Ten Tigers of Canton | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 廣東十虎 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 广东十虎 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Chinese martial arts (Wushu) |
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Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten Tigers of Guangdong [1] refers to a group of ten Chinese martial artists from Guangdong Province lived around the 19th century during the Qing dynasty in China. They were said to be the greatest fighters in Guangdong during the Qing era. Much of their existence has been embellished by folk legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.
The Ten Tigers of Canton traced their martial arts lineage to the Southern Shaolin Monastery 南少林寺 in the Jiulian Mountains 九連山 in Fujian Province 福建省. Southern Shaolin Kung Fu is a branch of the better known Shaolin Monastery 少林寺 on Mount Song 嵩山 in Henan Province 河南省. As such, the Ten Tigers' martial arts styles resemble those of Shaolin Kung Fu 少林武功.
Wong Yan-lam or Wang Yinlin (王隐林; 王隱林; Wáng Yǐnlín; Wong4 Jan2-lam4), also romanised as Wong Yein-lam, was a student of the Tibetan monk Xinglong (星龍), a master of the "Lion's Roar" (獅子吼) style of martial arts. Wong mastered this style, which later split into the Hop Family Fist (俠家拳; Xiájiā quán; Haap6gaa1 kyun4), Lama Style (喇嘛派), and White Crane Fist (Tibetan White Crane 西藏白鶴拳). [2]
Wong Ching-ho or Huang Chengke (黄澄可; 黃澄可; Huáng Chéngkě; Wong4 Cing4-ho2), also romanised as Wong Cheng-ho, was a student of Luk Ah-choi (Chinese :陸阿采; pinyin :Lù Acǎi). He is portrayed in popular fiction as specialising in the Nine Dragons Fist (九龍拳). [2]
So Hak-fu or Su Heihu (苏黑虎; 蘇黑虎; Sū Hēihǔ; Sou1 Hak1-fu2), also romanised as Sou Hark-fu, was a student of the Shaolin monk Zhaode 少林僧人兆德. He was trained in the Southern Shaolin Style (南少林派) but later created his own style, which is known as Black Tiger Style (黑虎門). [2]
Wong Kei-ying or Huang Qiying (黄麒英; 黃麒英; Huáng Qíyīng; Wong4 Kei4-jing1), also romanised as Wong Khei-yin, was a student of Luk Ah-choi. He is best known for his skill in Hung Ga (洪家)of which he was one of the progenitors. [2] He also was the father of Wong Fei-hung 黃飛鴻, who wasn't one of the Ten Tigers but is sometimes referred to as the Tiger after the Ten Tigers.
Lai Yan-chiu or Li Renchao (黎仁超; Lí Rénchāo; Lai4 Jan4-ciu1) was a practitioner of the Hakka Fist (客家拳), which was also known as Southern Praying Mantis (南螳螂). He was also known for his skill in the Seven Stars Fist (七星拳). [2]
So Chan or Su Can (苏灿; 蘇燦; Sū Càn; Sou1 Can3) was a Hung Ga (洪家) practitioner. He was famous for his skill in Drunken Fist (醉拳) and Shaolin Staff (少林棍). He is more commonly known by his nickname "So Hut-yee" or "Su Qi'er" (苏乞儿; 蘇乞兒; Sū Qǐ'er; Sou1 Hat1-ji4), which means "Beggar So". [2] Like Wong Fei-hung 黃飛鴻, he is also regarded as a folk hero in Chinese popular culture and has been the subject of films such as King of Beggars (1992) and True Legend (2010). He also appeared as a supporting character in some movies about Wong Fei-hung, most notably Drunken Master (1978).
Leung Kwan or Liang Kun (梁坤; Liáng Kūn; Loeng4 Kwan1) was primarily known as one of the progenitors of Hung Ga (洪家) but practiced the uncategorized southern shaolin style. He was known for his skill in the Iron Wire Fist (鐵線拳). He is more commonly known by his nickname "Iron Bridge Three" (铁桥三; 鐵橋三; Tiě Qiáo Sān; Tit3 Kiu4 Saam1) [2] because of the extraordinary strength he acquired through the practice of the iron wire fist.
