Wu Yi Hui
Encyclopedia
Wu Yihui 吳翼翬 (1887 - 1958) 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.
Wu Yihui was originally from Tieling
in northeast China, but later lived in Beijing
. He was from a scholarly and official family, and a man of good nature who had strong martial art talents. He was also well versed in calligraphy
and painting, enjoying social life and travel.
Wu Yihui was born on November 30, 1887. In 1896, began private studies in Henan’s Kaifeng. In 1900, began learning Liuhebafa. The following year, he entered school in Beijing to continue his studies. That year, he was formally apprenticed to Liuhebafa masters Yan Guo Xing and Chen Guang Di.
In 1903, he entered the Beiyang Military School to prepare the first phase. He graduated from Baoding Military Academy in 1907 and was dispatched to the Beiyang Army
, where he was appointed to staff officer of the first division. In 1915, he worked in the division of inventory of government industry in Beijing. He became a director of administration and taught literature in a middle school in Kai Feng
in 1921. He worked as a teacher and an officer at South Senior High School in Shanghai in 1928, and the following year he was appointed to the Shanghai Xuhui College teaching literature and martial arts.
In 1932, he became the martial arts instructor at the Shanghai Youth Association teaching Liuhebafa. In 1935, he attended the first martial arts examination. He was appointed to head of education of the Central Martial Arts Academy by General Zhang Zhi Jiang in 1936, and in the same year attended the second martial arts examination. The next year, when the Japanese war began, he moved with the Central Martial Arts Academy first to Vietnam’s Burma, later settling in Yunnan's Kunming
.
In 1944, he was appointed commissioner of the natural resources committee, as well as the chief of the factory's military security brigade. He taught Liuhebafa in Shanghai in 1945. In 1947, he was appointed head of the natural resources committee of the Tianjin Iron and Steel Factory, as well as the machine factory manager. He became an associate instructor at the National Martial Arts Instructor Training Institute in 1949. He also became the chairman of the martial arts assembly. In 1951, he taught Liuhebafa to the workers' union club of the Shanghai Electricity Company. In 1957, he was appointed by Mayor Chen Yi
to the Shanghai Literature and History Institute as the first librarian.
Wu Yihui died on March 29, 1958 at his home in Shanghai.
Wang Xiang Zhai, the creator of Yiquan
, made a public statement regarding Wu Yihui in 1928 saying, "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 Yihui."
Wang Xiang Zhai and Wu Yihui were known to be close friends. When Wu started teaching Liuhebafa Wang instructed 4 of his students to study under Wu. They were: Han Xing Qiao
, Zhang Chang Xin
, Zhao Dao Xin
, and Gao Zhen Dong. These 4 students later became known as the "4 Diamond Warriors" of Yichuan
.
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...
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
Tieling
Tieling is a prefecture-level city in Liaoning province of the People's Republic of China.The population is 3 million at the 2nd of 2004. Tieling is a city where coal mining is an important industry.The mayor of Tieling is Li Wenke...
in northeast China, but later lived 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...
. He was from a scholarly and official family, and a man of good nature who had strong martial art talents. He was also well versed in calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
and painting, enjoying social life and travel.
Wu Yihui was born on November 30, 1887. In 1896, began private studies in Henan’s Kaifeng. In 1900, began learning Liuhebafa. The following year, he entered school in Beijing to continue his studies. That year, he was formally apprenticed to Liuhebafa masters Yan Guo Xing and Chen Guang Di.
In 1903, he entered the Beiyang Military School to prepare the first phase. He graduated from Baoding Military Academy in 1907 and was dispatched to the Beiyang Army
Beiyang Army
The Beiyang Army was a powerful, Western-style Chinese military force created by the Qing Dynasty government in the late 19th century. It was the centerpiece of a general reconstruction of China's military system. The Beiyang Army played a major role in Chinese politics for at least three decades...
, where he was appointed to staff officer of the first division. In 1915, he worked in the division of inventory of government industry in Beijing. He became a director of administration and taught literature in a middle school in Kai Feng
Kai Feng
Kai Feng was a Chinese Communist politician who was the eighth president of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the highest training center for party workers and leaders. Kai served as president from 1953 to 1954....
in 1921. He worked as a teacher and an officer at South Senior High School in Shanghai in 1928, and the following year he was appointed to the Shanghai Xuhui College teaching literature and martial arts.
In 1932, he became the martial arts instructor at the Shanghai Youth Association teaching Liuhebafa. In 1935, he attended the first martial arts examination. He was appointed to head of education of the Central Martial Arts Academy by General Zhang Zhi Jiang in 1936, and in the same year attended the second martial arts examination. The next year, when the Japanese war began, he moved with the Central Martial Arts Academy first to Vietnam’s Burma, later settling in Yunnan's Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
.
In 1944, he was appointed commissioner of the natural resources committee, as well as the chief of the factory's military security brigade. He taught Liuhebafa in Shanghai in 1945. In 1947, he was appointed head of the natural resources committee of the Tianjin Iron and Steel Factory, as well as the machine factory manager. He became an associate instructor at the National Martial Arts Instructor Training Institute in 1949. He also became the chairman of the martial arts assembly. In 1951, he taught Liuhebafa to the workers' union club of the Shanghai Electricity Company. In 1957, he was appointed by Mayor Chen Yi
Chen Yi
Chen Yi may refer to:* Chen Yi , Chinese communist military commander* Chen Yi , Chief Executive of Taiwan Province* Chen Yi , Chinese composer* Chen Yi...
to the Shanghai Literature and History Institute as the first librarian.
Wu Yihui died on March 29, 1958 at his home in Shanghai.
- Note: As a Chinese custom, some add 3 years onto the age of the departed to show longevity. It is for this reason that some records incorrectly show that Wu died in 1961, even though his family confirmed that it was indeed 1958.
Wang Xiang Zhai, the creator 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 :...
, made a public statement regarding Wu Yihui in 1928 saying, "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
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
's Xie Tie Fu, Fujian
Fujian
' , 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...
's Fang Yi Zhuang 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...
's Wu Yihui."
Wang Xiang Zhai and Wu Yihui were known to be close friends. When Wu started teaching Liuhebafa Wang instructed 4 of his students to study under Wu. They were: 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,...
, Zhang Chang Xin
Zhang Chang Xin
Zhang Changxin was a champion boxer in Shanghai. Beginning his martial arts life with the study of Xingyi Chuan, he later went to Yi Chuan, and finally settled with Liuhebafa...
, 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...
, and Gao Zhen Dong. These 4 students later became known as the "4 Diamond Warriors" of Yichuan
Yichuan
Yichuan may refer to the following locations in China:*Yichuan County, Henan , of Luoyang Prefecture, Henan*Yichuan County, Shaanxi , of Yan'an Prefecture, Shaanxi...
.