Wang Lang Mantis Origins

[SanHeChuan]

What places Wang Lang in the Ming Dynasty as opposed to the Song Dynasty as proposed by the Luohan Xing gong Duan Da?

Is there any connection between the Wang Lang of Mantis fame and Wang Lang from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Maybe somebody liked the character and used the name as the legendary founder of mantis?

Are any of the 18 masters verifiable?

I want to write a history of mantis that presents what is fact, what is probable, and what is myth.

I don’t want to pass on the same old oral histories as if they were fact.

Here is a first draft

The origins of Praying Mantis kung fu are impossible to verify. The oral history of the style is completely infused with legend, and no reliable historical documents have been found. What follows is an interpretation of those myths set against the back drop of history.

Praying Mantis Gong Fu is wide spread in the Shandong providence of Northern China which gives credence to the theory that it originated there, possibly at one of the Taoist temples located on Lao Shan “mountain”. The Temple of Supreme Purity (built 960-1279), The Temple of Supreme Peace (built 960-1279), The Temple of Great Purity (built 1297-1307) and the Buddhist Temple of Huayan Si (built mid 17th century) are each located on Lao Shan, and each could have been the birth place of Mantis Gong Fu during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Though, it is possible that the Mantis style has no connection to any temple outside of its creation myth.

Wang Lang was said to be the creator of the style, though his existence has never been credibly verified. He is most often credited with creating the style during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) or the earlier Song Dynasty (960-1279). The legend of Wang Lang as the creator of the style is probably a fabrication, a possible reference to the historical and legendary Wang Lang (3rd Century) from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, though this is pure conjecture.

The next person in the Mantis lineage is Shen Xiao who is claimed to have learned the style from “temple monks”. Shen Xiao wrote or received a book called Luohan Xínggong Duan Da, published in 1794, it claims the mantis style was created or refined in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) as collaboration between Wang Lang and the legendary personas of a Shaolin martial monk Fu-Ju and masters from 17 other styles at the Shaolin Temple in located in Henan province. Fu-Ju is often mistaken for the Abbot Fu Yu who headed up a Shaolin branch temple in Mongolia. To further confuse the temple connection Shen Xian was also said to be Abbot of a Yun Hua Temple and a met his disciple Li San Jian at a Green Dragon Temple.

[mantis108]

If I may...

The legend of Wang Lang creating Tanglangquan is actually a twist of the story "White Ape Steals the Peach" (WASP), which is a very popular tale from the saga of the struggle between 2 of the States during the Warring States period. It is so popular that there are even opera performances of it. This saga is also known as "Sun Pang Yan Yi" in which Sun refers to Sun Bin representing the State of Qi (modern day Shandong)and Pang refers to Pang Juan representing the State of Wei (modern day Henan). These two are said to be students of a famous strategist Gui Gu Zi(鬼谷子), who's real name was Wang Xu (王詡). The rivalry between the 2 fellow students/brethren became the main theme of the Wang Lang legend also. The central message of the tale is about the 7 virtues of morality, which is the reason that it is adapted to promote as well as reinforce the ideal code of conduct of martial arts community specially the caravan escorts trade during the Qing dynasty.

The truth is Tanglangquan as we know it actually has ties to the caravan escorts trade,which folded completely due to the modernization of China (i.e. rail roads & trains).

It appears that there was a "style" of martial arts known as Lianquan (linked fist) practiced within the walls of the caravan escorts companies throughout the capital (Beijing) and Shandong Province. This is the style that is documented in the "Luohan Xinggong Duanda" (AKA Arhat Short Strikes) . Lianquan would appear to be an amalgamation of Long fist specially Tongbei and short strike (ie Xingquan and/or Fanziquan). The documentation of Lianquan eventually became part of the heritage of modern day Shandong Tanglang Quan. This means Lianquan may not necessarily be the "origin" of Tanglang Quan but its documentation, namely "Luohan Xinggong Duanda", has become the inseparable heritage of Tanglang Quan.

One thing of note is that Lianquan could be Yue Jia Quan (General Yue Fei's style), which was a popular style practiced amongst the caravan escort companies and we still have Yue Jia Quan practiced in various Tanglangquan branches today.

Mantis108

[SanHeChuan]

Thanks...

Do you have a link to an English version of the "White ape steals the peach" story?

I am familiar with the tale of Sun Bin and Pang Juan in general.

What leads you to the conclusion that the Wang Lang tale is based on Sun Bin?

