WING CHUN AND CHINA POLICY TOWARDS THE WORLD

By : Agaton Kenshanahan (Padjadjaran University, Bandung Sumedang)

Thank’s to Ip Man movie that was released. I know Ip Man movie since I was Middle School. At that time, I watched Ip Man on television. At the first time, I was thinking that this is a Kung Fu movie. Concerning Kung Fu, martial art from China is usually represented by movies starring the famous Jackie Chan. His movies such as Once Upon A Time in China and Police Story represented Chinese martial art movies to Western audiences. In Jackie Chan movie, Kung Fu and comedy is mixed together. The main purpose of the movie is just to entertain people. Personally, I like Jackie Chan movies so much, but I got nothing except fun from the movie.

I know Ip Man is another Kung Fu movie, but it is different. In the second time I saw another Ip Man movie in High School, Ip Man 2. In this new film, I started to feel curious, what kind of Kung Fu showed in the movie? I was so curious because the Kung Fu in Ip Man movie is so simple and effective. After that, I looked for the information in the internet. I found that Ip Man’s Kung Fu is classified as Wing Chun martial art.

History of Wing Chun

Wing Chun is a unique martial art that comes from China. Its history derived from Shaolin temple. The Shaolin temples are known to be important in the teaching of Kung Fu, as well as the development of secret societies such as the Triads, White Lotus, Eight Trigrams, and the Boxers. The first Shaolin temple was located in Henan province, built around 495 AD by Emperor Xiao Wen of the Northern Wei dynasty (Gibson, 2006, p. 16). One time, Shaolin temple was attacked by Emperor Kangxi’s army led by renegade monk, Ma Ningyi. This was happening because the Emperor recognized that Shaolin temple was a traitor who did not serve the Kingdom’s interest.

There were five monks who survived from the attack. One of the five then fled from Shaolin temple to Bak Hok Je (White Crane Temple) on the slope of the Daliang Mountain. She was Ng Mui. On the way to Bak Hok Je, Ng Mui saw the fighting between a crane and a snake. Ng Mui analyze the fight between these two creatures. After that she imitated the movements in this fight to build a new effective martial art. Ng Mui appraised that Shaolin Kung Fu is ineffective. There are a lot of complex movements in Classical Kung Fu. This new fight was dominated by hands and balance to maximize the body’s movement. It applied yee jee kim yeung ma or the goat clamping stance. It was different from the classical Kungfu which used the tiger style stance.

The name Wing Chun itself was named after Ng Mui’s first disciple, Yim Wing Chun, whom she taught martial arts to. Yim is a young girl believed by Ng Mui to preserve Wing Chun martial art technique and teach it to the future generations. When Yim was married to Leung Bok Cho, she shared the knowledge of Wing Chun to him. Wing Chun was then taught time to time from generations to generations. There was a time when Wing Chun was studied under the man named Leung Yee Tai who was a member of Red Junk opera. He was a master of a martial art which uses a pole as the primary weapon. From that time on, a pole was introduced in the Wing Chun system. The use of butterfly knives and wooden dummies in Wing Chun, could also be possibly introduced around the time of Red Junk. The sources of those histories are not clear whether it is right or not because the documentation is mixed with folklore and myth in society.

In the end of 1800s, a physician from Foshan (a part of Guangdong province), Leung Jan, was one from  many who received Wing Chun training. Leung Jan trained his neighbor Chan Wa Sun and his son Leung Bik. Leung Bik went to Hong Kong whereas Chan Wa Sun remained in Fo Shan. Chan Wa Shun then took Yip Man (aka Ip Man) as his disciple. Chan Wa Shun trained Yip Man until his death. Then, he recommended Yip Man to continue his training under Ng Chung So’s instruction. In a special sequel of Wing Chun film, one day Yip Man also met with Leung Bik and was trained by him. Basically, contemporary Wing Chun history was dominated by Yip Man life.

That was the popular history of Wing Chun. Many people believe that Ng Mui and Yim Wing Chun were the sole founder of the martial art. However, there are also many other versions of the origin of Wing Chun beside the single lineage trough Leung Bok Cho, Leung Lan Kwai, Wong Wah Bo and Leung Yee Tai to Leung Jan and finally ended by Yip Man Wing Chun. Some of them are Yuen Kay-San Wing Chun, Gu Lau Wing Chun, Nanyang Wing Chun, Pa Nam Wing Chun, Pao Fa Lien Wing Chun, Hung Suen Wing Chun, Je Shim Wing Chun (Chu, Ritchie, & Wu, 1998) and many others. Misconception of genealogy happened because there were lack of documents and sources of the origin of Wing Chun itself.