Chan Cheung-tai or Chen Changtai (陈长泰; 陳長泰; Chén Chángtài; Can4 Coeng4-taai3) specialised in the martial art Iron Finger (鐵指). He was nicknamed "Iron Finger Chan" (铁指陈; 鐵指陳; Tiě Zhǐ Chén; Tit3 Zi2 Can2). [2]
Tam Chai-kwan or Tan Jijun (谭济筠; 譚濟筠; Tán Jìjūn; Taam4 Zai3-gwan1) was a practitioner of the Huadu 花都省 style of Hung Ga 洪家拳 and Tam Ga (譚家). He was nicknamed "Three Legs Tam" (三脚谭; 三腳譚; Sān Jiǎo Tán; Saam1 Goek3 Taam4) for the three types of kicks he used. [2]
Chau Tai or Zhou Tai (周泰; Zhōu Tài; Zau1 Taai3), also romanised as Jau Taai and Chow Thye, was known for his "soft-hand" techniques and his mastery of the long staff. He created the martial art Zhou Family Bagua Staff (周家八卦棍), who has been passed down for generations in his family. He was also a master of Choy Li Fut 蔡李佛, which he integrated into his other martial arts styles. His descendants, Hung Chau (great-grandson) and Michael Chau (great-great-grandson), reside in San Francisco, California, United States. [2]
The Ten Tigers first appeared in the 1978 film Ten Tigers of Shaolin (廣東十虎) produced by Mei Lam Film Production Company.
The Ten Tigers appeared in the 1979 Hong Kong film Ten Tigers from Kwangtung (廣東十虎與後五虎) [3] produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. It featured a star-studded cast of Shaw Studio actors, including the Venom Mob, Ti Lung and Alexander Fu.
A fictionalized version of the Ten Tigers were featured in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days , with Sammo Hung making a special appearance as Wong Fei-hung. Wong and the Ten Tigers assisted the protagonists in liberating the village of Lanzhou.
In 1999, Hong Kong's ATV produced a 40-episodes TV drama series titled Ten Tigers of Guangdong (英雄之廣東十虎).
In The Eleventh Tiger , a BBC Books original novel set in the Doctor Who universe by David A. McIntee, the Ten Tigers are featured, with Wong Kei-ying and Wong Fei-hung as major characters in the story.
The electronic music artist Bonobo has a track called "Ten Tigers" on his 2013 album The North Borders.
Shaolin kung fu, also called Shaolin Wushu, or Shaolin quan, is the largest and most famous style of kung fu. It combines Chan philosophy and martial arts. It was developed in the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China during its 1500-year history. In Chinese folklore there is a saying, "Shaolin kung fu is the best under heaven," which indicates its superiority among martial arts, and "All martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin," which indicates its influence on other martial arts. The name Shaolin is also used as a brand for the external styles of kung fu. Many styles in southern and northern China use the name Shaolin.
Hung Ga Kuen (Cantonese) or Hongjiaquan (Mandarin) - alternatively shortened as either Hung Ga (洪家) or Hung Kuen (洪拳) - is an ancient southern Chinese martial art, which roots lie in the Northern Shaolin kung fu. During the turn of the 3rd millennium, Hung Ga was one of the most widely practiced styles of kung fu from southern China in the world.
Eagle Claw is a style of Chinese martial arts known for its gripping techniques, system of joint locks, takedowns, and pressure point strikes, which is representative of Chinese grappling known as Chin Na. The style is normally attributed to the famous patriotic Song dynasty General Yue Fei. Popular legends states that he learned martial arts from a Wudang Monk named Zhou Tong and later created Eagle Claw to help his armies combat the invading armies of the Jin dynasty. It was passed down until the Ming dynasty. Thus, the style took on long range strikes and aerial jumps. During the Qing dynasty, the military instructor Liu Shi Jun became known as the modern progenitor of Eagle Claw and taught many students. His student Liu Cheng You later taught Chen Zizheng who was invited to teach the style in the prestigious Chin Woo Athletic Association during the Republican era. The style spread as Chin Woo opened sister schools in other provinces. Today, it is practiced around the world.
Northern Praying Mantis is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after its province of origin. It is one of the best known styles of "Northern" kung fu and it encompasses of many styles, with the three main ones being the six-harmony style, eight-steps style and seven-star style.
