On the campus of a university in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, the track field has turned into a martial arts arena, and thousands of students follow the movements of the tiger boxing martial artist professor Sun on the platform, standing in horse stance, punching, shouting......
Since returning to his hometown a few years ago to devote myself to the excavation and promotion of Zhou Zihe's (周子和) martial arts culture, I have visited the old-timers in Fuzhou's martial arts circles, historical circles, local chronicles and other related industries, collecting and excavating bits and pieces about the martial artist Zhou Zihe, and the deeper I go, the more I feel the infinite charm of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture. This charm is like a magnet, attracting me tightly, and then integrating me with Zhou Zihe martial arts culture.
However, since the death of Zhou Zihe for more than 100 years, the mountains and towns have changed dramatically. Society has changed and the Tiger-shaped Fist that once shook the north and south of the river has gradually become less known with life has become safer and peoples’ lives are more prosperous. In Zhitian Village, Minhou Nanyu, the former residence of Zhou Zihe, the whole village used to practice Tiger Boxing for all ages. Now there are very few who can practice it completely. Tiger Boxing is the soul of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture, but also his legacy. Without Tiger Boxing, how can we talk about Zhou Zihe martial arts culture?
By chance, a friend recommended me to a magazine published in Fujian in the early 1990s, which included a novel about the legend of Zhou Zihe. The story was fascinating, especially the Tiger Boxing moves, and martial arts terminology used just right. I was overjoyed, and I searched for the author of this novel in hopes that he may be able to open the door to Tiger Fist. Through the help of friends in the news media, I finally contacted Mr. Sun, who is over 70 years old. As soon as we met, we couldn't help but be overjoyed. Mr. Sun is not only a writer, but also an expert in the excavation and sorting of Tiger Boxing who has been researching for decades, and has widely recruited disciples to teach Tiger Boxing, teaching people tirelessly. At the same time, more than 30 years ago, he successively published legendary novels and scripts about Zhou Zihe and martial arts, and filmed and released the film and television drama Crouching Tiger [not to be confused with Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon – ed] This made me feel that I had finally found clues. For Mr. Sun, having a descendant of the Zhou family from the former residence of Zhou Zihe in front of him who was so resolutely devote himself to the cause of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture was wonderful. I was full of piety with my long-cherished wish to inherit and promote Zhou Zihe martial arts culture for so many years. The inheritance of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture is not only a local intangible cultural heritage of Fuzhou, but also global treasure. What many people don't know is that in Okinawa, Japan, there is a well-known school of karate - Uechi-ryu. The founder of Uechi Ryu is named Shangdi Wanwen, who came to Fuzhou at the end of the Qing Dynasty. He admired Zhou Zihe and his disciples, and practiced Tiger Boxing for thirteen years. After completing his studies, he returned to Okinawa and founded a martial arts gym, which taught Uechi Ryu Karate. Today, Uechi Ryu Karate has established branches in more than 50 countries and regions around the world. What is especially important is that in the early 1980s, Uechi Ryu Karate organized a group to Fuzhou to seek its roots and ask for its ancestors, and determined that Zhou Zihe was the ancestor of Uechi Ryu Karate.
This phenomenon has attracted great attention from relevant departments of Fuzhou City, Fujian Province and the state. Immediately, the relevant departments organized experts and scholars to dig deep into Zhou Zihe martial arts culture. Mr. Sun's novels and film and television works were produced in this context. However, Mr. Sun understands very well that literary and artistic works alone cannot completely inherit and promote Zhou Zihe martial arts culture. Someone must comprehensively excavate and carry forward from history, society, martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, and other aspects. In a sense, my appearance gave Mr. Sun great expectations and comfort. With the deepening and frequent exchanges, Teacher Sun and I became friends because of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture. With the help of Mr. Sun, my career has been strengthened.
Since then, my team has collectively become Mr. Sun's students, and they have learned Tiger Boxing from Mr. Sun, starting from one move and one style, or focusing on each other, or practicing hard alone, and their skills are becoming more and more refined. In the process of practicing Tiger Boxing, I am not satisfied with myself and the team. I hope that more people will understand Tiger Boxing, recognize the connotation of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture, and thus like this type of boxing, which has twice the effect of promoting Zhou Zihe martial arts culture. After thinking about it, I let the Tiger-shaped fist enter the campus. My idea was strongly supported by Mr. Sun, who actively designed course work for the introduction of these martial arts into the campus. After communicating with a university in Fujian, the school leaders fully realized the significance of inheriting and promoting Zhou Zihe martial arts culture, so they decided to let all the students experience Tiger Boxing.
