of Master Li Zheng Fu. I visited Master Li several times to deeper learn Liuhe Da Qiang. Regardless of his old age, Master Li came to New Zealand twice (staying six months each time) to pass on Liuhe Da Qiang and Liuhe broad sword skills. This spear and broad sword had been handed down to master Li over three generations - from his grandfather, to his father and finally him. Being a very pure lineage, and with diligent practice, his skills were superb. The Li family only practiced spear, and occasionally the broad sword, they did not practice open fist or other weapons. I was extremely surprised to find that the spear scripture recorded in the Sheng Quan Pu Scripture of Ji Yuan were the same as the Xiao Shi Shou and the Da Shi Shou of Dong’s Liuhe Qiang. Moreover, the body methods, footwork, main techniques and theory of all branches of Xinyi Liuhe boxing all originated from this Dong’s Liuhe spear system, however some Gun Shen techniques are from Dong’s Liuhe broad sword. There is a saying in this Spear history: “Diu Qiang Ji Wei Chui”, drop the spear, become open handed boxing (The meaning is that the spear techniques taught double as very effective fist techniques). The saying “Diu Qiang Ji Wei Chui” is consistent with the history of “Ji Long Feng turns a Spear into a fist”, or Ji Long Feng created Xinyi Liuhe boxing by following this saying of “Diu Qiang Ji Wei Chui”. In Wangbao village, the “Wangbao Spear Scripture”, was found to have additional chapters including “Liuhe broad sword Scripture” and “Xinyi Liuhe boxing Scripture”. In the “Wang Bao Spear Scripture” of Tang Village, which is next to the Wang Bao Village, “Xin Yi Tang” is also written on the cover. The Taiji Palace of Qianzai Temple beside Tang village also has a secret Scripture called Wujing Xuanji Mielu. In this scripture the word “Ba” is used instead of “Quan”. There are some special names of techniques identical to Xinyi Liuhe boxing, such as “Xiong Chu Dong,” “Lei Shen” etc. which are not used in any other styles. This scripture is older than Ji Long Feng’s “Xinyi Liuhe Scripture”. At the same time, Ji Long Feng was mistakenly described as a “Linchuan person” or “Niujiaochuan person” in the “Yishan Wulun”. Not far away from the Taiji palace there is a county called Zezhou county, (neighboring the Lingchuan county). There is a mountain in the Taihang mountain ranges, where the counties are located, which is called Linchuan mountain, that is where Ji Long Feng learned the spear from the Great Daoist Master Dong Bing Qian. Jiyuan, Boai(Henei), Wuzhi, Qinyang and Wenxian are counties which together are commonly known as Niujiaochuan. Lingchuan, Linchuan and Niujiaochuan , those 3 places are all close to each other. Not far north of Lingchuan county is Ji Long Fen’s hometown, Zun village in Pu Zhou district (I have been there several times for research). From Shanxi province to Luoyang city and Dengfeng county in Henan, one must pass through Niujiaochuan. In ancient times it was the main route from Shanxi to Henan and remains a route today. From Niujiaochuan to Taihang Mountain, through Jincheng, all the way to Pingyao, Qixian county (Dai Long Bang’s hometown) and Wenshui County. Not only in the Pingyao and Qixian counties are there different branches of Xinyi Liuhe boxing and scriptures, but also in the Wenshui County. I found that the Tongbei scripture of Wenshui County (introduced from late Ming and early Qing Dynasty) was much earlier than Hongdong Tongbei (introduced from Guo Yongfu of “Niujiaochuan” in Qianlong of Qing Dynasty). In the Tongbei scripture of Wenshui County I was amazed to find “Ji Longfen’s Spear Scripture ! and complete “Ten Methods Summary of Xinyi Liuhe Boxing Theory” and its preface. Because of these findings, over the years I have written three articles to illustrate the importance of “Niujiaochuan” in the history of Chinese martial arts: “Niujiaochuan - The Birthplace of Neijiaquan”, “The inner ring and outer ring of Niujiaochuan”, and “The majority of Chinese Martial Arts originate from Huaiqing Fu”. My whole life, I have searched for the origin of Chinese martial arts. I became a disciple of Master Jia Bo Sheng of Yanshan county to learn the Qingping sword. The Qingping sword teachings passed down by Master Jia are the original Qingping sword methods. The style of the scripture writing is very similar to Dong’s Liuhe’s Spear. I gave up the Qingping sword passed down from Yang Kunshan, which I learned in Shanghai, to dedicate myself to Master Jia’s Qingping sword teachings. In order to pursue the original Zui Ba Xian boxing and Zui Xian Jian, I went all the way to Tong An area in Xiamen, in Fujian Province. There I met Master Ye, the master and successor of Zui Jian martial arts. I also visited Raoyang, Hebei Province, where I met Mr Yin Jun Yan, a disciple of Niu Han Zhang, to investigate his Zui Ba Xian boxing and Zui Xian Jian. Later I invited Mr. Yin to my hometown Shanghai. Then I went to Shexian and Yixian counties of ancient Huizhou at the foot of Huangshan Mountain to search for the