Understaning White Crane - History

          It is impossible to fully understand White Crane with the knowledge of only physical (martial) aspect of the style. In order to fully understand any martial style from Fujian province we have to understand social, political, economic, religious and cultural aspect of every life during the last decades of Ming dynasty and entre reign of Ching dynasty. We have to understand the worldview of Kung Fu practitioners of that particular period when White Crane or the style which was a predecessor of White Crane came to existence.

           Social, political and economic aspects of late Ming dynasty period when, according to the existing evidence White Crane has been created, will not be main subject of this article, they will be mentioned when needed to give the right context to the presented material. These areas are too wide to be properly explained and they go way beyond the format of this blog. These subjects should be a subject of a separate book or, at best, each of these subjects should be explained separately in a books dedicated solely to the specific theme.

        Brief history of the style, as commonly accepted among most of the White Crane practitioners will be presented. First description of a fighting style that resembles White Crane can be found in the middle 1500’s in Fujian province. Description of that style fit not White Crane but many other Fujian styles which, obviously share same origin and are quite similar, so much so that untrained individual can’t actually tell them apart. When exactly White Crane was created remains a mystery, serious historical research, done by professional historians was never conducted. Although some research has been done, it was conducted by White Crane practitioners and it doesn't give defintive answer to any of the question about White Crane history.

            Still, the fact remains that White Crane is one of the oldest form of Southern Chinese boxing, it has a long history and abundant historical records. In terms of the documents currently available to researchers, White Crane practitioners claim that the material related to style exceeds that of any other Southern styles. From the boxing manuals it is obvious that White Crane had already formulated a complete system and principles much earlier than any other Southern Kung Fu.  

           In the article “Yong Chun White Crane Boxing – development and revolution”, Master Su Ying Han and Master Li Gang theorize that early White Crane Boxing may only have included sparring. The completed forms emerged out of the research and development of later generations of practitioners.

             Early White Crane Boxing Method, was a collection of postures, applications and footwork which were practiced individually, the forms were short sequences or simple repetitive movements. As “Fang Qiniang’s White Crane 15 Postures” from the “White Crane Spiritual Ancestor True Transmission Method” records, these fifteen postures were the earliest seen recorded in any boxing manual. Similar short forms are today preserved in some Wing Chun styles under the name “San Sik”.

           Like all local martial arts, White Crane never ceased to evolve; although we cannot make a determination as to when the core structure of White Crane was formulated, by the time of Emperors Qianlong (1735-1796) it was already at a mature stage of development, it can be said that it was the first complete Kung Fu style in a form and shape that we know Chinese Martial Arts today. By the Jiaqing era (1796-1820), it had developed into one of the most influential styles in Fujian Province and it help shaping kung fu in South of Chine for centuries.

           One of the evidence of this is karate manual known as Bubishi preserved in Okinawa. Although there are some controversies about the content of this manual and its connection to White Crane and martial arts in general but it is still treasured as the most important Karate manual.

           Bubishi was transmitted from Fujian to Okinawa and its contents include the philosophy of Shaolin Boxing, legendary history, fighting applications, Chinese herbal medicine and applications, secret of pressure point applications, etc. How and when Bubishi came to Okinawa still remains unknown. Most traditional karate or Bubishi researchers believe, that the manual arrived in Okinawa around 1850. It is likely that the Bubishi had several different editions, and the surviving example is a compilation of several handwritten copies. Regardless, the Bubishi had arrived in Okinawa by the middle of the 19th Century, clearly demonstrating that White Crane had already formulated its system at the very latest by the beginning of the 19th Century.

          In addition, even though some researchers believe several other Fujianese styles, like Taizu Quan, Luohan Quan were formed earlier than White Crane, there is no hard evidence to support this view; these styles do not have a boxing manuals or other documents that predate White Crane. Conversely, from the point of view of applications, principles for expression of power (fajin), or forms, from different technical perspectives, Taizu Quan, Hujun Quan, Luohan Quan, Five Ancestor, all retain the flavor of White Crane and were obviously influenced by it.

