Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

Xingyiquan (Hsing I Ch’uan)
Of the three primary “internal” arts of China, xingyiquan (also spelled
hsing i ch’uan and shing yi ch’uan) is the most visibly martial and the least
well known and understood in the West. Xingyiquan (Form Will Fist) is a
complex art, utilizing bare-handed and weapon techniques, that applies
more linear and angular force than the other two internal arts of
baguazhang (pa kua ch’uan) and taijiquan (tai chi ch’uan). Xingyi is probably
best known for its emphasis on extraordinary power applied explosively.
Several styles or lineages of xingyi exist, named for the various
provinces in China where they were developed. Xingyi has been practiced
widely in China, and the styles are not limited to the province for which
they are named. For example, Shifu (Master) Kenny Gong reports that he
learned the Hebei style along with bone medicine as a child in Canton.
The origins of xingyiquan are traditionally assigned to General Yue
Fei, who is believed to have developed the boxing system from the movements
of the spear during the Song dynasty (920–1127). According to legend,
he developed both xingyi and Eagle Claw, the former for his officers,
the latter for his troops. Tradition asserts that his teachings were passed
down secretly and in a book now lost until a wandering Daoist (Taoist)
taught xingyiquan to General Ji Jike (also called Ji Longfeng; 1600–1660)
and gave him a copy of Yue Fei’s book. Of Ji Jike’s students, two are important:
Ma Xueli of the Henan province and Cao Jiwu of the Shanxi
province. Cao Jiwu was not only Feng’s foremost disciple, but also a commanding
officer of the army in the Shanxi province, and he trained his officers
in xingyiquan. From Cao Jiwu, the Shanxi or Orthodox style of
xingyi descends. Tradition holds that Ma Xueli originally became a servant
in Feng’s household, where he secretly watched the xingyi class. He learned
so well that he was later formally accepted, and from him descends the
Henan school. The Henan style has become closely associated with Chinese
Moslems and has lost some of the ties to Daoist cosmology seen in the
other styles.
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