Who's concept of "re-writing history" are you referring to.
The book "Complete Wing Chun" is a very good source for the differing histories of Wing Chun/Weng Chun (Thanx Rene and Robert).
By process of comparing these histories reveals that all liniages refer to the Red Junk Opera company, so it can be reasonably assumed that WC was filtered throught it. Before then the histories are a mix of differing stories, most incluing one or more of the "Five Elders". I do believe to some degree these earlier stories were probably made up to keep the knowledge of the art from the manchu and to create propaganda that because these famous monks/nuns were responsible for it that it carried some sort of magical property.
Anything prior to recorded history of WC can only be considered as legend. It's kida like asking if I believe King Authur really existed and if he was the one who found the Holy Grail.
Sapere aude, Justin.
The map is not the Terrain.
"Wheather you believe you can, or you believe you can't...You're right." - Henry Ford