Military Police Inspector Han Tong

Several have asked me to publish information on the early development of Wang Lang and Praying Mantis. Working towards that goal I felt it best to start by writing the story of Han Tong. As all the parts of the book are coming together I will put out little parts that are relevant and maybe some parts that are possible not, but interesting by themselves.

Introduction

The effort of Han Tong for the Zhou can compare to that of Song Taizu, but he died before Song Taizu accepted abdication. If not passed down in the Song, then where can we record his loyalty and righteousness?
-Official History of the Song

Later generations said of Han Tong that he moved like a gibbon and so nicknamed him 'Gibbon Arm.' His style of fighting emphasized fist and palm strikes 'through the back.'

Han Tong was born shortly after the Tang Dynasty during one of the most devastating wars of Chinese history. He rose high in the military and later earned the nickname 'Staring-Eyes Han.' He was deputy director of cavalry and infantry for the Imperial Guard and Imperial Bodyguard when a coup d'état in 960 C.E. installed Zhao Kuangyin to the throne and Han Tong became the first casualty of war.

Five hundred years later stories of Han Tong and Zhao Kuangyin developed into a popular romanticized boxing match. Military manuals of that era also record the style of Han Tong as part of their curriculum.

Both the play and the fighting method are referenced in the oldest writings of Heaven-Ascended Taoist where he used them to educate his readers on proper martial virtue as well as application of Han Tong's techniques. This book examines Han Tong's life in fact and fiction and the writings of Heaven-Ascended Taoist and their influence on martial arts still practiced today.

The Later Jin and Liao dynasty had been at peace for several years and the following story, based on 11th century text, illustrates the cause of the war that eventually brought an end to the Later Jin. It is relevant in that it is the catalyst for Han Tong joining the military effort to defend the Middle Kingdom.

Yanguang's Hundred Thousand Swords Start a War

Jin Yanguang's father was a skilled archer. “If your arrow cannot penetrate the opponent's metal armor, do not even bother to shoot.” Yanguang hereafter acquired fame for the powerful punch of his bow and arrow.

The founding emperor of the Later Jin, Jin Gaozu, appreciated his talents and promoted him to high position. But Jin Gaozu would never have been able to found his Later Jin empire if not for the help of the Khitan, a powerful federation of Shatuo Turks who called their dynasty the Liao (in centuries to come their descendants, the Mongol and Manchu, would found the Yuan and Qing dynasties).

Several months before Jin Gaozu acceded the throne the Khitan had penetrated the empire and the yet to be proclaimed emperor of the Later Jin snuck out of the city gate under cover of the night for a secret rendezvous with Yelü Deguang, the emperor of the Khitan. On that night Yelü Deguang and the future Jin Gaozu swore allegiance as father and son.

Jin Gaozu acceded the thrown and adopted the ‘Jin’ as dynastic designation. Relinquishing sixteen prefectures of northern China to the Khitan.

The relationship with the Khitan allowed the Later Jin five years of relative stability, the Khitan didn't wage war on the Later Jin and other rulers who might try to challenge Jin Gaozu's authority would have to contend with the Khitan.

When illness confined Jin Gaozu to his death bed his final wish of succession was indicated to attending ministers with the handover of his young son by a eunuch to his senior minister. Though nothing was said the meaning was clear to all present. But, Jin Yanguang wasn't at the handover, instead he was working behind the scenes to have Jin Gaozu's older adopted son installed, and when Jin Gaozu died Jin Yanguang got his way.

Emperor Chu began his reign by violating sacred taboos at his father's wake; taking his aunt as empress the day he began mourning rites and telling jokes in front of his father's corpse to the hysterical laughter of those in attendance. His political judgment matched his filial piety, allowing Jin Yanguang, now promoted to an arrogant chief director of armed forces, to ruin the allegiance his father had so carefully arranged with Yelü Deguang.

When the Khitan ambassador was at the newly formed court of the Later Jin debating about Emperor Chu’s proper term of address to the Emperor of the Liao Dynasty, Yelü Deguang, Jin Yanguang eventually retorted,

“Our Jin possesses a formidable arsenal of a hundred thousand giant swords. If the venerable gentleman [Yelü Deguang] wants a contest, let him come: he will reap the ridicule of the world.”