[ghostexorcist]

Are any of the 18 masters verifiable?
According to the noted literary critic C.T. Hsia, with the exception of Song Jiang, the names of his underlings have never been found in reliable historical sources. Therefore, Lin Chong and Yan Qing should be considered fictional characters.


Thanks...

Do you have a link to an English version of the "White ape steals the peach" story?

I am familiar with the tale of Sun Bin and Pang Juan in general.

What leads you to the conclusion that the Wang Lang tale is based on Sun Bin?
I am interested in learning the connection myself.

C.T. Hsia has an interesting study on the Military Romance genre of Chinese fiction in his book C.T. Hsia on Chinese Literature. The common plot of the genre deals with Tang and Song Dynasty heroes training under immortal masters prior to their military exploits. Hsia believes the mold from which all other similar teachers are cast is Gui Guzi from the Yuan period tale Latter Volume of the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Seven Kingdoms (七國春秋後集). The feuding of Sun Bin and Pang Juan influenced the struggles between two celestials in The Investiture of the Gods (封神演義). Furthermore, Hsia says this influenced the storyline from The Story of Yue Fei (說岳全傳) where Zhou Tong takes Lin Chong and Lu Junyi as his students prior to Yue Fei. The two were, of course, never among his historical students.

(It wouldn't be too much of a leap to suggest the Military Romance genre influenced the common martial arts legend of a person learning boxing from an immortal / nameless Taoist priest.)

Yuen Mankai believes Zhou contributed to the creation of Mantis boxing by teaching Lin Chong a school of boxing that he mixed with the 17 others in the Shaolin temple. None of this should be accepted as historical fact.

[Tainan Mantis]

What places Wang Lang in the Ming Dynasty as opposed to the Song Dynasty as proposed by the Luohan Xing gong Duan Da?

Or that he even existed?
What version of Luohan Xing gong Duan Da mentions Wang Lang in the Song dynasty?

One version I have seen only goes as far as the following quote, others I have seen don't even mention Fu Ju.


"Short Strikes was written by Shaolin’s Chan Master Fu Ju. The theoretical commentary is an expertly defined true interpretation."

I have not seen anywhere in old manuscripts the mention of Wang Lang in either the Song or Ming dynasty.


Is there any connection between the Wang Lang of Mantis fame and Wang Lang from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?

Where in three kingdoms? Which book and chapter? Any information here would be greatly appreciated.


Verifiable Masters of 18 Family

Zhao Kuang Yin
Han Tong
Gao Huai De
Zhen En
These four from memory are the ones I have found having lived during and before the Song.
Han Tong died on the eve of the creation of the Song Dynasty.

As I recall (my notes are at home) Gao and Zhen are generals during Zhao's time.
These people are all united in the novel Fei Long Zhuan (untranslated) which was read during the Ming Dynasty.

[ghostexorcist]

Where in three kingdoms? Which book and chapter? Any information here would be greatly appreciated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Lang

The Chinese characters appear to be the same.

[Tainan Mantis]

The documentation of Lianquan eventually became part of the heritage of modern day Shandong Tanglang Quan.


Here is a translation of the first of three parts of Lian Quan. It is written in 7 character rhyming verse.


The Central Gate's 32 Gates Essential Key Connected Fist Song

Both hands pass the head empty block flies through emptiness
Embrace the head connect the step take the center
Raise the step inner deceive watch the shadow’s shape
Cleaving apart the central gate presses the top
Returning horse take a step turn over and raise the pole
Stealing hand overturn the body raise the sea bottom
Crouch the body connected fist hurriedly rushing jump
Hawk overturns yellow dragon shakes
Collapsing smash piercing cheeks tiger washes face
Stealing leak hook punch take the temple
Chopping palm paste to the wall enter with the stopping elbow
Colliding elbow defeating elbow raise the rear hand
Black tiger attacks the heart connecting step and elbow
Beating hand stealing hand chop the mouth
Connected fist entering hand dig out the cave
Double hook shutting hands return to the old road
Paste to the gate deceiving dodge hurriedly take and close
Yecha probes the sea hands beat the earth
A pair of swallows fly to hide in the bottom of the well
Weary dragon emerges from hibernation and raises up the body
Carp overturns the body bog cleave splits it
Swallow resides in well coils waist and hops
Chen Tuan great fatigue eighteen binding
Eagle grasps finch connect to nine rolls
Wild horse on manger danger upon danger
Great Roc thrusts forward its wings and turns the body back
Green dragon shakes its tail launch both hands
Wrap and seal raise the step turn the body and dodge
Wrap and impede stealing hand strike against the knee
Following step raising hands to the tiger's face
Collapse open the yamen paste to both doors
Both hands embrace the moon and pick the heart

[ghostexorcist]

Verifiable Masters of 18 Family

Zhao Kuang Yin
Han Tong
Gao Huai De
Zhen En
These four from memory are the ones I have found having lived during and before the Song.
Han Tong died on the eve of the creation of the Song Dynasty.

