Bāguàzhǎng

''Baguazhang'' () is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the '' Wudang'' school, the other two being tai chi and ''xingyiquan''. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or ''neijia''). ''Baguazhang'' literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the ''bagua'' "trigrams" of the ''I Ching'', one of the canons of Taoism.

History

The creation of ''baguazhang'' as a formalized martial art is attributed to Dong Haichuan, who is said to have learned it from Taoist and Buddhist masters in the mountains of rural China during the early 19th century. Many Chinese authorities do not accept the Buddhist origin, instead maintaining that those teachers were purely Taoist in origin, the evidence lying in ''baguazhangs frequent reference to core concepts central to Taoism, such as yin and yang theory, ''I Ching'', and Taoism's most distinctive paradigm, the ''bagua'' diagram. The attribution to Buddhist teachers came from the second generation teachers, i.e. Dong Haichuan's students, some of whom were Buddhist. There is evidence to suggest a synthesis of several pre-existing martial arts taught and practised in the region in which Dong Haichuan lived, combined with Taoist circle walking that emulates the cyclical patterns found in nature. Through his work as a servant in the Imperial Palace he impressed the emperor with his graceful movements and fighting skill, and became an instructor and a bodyguard to the court. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court.

Famous disciples of Dong Haichuan to become teachers were Yin Fu, Cheng Tinghua, Ma Gui, Song Changrong (), , Ma Weiqi (), Liu Baozhen (), Liang Zhenpu, and Liu Dekuan (). Although they were all students of the same teacher, their methods of training and expressions of palm techniques differed. The Cheng and Liu styles are said to specialize in "pushing" the palms, Yin style is known for "threading" the palms, Song's followers practice "Plum Flower" ( '' Mei Hua'') palm technique and Ma style palms are known as "hammers". Some of Dong Haichuan's students, including Cheng Tinghua, participated in the Boxer Rebellion. In general, most ''baguazhang'' exponents today practice either the Yin (), Cheng (), Liang () styles, although Fan (), Shi (), Liu (), Fu (), and other styles also exist (the Liu-style is a special case, in that it is rarely practiced alone, but as a complement to other styles). In addition, there are sub-styles of the above methods as well, such as the Sun (), Gao (), and Jiang () styles, which are sub-styles of Cheng method.

Modern styles

* Yin-style developed by Yin Fu
* Cheng-style developed by Cheng Tinghua
* Liang-style developed by Liang Zhenpu
* Gao-style developed by Gao Yisheng
* Yin Sect Gao-style developed by Gao Ziying
* Jiang Style developed by Jiang Rongqiao
*Shi-style developed by Shi Jidong ()
*Song-style developed by Song Changrong and Song Yongxiang ()
*Fan-style developed by Fan Zhiyong ()
*Liu-style developed by Liu Baozhen ()
*Ma-style developed by Ma Weiqi ()
*Ma Gui-style developed by Ma Gui
*Gong Baotian-style developed by Gong Baotian ()
*Sun-style developed by Sun Lutang
* Fu-style developed by Fu Zhensong
* Yin-yang-style baguazhang developed by Tian Hui ()
* Ho Ho Choy-style baguazhang developed by He Kecai ()
*Lu-style developed by Lu Shuitian (盧水田)

Common aspects

The practice of circle walking, or "turning the circle", as it is sometimes called, is ''baguazhangs characteristic method of stance and movement training. All forms of ''baguazhang'' utilize circle walking as an integral part of training. Practitioners walk around the edge of the circle in various low stances, facing the center, and periodically change direction as they execute forms. For a beginner, the circle is six to twelve feet in diameter. Students first learn flexibility and proper body alignment through the basic exercises, then move on to more complex forms and internal power mechanics. Although the internal aspects of ''baguazhang'' are similar to those of ''xingyiquan'' and tai chi, they are distinct in nature.

