The teachings and evolution of legendary martial arts master Wong Fei-hong show important parallels with the lives of Dr. Hung and his wife.
Written by Rosita Chorite*
*Paper presented at the seminar “Remembering the Battle of the Sims: Conscience and the Taijimen Incident” held on April 5, 2024 in Pasadena, California.
Dr. Hong's wife, Mrs. Yu Meizhong, lived a rich and fruitful life. Among her many positions and activities, I learned that she served as vice president of the Chinese Wushu Federation and was directly involved in preparing the martial arts exhibitions and competition achievements that made Tai Chi world famous. It piqued her interest. This included participation in the 8th World Cup International Wushu Wushu Championship held in 2001, where Tai Chi athletes won several gold medals.
Although I do not practice martial arts, I am a practitioner of Reiki, a technique based on traditional East Asian teachings that a universal energy called ki flows through the universe. With the help of practitioners trained by experienced masters, this energy can be mobilized to repair imbalances and achieve physical, mental and spiritual benefits.
The Japanese word “ki'' corresponds to the Chinese word “Qi'', and is now often transliterated as “Ch'i''. The concept of “Qi'' is also central to Chinese martial arts. In fact, Qi is thought to be the life force that flows through the human body, just as it flows through the universe, and is responsible for maintaining health and vitality. In martial arts, the cultivation of ki is considered essential for developing strength, speed, agility, and increasing mental focus and concentration.
Legendary Chinese monk Bodhidharma is credited with introducing martial arts to the Shaolin Temple in the 6th century, where he taught monks how to cultivate Qi through meditation and physical training. This eventually evolved into Shaolin Kung Fu. Today, China has made Shaolin Temple a tourist attraction, but Chinese martial arts schools still maintain their old prominence and philosophy based on the mobilization of Qi.
If you've ever seen a movie from centuries past in which Shaolin monks used martial arts to defeat their enemies, you've probably seen them perform extraordinary feats, such as flying through the air or running faster than a current Olympic champion. I know that I am being recognized for my great accomplishments. Of course, these are legends. However, there is ample evidence of the amazing abilities of ancient martial arts practitioners, and in theory, the perfect mobilization of Qi could enable impressive performances.
One name I would like to mention, as there may be some similarities with the Taegeukmen Incident, is Wong Fei-Hong, who was born in 1847 and died in 1925. Wong has now become famous for appearing in over 100 films. Movies and TV series. All of these films are not historically accurate, and mainland China is trying to exploit his influence for both political and tourist purposes by drawing tourists to his birthplace in Foshan, Guangdong province, where a museum is being built. Trying to take advantage of fame.
Wong's true story is more interesting than the legend. He was trained in martial arts by his father, a noted practitioner himself, and by masters who passed on ancient Chinese traditions. He opened a martial arts school in Guangzhou in his 1863 year and quickly achieved success. Historians debate where the school tradition says he went to Taiwan in 1895 to help Taiwanese who were trying to resist the Japanese takeover, and whether it's true or part of legend. are doing.
Like his father before him, Mr. Wong was a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. He believed that the same teachings on how to mobilize chi energy were at the core of both Chinese medicine and martial arts. He collaborated with a martial arts school to run a clinic “Po Chi Lam” in Guangzhou, which gained him national fame. In 1923, during a turbulent period in China's history, Kuomintang Kuomintang troops occupied Guangzhou. The Kuomintang government began imposing heavy taxes. This led to his uprising of local merchants in 1924, but was met with bloody repression. Although Mr. Wong did not take sides, he was accused of not supporting the Nationalist Party, and his clinic was raided, looted, and vandalized. Grieving the destruction, he fell into depression and died in 1925.
This story may sound familiar to Tai Ji Men dizi, but the similarities to what happened to Dr. Hong and his wife in 1996 are certainly noteworthy. Not only were they accused of not supporting the Kuomintang during the 1996 presidential election, they were persecuted for it. Their unique teachings of qigong, martial arts, and self-cultivation also taught their disciples to think independently and swayed authoritarian politicians and corrupt bureaucrats.
But ultimately, history has its own impartiality. Although Wong is hailed as a hero today, no one remembers those who destroyed his work. Sim's name, Mrs. Yu Meijun's name, will be remembered and honored for many years, but the names of those who persecuted him will be forgotten.