Fearing later questions about his own accurate representation, the Khitan ambassador asked for the words in writing and in this way Yanguang's entire exchange reached the ear of Yelü Deguang whose fury resulted in an invasion on January 28th, 944 C.E.

The war provoked by Jin Yanguang's boasting would be fought by men such as Han Tong and for many young men, their first war. How would their hundred thousand giant swords fare against the Khitan?

Du Chongwei sells the Empire for a Robe

Word of a traitor was afoot. Someone had sold an army to the Khitan. Why jeopardize your country for a robe?

We know that it was around the time prefectural governors stepped up military preparations for the impending invasion that Han Tong performed the ceremony of “taking the cap” and responded to the call to enlist. Han Tong's hometown of Taiyuan was just south of the Khitan border and one would expect Han Tong to have seen heavy fighting, but he had enlisted in Liu Zhiyuan's army and with distrust high between Liu Zhiyuan and Emperor Chu, Liu Zhiyuan never deployed his troops. So, when two years after the war began the Yellow River overflowed and dykes across the country burst and flooded five prefectures his army stayed home while the rest of Emperor Chu’s forces struggled.

The autumn had witnessed vast flooding across the world, the rains continuing for more than sixty days as human corpses littered the highways. The people fed themselves on wood shavings, their horses and cattle subsisting on straw from sitting mats.
Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

And came the Khitan.
Commissioner of at-large forces on the northern front Du Chongwei, defender of China's northern borders (through virtue of marriage to royalty), trudged his armies through the mud to camp at a bridge. They must have thought it an ideal position to hold off the enemy in case of a midnight attack. Of course the Khitan were spying on them the whole time. That night they attacked from their mountain hideout and split Du Chongwei’s army, severing him from his rear guard. With his army split and the Khitan at an advantage how could Du Chongwei escape?

He clandestinely contacted the Khitan through messenger, offering to surrender. Immensely pleased, the Khitan promised the throne of the Middle Kingdom to Chongwei, a promise he believed. With armored soldiers concealed for protection, Chongwei summoned the various commanders to announce his impending capitulation to the barbarians. They all stood in shock, but obeyed orders owing to their senior commanders preemptive action. Chongwei pulled out the petition of surrender, making the commanders each sign their names to it, as troops were directed to assume formation beyond the barricades. Those troops were still reveling at the prospect of a decisive battle, only for Chongwei to pronounce rations exhausted and surrender necessary. The soldiers bawled while doffing armor, the sound reverberating from the plains to the wilderness.
Historical Records of the Five Dynasties

Once troops had removed their armor he displayed before them the ocher-red robe he had received from the Khitan, supposedly a sign of his future stature, but for many there it must have deepened their shame.
Back in the capital city, word of Du Chongwei’s capitulation had somehow reached the ear of a newly demoted minister. “Conditions are absolutely critical,” exclaimed the minister who pleaded to confer with Emperor Chu, but the emperor was sporting with falcons in the royal park and had no time for the cries of the former minister.

-Kevin Brazier

there are real historical records of real godlike heroic combat but u just wanna quote 1 dollar trash novels to find any obscure link with tanglang.

tanglang has zero link with any real famous historical figures. period. its modified seven star boxing from caravan group who were friends.

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Originally Posted by bawang

tanglang has zero link with any real famous historical figures. period. its modified seven star boxing from caravan group who were friends.

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Incorrect.

This is for those who wish to find the authentic traditions of praying mantis.
I did and it has been this desire of mine that has fueled my research on old traditions of Mantis since 1989 when I left the Wah Lum school in Tampa Florida and moved to Taiwan.

Which school or style is preserving an ancient tradition and which is not?
What are the oldest mantis traditions that we can find?

I took as my starting point Heaven-Ascended Taoist and his writings. It is the source of the oldest mantis traditions including; forms, applications, stories, qigong exercises. Many mantis schools include his list of eighteen masters, a list of the eighteen masters and techniques that define the style.

I chose the 2nd on the list 韓通的通背為母 “Han Tong’s Tong Bei is the mother” as the starting point. Why does Heaven-Ascended Taoist write this sentence?