Many distinctive styles of weapons are contained within ''baguazhang''; some use concealment, like the "judge's pen" () or a pair of knives (the most elaborate, which are unique to the style, are the crescent-shaped deer horn knives (). ''Baguazhang'' is also known for practicing with extremely large weapons, such as the ''bagua'' sword ( zh, labels=no, c=八卦劍, p=bāguà jiàn) and the ''bagua'' broadsword ( zh, labels=no, c=八卦刀, p=bāguà dāo). Other weapons are also used, such as the staff (''gun''), spear ('' qiang''), cane (''guai''), and hook sword (''gou''). Baguazhang practitioners are known for being able to use anything as a weapon using the principles of their art.

''Baguazhang'' contains an extremely wide variety of techniques as well as weapons, including various strikes (with palm, fist, elbow, fingers, etc.), kicks, joint locks, throws, and distinctively evasive circular footwork. As such, ''baguazhang'' is considered neither a purely striking nor a purely grappling martial art. ''Baguazhang'' emphasizes circular movement, allowing practitioners to flow, harmonize and evade objects and opponents. This is the source of the theory of being able to deal with multiple attackers and find solutions to seemingly complicated scenarios, within training or in daily life. ''Baguazhangs evasive nature is also shown by the practice of moving behind an attacker, so that the opponent cannot harm the practitioner.

Although the many branches of ''baguazhang'' are often quite different from each other (some, like Cheng-style, specialize in close-in wrestling and joint locks, while others, like some of the Yin styles, specialize in quick, long-range striking), all have circle walking, spiraling movement, and certain methods and techniques (piercing palms, crashing palms, etc.) in common.

''Baguazhangs movements employ the whole body with smooth coiling and uncoiling actions, utilizing hand techniques, dynamic footwork, and throws. Rapid-fire movements draw energy from the center of the abdomen or dantian. The circular stepping pattern also builds up centripetal force, allowing the practitioner to maneuver quickly around an opponent.

In media

* ''Baguazhang'' inspired the main basis of airbending in the 2005–2008 Nickelodeon Animation Studio TV series '' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film counterpart, its 2024 Netflix counterpart, and its sequel series ''The Legend of Korra''.
* '' Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings'' features ''baguazhang'' being used by Ying Li, mother of the title character and wife of Wenwu (the MCU's version of the Mandarin).
* ''Baguazhang'' is used by Zhang Ziyi as Gong Ruo Mei and Zhang Jin as Ma San in '' The Grandmaster''.
* Jet Li uses ''baguazhang'' when playing Gabriel Yulaw in '' The One''.
* ''Baguazhang'' inspired the Hyuga clan's gentle fist-fighting style in ''Naruto''.
* Ling Xiaoyu of the ''Tekken'' series of games is said to practice ''Baguazhang'' and ''Piguazhang'' styles.
* Ashrah uses a variation of ''baguazhang'' in '' Mortal Kombat: Deception''.

See also

* ''Bagua''—the eight trigrams, used as guiding principles for ''baguazhang''.
* ''I Ching''—the Chinese Classic relied on by Taoist thinking.
* Feng shui—the metaphysical system of interior design based on the ''bagua''.
* Tai chi—a similar ''neijia''.

Notes

References

* Robert W. Smith, ''Chinese Boxing'',
* Bok Nam, Park & Dan Miller, ''The Fundamentals of Pa Kua Chang: The Methods of Lu Shui-T'ien As Taught by Park Bok Nam'',
* Shou-Yu, Liang, ''Baguazhang : Emei Baguazhang Theory and Applications'',
* O'Brien, Jess, ''Nei Jia Quan: Internal Martial Arts Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, and Ba Gua Zhang'',
* Frantzis, Bruce Kumar, ''The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I'',
* Wang Shujin, ''Bagua Linked Palms - Translated by Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao-Yen'', (1-58394-264-5)
* Wang Shujin, ''Bagua Swimming Body Palms - Translated by Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao-Yen'', (1-58394-245-9)

External links

*

ChinaFromInside.com presents... BAGUAZHANG

Qiang Shan Ba Gua Zhang Association

{{Martial arts

Chinese swordsmanship
Chinese martial arts
Neijia