Wing Chun 

Shaolin Era 

General Shaolin history — burning of the Shaolin temples circa 1768 (This is 58 years before Leung Jan was born.) Wing Chun hand techniques probably originated from White Crane Kung Fu. Many techniques from White Crane resemble Wing Chun techniques. It would be almost impossible for there to be no relationship between White Crane and Wing Chun. Both systems are believed to have developed in the Shaolin temples in Foshan. It is also important to understand that White Crane Kung Fu is much older than Wing Chun. During the Shaolin era, weapons training was considered more important than empty-hand techniques. 

 

Code Name: Yim Wing Chun Secret code theory by Benny Meng The actual code message was: “Keep things secret and discreet, but continue speaking about the return of the Ming Dynasty.” Yes, this story is only a legend based on oral traditions, but it served a purpose during times of political struggle. First, there is no historical record of the nun, the father, the husband, or Yim Wing Chun herself. Second, there were no nuns in the Shaolin temples. This was never part of Shaolin tradition, neither in the Northern nor Southern temples. Third, the story itself is not logical. Why would a nun come out of hiding to help with a young girl’s romantic problem? Doing so would risk both of their lives. During this period, the Qing Dynasty enforced extremely harsh punishments, including execution of entire families for suspected rebellion. Fourth, Yim Wing Chun can be interpreted as a secret code. Yim means to be discreet or secretive. Wing means to speak, praise, or proclaim. Chun means “Spring,” symbolizing rebirth. Together, the name could be interpreted as encouraging secrecy while continuing to speak about the rebirth of the Ming Dynasty. The nun symbolizes the Shaolin roots of Wing Chun. Fifth, the story of a nun teaching a young woman appears to have been borrowed from oral traditions found in White Crane systems. Sixth, if the story were historically accurate, the nun would have needed to live for nearly 200 years. The Shaolin temple destruction occurred in the mid-to-late 1600s, while the transmission to the Red Boat Opera performers is said to have taken place in the mid-1800s. This leaves a historical gap of roughly two centuries. Seventh, throughout most of history, combat was primarily conducted by men rather than women. If a more efficient fighting method existed, it would have been adopted broadly rather than associated only with women. Finally, an effective human combat system is based on human nature and physiology, not on a story of a girl observing animals fighting. 

Full text by: Benny Meng: Mirror website full story / Original website full story 

 Yim Wing Chun

 Yim = Strictly or Strictness Wing = Eternal Chun = Spring

 ymbolism The flower symbolizes spring and can still be found in many logos today. 

The term “Eternity” symbolizes the idea of the Ming Dynasty lasting forever. The term “Spring” symbolizes the rebirth of the Ming Dynasty. 

White Lotus Rebels (1796–1804) Like Yim Wing Chun, there were other rebel organizations, such as the White Lotus Society. 

The White Lotus Rebellion took place between 1796 and 1804. Here as well, the color white symbolized the purity of the Ming Dynasty. The lotus flower symbolized spring and the rebirth of the Ming Dynasty. 

Red Boat Rebels (?–1850) Era of Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tai Sometime between 1768 and 1850, a rebel organization was active among traveling opera performers. A Shaolin monk named Chi Sim is said to have worked as a cook within a traveling opera troupe. Traveling opera troupes performing on red boats still exist in China today.

 Leung Jan (1826 - 1901) Foto's from Samuel Kwok, photo given by Leung Man Lok the grandson of Leung Big.

 Dr. Leung Jan (1826–1901) Dr. Leung Jan lived from 1826 to 1901. During this period, weapons were strictly forbidden in China, which changed the way combat training was practiced. Shaolin martial arts traditionally included many weapon techniques and fewer empty-hand techniques. However, during this time, empty-hand techniques became increasingly important. According to some sources, Leung Jan reorganized or redesigned the three hand forms as they are known today, developing them according to combat concepts and principles derived from Shaolin martial arts. 

