Zong He quan , basics

Fujian White Crane is one of the best known and most influential martial styles in China. Impact that White Crane had on southern Chinese Kung Fu styles is obvious at first glance. Vast majority of the styles adopted some variation of San Jin ( Three Battles) form. Hakka arts, most Fujian styles , Karate from Okinawa, many Guangdong  styles ect. Influence does not stop there, many styles adopted White Crane body structure, power generation methods, weapons and philosophy of training. White Crane also influenced many styles from northern China, today known as “ internal” styles  like I Chuan, Xing I and Tai Chi. White Crane was probably first complete modern Kung Fu style in a shape we know kung fu today and it shaped the path of development of Kung Fu during 19^th and early 20^th century.

The true origin of this style is not known or documented though it is attributed to Fang Qiniang (方七娘), a female martial artist. Some theories suggest that White Crane was created as early as 1521-1566 during Ming dynasty, while others put time of the art’s creation in the 18^th century or later. Lack of evidence make determination of the true history of the art extremely difficult.

There are numerous substyles spread across Southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia. Many of these styles are very old and still unknown, practiced behind closed doors, especially in Taiwan and somewhat in Malaysia.

Although all these “Cranes” have same origin and share many of the techniques and principles each style is unique and has its specific way of training , combat theories, range of techniques, weapons, philosophy, ect.

One of the rarest styles is Zong He or Vibrating Crane. Virtually unknown outside of Taiwan this peculiar style is a true treasure of Chinese martial inheritance.  The story of the style starts in 1840 (or 1860, depends of the source) with Fang Shi Pei who began to practice White Crane  at Tianzhu Temple on Chasan mountain. Living in the nature Fang observed his surroundings and soon became aware of natural movements of all things. He was aware of the animals and plants and their movements in different situations as well as the other natural occurrences. While practicing one time, he saw a Partridge on the tree and the bird and the tree branches shake when the bird cried. At that moment he had an epiphany, he not understood but felt with all his being the importance of the vibration.

How right he was proves modern physics, vibration is everything. Not only light, sound, microwaves, gamma waves, radio waves but the space its self vibrates  in a form of   gravitational waves. But importance of vibration doesn’t stop there, it is in the very core  of the foundation of our universe. Vibration is actually the force behind the existence of everything. String theory, an attempt to provide a complete, unified, and consistent description of the fundamental structure of our universe, proposes that all of the different 'fundamental ' particles of the Standard Model are really just different manifestations of one basic object: a string that can vibrate in different ways. If it oscillates a certain way, we see an electron. But if it oscillates some other way, well, then we call it a photon, or a quark, or another basic particle. So, if string theory is correct, the entire world is made of vibrating strings!

Of course Fang Shi Pei didn’t know anything about modern physics but on some deep level he sensed an enormous importance of vibration and then continued to develop completely new style of White Crane. Zong He turn out to probably the most internal, the softest art that exist today. The style emphasize specific breathing techniques, posture, internal structural ( skeletal ) alignment, relaxation, mind intent and focus, chi development and energetic expressions through vibration.

Zong He training prepare a practitioner so he can receive a hit and transmit the force of the strike into the ground. On higher level vibration is used to either absorb and annihilate the incoming force or to turn the direction of the force vector and immediately go back to the attacker. Vibration is also used to amplify the force of the entire body and concentrate it in one point.  Same principles are used in weapon training.

Zong he quan training has several layers of skill developing at the same time. Not only that art develops martial abilities but at the same time is beneficial for health and it is a Qigong practice. For example proper alignment also cultivates and stimulates Qi energy flow within a person.  With correct body posture, the spine is aligned and the tension and pain caused by previous bad posture will be released. Controlled movements improve, joint mobility, muscle and ligament strength, bone density, coordination and balance, stamina, cardiovascular health and more. Whether you are practicing martial arts for self-defense or to improve your health, your body and mind will be relaxed, calm, and centered.  When you are relaxed you can respond to problems faster and more appropriately than if you were tense.  Relaxation and physical activity release endorphins and fights depression naturally.

China over time developed a great number of martial styles, each precious and beautiful in its own way. Vibrating Crane in all its beauty and uniqueness is a rare treasure of Chinese ingenuity and culture. This, for outsider obscure style offers many paths of personal, martial and health development and even more than that it teaches philosophy and spiritualty throughout the simple yet deeply profound set of movements and exercises. 

I hope this beautiful martial art will find its way out of Taiwan and reach every part of the world because it has much to offer .