Tiger Boxing entered the college, and my confidence has doubled. Since then, I have set up a teaching point in the high-tech zone, openly recruited students from the society, aught Tiger Boxing for free, and spread the culture of Tiger Boxing to the entire university town of Fuzhou. According to my vision, there is no end to the spread of Tiger Boxing. My team and I will continue to work hard to let more students practice and enjoy Tiger Boxing. With a solid foundation, Zhou Zihe martial arts culture can be further promoted, and we stride towards our dream step by step.
When I made up his mind to devote myself to the cause of Zhou Zihe martial arts culture, it became the core task of this arduous project to protect, repair, and make good use of the relics and heritage associated with Zhou Zihe. Zhou Zhihui went south to Guangdong and north to Beijing, visited the pioneers, planners, operators and operation teams of related industries, listened to their experience introductions, and exchanged with them the significance of Zhou Zihe's martial arts culture and his own idea of inheriting and promoting this culture. In such a multifaceted exchange, I have my own grand blueprint in my heart.
Zhou Zihe martial arts culture is a precious legacy left to us - the crystallization of Chinese culture, and the wisdom and hard work of our ancestors. If we don't carry it on properly, this legacy is likely to disappear in the long course of time. At present, it should be said that we are in a very good historical period. The Chinese nation is marching forward on the road of rejuvenation with its head held high, the first centenary goal has been completed as scheduled, and the Chinese people have entered a prosperous society, and we are now forging ahead toward the second centenary goal. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the realization of the second centenary goal are all built on the basis of the cultural self-confidence of the Chinese nation. Cultural self-confidence is to inherit the excellent traditional culture and make good use of its role and value. Zhou Zihe martial arts culture is contained in the vast treasure house of Chinese culture, and as future generations, it is also an opportunity for us in this great era. I am honored and proud to be engaged in the cultural career of Zhou Zihe martial arts.
Combined with the current national development strategy and the great cause of rural revitalization. I envision that in Shibata Village, we will make good use of the material and cultural heritage of Zhou Zihe, strengthen the connection and cooperation with other martial arts cultures, strengthen exchanges with overseas martial arts schools such as Karate, and build this place into a place for the inheritance of Zhou Zihe martial arts, a place for pilgrimage, a place for the dissemination of martial arts culture, and at the same time, combine the heritage of Zhou Zihe traditional Chinese medicine to establish a traditional Chinese medicine health care base for the benefit of more people.
Referring to the heritage of Zhou Zihe traditional Chinese medicine, I have organized experts and scholars to research, develop and implement it several years ago, and developed Zhou Zihe plaster based on Zhou Zihe's prescription for the treatment of bruises. It was immediately listed as an intangible cultural heritage by the relevant departments of Minhou County. Today, I have developed hundreds of acres of mountainous land around Zhitian Village for the cultivation of Chinese herbal medicine, using the existing mountainous land, on the basis of protecting the original ecological forest, developing the economy under the forest to cultivate Chinese herbal medicine, this industry cooperates with a university in Fujian Province, and has been strongly guaranteed in all aspects of planting, technology, processing and scientific research.
The future planning of Zhitian Village has been highly valued by Fuzhou High-tech Zone under his multi-faceted efforts and efforts. According to the government plan, the development model of Zhitian Cultural Tourism Industrial Park is relying on Zhou Zihe martial arts culture, to build a martial arts cultural industrial park, and at the same time, on the basis of culture, to develop traditional Chinese medicine planting, medicinal diet, hot spring development, and build a health base. The Tiger Shape Boxing Martial Arts Academy carries the cultural heritage of Tiger Shape Boxing and exchanges with foreign countries. The establishment of Zihe Foundation will use part of the income from the industry as the foundation's funds to build the hometown and help the villagers. Looking back on the road traveled in the past few years, there are hardships, confusions, joys, gains, and longings – we’ve had variety of experiences, and our dreams are becoming more and more resolute.
