Bagua Zhang or the eight-diagram palm is one of the most popular schools in China. It is also called Youshen Bagua (roving eight-diagram), Longxing Bagua (dragon-shaped eight-diagram), Xingyi Bagua (Xingyi eight-diagram Chuan), Yinyang Bapan Zhang (positive-negative eight-plate palm), etc.
There are different stories about the origin of this school of Chuan. Some say it originated among the anti-Qing Dynasty cliques while others believe that it was created by the two Taoist priests of Bi Yun and Jing Yun on Mount Emei in Sichuan Province during the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty and it has been passed down to its ninth generation of practitioners.
Most of Bagua Zhang boxers are found in Hebei Province. Some of them learned Bagua Zhang from scratch from their tutors, while others asked the masters for advice to improve their own skills. Over the years various routines of exercises were cultivated in different styles. The most popular ones are:
The Dong Haichuan-style Bagua Zhang. A native of Zhujiawu, south of Wenan County in Hebei Province, Dong played an important part in the dissemination of the eight-diagram plam, teaching many people in Bei-jing. Most reputed disciples of Dong included Yin Fu, Cheng Tinghua, Liu Fengchun and Li Cunyi who all contributed to the dissemination and development of the Chuan style. Some of the eight-diagram palm styles are named after these disciples, for example the Yin-style, Cheng-style, Liang-style and Sun-style eight-pictography palms.
The Li Zhenqing style of Bagua Zhang or the positive-negative eight-diagram plam Li (a. 1830-1900), a native from Weijiaying in Hebei Province, went to Henan Province to learn the positive-negative eight-diagram palm in order to improve the Chuan techniques which he had already mastered. After returning home in about 1870, Li taught his skills to his villagers. A follower of Li Zhenqing, Ren Zhicheng wrote a book on the Yinyang Bapan Zhang (positive-negative eight-plate palm) in 1937 and the book has been passed down.
The Tian Ruhong style of Bagua Zhang. Tian, whose style of Chuan is called the Yinyang Bagua Zhang (positive-negative eight-diagram palm), was a native of Shandong Province, but later moved to Dengshangu Village at Tanggu in Hebei Province in the late Ming Dynasty. On a tour of Emei and Qingcheng in Sichuan Province, Tian saw wrongdoings and volunteered to do justice. When he was in danger, two Taoist priests rescued him. After the incident, Tian Ruhong acknowledged the priests as his Wushu tutors and followed them for 12 years mastering their style of martial arts. When the Ming Dynasty gave place to the Qing Dynasty, Tian said good-bye to his tutors and returned home. Due to his resentment of the autocracy of the local authorities in the Qing Dynasty, Tian left his home village once again and took with him a youngster called Tian Xuan. Years after, Tian Xuan came back to teach the eight-diagram palm to Tian family members. In the beginning, this style of Chuan was known only among Tian family members. It is only in recent times that it has been taught to others outside of Tian family.
The eight-diagram palm is based on the old Chinese philosophy of eight combinations of three whole and broken lines used in divination. While practising, the practitioner moves according to the eight diagrams. There are eight basic palm plays. A total of 64 palm tricks and moves have come from the original eight basic palm plays. Apart from solo practices, there are also sparrings, Sanshou (free sparring) and fighting with weapons, such as Bagua sword play, Bagua sabre play and Bagua cudgel play, and Bagua play of shaft decorated with seven stars, etc. While practising these routines, practitioners rove around like a dragon moving amidst clouds (see picture).
Bagua Zhang features dexterity and agility. When moving around it is like walking in a muddy place, with foot steps changing all the time like running water. Palm tricks and body movements follow one after another. The roving around looks like endless circles which overlap one another. The body turns around from the waist during walking, roving, turning, rising and falling. Palm tricks change with the movements of the body. When the upper body protrudes, the lower part of the body squats back to keep balance. When the arms are sent out, the feet are drawn back. When moving it is like a roaming dragon; when squatting it is like a sitting tiger; when looking around it is like a monkey on the lookout; when roving it is like a circling eagle.
History
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The Whole Body Training Exercises
The creation of Baguazhang, as a formalised martial art, is attributed to Dong Haichuan (董海川) in the early 19th century, who apparently learned from Taoist, and possibly Buddhist, masters in the mountains of rural China. There is evidence to suggest a synthesis of several pre-existing martial arts taught and practiced in the region he lived in, combined with Taoist circle walking. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court.
