Wang Xiangzhai
Encyclopedia
Wang Xiangzhai ) also known as Nibao, Zhenghe, Yuseng, was a Chinese xingyiquan
master, responsible for founding the martial art of Yiquan
.
province, China
. As he was a very weak child, his parents decided to send him to the famous Xingyiquan
master Guo Yunshen
to improve his health.
The Wang family had always had connections with the Guo family, horse breeders in the average. Master Guo Yunshen taught him zhanzhuang gong (post standing postures) that the young Xiangzhai had to keep standing for hours.
During his young adult life, Wang Xiangzhai became a soldier in Beijing
and at the age of 33, he went all around China, studying martial arts with many famous masters including monk Heng Lin, Xinyiquan master Xie Tiefu, southern white crane style masters Fang Yizhuang and Jin Shaofeng, Liuhebafa master Wu Yi Hui
, etc. Learning from his experience and honoring the truly skilled, Wang made a public statement in 1928:
我在國內參學万余里，拜見拳家逾千人，堪稱通家者僅有兩個半人，即湖南解鐵夫，福建方恰庄与上海吳翼翬耳。
I have traveled across the country in research, engaging over a thousand people in martial combat, there have been only 2.5 people I could not defeat, namely Hunan's Xie Tie Fu, Fujian's Fang Yi Zhuang and Shanghai's Wu Yi Hui.
After 7 years of research and study, Wang established himself in Beijing and penetrated the circle of famous masters in this city as well as in Tianjin
and Shanghai
. At this period of his life he was reunited with his friend and classmate from schooldays, the respected Liuhebafa Chuan master Wu Yi Hui
, and also became friends with the Baguazhang
master Zhang zhaodong.
He started to teach many influential martial artists including Hong Lianshun, Zhao Dao Xin
, the Han brothers (Han Xing Qiao
and Han Xing Yuan), Yao Zongxun
, Wang Shujin (who studied Zhan zhuang
for one year), and others.
He first named his teaching Yi quan, in reference to the Xing Yi quan and Xin Yi quan styles. Later, in the 1940's, one of his disciples who was a journalist publicly called it Da Cheng Chuan, which means "great achievement boxing". It is still known by both these names today.
He received the visit of many Japanese experts during the war. One, Kenichi Sawai became his student and created his own school in Japan
calling his martial art Taikiken. Sawaii was however solely instructed by Wang's successor Yao Zongxun
, who was given the order "instruct him correctly, but limit what you give him".
At the end of his life he performed research into the healing aspect of Zhan zhuang
and worked with different hospitals.
He died in 1963 in Tianjin
, from a disease.
He was one of the first Chinese teachers to publicly teach the practice of Zhan zhuang
, or 'standing like a tree' methods.
In silence there must be movement, and in motion, there must be silence.
A small movement is better than a big,
no movement is better than a small
silence is all the movement's mother.
In Movement you should be like a dragon or a tiger.
In non Movement you should be like a Buddha.
-- Wang Xiangzhai
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
master, responsible for founding the martial art of Yiquan
Yiquan
Yi quan, also known as dacheng quan, is a martial art system which was founded by the Chinese xingyiquan master, Wang Xiangzhai .- History :...
.
Biography
Wang Xiangzhai was born in HebeiHebei
' 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...
. As he was a very weak child, his parents decided to send him to the famous Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
master Guo Yunshen
Guo Yunshen
Guo Yunshen was a famous Xingyiquan master. He represented the xingyi martial philosophy of preferring to become highly proficient with only a few techniques rather than to be less proficient with many techniques...
to improve his health.
The Wang family had always had connections with the Guo family, horse breeders in the average. Master Guo Yunshen taught him zhanzhuang gong (post standing postures) that the young Xiangzhai had to keep standing for hours.