             In the past two hundred years, White Crane not only led the development of martial arts in Fujian and the surrounding areas, but its influence extended to Taiwan, Japan and its southern influence extended to Guangdong. It was Fujian’s most influential and most widely transmitted style. White Crane has lineages in Fuzhou, Yong Chun, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. According to the research of lineage holder Master Li Gang, as White Crane had its most dynamic development in Yong Chun County, and as many of the representative masters came from there, people naturally placed the words Yong Chun and White Crane together to become Yong Chun White Crane or even Yong Chun Boxing. We can also find traces of White Crane influence in the north. Some of White Crane basic principles and training methods can be found in several northern styles.

Over time White Crane underwent several generations of transmission and promotion to become the most widely practiced style in Fujian Province, it could not avoid evolving and developing. Few masters, who had a strong technical foundation and had unique insights into White Crane Boxing, through compiling their own practical fighting experience, would undergo an arduous process of inner cultivation, and would come to certain realizations. They would innovate upon the structure of White Crane boxing, thus developing their own unique styles and forming their own system and a new school. Five main Crane styles differentiated from the original proto-style, Flying (Fei He), Crying (Ming He), Feeding (Shi He), Shaking (Zong He) and Sleeping (Su He) Crane. It is important to notice that Crying Crane was a mix of the older Crane styles and Lohan Quan.

 

 

           Most Crane styles trace their origin to Fang Qiniang and her father. There are many different origin stories, some are simple and to the point while some quite elaborate, beautiful with elements of the fantasy and fiction. Most White Crane lineage holders believe that Fang Qinang and her father Fang Zhong were not mythical characters but real historical figures. According to the traditions of the Lee family branch of Flying Crane, Qiniang was born in the mid-17th century.

            The White Crane creation story has several points worth noting, first it is different from other Southern styles, as the White Crane story in its many versions does not make an reference to the burning of the Shaolin temple as a determining factor in its origin. The only exception is the version related by Master Liu Gu from the Feeding Crane style in Taiwan. This version was made in 2005. As this is a recent version, it probably was influenced by other legends of the Southern Shaolin Temple. Although Fang Zhong had studied the Shaolin Boxing style, the White Crane style arose spontaneously and was not influenced by other styles. This speaks to Fujian White Crane’s independence and innovation, which is amply supported by White Crane’s applications and principles. Anotehr Version that conncets White Crane with Saholin temple is Wingn Chun creation story, putting Ng Mui as the founder of White Crane at Shaolin temple. There is no metion of Ng Mui in White Crane circles what so ever.

           Second, is that the place of origin for White Crane is a temple. From the research of Li Gang and Su Ying Han, White Crane was created at a place called Bai Lian Temple in Funing Zhou. According to Master Liu Gu of Taiwan, Fang Qilang’s temple was called Sha Lian Temple and was located in Fuzhou. Master Li’s version places it in Fang Zhang Guang’s home in Lishiu County in Chuzhou.  Although the three places of origin are different, if one looks carefully Funing Zhou is located in the North East of Fujian, and is very close to Zhejiang, and Chuzhou is the southernmost magistracy in Zhejiang and borders with Fujian. So even though the oral records state different places of origin to a certain extent they are not in conflict, but give us a strong historical indication that the origin of White Crane was in an area located between Zhejiang and Fujian.

           Third, White Crane is the first and the oldest Kung Fu styles in a form and shape we know Kung Fu today. There are claims that other styles are older or influenced White Crane but there is no evidence for such claims.