Famous disciples of Dong to become teachers were Yin Fu (尹福), Cheng Tinghua (程廷華), Song Changrong (宋長榮), Liu Fengchun (劉鳳春) and Ma Weiqi (馬維棋). Although they were all students of the same teacher, their methods of training and expressions of palm techniques differed. The Cheng and Liu styles are said to specialize in "Pushing" the palms, Yin style is known for "Threading" the palms, Song's followers practice "Plum Flower" (梅花 Mei Hua) palm technique and Ma style palms are known as "Hammers." Some of Dong Haichuan's students, including Cheng Ting-hua, participated in the Boxer Rebellion. In general, most Bagua practitioners practice either the Yin (尹), Cheng (程), or Liang (梁) styles of Bagua, although Fan (樊), Shi (史), Liu (劉), Fu (creator, Fu Chen Sung, Jia, and other styles also exist. (The Liu style is a special case, in that it is never practiced alone, but as a complement to other styles.)
Of all of Dong Haichuan's students, Yin Fu studied with him the longest. His top student was Ma Gua, who also learned from Dong Hai Chuan.
Modern Styles
Styles List
Yin Style
Cheng Style
Other Styles
Common Aspects
The practice of circle walking, or 'Turning the Circle', as it is sometimes called, is baguazhang's characteristic method of stance and movement training. Practitioners walk around the edge of a circle in various stances, facing the center, and periodically change direction as they execute forms. Students first learn flexibility through such exercises, then move on to more complex forms and internal power mechanics. The internal aspects of baguazhang are very similar to those of xingyi and tai chi. Eventually, many distinctive styles of weapons training are practiced, sometimes including the uniquely crescent-shaped deerhorn knives, and the easily concealed "scholar's pen." Baguazhang is also known for practicing with extremely large weapons, such as the Bāguàdāo (八卦刀), or 'Bagua Broadsword.'
In some schools, students study both xingyi and bagua. These may be used together in fighting, as they are often complementary. Baguazhang contains an extremely wide variety of techniques, including various strikes, low kicks, joint techniques, throws, and distinctively circular footwork.
Cheng Style
A famous Bagua practitioner of the 20th century was Sun Lutang (孫録堂), who studied Baguazhang under Cheng Tinghua. Sun was also a Xingyiquan disciple of Guo Yunshen (郭雲深) and learned Wu/Hao style Taijiquan from Hao Wei-chen. Sun Lutang was reputed among the Taijiquan professionals of his day to have excelled in his studies and subsequently became well known as the founder of Sun style Taijiquan.
Other Styles
A disciple of Gao Yisheng - He Kecai (Cantonese: Ho Ho Choy) taught Baguazhang in Hong Kong. His students still teach today. However the name is now called "Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang" as to differentiate from other branches spread from Gao Yisheng. As Ho Ho Choy was one of the last disciples of Gao, and after Gao's death he compared his art with those of Gao's earlier students and found that although the name and movement of most techniques are the same, the inner dynamics vary considerably; and so Ho's student called the Baguazhang they teach "Ho Ho Choy Baguazhang" to differentiate.
Bagua was introduced to southern China and Hong Kong by Fu Chen Sung, who was invited south after becoming chief instructor of the Nanjing Central Martial Arts Institute in the 1920s. He and the other four who went south were collectively referred to as the Five Northern Tigers. This style is caracterized by a large number of spinning movements and point strikes.
Also, it is known that Shoto Tanemura became a 5th generation disciple of both Sato Kinbei and Li Ziming. Tanemura was taught Bagua (Hakkesho) from Sato Kinbei, one of his teachers. Sato Kinbei learned while on his travels in China, and had to convince the art's masters that he was sincere and endured many tests. After returning to Japan, he maintained contact and even brought his 'Chugoku Kenpo' masters to Japan on several occasions. Li Ziming and Wang Shu-chin (Wang Shujin) were both brought over to teach in Japan. Master Wang stayed for several years. Due to his dedication, Sato Kinbei Sensei was awarded discipleship and was the first non-Chinese person to do so. Wang Shu-chin also taught in Taiwan. Wang's friend and practice partner was Tchoung Ta-tchen in Taiwan. Tchoung also taught Wang's method in Canada and the USA to complement his Old form of Yang style system.
General geographical distribution of Baguazhang styles in China
Beijing is the home of many Baguazhang practitioners, including students of the Cheng, Fan, Liang, Liu, Song, and Yin lineages. Baguazhang practitioners can be found all over China, however; for example, Shanghai includes practitioners of the Jiang Rongqiao (Cheng), Gong Baotian (Yin), and Shi lineages. In Taiwan, most practitioners are of either Gao Yisheng (Cheng), Gong Baotian (Yin), Sun Xikun (Cheng), or Sun Lutang (Cheng) lineages. In Hong Kong, almost all practitioners are of the Fu Zhensong (Fu Chen Sung) or Gao Yisheng (through He Kecai) lineages.
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