During his young adult life, Wang Xiangzhai became a soldier in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and at the age of 33, he went all around China, studying martial arts with many famous masters including monk Heng Lin, Xinyiquan master Xie Tiefu, southern white crane style masters Fang Yizhuang and Jin Shaofeng, Liuhebafa master Wu Yi Hui
Wu Yi Hui
Wu Yihui 吳翼翬 was a Chinese martial artist and scholar. He was the first person to open teachings and spread the style of liuhebafa in public, and was a prominent fighter and instructor who influenced many of the masters of his generation.- Biography :Wu Yihui was originally from Tieling in...
, etc. Learning from his experience and honoring the truly skilled, Wang made a public statement in 1928:
我在國內參學万余里，拜見拳家逾千人，堪稱通家者僅有兩個半人，即湖南解鐵夫，福建方恰庄与上海吳翼翬耳。
I have traveled across the country in research, engaging over a thousand people in martial combat, there have been only 2.5 people I could not defeat, namely Hunan's Xie Tie Fu, Fujian's Fang Yi Zhuang and Shanghai's Wu Yi Hui.
After 7 years of research and study, Wang established himself in Beijing and penetrated the circle of famous masters in this city as well as in 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...
and 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...
. At this period of his life he was reunited with his friend and classmate from schooldays, the respected Liuhebafa Chuan master Wu Yi Hui
Wu Yi Hui
Wu Yihui 吳翼翬 was a Chinese martial artist and scholar. He was the first person to open teachings and spread the style of liuhebafa in public, and was a prominent fighter and instructor who influenced many of the masters of his generation.- Biography :Wu Yihui was originally from Tieling in...
, and also became friends with the 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...
master Zhang zhaodong.
He started to teach many influential martial artists including Hong Lianshun, Zhao Dao Xin
Zhao Dao Xin
Zhao Daoxin was famous for his tutelage under Wang Xiang Zhai and Wu Yi Hui , created his own system called Xin Hui Zhang.-Biography:Zhao Daoxin, originally known as Zhao Enqing, hailed from Tianjin...
, the Han brothers (Han Xing Qiao
Han Xing Qiao
Han Xingqiao was a famous martial artist born in Shanghai. Famous for his tutelage under Wang Xiang Zhai and Wu Yi Hui , Han propagated the style of Yi Chuan under his own personal branch of the art called Han Family Yi Chuan.-Biography:His martial arts training began from his father Han You Sun,...
and Han Xing Yuan), Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun was the formal successor of Wang Xiangzhai, founder of the martial art Yiquan Father of Yao Chengguang and Yao Chengrong both currently teaching in Beijing, China....
, Wang Shujin (who studied Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang is a method of training in many Chinese martial arts in which static postures are used for physical training, to develop efficiency of movement, perfection of structural alignment; and hence maximal strength, for martial applications....
for one year), and others.
He first named his teaching Yi quan, in reference to the Xing Yi quan and Xin Yi quan styles. Later, in the 1940's, one of his disciples who was a journalist publicly called it Da Cheng Chuan, which means "great achievement boxing". It is still known by both these names today.
He received the visit of many Japanese experts during the war. One, Kenichi Sawai became his student and created his own school in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
calling his martial art Taikiken. Sawaii was however solely instructed by Wang's successor Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun
Yao Zongxun was the formal successor of Wang Xiangzhai, founder of the martial art Yiquan Father of Yao Chengguang and Yao Chengrong both currently teaching in Beijing, China....
, who was given the order "instruct him correctly, but limit what you give him".
At the end of his life he performed research into the healing aspect of Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang is a method of training in many Chinese martial arts in which static postures are used for physical training, to develop efficiency of movement, perfection of structural alignment; and hence maximal strength, for martial applications....
and worked with different hospitals.
He died in 1963 in 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...
, from a disease.
He was one of the first Chinese teachers to publicly teach the practice of Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang
Zhan zhuang is a method of training in many Chinese martial arts in which static postures are used for physical training, to develop efficiency of movement, perfection of structural alignment; and hence maximal strength, for martial applications....
, or 'standing like a tree' methods.
In silence there must be movement, and in motion, there must be silence.
A small movement is better than a big,
no movement is better than a small
silence is all the movement's mother.
In Movement you should be like a dragon or a tiger.
In non Movement you should be like a Buddha.
-- Wang Xiangzhai