successor of Southern Shaolin Temple from the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty and successor of Chen Songquan and Zhang Heng Qiu, who passed down the 8 drunken immortal style. Finally, I went to the ice and snow in the northeast China, where I met Master. Zhang Zhao Jun, a hermit who lived in seclusion in Benxi. He was a lineage holder and had studied the original 8 Drunken Immortals’ fist and sword founded by the Wuxuan Daoist during the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty. From the decades of detailed, attentive study to the history of Chinese martial arts, the collection and understanding of various martial arts skills and styles and scriptures, along with in-depth study and mastery of the original and real martial arts and the complete system of internal skills, such as “ Dong’s Liuhe spear and broad sword”, “Taiji shi san shi soft hand”, Xingyi LiuHe Quan, “Yin Yang Ba Pan Zhang”, “Yi Jin Jing”, “Jia’s Qingping sword”, “Wu Xuan Zui Ba Xian Quan and sword”, I have come to deep realization how the martial arts history and techniques in China have evolved over the centuries. Through my endeavors I have found the modern styles have greatly deviated from the original source! Excited and moved, I wrote an article “the main pulse of the history of Chinese martial arts is clear” to express my feelings at that time. Furthermore, I started drafting “Chinese martial arts history and clarification of falsities”, which is divided into three volumes. I wish to express and share my findings, treasures and achievements that I have collected over the past decades not only to fulfil my destiny, but also to pay respect to my teachers, express my love of martial arts, and add my contribution to Chinese martial arts. I have spent half of my life dedicated to studying, researching and clarifying the history and theory, to master the skills and techniques and to preserve the essence of martial arts culture. This essence of martial arts culture has evolved and developed on the sediment of thousands of years of Chinese culture, which has sprouted, grown and established into its own culture with the Spirit, Soul and memory of the Chinese people. If this culture was to disappear, it could not be revived. At the time, seeing this unrevivable culture disappearing before my eyes, which I am deeply a part of, I felt despair. I felt an obligation and deep inner calling to dedicate my life to save and preserve the true essence of the culture. Predecessors said that when culture is dead, the country is dead, but if the seed of the culture remains, the country can be regenerated, as in the case of Jewish culture and the revival of Israel. So, preserving a nation’s culture is more important than a country. I am proud that I can devote myself to the rescue and preservation of these cultural seeds. I am determined to devote the rest of my life sharing the culture of Chinese martial arts. In the past years, I have compiled and published several books. In 2000, I won the champion in the “China’s first Xinyi Liuhe boxing competition”. I have also proved what I have learned by comparing skills with many famous Chinese and foreign experts, and also cultivated David Stella who won the 80kg Sanda Championship in New Zealand and Geoff Henson who won the New Zealand National Wushu competition routine and the 60kg Sanda double champion. But that’s just for the accumulation of experience and my true teachings have not properly started. Although there are many differences between my childhood dream of becoming a martial hero and my parents’ hope that I can achieve something in the field of medicine, I have done and still do what I love in my life and find meaning in. I hope that Chinese martial arts lovers, experts and scholars will further advise me so that I can improve my understanding and make continuous progress. Through collaborative academic research, debating and practical exchange of techniques we can make the true spirit of the Chinese martial arts re-emerge and shine brightly once more. This light of our efforts will hopefully help reshape the moral character and backbone of the Chinese nation. I hope my efforts lend a hand to this cause. For this cause, the hardship of “cutting through the thorns”, the effort of energy and financial resources spent, the torment of thinking night and day, as well as the unremitting and persistent hard practice has its real significance. Picture 1 Dong’s Liuhe spear performed by Yan Zi Yuan Picture 2 Yin Yang Ba Pan Zhang Picture 3 Zhang Sanfeng’s Original Thirteen Soft Hand (also known as “Neizhuanxiaojia”, later known as “Wu’s kuaijia”) Picture 4 Yan Zi Yuan’s disciples practice waijia boxing Picture 5 Xinyi Liuhe Boxing Picture 6 “Wu’s kuaijia” Picture 7 “Wu’s kuaijia”(photo taken in 2014) Picture 8 Xinyi Liuhe “Chicken Claw sword and sickle ” Picture 9 In the Australian and New Zealand Sanda Competitions, Yan Zi Yuan disciple Dave Stella (red side) defeated the Thai Champion from Australia and won the 80kg Champion. Picture 10 Dong’s Liuhe spear