The Application of Wing Chun in China policy towards the world

Wing Chun is not just an ordinary martial art but also a concept. The concept of Wing Chun consists of many elements within it. The basic elements of Wing Chun such as centerline, Siu Lim Tao, Chum Kiu and Biu Jee are applicable in our daily life. Although not every Chinese in China learns Wing Chun, basically Wing Chun was adapted from Chinese principle and philosophy. Beside the long history of China itself, the application of its technique, principle and philosophy makes China become one of the great nations today.

Centerline in Wing Chun told us that we need to straight ahead. This element take us to the thinking of the fastest line between two opponents. Many people believe that circular path of hooking is effective in taking down the opponent. However in Wing Chun we aim the shortest distance of opponent’s body by passing our attack on the centerline. Logically thinking, the straight ahead punch from the centerline will arrived first before the opponent finishing the hooks.

As a nations, China was pass a long and dynamic history. Compared with the West in Europe, China was lead at the beginning of centuries. Before the 15th century, China was one of the most powerful countries in the world, occupying a leading position in the development of productivity and technology. Ancient China enjoyed a developed agriculture and advanced irrigation system, an independent tradition of medicine and advanced botanical knowledge. China's four great inventions, namely, the compass, gunpowder, movable type printing and papermaking, not only changed the world but also accelerated the evolution of world history (Center, 2011). The Golden Ages of China represented by the Reign Emperor Guangwu (25–57 AD) of the Eastern Han Dynasty and the reigns of Emperors Renzong and Xuanzong (1424–35 AD) of the Ming Dynasty. There was also other less well-known dynasty which represent this age, such as under Fu Jian (357–85 AD) of the Earlier Qin Dynasty in the period of the Sixteen Kingdoms in North China. However in the late centuries China civilization was relative declining.

The declining of China’s civilization culminated in 19-20 centuries marked by four devastating wars. The first two were the first Opium War (1839–42) that was fought between China and Britain, and the second Opium War (1856–60), also known as the Arrow War or the Anglo-French War in China, that was fought by Britain and France against China (Pletcher, 2015). The last two were anti-Japanese War when the people had to fight Japanese invaders, and the Civil War which erupted betwen two big parties, Communist Party of China (CPC) and Kuomintang (KMT). These four wars in the late centuries caused severe and extensive damage to China.

Although the dynamics of civilization declined, China did not waver. As the people said, whatever happened the show must go on. 110 years between Opium War to the founding of the People Republic of China (PRC), Chinese people experienced innumerable trials and hardships, bloodshed, and loss of lives, but finally they realized national independence and liberation, drove away foreign invaders, and embarked on the road towards modernization (Zhang, 2015). As I told before, China is straight ahead like centerline principle in Wing Chun. We don’t need to take other way to rise beside just follow and learn from the history and apply the core philoshopy of our nations. With that, China knew the centerline and the priority to be taken in the future. Todays, China is rising as the one of the great power in the world. The economic machine made this happen. For 2011, the report says: The US remained the world largest economy, but it was closely followed by China measured by purchasing power parity (Giles, 2014) that reflected the size of economy.

Siu Lim Tao by terminology means little idea/little thought. The beginner of Wing Chun practitioners  need to train this movement first. Vincent Lo, the narator of Wing Chun documentary said at first he learned Wing Chun, his sifu was command him to do Siu Lim Tau for 45 minutes in front of mirror.[1] He did it with minimal hand movement over and over. First, he did not know what was the purpose behind the training. At the second time he know that in Wing Chun, it is essential to do the practice until the accuracy and essence is understood.

In fact, China is not really beginner actor in world politics. The long history of China showed us that China actively involved in international relations. However the involvement of China as nation-state in world politics just started recently in 20 century. At the first formation of PRC, China was not so much concern on foreign policy. This effort was intentionally did by the policymakers. For example, in Mao Zedong era, domestic politics become more important than foreign affairs. Major domestic policy whom made by Mao was vanishing the practices of capitalist system within the country and changed it to socialist system. In the other side, the diplomacy on the first formation of PRC was limited on seeking equal status with other nations (recognizition).

Deng Xiaoping the successor of Mao was the interesting one. He started to open China to the world but with minimal enforcement. He tried to keep China on low profile (taoguang yanghui) on world politics.

We have learned from history that countries who challenged the most powerful state in the then international system for the sake of seeking leadership, eventually ended in failure. So the principle of keeping a low profile and making some contributions is a wise counsel from Deng Xiaoping for China in the twenty-first century. It is definitely not an expedient policy for one or two decades, but long-term strategic thinking, a strategy to strive for the realisation of a harmonious world, and the image that a confident and modest nation shows to the outside world

(Suyuan, 2008).

