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Developments of Martial Arts in Taiwan
Master Lee,Chang-chih
All rights reserved
Director of the Martial Arts Faculty
of Intercultural Open University
www.kongfu.org
azh57@hotmail.com
January 31st, 2005
Initiation
Tracing back the history, martial arts probably have been brought into Taiwan as early as the Qing/late Ming dynasty（明末清初） along with the troops of Zheng Cheng-Gong.（鄭成功） It was not officially documented, but what can be certain is that along with the troops of Zheng Cheng-Gong, there must be generals that are highly skilled in martial arts. Be it migrated along with the settlements of the troops or brought in by late Ming rebel organizations reserving the intentions to fight against the Qing Empire, martial arts were certain to have spread into the society.
During the period, martial arts popular in Taiwan were predominately genres from Southern China. This should be the high time when martial arts migrated into Taiwan in large scale. Later, along with the unification by the Qing dynasty, exchanges of martial arts between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait became more and more frequent. During the Japanese Colonial Period, it has been noted that a famous Crane Fist master had come to teach in Taiwan, which left profound influence to martial art developments in Taiwan. Along with the Republic Government, many genres of Northern Chinese martial arts were brought in. These new genres were infused into the martial art development in Taiwan and brought a new life into Taiwan's martial art societies.
Under stable economic and political development in Taiwan, folk cultures have been more integrally preserved. During this period, martial arts societies of various genres sprouted. For promotion of the sports, the government set up the Martial Art Association of R.O.C. and International Taichi Chuan Association, Taiwan, R.O.C. at the central level and subsidiary martial arts and Taichi associations at the county level. With flourishing private organizations and institutions, Taiwan could be said to be a paradise for high-quality martial art learning.
Along with the development of the society and revolution in the ways of information transmission, the once secretive or rarely known knowledge of martial arts began to be widely spread, researched and discussed. Martial arts were no longer trainings for military or militia purposes. They were absorbed into folk cultures. Nowadays, even dance arts have absorbed the muscular ascetics of martial arts, and their benefits to health have also become known by the world. Up till today, the development of martial arts in Taiwan has been a diversified and lively journey that is worth exploring.
I. Developmental stages of martial arts
1. Martial art development before the Japanese Colonial Period
Before the Japanese Colonial Period, martial arts in Taiwan were mostly passed down from the forefathers of Taiwan migrants besides those spread to the society from Ming military. The exact process was not documented, but many schools of Kungfu and legends have been talked about for generations in many communities. One of the well-known legend is the Siluo Qikan (西螺七崁) story. Since the old times, villages in China have been known to hire famous martial art masters to teach their militias for the purpose of protecting their homes. The same custom was practiced in Taiwan. During the Daoguang Period of Qing Dynasty, Liu Pao (劉炮), alias Ming-San (A-San-Shi 阿善師), came to Taiwan from Zhangzhou, Fujian and set up the Guangxing martial art institute, “Zhenxing She (振興社)”, in Siluo. During the same period, the prominent family of Liao Jin-Ye (廖金埜) integrated the Liao-family style and famous Chinese master, Gao Rong-Shi’s (高榮師), martial arts in to a school and promoted the style locally. Liao’s seventh son, Liao Mao-Zhao (廖懋昭 also known as the Wan-De-Shi 萬得師), was exceptional in the arts. During the Guangxi Period of Qing Dynasty, he passed the Martial Art Xiucai (秀才, imperial exam at the county level) and afterwards he opened his own martial art institute at age of twenty-four. His father named his institute the “Qinxi Tang (勤習堂)” and opened the doors to pupils interested in this school of art. Both “Zhenxing She (振興社)” and “Qinxi Tang (勤習堂)” were highly influential in Taiwan during that period.
In the Dajia area, there were also martial arts passed down from the common folks. According to Mr. Guo Ying-Zhe’s (Taiwan Martial Arts Culture Research Association) study, the Dajia Wu-Shi-San Zhuang (fifty-three villages) Martial Arts Institution System can be roughly classified into the following schools – Daan (大安) “Qingxi Tang (欽習堂)” – Pao Shi (泡師), Dajia “Jiying Tang (集英堂)” – Hei Fan Shi (黑番師), Waipu “Yihu Tuan (義虎團)” – Cuo Shi (師), Yulin “Jin Shi Zhen (金獅陣)” – Yi Shi (益師), “Qilin Shen Shi Zhen (麒麟神獅陣)” – Wang Zai-Jia (王仔甲), Daan “Zheng Xing She (振興社)”, Dajia “Jin Sheng Tang (金勝堂)”, “Yu Lin Guan (玉麟館)”, and “Zhong Yi Tang (忠義堂)”. Each institute has its own specialty. Among which, “Qingxi Tang (欽習堂)” practiced the “Lian Huan Bagua Zhen (連環八掛陣, serial bagua)”, and, according to studies, the “Yong Chun Bai He Quan (Yongchun White Crane Fist)” practiced by “Yu Lin Guan (玉麟館)” was probably one of the oldest style in the Crane Fist system, which is not only rare in Taiwan but also in the world. The “Yihu Tuan (義虎團)” is just as unique – it was one and the only troop practiced Tiger instead of Lion Dance martial art.
