Meihuaquan (; literally "plum-blossom Fist") is a common term used to name styles or exercise sets of kung fu: 1) a style of kung fu that originated in the northern provinces of China centuries ago. Meihuaquan is also known as Meihuazhuang ().General introduction to Meihuaquan/Meihuazhuang: Chinese Kung-Fu Series 14, Five Ganzhi Meihuazhuang Techniques, (a bilingual text in Chinese and English) written by Wang Zhizhong, Han Jianzhong, and Yan Zijie, published by Hai Feng Publishing Co. Ltd. Third Edition 1995, Hai Feng Publishing Company 2) other kung fu styles with the name, like Meishanquan from southern China; 3) exercise, or sparring, sets within differently named styles of kung fu, like Da and Xiao Meihuaquan in Songshan Shaolinquan.
Meihuaquan and its branches
There are many Meihuaquan that have the same origins: Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang, Baijiazhi Meihuaquan, Luodi Meihuaquan, Wuzi Meihuaquan, Leijia Meihuaquan, etc. There are various traditions regarding the foundation of this style; it is said that Meihuaquan has no single founder.
Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang Ganzhi wushi meihuazhuang (, Plum-blossom Pillars of Stems and Branches) is a branch of Meihuaquan, shortened to Meihuazhuang (Plum-blossom Pillars). Ganzhi is a contraction of Tiangan Dizhi, or more fully Tiangan Dizhi Wushi Meihuazhuang. The eighth-generation master Zhang Congfu created a new kind of practise called Xiaojia (Little Frame) as opposed to the older style known as Dajia (Big Frame).
Meihuazhuang is divided into two parts:See the article by Cui Zhiqiang , Cui Yongsheng , Zhang Shishan and Xie Peiqing , Meihuazhuang Quan Pai Wenchang Wuchang Xisu yu Chuantong Wenhua Jingshen (Use of Wenchang and Wuchang in Plum Blossom Piles School and essence of traditional culture), published on 04 number in 1996 in Shandong Tiyu Xueyuan Bao. This article tells about the origin of this distinction inside Taoist School Chuanzhen and many sectsThe organization model of Mei boxing can be divided into two parts – literary and military, with the former leading the latter. The leading level of literary exercise gives emphasis on the research of theories which contain the essence of "Three Religions", responsible for the management of internal affairs of the boxing school; the pupils of the military exercise learn the boxing skills through the practice of martial arts. The level and form of the military practice can be divided into four parts, namely, posture, boxing forming, boxing wringing, and instruments in Xingtai Mei (Plum-Blossom) Boxing in Wenchang (literary) encompasses theory; Wuchang (martial) encompasses techniques such as Jiazi (frame), Shoutao (sparring exercise to teach combat skills), Chengquan (combat choreography), Yingquan (combat), and Gongquan and Ningquan (moving in war).see Books on references by Han Jianzhong, Yan Zijie, Wang Zizhong, Lu Gongli, etc.
Jiazi is characterized by five static positions (Wushi: , five patterns; or , five postures) intermixed with dynamic motion (Xingbu, ), and consisting of light rapid footwork and large flowing movements. With a simple expansive posture and built-in poise, Meihuaquan releases and strengthens the flow of energy to increase concentration of the mind. The basic training methods of Meihuaquan are simple, strong, relaxed, and highly adaptable.
Baijiazhi Meihuaquan Baijiazhi Meihuaquan (, Bai-family Branch of Plum-blossom Boxing) is a Meihuaquan practised in the southwest part of Shandong Province. It was founded by Bai Jindou (, Pai Chin-tou, in Wade-Giles), a ninth generation master of Plum Blossom Boxing. In Taiwan this school is called Beipai Shaolin Meihuaquan (, Plum Blossom Boxing of Shaolin Northern Faction) or Meihuamen(, Plum Blossom School). Jiazi of this school are referred to as Meihuaquan Laojia (Old Frame of Plum Blossom Boxing). While studying this set, disciples often train in pairs—duida (hit in pair) and duilian (train in pair)—with and without weapons. At the basic level, duida are only for two opponents and of two kinds: hand-and-kick techniques, or falling techniques. At intermediate level, disciples practise combat against two to five people. At the advanced level, they may study war and Meihua Zhen Gong Fang (, Plum Blossom's Arrays).
