Fuzhou Monkey Boxing

• Report rights infringement
• published: 15 Oct 2014
• views: 1972

Yongfu Hou Fa "Yongfu area Monkey Method" (Yongtai County Monkey Boxing) Monkey boxing methods are practiced throughout Fujian and have influenced many systems. Besides the pure monkey boxing systems which can be found in both the Minbei and Minnan regions, monkey boxing techniques can also be found in Quanzhou Wuzu Quan, several of the Fujian crane lineages as well as some Taizu styles. The Yongtai area Kung Fu systems of Hou Fa (Monkey Method), Niu Fa (Ox Method), and sometimes She Fa (Snake Method) are considered to be among the oldest systems in the region and according to local tradition they both come from the teachings of Song dynasty Taoist master Zhang Ciguan. Him and his sworn brothers Xiao Faming and Lian Zongqiang are among the more popular Taoist deities among the Min and Hakka people in Fujian Taiwan and eastern Guangdong. In local Yongtai folk traditions Xiao Faming and Lian Zhongqiang are also considered to be the founders of both the Lion and sometimes the Dog Boxing traditions of Fujian. Together the three of them had studied at Fang Hu (Square Pot) Cliff, where the Fang Hu temple, known to the local people as Xiao Lian temple, was later built. The people of Fuzhou consider this to be the birthplace of the Fujian southern Kung Fu tradition. Zhang Ci Guan was born in the Yongfu (old name for Yongtai) region and trained in both Taoism and martial arts from a young age. He began his studies with various masters in the mountains of Fuzhou. There he met Xiao Faming (AKA Xiao Langrui) and Lian Zongqiang (AKA Zhang langqing), who like Zhang were highly skilled in martial arts and had been studying Taoism in the mountains for several years. The three men became sworn brothers and traveled to Jiangsu province to study on Lu Shan mountain (today's Long Hu Shan), home of the "Celestial Master" head of the Zheng Yi Tao school. After several years of study the three had become ordained priests and mastered the Zheng Yi Tao techniques of Taoist magic. The three of them then spent years wandering through the mountains of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian. There are many legends about their heroic exploits found in various areas they passed through on their travels. In the various legends hey fought demons and bandits, built bridges, stairs, and dams, dug wells and irrigation canals, healed the sick, and taught medicine, martial arts, and magic to help the people. Today Zhang Ci Guan is deified under a variety of names, the most common being Fa Zhu Gong. He is considered to be the founder of the black hat branch of Lu Shan sect, Zheng Yi Tao school of Taoism which is known for it's magic and specializes in exorcisms, burial rights, and locating and assisting the souls of the dead. Zhang along with his sworn brothers are worshiped throughout Fujian, Jiangsu, southern Zhejiang, eastern Guangdong and Taiwan. He is one of the most popular Taoist gods among the speakers of the various Min dialects as well as the Hakka. As Fa Zhu Gong he is believed to have been put in charge of making monthly reports to the Jade Emperor on the activities of the people of earth.