Master Lee,Chang-chih
All rights reserved
Director of the Martial Arts Faculty
of Intercultural Open University
www.kongfu.org
azh57@hotmail.com
January 31st, 2005
Initiation
Tracing back the history, martial arts probably have been brought into Taiwan as early as the Qing/late Ming dynasty（明末清初） along with the troops of Zheng Cheng-Gong.（鄭成功） It was not officially documented, but what can be certain is that along with the troops of Zheng Cheng-Gong, there must be generals that are highly skilled in martial arts. Be it migrated along with the settlements of the troops or brought in by late Ming rebel organizations reserving the intentions to fight against the Qing Empire, martial arts were certain to have spread into the society.
During the period, martial arts popular in Taiwan were predominately genres from Southern China. This should be the high time when martial arts migrated into Taiwan in large scale. Later, along with the unification by the Qing dynasty, exchanges of martial arts between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait became more and more frequent. During the Japanese Colonial Period, it has been noted that a famous Crane Fist master had come to teach in Taiwan, which left profound influence to martial art developments in Taiwan. Along with the Republic Government, many genres of Northern Chinese martial arts were brought in. These new genres were infused into the martial art development in Taiwan and brought a new life into Taiwan's martial art societies.
Under stable economic and political development in Taiwan, folk cultures have been more integrally preserved. During this period, martial arts societies of various genres sprouted. For promotion of the sports, the government set up the Martial Art Association of R.O.C. and International Taichi Chuan Association, Taiwan, R.O.C. at the central level and subsidiary martial arts and Taichi associations at the county level. With flourishing private organizations and institutions, Taiwan could be said to be a paradise for high-quality martial art learning.
Along with the development of the society and revolution in the ways of information transmission, the once secretive or rarely known knowledge of martial arts began to be widely spread, researched and discussed. Martial arts were no longer trainings for military or militia purposes. They were absorbed into folk cultures. Nowadays, even dance arts have absorbed the muscular ascetics of martial arts, and their benefits to health have also become known by the world. Up till today, the development of martial arts in Taiwan has been a diversified and lively journey that is worth exploring.
I. Developmental stages of martial arts
1. Martial art development before the Japanese Colonial Period
Before the Japanese Colonial Period, martial arts in Taiwan were mostly passed down from the forefathers of Taiwan migrants besides those spread to the society from Ming military. The exact process was not documented, but many schools of Kungfu and legends have been talked about for generations in many communities. One of the well-known legend is the Siluo Qikan (西螺七崁) story. Since the old times, villages in China have been known to hire famous martial art masters to teach their militias for the purpose of protecting their homes. The same custom was practiced in Taiwan. During the Daoguang Period of Qing Dynasty, Liu Pao (劉炮), alias Ming-San (A-San-Shi 阿善師), came to Taiwan from Zhangzhou, Fujian and set up the Guangxing martial art institute, “Zhenxing She (振興社)”, in Siluo. During the same period, the prominent family of Liao Jin-Ye (廖金埜) integrated the Liao-family style and famous Chinese master, Gao Rong-Shi’s (高榮師), martial arts in to a school and promoted the style locally. Liao’s seventh son, Liao Mao-Zhao (廖懋昭 also known as the Wan-De-Shi 萬得師), was exceptional in the arts. During the Guangxi Period of Qing Dynasty, he passed the Martial Art Xiucai (秀才, imperial exam at the county level) and afterwards he opened his own martial art institute at age of twenty-four. His father named his institute the “Qinxi Tang (勤習堂)” and opened the doors to pupils interested in this school of art. Both “Zhenxing She (振興社)” and “Qinxi Tang (勤習堂)” were highly influential in Taiwan during that period.
In the Dajia area, there were also martial arts passed down from the common folks. According to Mr. Guo Ying-Zhe’s (Taiwan Martial Arts Culture Research Association) study, the Dajia Wu-Shi-San Zhuang (fifty-three villages) Martial Arts Institution System can be roughly classified into the following schools – Daan (大安) “Qingxi Tang (欽習堂)” – Pao Shi (泡師), Dajia “Jiying Tang (集英堂)” – Hei Fan Shi (黑番師), Waipu “Yihu Tuan (義虎團)” – Cuo Shi (師), Yulin “Jin Shi Zhen (金獅陣)” – Yi Shi (益師), “Qilin Shen Shi Zhen (麒麟神獅陣)” – Wang Zai-Jia (王仔甲), Daan “Zheng Xing She (振興社)”, Dajia “Jin Sheng Tang (金勝堂)”, “Yu Lin Guan (玉麟館)”, and “Zhong Yi Tang (忠義堂)”. Each institute has its own specialty. Among which, “Qingxi Tang (欽習堂)” practiced the “Lian Huan Bagua Zhen (連環八掛陣, serial bagua)”, and, according to studies, the “Yong Chun Bai He Quan (Yongchun White Crane Fist)” practiced by “Yu Lin Guan (玉麟館)” was probably one of the oldest style in the Crane Fist system, which is not only rare in Taiwan but also in the world. The “Yihu Tuan (義虎團)” is just as unique – it was one and the only troop practiced Tiger instead of Lion Dance martial art.
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