The house of Leung Jan in Foshan, China, still exists and has been converted into a museum. Historical Comparison A similar example is the house of Rembrandt van Rijn, the Dutch painter who lived there between 1639 and 1658. His house still exists today and can be visited at Jodenbreestraat 4 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 Chan Wah Shun (1836 - 1906) Sifu of Ip Man and student of Leung Jan. The character, Wing Chun, what means Beautiful Spring. On the crave of Chan Wah Shun is written "Siu Lam Eternal Spring" Liu Lam = Shaolin.

 Ancestral Hall in Shunde also here is written "Siu Lam Eternal Spring" The Chan Wah Shun's ancestors temple still exists today. Leung Big ( ? - 1912) Son of Leung Jan and teacher of Ip Man.

 Ip Man in Hong Kong Ip Man lived in Hong Kong between 1908 and 1917, where he studied at St. Stephen's College. It is quite possible that the young Ip Man appears in one of the historical photographs from that period. However, St. Stephen's College was unfortunately unable to confirm this, according to an email exchange I had with the school in 2012.

 Click here for fotos of students of the Stephen's College

 Source: St. Stephen's College Hong-Kong website www.ssc.edu.hk

 Chan Yiu Min (1884 - 1932) 

Son of Chan Wah Shun and also trainings partner of Ip Man in Foshan.

 Probably Ip Man trained with Chan Yiu Ming until his death in 1932. He died at the age of 48. probably due to illness. Ip Kai Man (1893 - 1972)

 Ip Man Ip Man studied in Hong Kong between 1908 and 1917 at St. Stephen's College. Ip Man’s first teacher was Chan Wah Shun, his second teacher was Ng Chung So, and his third teacher was Leung Bik. During his lifetime, he refined and improved the Kung Fu system and tested his skills in real street encounters. Ip Man was 56 years old when he returned to Hong Kong via Macao. Together with Lee Man, Ip Man changed the name “Eternal Spring” to “Beautiful Spring” in 1950.

 Ip Man changed the name of Wing Chun to Wing Chun. The Wing Chun Athletic Association in Hong Kong was established in 1967. Ip Man was regulated in Dai Dak Lan, where he maintained contacts with Chu Shung Man and Tang Yick, who are masters of A other style of Wing Chun. Source Book: Grandmaster Yip Man Centenary Birth / Wong Shun Leung (1935 - 1997)

 Photo: Photographer René Dohmen — courtesy of Rob Vogel Sr., Wing Chun Association. 

One of the best students of Ip Man was Wong Shun Leung. Wong participated in many organized challenge fights in which he tested the system under real fighting conditions. He helped put the finishing touches on the modern Wing Chun system and was considered by many to be the most famous fighter of the Wing Chun clan in the early 1950s. 

A documentary about his life was released in 2015 by John Little. 

Wing Chun Is Newer Than Previously Thought A combat system can only truly develop when it is tested in real situations. This is what Leung Jan, Chan Wah Shun, Ip Man, and Wong Shun Leung did throughout their lives. Today, we may be living in the final phase of Wing Chun’s evolution. What we see now could be the end product of a fully developed system. Changes or additions made without proper understanding — especially without real testing — may ultimately weaken the system, since modern practitioners rarely test their skills in real street combat. 

A comprehensive system such as Wing Chun is not developed within a single generation. Although its initial principles and combat concepts likely originated from Shaolin traditions and White Crane Kung Fu, the greatest transformation appears to have taken place between Leung Jan and Ip Man. Complex systems require time to evolve. Therefore, the question should perhaps not be who created Wing Chun or exactly where it came from. My conclusion is that the Wing Chun we know today is much newer than previously believed. The most important aspect is not the historical story itself or the name, but the legacy that exists today. 

On History History is a narrative built on available information and research. As new information emerges, historical understanding may change. When certain elements become historically impossible, they should be reconsidered or removed. For example, the Snake and Crane story is not originally attributed to Ip Man. Even when pieces of the puzzle are missing, it is still possible to recognize the larger picture. 

By Silvano Bonafe November 2014