Wong Kei-ying or Huang Qiying was a Chinese Hung Ga martial artist and physician of Cantonese ethnicity, who lived during the Qing dynasty. He was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton and was best known for his use of the Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist skill set. His son, Wong Fei-hung, who inherited his martial arts and medical skills, is commonly portrayed as a folk hero in Chinese popular culture.
In its broadest sense, Northern Shaolin is the external martial arts of Northern China, referring to those styles from the Northern Shaolin Monastery in Henan and specifically to the style practice by Gù Rǔzhāng, the Sōngshān Shí Lù Shàolínquán (嵩山十路少林拳) / Song Mountain Ten Road Shaolin Boxing.
Nanquan refers to a classification of Chinese martial arts that originated in Southern China.
Meihuaquan is a common term used to name styles or exercise sets of kung fu:
Jow Ga kung fu is a form of Chinese martial art. It was founded by Jow Lung who was born in 1891, on the eleventh day of the third lunar month in Sa Fu Village of the Guangdong province, and died in 1919. His father was Jow Fong Hoy and his mother’s maiden name was Li. At the time of its inception, this particular style of kung fu was labeled as having the head of Hung Gar, the tail of Choy Gar and the patterns of the tiger and leopard, or simply Hung Tao Choy Mei. It was so labeled because the essential techniques incorporated the muscular and mighty movements of Hung Gar and the swift footwork and complex kicking of Choy Gar, making it a very effective form of self defense with emphasis on simultaneous attack and defense.
Lam Sai-wing was a Hung Gar martial artist. He was a student of the Chinese martial artist, acupuncturist, and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung.
Fut Ga Kuen or Buddhist Family Fist is a relatively modern Southern Shaolin style of Kung Fu devised primarily from the combination of Hung Ga Kuen 洪家 and Choy Gar 蔡家 Kuen. The style utilizes mostly punches, palm strikes and low kicks, further characterized by evasive footwork, circular blocks and using the opponent's force against them.
Ten Tigers from Kwangtung is a 1980 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by Mona Fong. It is one of Chang Cheh's tales of Shaolin's historic rivalries with the Qing dynasty and the Canton Tigers. Along with the Brave Archer series, Ten Tigers had an all-star cast of Shaw martial artists.
Choy Gar, also Caijia Quan, is a Chinese martial art deriving its name from the Cantonese-born founder, Choy Gau Lee (蔡九儀), and is one of the five main family styles of Kung Fu in Southern China. It was taught to him by a monk named Yi Guan. This style, founded in the 17th century, is a combination of rat and snake styles emphasizing on swift footwork and rapid strikes.
So Chan, also known by his nickname Beggar So, was a Chinese martial artist and folk hero who lived during the late Qing dynasty. One of the Ten Tigers of Canton, he was best known for his drunken boxing.
Choy Lee Fut is a Chinese martial art and wushu style, founded in 1836 by Chan Heung (陳享). Choy Li Fut was named to honor the Buddhist monk Choy Fook who taught him Choy Gar, and Li Yau-san (李友山) who taught him Li Gar, plus his uncle Chan Yuen-wu (陳遠護), who taught him Hung Kuen, and developed to honor the Buddha and the Shaolin roots of the system.
Hak Fu Mun 黑虎門 is a southern style of Chinese Kung Fu originating from the Shaolin Temple. The style's founder was So Hak-fu, who was one of the famed Ten Tigers of Canton 廣東十虎. The style was opened to the public by Wong Cheung 黃祥 who expanded the system.
Chan Kowk-wai was born on 3 April 1936, in Taishan in the province of Guangdong, China. He introduced traditional Shaolin kung fu to Brazil through the China-Brazil Kung Fu Academy. His disciples have spread as far as the USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina, Chile and the Czech Republic.
Lam Cho was the Hung Ga Grandmaster and Dit Da practitioner of the Lam Family Hung Ga lineage. He was noted to be the last martial arts Grandmaster who lived during the times of well-known martial artists Wong Fei-hung and Lam Sai-wing, his adoptive uncle.
Tibetan White Crane, also known in Cantonese as Bak Hok Pai, is a Chinese martial art with origins in 15th-century Tibetan culture that has developed deep roots in southern China. Tibetan White Crane became so established in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau by the twentieth century that it was accepted as a local martial art in that region. From there it has spread around the world.