As I recall (my notes are at home) Gao and Zhen are generals during Zhao's time.
These people are all united in the novel Fei Long Zhuan (untranslated) which was read during the Ming Dynasty.
Even though they are verifiable, I would still caution connecting them with martial arts. As I'm sure you well know, historical personas are often retroactively attributed as creating styles of martial arts centuries after their deaths.

Another important thing to point out is that even if the Water Margin bandits listed among the masters were real people, they would not have been alive during the time of Emperor Zhao and his associates. The Song was founded in 960, while the bandit uprising took place in the early 1120's. If they were alive then, Lin Chong and Yan Qing would have been pushing almost 200 by the time of the Song rebellion.

Considering the timeline conflict and the introduction of fictional characters, I think the list should actually be looked at more as a metaphor for techniques borrowed from other styles.

[SanHeChuan]

Or that he even existed?
What version of Luohan Xing gong Duan Da mentions Wang Lang in the Song dynasty?

The Wikipedia version. :o Northern Praying Mantis (martial art) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Praying_Mantis_(martial_art))


# Name Technique Master
1 Chang Quan Long-range Boxing Emperor Taizu
2 Tongbei Through the Back Han Tong
3 Chan Feng Wrap Around and Seal Zhang En
4 Duanda Close-range Strikes Ma Ji
5 Keshou Tongquan Blocking Hands and Following Through Fist Jin Xiang
6 Gou Lou Cai Shou Hooking, Scooping and Grabbing Hands Liu Xing
7 Zhanna Diefa Methods of Sticking, Grabbing, and Falling Yan Qing
8 Duan Quan Short Boxing Wen Yuan
9 Hou Quan Monkey Boxing Sun Heng
10 Mien Quan Cotton Fist Mien Shen
11 Shuailue Yingbeng Throwing-Grabbing and Hard Crashing Huai De
12 Gunlou Guaner Ducking, Leaking and Passing through the Ears Tan Fang
13 Yuanyang Jiao Mandarin ducks kicking technique Lin Chong
14 Qishi Lianquan Seven Postures of Continuous Fist Strikes Meng Su
15 Kunlu Zhenru Hand Binding and Grabbing Yang Gun
16 Woli Paochui Explosive Strikes into the Hollow Body Parts Cui Lian
17 Kao Shou Close Range Hand Techniques Huang You
18 Tanglang Praying Mantis Wang Lang
What places him in the Ming Dynasty?

[r.(shaolin)]

It appears that there was a "style" of martial arts known as Lianquan (linked fist) practiced within the walls of the caravan escorts companies throughout the capital (Beijing) and Shandong Province.

Mantis108

Most traditional Chinese martial arts schools had 'lian quan - 練拳.' Typically in imperial times the names of martial arts schools includes: location, branch or family, clan and specific style. The term "Linked fist - lian quan - 練拳, is a shorten term for 'lian quan tao - 練拳套' or, 'lian quan jiao 練拳腳') is not a style but a term referring to 'sets' practice.

[mooyingmantis]

Most traditional Chinese martial arts schools had 'lian quan - 練拳.' Typically in imperial times the names of martial arts schools includes: location, branch or family, clan and specific style. The term "Linked fist - lian quan - 練拳, is a shorten term for 'lian quan tao - 練拳套' or, 'lian quan jiao 練拳腳') is not a style but a term referring to 'sets' practice.

r.(shaolin),
So are you saying that the term "lian quan" was used the same way we use the term "tao lu" today?

[r.(shaolin)]

So are you saying that the term "lian quan" was used the same way we use the term "tao lu" today?


Yes, "tao lu" is a shortened for the term 套路運動 tao lu yun dong.
r.

[mooyingmantis]

Yes, "tao lu" is a shortened for the term 套路運動 tao lu yun dong.
r.

Thank you for your quick reply!

[Tainan Mantis]

Shen Xiao wrote or received a book called Luohan Xínggong Duan Da, published in 1794,

I have several versions of this book, none of which mention any dates. I wonder where this date originally came from.