Like if we are just started to learn Siu Lim Tao, we don’t need to challenge anybody to fight since we just started Wing Chun training. In world politics too, it is important to know our position, Den Xiaoping realized this. He did not thinking how to be superpower through challenge the others but do many contribution to the world first. In Wing Chun too, as the story of Vincent Lo told us, he practice for 45 minute just to know the essence and accuracy of the movement. Deng Xiaoping knew the situation that suitable for China in that time then he just seek essence of China movement in world politics by did some contribution first. It made China rising peacefully and give a time to improve the power within the country. These is the real meaning of little idea/little thought in Siu Lim Tao which is guide us to think nothing except the training.

Chum Kiu as the next movement to be learned in Wing Chun means seeking the bridge. After knowing the basic movement in Siu Lim Tao, the practitioner of Wing Chun must understand Chum Kiu as the effort to bridge the gap between himself and the opponent. This is important to control opponent movement. Since Wing Chun classified as close range combat, we need to be sensitive through our bridge we made. This help us to predict the movement of our opponent.

After a long time on the isolations policy towards world politics, China try to maintain the relations with neighboring state. In 1996–2008 period, Beijing build an effort to reassure the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries (and certain others) that, guided by a “new security concept” stressing cooperation among states in the pursuit of common objectives, China would rise peacefully and play a constructive role in building a harmonious region and world (Lynch, 2015). In Joseph Nye term this effort is classified as soft power.

In 2007, President Hu Jintao told the CCP that for rising power like China –whose growing economic and military might frighten its neighbors into counterbalancing coalitions– needed a smart strategy to increase soft power (Joseph S. Nye, 2015). In this case, China also tried to maintain aid to Africa and Latin America to build friendliness around the world. Beijing Olympics which held in 2008 was also the success for China in implementing soft power.

The bridge that China made with others state around the world is philosophically functioned like Chum Kiu movement, to control the movement of others. However, in this case China adapted Chum Kiu philosophy to build relations with other states and also to maintain good faith among them. As Lynch (2015) noted, China loving peace and seeking harmony were presented as predispositions almost hard-wired into China’s eons-old national identity.

Biu Tze is the last element must be learned by Wing Chun practicioners. Biu tze is comprised of the words biu , to dart in, and tze, to point at. Essentially, Wing Chun practicioners must dart their finger when facing the enemy. Some say it is the way to attack but actually we feel it as a form of recovery. Biu tze is very useful when our arm is locked by the pressure from the opponent.

As it was traditionally taught only to disciples, there is saying that biu tze but chut mun (biu tze does not go out the door). As Chinese characters have different meanings, this saying can have several interpretations: 1) don’t teach outsiders this set; 2) don’t use biu tze technique outside of your gates; 3) don’t go out the door using biu tze. Biu tze is only secret, however, if one is unaware of its inner working and understands the techniques solely on superficial level

(Chu, Ritchie, & Wu, 1998).

While China increasing military power, China also using economic sector to recover China’s positions in international system. Some said that China would start –darting its finger– to maintain regional order in East Asia. However, long term China’s overall political, economic and foreign policies leave no doubt that the country is on a mission to restore its dignity (Muekalia, 2014). The vision is clear, this is the goal of biu tze.

Perhaps Wing Chun cannot represent China's overall policies. But, at least an idea of the technique, principle, and philosophy of Wing Chun can provide a general description of how China can carry out its policies towards the world. In early 21st century, looks like China would like to make its country great again.

References

Center, C. I. (2011). China. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from http://wiki.china.org.cn/wiki/index.php/China

Chu, R., Ritchie, R., & Wu, Y. (1998). Complete Wing Chun: The Definitive Guide To Wing Chun's History and Traditions. Boston: Tuttle Publishing.

Gibson, A. (2006). Beginning Wing Chun: Why Wing Chun Works. Chichester: Summersdale Publishers Ltd.

Giles, C. (2014). China poised to pass US as world’s leading economic power this year. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d79ffff8-cfb7-11e3-9b2b-00144feabdc0.html#axzz45xsk8aWm

Joseph S. Nye, J. (2015). Is The American Century Over? Cambridge: Polity Press.

Lynch, D. C. (2015). China's Futures: PRC Elites Debate Economics, Politics and Foreign Policy. California: Stanford University Press.

Muekalia, D. J. (2014). Africa and China's Strategic Partnership. African Security Review. Retrieved from https://www.issafrica.org/pubs/ASR/13No1/F1.pdf

Pletcher, K. (2015). Opium Wars. Retrieved April 16, 2016, from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars

Suyuan, Z. (2008). Jianshou Budangtou Fangzhen. Xiandai Guoji (9), 32.

Zhang, Q. (2015). An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture. New York: Springer.

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Picture:

www.smu.edu.sg
www.wingchunhuddersfield.co.uk

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[1] The video could be seen in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVkjj8568d8&list=PLhhP937q1S22jSOvHWOFnitD7PtefP5Ij