           Fourth, the formation of White Crane is closely connected with the worship of the Crane Spirit. First of all, almost all the creation myths center upon the Fang Qiniang watching the crane and learning from it, most of this stories put Fang Qinang in the temple at the time when encounters with the Crane happens. One version even anthropomorphizes the crane into a “Crane Spirit.” Cranes, or herons as they are also referred to as, play an important role in Chinese mythology. In Chinese culture, the crane is venerated as the prince of all feathered creatures and thus has a legendary status. Embodying longevity and peace, it is the second most favored bird symbol after the phoenix. In Taiwan there is a White Crane array, religious procession that includes Crane spirit and martial arts

         Fifth, the emergence of White Crane Boxing was probably the greatest breakthrough in Fujian martial arts. This kind of internal - “Seemingly hard but not hard, seemingly soft but not soft” martial principle, had not been seen before and can be said to break open the source foundation for Southern “internal martial arts”.

            Last decade brought increased interest in White Crane Kung Fu. Many people who practice styles related to White Crane engage in research and training of the style, searching the technical and historical roots of their own arts. The study of White Crane is currently a hot topic in the study of Southern martial arts, whether it on the mainland China or in Taiwan. Many research papers were published on this topic. However, the focus is rarely put on the origin of White Crane. Most practitioners accept the theory put forward by Li Gang or Su Ying Han regarding its origin in the Shunzhi period. As we have not as yet been able to find any historical evidence of the existence of Fang Zhong or Fang Qiniang, from an academic perspective we can only view them as popular martial arts legends (or symbolic figures).

According to White Crane traditions, from the end of the Qianlong period to the beginning of the Jiaqing period, White Crane had already reached the fifth or sixth generation. Most surviving manuals can be traced back to this period. According to Su Ying Han’s theory, the author of the “Taoyuan Boxing” is the fifth generation master Xiao Bo Shi and the book was written in the middle of the Qianjia period, “The Vital Principles - related in person” was written by the 5th generation practitioner Zhen Qiao during the Qianglong period; “The True Method transmitted by the White Crane Spiritual Ancestor” was written during the Qianlong period, etc.

            If we assume that twenty to twenty five years makes up a generation, 5 to 6 generations represents about a hundred to a hundred and fifty years. If White Crane had reached the fifth or sixth generation in 1820, then the earliest date for the origin of White Crane is 1670 and the latest is 1770. 1670 is during the reign of the Emperor Kangxi, with the death of the Emperor Shunzhi only nine years before. 1770 is during the height of the Emperor Qianlong’s reign.

                                    

          What is interesting about White Crane is the fact that it is, as mentioned before, first complete Kung Fu style, not only in a sense of technical content, training focus and training methods, but also in a sense of deeper spiritual and health practice today known as “internal” training. White Crane was internal art before Tai Chi, Ba Gua and Xing I, the big three of “internal arts, even came to existence in a form we know them today. That spiritual and health practice is the main subject of this book.

          Another interesting thing should be said about the history of White Crane. Some authors have an opinion that creation of the style was a result of socio-political processes during the end of the Ming and beginning of the Qing dynasty and it was inevitable. According to their own words: “Many scholars believe that the internal arts, especially White Crane as the first truly internal style, appeared when the Han people were under being heavily oppressed by the military and political power of the Northern tribes, and were forced to reassess their cultural identity. One part of this was the internalization of Han Culture, demonstrated in the emergence of martial arts principles such as “using the soft to overcome the hard”, “using the stillness to overcome movement”, which had a direct relationship with the social background and cultural migration, and was a basic automatic response and adjustment in response to the gross assault on the native civilization. Finally, in the Ming-Qing era there was a special trend that was popular in the Fujian region – the popularity of the masculinity. This trend to differing extents influenced the development of different cultural phenomena, including what a part of body culture – popular martial arts. From the perspective of the big wave of cultural history, the essence of Han culture giving rise to “internalization” was an important factor in the rise of the popularity of masculinity.”

           Talking about White Crane history wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Taiwan. Taiwan is the last oasis of traditional Chinese martial arts.