By a comparison of ALL records of Han Tong in existence up to the late Qing, we are able to pinpoint the original source of Heaven-Ascended Taoists Han Tong influence. It can be shown to be from the Ming, not the Qing.

Why is that?
During the Ming Dynasty military training took the names of famous people and used them within their styles. Military documents were openly published with the hopes of strengthening the weakening empire. The most famous is Qi Jiguang’s book Ji Shao Xin Shu, but there are other books with a wealth of information. It is here were we learn more about other famous characters from history that were borrowed for the late Ming era military revival.

My next step was to take a close look at records of Han Tong dating from his own lifetime. They were recorded and included in several early works. The most important of these are Historical Records of the Five Dynasties written during the Song dynasty (and quoted above) and History of the Song, written during the Yuan dynasty.

There is no conclusive evidence showing a direct link between what Han Tong taught and what we teach now, but he definitely did take charge of military instruction during his lifetime. There is a direct written link between what was taught under his name in the Ming Dynasty and the writings of Heaven-Ascended Taoist.

For this reason the subject is worthy of further research.

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Originally Posted by bawang

tanglang has zero link with any real famous historical figures. period. its modified seven star boxing from caravan group who were friends.

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I tend to agree with this. However, I would be interested in hearing why you think it had a connection with Seven Star Boxing.

During China's dynastic period most people learned history from stories and stage performances. Those stories were popular with the masses, including soldiers.

By the Ming there are multiple instances of these stories becoming a part of martial arts.

For example; a downward chop became "Chen Xiang Cleaves Asunder Mt Hua."
This was a name recorded by general Qi Jiguang in his longfist set. The soldiers were all familiar with the story of Chen Xiang's mother being imprisoned beneath Mt Hua. It took the bravery of the not yet fully grown Chen Xiang to save his mother from never ending misery.

Stories like these became a vehicle for transmitting the wu de 武德 of martial arts.

They can also be found in other military and Shaolin documents of the times.

During the mid-Qing Heaven-Ascended Taoist used these stories to write his manuscripts of Luohan Gong and Praying Mantis. So, when he speaks of movements such as the well known ba wang ju ding 霸王舉鼎 Tyrant Lifts the Cauldron, he specifically refers to the rise and fall of a specific warrior and asks us to contemplate not only the impermanence of life, but of the folly of our own arrogance.

When he speaks of Han Tong he specifically is referring to the impermanence of your martial skill. He leaves behind these allusions as his way of educating future generations of his style-that means us!

No other Chinese martial manuscript can compare with the richness of Heaven-Ascended Taoist's writings. For this reason alone it is the richest and most important of martial manuscripts ever written.

This short essay is about Han Tong, credited as providing the mother techniques of both the Shaolin style as well as our own Praying Mantis style; 韓通的通背為母 Han Tong’s Tong Bei is the mother.

In 951 c.e. Han Tong was the trusted subordinate of the soon to be emperor Guo Wei. When Guo Wei was assigned to protect China’s Northern borders from the feared Khitan he even petitioned the throne for Han Tong to be his lieutenant of armed forces of the “Heavenly Hero” command which was granted.

But the Emperor at that time was a foolish teenager who shortly afterwords agreed to have Guo Wei murdered. The plot reached Guo Wei’s ears before the assassins blade and Guo Wei led his entire army to the capital promising his troops ten days of plunder when they sacked the capital.

Guo Wei entered the city and his troops plundered wildly for a day. But, he needed to demonstrate good will to the people of the capital and had to cut short the plunder. It is likely that Han Tong policed the army and played a major role in putting an end to the violence for when Guo Wei became Emperor of the new dynasty Han Tong took over as right-wing inspector of military police.

Being in charge of the policing operations of the capital it is possible or even likely that he taught his forces some training routines to keep themselves occupied during the day. The first record of these moves doesn’t appear for over half a millennia, the latter half of the Ming Dynasty, where brief mention is made of Han Tong’s six palm and fist techniques.

The above is from historical records dating to the Song Dynasty.

It is my theory that the military form Chuji Quan 初級拳 is in fact these techniques, or a form based on these techniques.

For those not familiar with Chuji Quan here is a short article.

Kung Fu Fit For an Army