I have made a brief translation of a Qing era martial novel about the early exploits of a martial artist who later came to be credited with the creation of Longfist and Taiji Quan.
Here is a portion for your enjoyment and comparison with that latest of Hollywood blockbusters The Man with the Iron Fist.
Sung to Youthful Play melody
The fatigues of travel billow and blow,
Rain and snow fall thick and fast,
A gloomy road lonely and bleak.
Green waters flow throw the creek,
Verdant mountains obscured by darkness,
Ravens and rabbits hasten east and west.
Jackals and wolves have seized the streets and blocked the thoroughfares,
Howling tigers answer crying apes.
Open and upright aware of hope,
Sweeping clear the clouds of dust,
Time to establish a new sovereign ruler.
Kuangyin left the city. As he walked down the quiet road waiting for his elder Cairong to meet up with him. He left the road to practice his stick techniques, look at him as he maneuvers his ‘Coiling-Dragon-Staff’;
Hooking and springing
Sealing and closing
Capturing and pushing
Whipping and twisting
All while circling high and low
Watching him flourish his weapon for one round it brings to mind the sound of the divine stick returning to its source. With one shake of his hands he stood like a strip of golden brocade his heart filled with ten parts of joy.
As he stood there, Cairong and two others, Zhang and Luo, walked up commending and admiring Kuangyin’s staff work.
When they sat and drank wine Kuangyin opened up his heart to express his feelings of friendship. In answer, Zhang and Luo pulled 50 taels (one tael being about 40 grams) of silver from their bags for the traveling expenses of Kuangyin and Cairong. Kuangyin dared not accept so Zhang and Luo stuffed the silver into Cairong’s bag and called it his business capital. Three times Cairong refused to accept the money but in the end was finally persuaded to accept. Afterwards Zhang and Luo returned home so that Kuangyin and Cairong could begin their journey.
The Journey Begins
Cairong slowly pushed his cart with their luggage on top while Kuangyin hung a rope over his shoulder and pulled from the front. Cairong saw that Kuangyin was deep in thought over leaving his friends and family. He walked on in silence with his head bowed down.
To cheer him up Cairong said, “Worthy Younger Brother, when leaving home we should keep our mind free and relaxed and not keep a worried mind. Like you, I also have left behind my family. Up ahead is ‘Golden Toll Bridge.’ When we arrive there your foolish elder brother will pay the toll. Then we’ll find a wine shop and buy several cups to dispel our melancholy.”
On hearing those two words, “pay tax”, Kuangyin’s mood completely changed. “About this “Golden Toll Bridge” what sort of government official is there collecting the tax from travelers?”
Cairong replied, “This road just connects to a wide thoroughfare. Where is there any sort of government official?”
Kuangyin asked, “Since there is no established official there then who is the one that collects this tax?”
Kuangyin Creates Calamity at Golden Bridge
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