Leijia Meihuaquan Leijia Meihuaquan () is a branch of Meihuaquan that derives its name from having been practiced near Leijiacun village and spreading to the surrounding area. This branch is clearly related to the Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang, as it identifies in its lineage Zhang Sansheng (or Zhang Zhenshu (), a second generation master). This type of Meihuaquan differs from the Ganzhi Wushi Meihuazhuang and the Baijiazhi in having only four postures rather than the usual five: dashi, aoshi, xiaoshi, and baishi. Dashi is roughly identical to the shunshi of the other branches. The attitude of the hands during the basic form (Jiazi) is characterised by the open palm.Storti Enrico, Leijia Meihuaquan
Wuzi Meihuaquan Wuzi Meihuaquan ()Kou Fengxian ed altri, Wuzi Meihuaquan , Renmin Tiyu Chuabanshe, 1991 is a shortened form of Sun Wuzi Chuanxin Meihuaquan (, Plum Blossom Boxing Piercing the Heart of Sun Wuzi), also called Sun Wuzi Meihuaquan (孙武子梅花拳), Chuanxin Meihuaquan (穿心梅花拳), or Zhongxin Meihuaquan (中心梅花拳). Disciples of this school believe it was founded by Sun Zi, also known as Sun Wuzi. A famous master of this branch is Kou Yunxing (寇运兴). The sets of Wuzi Meihuaquan are Shilu Tantui (十二路弹腿); Da Meihuaquan er lu e san lu (); Xiao Meihuaquan er lu (小梅花拳二路); Meihuadao (梅花刀); Meihua longxingjian (梅花龙形剑); and Meihua qiang (梅花枪).
Luodi Meihuaquan Luodi Meihuaquan (落地梅花拳, Plum-blossom Boxing on Ground) is a generic name for Meihuaquan, but can indicate a branch that was taught by Li Zhenting (李振亭) in Peixian. The core of this system is Luodi Meihuaquan Bajiao (落地梅花拳八角, Eight Angles of Plum Blossom Boxing on Ground).
Meihua Changquan Meihua Changquan (梅花长拳)It is used in this article to differentiate the practices of Han Qingtang is the name given to a branch of Meihuaquan taught on the island of Taiwan by Han Qingtang, a branch that is part of a wider system that includes other boxing styles of northern China. Its followers also call it Changquan or Beishaolin. Han Qingtang learned this Meihuaquan in Jimo from Sun Maolin (孫茂林) and Jiang Benhe (姜本河), two masters originally from Liangshan.Adam Hsu, Summary of Sifu Han Ching-Tan's Martial Art: Part 1 - Sifu Han's Life in Mainland China, article translated by Bruce J. L. Chang in Adam Hsu (original name in Chinese is Xu Ji,徐紀), Han shi Wuji Shuo 韓氏武技說, in This Meihua boxing has three forms: Maifuquan (埋伏拳), Shizitang (十字趟), and Taizu Changquan (太祖长拳).Adam Hsu, Mental Training: Long Fist's Secret Weapon Developing the Generals and CEO's of Tomorrow, article published in "Journal of the Traditional Wushu Association" in 1999About the Maifuquan forms, Shizitang and Taizu Changquan of the Meihua Changquan, in detail, speaking also of Ted Mancuso, in the article Mei Flower Fist, which appeared originally in the review "Wushu Kungfu" of February 1997, They also taught a duilian named Xiaowushou (小五手).
Shangsheng Meihuaquan Shangcheng Meihuaquan (上乘梅花拳, Plum-blossom Boxing of Optimal Quality) is a branch of Meihuaquan taught in Fujian by Wang Jincheng (王金城) to his son Wang Ding (王鼎, 1882–1985).Wang Ding 王鼎, Shangcheng Meihuaquan 上乘梅花拳, Fujian Renmin Chubanshe, Fuzhou, 1998,
Shaomoquan – Wang Xiangzhai and Meihuaquan Among the several styles analyzed by Wang Xiangzhai in a well-known interviewWang Xiangzhai Tan Quan Xue Yaoyi 王芗斋谈拳学要义 published in 1940 in Pekin Shibao. The same article is titled Wang Xiangzhai Fangwenji 王芗斋访问记 in Xinminbao. is the style of Meihuaquan that is called Wushizhuang (五式桩, Five-figures Pole), which tradition says was taught in Henan and Sichuan. Wang Xiangzhai had contact with this style during his travels through China, in 1928 making friends with Liu Pixian,Dachengquan Chuangshiren 大成拳创始人 a master of the twelfth generation of Meihuaquan,Meihuaquan di 12 dai chuanren Jin Ligui : Henan canjia de Ao Yun xianqu 梅花拳第12代传人金丽贵：河南参加的奥运先驱, in Hubei Ribao with whom Wang Xiangzhai compared methods. After this experience Liu Pixian created a new style to which he gave the name Shaomoquan (少摩拳).