            Taiwan has specific place in history of Chinese people and specific place in Kung Fu history and development. There were several aboriginal tribes who live on Taiwan for thousands of years. First settlers from China came in 1100’s on Penghu island but first serious colonization started after fall of Ming dynasty and Koxinga’s war against the Dutch. In 1661 Koxinga took the island from Dutch, he planned to make  Taiwan a base where he will raise an army to overthrone  the Ching  and  return Ming Dynasty to power. Koxinga died in 1662 and Ching took over the island several decades later. First wave of settlers who came from Fujian province bringing their martial arts were Koxinga’s soldiers. Most of them were pirates or ex Ming officers and soldier, both experienced warriors with great martial skills. After fall of the island in the hands of Manchurians many of these people and their descendants scattered all over the island in order to avoid capture and they preserved their martial arts as a crucial survival tool. Many of these styles died out in China but still exist on Taiwan. Several very old White Crane like styles, probably from Koxinga’s time are still preserved in Taiwan.

         Let’s keep in mind that during the Ching’s rule martial arts practice was forbidden in China, it was forbidden on Taiwan as well but government has very weak influence and almost no power outside of the city walls of Tainan where people freely practiced their arts without fear of capture. Over time, many people from Fujian province came to Taiwan and many arts now lost in mainland China are still preserved here.

           Other big group of people who came to Taiwan is Hakka people from Guangdong province. They brought their martial styles but they were still closed to outsiders and did not teach outside their ethnic group so information about their arts are very limited. What we know is that Hakka arts practiced in Taiwan are very close to White Crane in every possible way.

           Because of the weak government control Taiwan was a center of anti-dynastic activities for centuries. First revolutionary groups are formed on Taiwan, some are still active, to mention “Heaven and Earth society “ as one of the most famous. Legend about Southern Shaolin was invented in Tainan in order to give common origin for various martial and revolutionary sects all over Chine and bring a sense of unity and brotherhood. For centuries Taiwan preserved southern, mostly Fujianese martial styles. There is a large number of White Crane styles today which cannot be found anywhere else as well as other, less known styles like “Golden Eagle”, Wing Chun (same name as wildly known style from Foshan, but totally different art), some form of Yue Fei boxing  to mention just a few. A large number of styles are still secret and practiced only by family members.  All these styles, today mostly concentrated in the South of the island bare strong resemblance among each other and they all have White Crane “signature” 

           Just like 400 years before, in 1948 people massively escaped Chine in a search for a refuge, when communists came to power. Same thing happened all over again, but this time refugees were mostly from north of China. A large number of prominent “soft styles” masters came to Taiwan as well as the masters of Bajiquan, Long Fist, Mantis boxing, Pigua and others. While Kung Fu practice was strictly forbidden in China it was supported by government on Taiwan. Many masters of White Crane and other Fujian styles also came to Taiwan through Kinmen islands which belong to Taiwan and are located just a few kilometers from China. Many people think that Bruce Lee is the most significant person for introducing Chinese martial arts to rest of the world but they are wrong. Decades before Bruce westerners were coming to Taiwan and learned Kung Fu, “internal” systems mostly. During the time when China was behind the “Iron Curtain” Taiwan was the place where most of the people came to learn Kung Fu. Many of the Taiwanese instructors traveled over the world spreading Chinese martial arts and many of them immigrated to the “west” permanently setting up the schools and teaching their arts. Taiwan was and still is primary source for Tai Chi , Ba Gua, Hsing Yi and other “soft “arts and was and still is primary source for large number of White Crane styles as well as Northern Mantis boxing.

         Today, White Crane is a disappearing art. Under the pressure of “cultural revolution” majority of the teachers simply stopped practicing the art in Fujian. In Taiwan, the style was always been practiced by small number of people and carefully kept behind ‘closed doors”. It has never reached the popularity of Tai Chi or other internal styles and there is only a handful of schools outside Taiwan including Hong Kong and Malaysia. Only a few teachers traveled to the west to teach this beautiful art, and even fewer people from came to learn it at its source. Despite being one of the most complete Chinese martial styles in every possible way, it still stays almost completely unknown to wider public.

          This situation caused that information about White Crane mostly came from the people who never actually practiced the art and there is a lot of misinformation about history, technical content and training approach of the art. Even today when information about almost everything and anything can be found online, White Crane remains elusive and there is very little valid information about the style.