Influence of Social Unrest on the Development of Tanglangquan

[mooyingmantis]

Recently I have been looking at the origin and development of Mantis Boxing.

Nothing happens within a vacuum. Geography and social order have an important role in how history develops.

Here are facts we know:

1. Modern tanglangquan arose in Shandong Province which had an influx of foreigners due to its ocean ports. Germany had a strong presence in the area.

2. The first uprising of the Boxer Rebellion occurred in Shandong in March of 1898 when a temple was given to the Roman Catholic church by the government for use as a church. Local villagers, led by Boxer agitators, attacked the church.

3. A drought was ravaging Northern Shandong during this same period of time.

I wonder how these things influenced the development of tanglangquan. Has anyone's instructor ever commented on this period of time and how it related to the origin and development of tanglangquan?

Robert? Kevin? Sal? Anyone?

Richard A. Tolson

[Tainan Mantis]

Good points Richard.
Here are some things I have heard:
I was surprised to hear that several of my grand teachers were Christian, I think Zhang De kui and Li Kunshan off the top of my head.
I asked shifu why was that. He explained that during the frequent unrest and starvation you could get free food by becoming a Christian.

So, the church also had a very positive influence in Shandong and other parts of China. More research could be done in this area. The best records were kept by the missionaries themselves. A few of those which gave a very detailed explanation of Chinese life during the Qing, and even Ming dynasty. When I was reading those books my chief interest was the legal forms of cannabilism and the socially accepted forms of infanticide.

Not sure about the influence of Germans on MB during that time.

A study carried out in Taiwan which collected information on masters from CHina noted that part of the growth of Mantis was due to some areas of Shandong engaged in the salt trade, and a few other types of business.

That business allowed the villages to spend more time and money on the development of their MA which was important for protecting the village and for escorting precious materials.

Unfortuneatly I don't have time to dig all that information up now as I am spending my free time researching the end of the Zhou and start of the Song dynasty.

The missionary reports: Mine are in English, but some of the best are in Spanish and Pourtegese. I think that they have all been translated.

As for Tang Lang from Shandong, something to contemplate:
The 18 surnames lists Tai Zu Longfist as the first.
Some of the earliest records of that Longfist are from General Qi Jiguang who spent much time in Southern China and (i forget which province) was also native to one of the southern provinces.

So, there is something to be said, I believe, for the possibilty that old Longfist or Mantis may have a southern connection that we are not aware of.

As for the droughts, I think that you will find they were very common. A good harvest year was the rarest of all.

[mooyingmantis]

Kevin,
Very interesting information! Thanks for your input!

Anyone else care to chime in!

Richard