Li Jinglin
Encyclopedia
Li Jinglin ((李景林, 1885 - 1931) was a deputy inspector-general and later army general for the Fengtian clique
during the Chinese warlord era
. He hailed from Zaoqiang County
, Hebei
province, China
. After his military career was over, he settled in Nanjing
, and in 1927 moved to Shanghai
. A renowned swordsman, he was known as "China's First Sword."
in his decisive victory at Longku; the engagement has been termed "probably the single most important engagement in Zhili's defeat." In November his troops occupied Tianjin
, where they picked up half of Wang Chengbin's forces, and under his command a "repressive and predatory" regime was established--especially noted is the extent to which the local merchants were extorted. The United States 15th Infantry Regiment, whose mission was to keep the Peking-Mukden Railway open, was based in Tianjin, and small skirmishes occurred between US troops and Li's troops. Like many other warlords who ruled Tianjin, Li also was a member of the Green Gang
. From December 1924 to December 1925, he was the administrator of Hebei province.
. Li was nicknamed "China's First Sword" and "God of the Sword." Li was an expert of many varying sword techniques, then later learned Wudang Sword
from Sung Wei-I
, a renowned swordsman who also taught Fu Chen Sung
. His sword techniques were an amalgamate of the ancient Taoist
and the newer Baguazhang
styles.
After his military career, he opened a martial arts
center in Nanjing, and became vice-president of the National Martial Arts Academy, also known as Central Hall for National Martial Arts (Zhongyang Guoshuguan), and now called the Central Guoshu Institute
. On his initiative, a Yang-style tai chi chuan was formalized, with Yang Chengfu
as the most important of the contributors.
Fengtian clique
The Fengtian Clique was one of several mutually hostile cliques or factions that split from the Beiyang Clique in the Republic of China's warlord era. It was named for Fengtian Province and led by Zhang Zuolin...
during the Chinese warlord era
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
. He hailed from Zaoqiang County
Zaoqiang County
Zaoqiang County is county of Hengshui, Hebei province, China.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Zaoqiang Town , Encha , Daying , Jiahui , Matun , Xiaozhang Townships:...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. After his military career was over, he settled in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, and in 1927 moved to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. A renowned swordsman, he was known as "China's First Sword."
Military and administrative career
In 1924, during the Second Zhili–Fengtian War, Li was commanding the Fengtian Second Army which aided Zhang ZongchangZhang Zongchang
Zhang Zongchang , nicknamed the "Dogmeat General" and "72-Cannon Chang" , was a Chinese warlord in Shandong in the early 20th century...
in his decisive victory at Longku; the engagement has been termed "probably the single most important engagement in Zhili's defeat." In November his troops occupied Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, where they picked up half of Wang Chengbin's forces, and under his command a "repressive and predatory" regime was established--especially noted is the extent to which the local merchants were extorted. The United States 15th Infantry Regiment, whose mission was to keep the Peking-Mukden Railway open, was based in Tianjin, and small skirmishes occurred between US troops and Li's troops. Like many other warlords who ruled Tianjin, Li also was a member of the Green Gang
Green Gang
The Green Gang was a Chinese criminal organization that operated in Shanghai in the early 20th century.-Origins:It was a secret society established originally by Fong Toh-tak of Shaolin Monastery to protect the Han Chinese who were oppressed by the Manchu rulers of the Qing Dynasty, and to restore...
. From December 1924 to December 1925, he was the administrator of Hebei province.
Martial arts
"Jinglin," meaning "magic sword," was one of Li's nicknames. A general in the Chinese army, Li displayed great skill as a swordfighter and great interest in martial arts, especially Wudang chuanWudang chuan
In current-day China, the martial arts are generally classified into two major groups: Wudang and Shaolin. The Chinese word wǔdāngquán translates as "Wudang fist" or "Wudang boxing." Whereas Shaolin includes many martial art styles, Wudangquan includes only the arts applied with internal power;...
. Li was nicknamed "China's First Sword" and "God of the Sword." Li was an expert of many varying sword techniques, then later learned Wudang Sword
Wudang Sword
Wudang Sword is a body of Chinese straight sword techniques—famous in China—encompassed by the Wudang chuan or internal martial arts.The oldest reputable accounts of Wudang Sword begin with Grandmaster Sung Wei-I around the turn of the 20th century. Sung taught Wudang Sword to Li Jing Lin and a...
from Sung Wei-I
Sung Wei-I
Sung Wei Yi was born in Lia Ning Province in 1855. He was the Grandmaster of the Wudang Sword.He introduced the sword to both Chen-style t'ai chi ch'uan and Yang-style tai chi chuan; he taught theWudang Sword to General Li Jinglin and Fu Chen Sung....
, a renowned swordsman who also taught Fu Chen Sung
Fu Chen Sung
Fu Chen Sung , or Fu Qiankun was a grandmaster of Wudangquan martial arts. He was best known as one of the famed "Five Northern Tigers," and a third-generation master of Baguazhang who founded Fu Style Baguazhang...
. His sword techniques were an amalgamate of the ancient Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and the newer Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
styles.
After his military career, he opened a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
center in Nanjing, and became vice-president of the National Martial Arts Academy, also known as Central Hall for National Martial Arts (Zhongyang Guoshuguan), and now called the Central Guoshu Institute
Central Guoshu Institute
The Central Guoshu Institute was established in Nanjing by the Kuomintang government of the Republic of China in 1928 for the propagation of Chinese martial arts, and was an important center of martial arts during the Nanjing decade.Guoshu "national art" was...
. On his initiative, a Yang-style tai chi chuan was formalized, with Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu or Yang Ch'eng-fu is historically considered the best known teacher of the soft style martial art of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan .-Biography:...
as the most important of the contributors.