Weapons
Training in Meihuaquan includes the use of eighteen types of traditional weapons, some of which are rarely seen. This is the list of weapons in Baijiazhi Meihuaquan in Taiwan: dandao (單刀),video of a set of Dandao by Meihuaquan School in Taiwan, named Meihuadao Qimeigun (齊眉棍),Meihuagun in Taiwan qiang (槍, spear),video of Meihuaqiang in Taiwan shuangdao (雙刀, double sabre), Xiao shao gun (小哨棍),Shuangjiegun in Taiwan jian (劍), Da shao gun (大哨棍), jiujie gangbian (九節鋼鞭, see jiujiebian), liuxingchui (流星錘, meteor hammer), sanjiegun (三節棍),Sanjiegun in Taiwan Meihua Guai (梅花拐), Bishou (匕手),usually written Bishou (匕首) dadao (大刀, alebard). The first book on rarely-seen weapons is by Genyuan (根源):
Origins of Meihuaquan The origins of the style are lost in legend. It is said that when Zhang Sansheng taught in public, there had been 100 generations of teachers before him.
Other sources claim an origin before the Han dynasty, from Shaolinquan:
Meihuaquan and History
Some Meihuaquan disciples believe that there were 100 generations of masters before the 20 who came after the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty people who practiced this style were involved in various uprisings, like Wang Lun in 1774, Feng Keshan in 1814, and Zhao Sanduo in the 1900 Boxer Uprising.Cohen Paul A., History in three keys: The Boxers as Event, Experience, and Myth, New York: Columbia University Press, 1997 (Meihuaquan was particularly linked with the early phases of the Boxer Uprising.The Economist, December 2010. Retrieved March 2011.) Another practitioner, Yang Bing, was an Imperial Palace guard:Esherick Joseph, The origin of the Boxer Uprising, University Of California Press, 1988, pag.148
Now we know that Yang Bing is a fifth-generation master born in Neihuangxian, not in Huaxian.Yang Yanming 杨彦明, Wu Tanhua Yang Bing yu "Xiwuxu" 武探花杨炳与"习武序", Zhongguo Wenshi Chubanshe, Pechino, 2004 /G
About Feng Keshan and Meihuaquan:
Unfortunately, there aren't other sources to confirm that the style was attributed to Wu Mei. Feng Keshan is of the eighth generation. The legend of Wu Mei came from another style named Wumeihuaquan, or Wumeipai, and is found in some accounts of Yongchunquan, a martial art not practiced by Feng Keshan, and different from Meihuaquan.
Other Meihuaquan styles
Meishanquan Meishanquan (梅山拳, Plum Mountain Boxing), also known as Meihuaquan, is a style created during the Song dynasty in Meishan county of Hunan.The system is shown in a book by Chen Yiqiu 陈益球, Meishan Wugong 梅山武功 (Martial Work of Meishan), Hunan Kexue Jishu Chubanshe, 1987, In 2000, Guangzhou Qiao Jiaren Chubanshe published a VCD series titled Meishan Wushu Xilie 梅山武术系列, demonstrated by Yan Xizheng 晏西征. Titles included Lan Cao Chan Ma (烂草缠麻), Meishan Da Hongquan (梅山大洪拳), Shuang Zhu Lian Cao (双猪恋槽), and Menghu Xiashan (猛虎下山). It has 77 sets.
Hunan Meihuaquan A style named Meihuaquan was spread in Hunan during the period of Guanxu (光绪, 1875–1908), by the master Wan Fuzi (万福子), who learned it in Sichuan.
Emei Meihuaquan Information on Emei Meihuaquan (峨嵋梅花拳, Plum-blossom boxing of the Emei mountain) is scanty. It is said that Zhou Beitao (周北涛) created a set with this name, made up of over 100 figures, after a long meditation with his forehead touching Meihua plants.(es)Emei Meihuaquan, in ; Emei Plum Blossom Boxing: