Ten Tigers of Canton
Encyclopedia
The Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten Tigers of Guangdong refer to a group of ten Chinese
martial artists
from Guangdong
(Canton), China
, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty
(1644–1912). They were said to be the best fighters in southern China at that time. Much of their existence has been embellished by folk legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.
province. Southern Shaolin is a branch of the better known Shaolin Monastery in Henan
province. As such, the Ten Tigers' martial arts styles resemble those of Shaolin Kung Fu
.
's pride and dignity during a period when national morale was low, in the face of strong competition and oppression from foreigners.
Hong Kong
film Ten Tigers from Kwangtung produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio
. It featured a star-studded cast of Shaw Studio actors, including the Venom Mob
, Ti Lung
and Alexander Fu
.
Apart from appearances in Chinese films, the Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days
, with Sammo Hung
making a special appearance as Wong Fei-hung. Wong and the Ten Tigers assisted the protagonists in fighting the aggressive Black Scorpion gang.
The Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2006 underground
cult film
Mad Cowgirl
.
's ATV
produced a 40-episodes TV drama series titled Ten Tigers of Guangdong (英雄之廣東十虎).
, a BBC Books
original novel by David A. McIntee
, the Ten Tigers are featured, with Wong Kei-ying and Wong Fei-hung as major characters in the story.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
martial artists
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....
from Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
(Canton), 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...
, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
(1644–1912). They were said to be the best fighters in southern China at that time. Much of their existence has been embellished by folk legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.
Ten Tigers' martial arts
The Ten Tigers of Canton traced their martial arts lineage to the Southern Shaolin Monastery in the Jiulian Mountains in FujianFujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
province. Southern Shaolin is a branch of the better known Shaolin Monastery in Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
province. As such, the Ten Tigers' martial arts styles resemble those of Shaolin Kung Fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
.
| Name | Nickname / Other name | Specialty martial arts styles |
|---|---|---|
| Wong Yan-lam | Hop Gar Lama (martial art) While today the martial arts known as Lama Pai, Tibetan White Crane, and Hop Gar exist as relatively distinct lineages and/or organizations, all originated with a single figure known as Sing Lung who arrived in Guangdong Province during the Qing Dynasty and taught a martial art then known as... (侠家; Hap Family (Fist)) |
|
| Wong Ching-ho | ||
| Sou Hak Fu | Master of Hung Ga (洪家; Hung Family (Fist)) tiger techniques, creator of Hak Fu Mun Hak Fu Mun Note: There are other styles and forms of kung fu bearing the name "Hak Fu", but not to be confused with this style.Hark Fu Mun 黑虎門 is a southern style of Chinese Kung Fu originating from the Shaolin Temple. The styles founder was So Hark Fu, who was one of the famed Ten Tigers of Canton... (黑虎門; Black Tiger Style) |
|
| Wong Kei-ying | Hung Ga (洪家; Hung Family (Fist)), Shadowless Kick Shadowless Kick The Shadowless Kick , also known as the No-Shadow Kick or Ghost-Shadow Kick is a martial arts technique in the Hung Gar repertoire. It was made famous by Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung, who is reputed to have used it to great effect.... (無影腳) |
|
| Lai Yan-chiu | Shantou Shantou Shantou , historically known as Swatow or Suátao, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong province, People's Republic of China, with a total population of 5,391,028 as of 2010 and an administrative area of... -style Hakka Kuen Hakka Kuen Hakka Kuen is a general term describing a variety of Chinese martial arts originating from the Hakka community of Southern China and is considered to be an important style within Southern Chinese Martial Arts.... (客家拳; Hakka Fist) |
|
| So Chan | "Beggar So" | Hung Ga (洪家; Hung Family (Fist)), known for mastery of Zui Quan Zui Quan Zui Quan is literally Drunken Fist, also known as Drunken Boxing or Drunkard's Boxing) is a concept in traditional Chinese martial arts, as well as a classification of modern Wushu forms... (醉拳; Drunken Fist) |
| Leung Kwan | "Iron Bridge Three" | Iron Wire Fist (鐵線拳) |
| Chan Cheung-tai | "Iron Finger Chan" | |
| Tam Chai-kwan | Tam Ga (譚家; Tam Family (Fist)) | |
| Chow Tai | "Iron Head Chow" / 周泰 |
Wong Fei-hung and Ten Tigers
Wong Fei-hung , son of Wong Kei-ying, is also sometimes called "Tiger after the Ten Tigers". In Chinese folk legend, Wong Fei-hung is best remembered for his heroic efforts in upholding the Chinese peopleChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
's pride and dignity during a period when national morale was low, in the face of strong competition and oppression from foreigners.
Film
The Ten Tigers appeared in the 1980Hong Kong films of 1980
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 1980:.-1980:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 1980 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
film Ten Tigers from Kwangtung produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio
Shaw Brothers Studio
The Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
. It featured a star-studded cast of Shaw Studio actors, including the Venom Mob
Venom Mob
The Venom Mob is a group of actors from the Shaw Brothers Studio, popular creators of martial arts films in the 1970s and 1980s. Most were friends since childhood and attended the Peking Opera School in Taiwan before meeting director Chang Cheh and moving on to the Shaw Brothers studio in Hong...
, Ti Lung
Ti Lung
Tommy Tam Fu-Wing, also known as Ti Lung , or Dik Lung, is a Hong Kong actor.-Background:He studied Wing Chun under the martial arts master Chu Wan. In 1969, Ti was found by the Shaw Brothers and cast in Return of the One-Armed Swordsman opposite Jimmy Wang Yu, a role which would launch his career...
and Alexander Fu
Alexander Fu Sheng
Alexander Fu Sheng was a major Hong Kong martial arts film star in the 1970s.-Biography:...
.
Apart from appearances in Chinese films, the Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film)
Around the World in 80 Days is a 2004 American comedy adventure film based on Jules Verne's novel of the same name. It stars Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan and Cécile de France. The film is set in 19th-century Britain and centers on Phileas Fogg , here reimagined as an eccentric inventor, and his...
, with Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung
Sammo Hung is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, film producer and director, known for his work in many martial arts films and Hong Kong action cinema...
making a special appearance as Wong Fei-hung. Wong and the Ten Tigers assisted the protagonists in fighting the aggressive Black Scorpion gang.
The Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2006 underground
Underground film
An underground film is a film that is out of the mainstream either in its style, genre, or financing.-Definition and history:The first use of the term "underground film" occurs in a 1957 essay by American film critic Manny Farber, "Underground Films." Farber uses it to refer to the work of...
cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
Mad Cowgirl
Mad Cowgirl
Mad Cowgirl is an underground cult film by Gregory Hatanaka. Hatanaka dedicated the movie to Doris Wishman, who directed 1960s sexploitation films such as Diary of a Nudist, Behind the Nudist Curtain and Bad Girls Go to Hell, and actor John Cassavetes...
.
Television
In 1999, Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's ATV
Asia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
produced a 40-episodes TV drama series titled Ten Tigers of Guangdong (英雄之廣東十虎).
Literature
In The Eleventh TigerThe Eleventh Tiger
The Eleventh Tiger is a BBC Books original novel written by David A. McIntee and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Vicki.-Synopsis:...
, a BBC Books
BBC Books
BBC Books is an imprint majority owned and managed by Random House. The minority shareholder is BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation...
original novel by David A. McIntee
David A. McIntee
-Biography:McIntee has written many spin-off novels based on the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, as well as one each based on Final Destination and Space: 1999. He has also written a non-fiction book on Star Trek: Voyager and one jointly on the Alien and Predator movie franchises...
, the Ten Tigers are featured, with Wong Kei-ying and Wong Fei-hung as major characters in the story.