Nanquan (martial art)

For other uses, see Nanquan.

Nanquan
南拳

Also known as	Southern Fist
Focus	Striking, weapons training
Country of origin	China
Creator	No single creator, attributed to either: Martial arts knowledge of Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou,[1] transformed by Hongmen Members of Southern Shaolin Monastery
Famous practitioners	Yu Dayou,[1] Qi Jiguang,[a][1] Huang Junhua, Phạm Quốc Khánh, Willy Wang (wushu), Angie Tsang
Olympic sport	Wushu (sport)

Nanquan^[b] refers to a classification of Chinese martial arts that originated in Southern China.^[2][3][4]

The southern styles of Chinese martial arts are characterized by emphasis on "short hitting" and specific arm movements, predominantly in southern styles such as Hung Kuen, Choi Lei Fut, Hak Fu Mun, Wuzuquan, Wing Chun, and so on.^[5][6][7]

History and development

Unarmed fighting instructions as depicted in Qi Jiguang's Jixiao Xinshu would form basis of Nanquan

During the Ming dynasty of the 16th century, there were Wokou (Japanese pirates) active on the coast of China. At one point, Generals Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou were stationed in Fuqing and Putian in the Central Fujian.^[8] The local monks in those areas defended themselves using iron rods to repel the pirates. Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang taught martial arts to the local armies and civilians to fight against the pirates, with General Qi teaching the use of javelins, knives and other weaponry.^{[9][10][additional citation(s) needed]} The fourteenth chapter of General Qi's Jixiao Xinshu includes a modified version of the 32nd posture of the Taizu Changquan. After Qi Jiguang left, the development of unarmed fighting methods was left to the soldiers.^[9]

Southern Shaolin Monastery

Further information: Southern Shaolin Monastery

The Southern Shaolin Monastery is considered a significant development in the history of Shaolin Wushu in Southern China. The Tang dynasty branched from the Shaolin Temple of Mount Song to Fujian. General Qi Jiguang of the Ming dynasty would later import Taizu Changquan and other martial arts to the region.^{[citation needed]}

The Concept of Burning (South) Shaolin Temple

The legend about the burning of the southern Shaolin Temple was recorded in a conference catalogue of the Guangzhou Hongmen Society meeting that took place in the late Qing dynasty. It is believed that it was written based on the history of the time and the information acquired by the Hongmen at the end of the Ming dynasty.^{[citation needed]}

Contemporary Wushu Nanquan

The contemporary Wushu event Nanquan is a modern style created in the 1960s,^[11][12] and was derived from martial arts from the Chinese provinces south of the Yangtze River, predominantly those styles popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang.^[1] The basis of contemporary Nánquán hails primarily from traditional Cantonese family styles of 洪 (Hung), 李 (Lei), 劉 (Lau), 莫 (Mok) and 蔡 (Choi), along with their more contemporary Kung Fu variants of Choi Lei Fut, Hung Ga and Wing Chun.^[12][11]

Contemporary Nanquan features vigorous, athletic movements with very stable, low stances, extensive hand techniques and a vocal articulation called fasheng ("release shout"), which is the predecessor of the Japanese and Korean martial arts kiai.^[11] Power is driven from sharp waist movements with special emphasis on fast stance transition to generate power and speed in the arms. Signature hand techniques of Nanquan are the consecutive downward strikes of the left and right fist called Gua Gai Quan (Gwa Kup Kuen; 挂盖拳),^[13] and consecutive upper cuts while driving forward called Paoquan (Pow Kuen; 抛拳). There are relatively few kicks in Nanquan although the Tengkong Pantui Cepu (腾空盘腿度侧扑; "flying cross legs kick and land on the side") and Li Yu Da Ting (鲤鱼打挺直立; carp skip-up) are very common in advanced Nanquan routines. Nanquan also has its own contemporary weapons – the Southern Broadsword (Nandao; 南刀) and Southern Staff (Nangun; 南棍),^[14] which were included in the International Wushu competition in 1999.

In 2003, the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) established rules of contemporary Nanquan to make jumping techniques (难度) mandatory in its Nanquan routines. Jump kicks spinning in mid-air between 360 and 720 degrees before touching the ground are now used in all IWUF Nanquan forms along with the Stationary Back Flip (原地后空翻) and the Single Step Back Tuck (单跳后空翻) for advanced IWUF competitors.

Schools of Nanquan

See also: List of Chinese martial arts

Styles classified as Nanquan are mainly located in the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Zhejiang and Yunnan.^[15]

Guangdong Nanquan

Main five schools

Guangdong Nanquan is characterized by schools of the Five Family Elders, which are:

• Hongjiaquan (洪家拳)
• Liujiaquan [it] (刘家拳)
• Caijiaquan (蔡家拳)
• Lijiaquan (李家拳)
• Mojiaquan (莫家拳)

Others

• Choy Li Fut (蔡李佛)
• Wing Chun (永春拳)
• Xiajiaquan [it] (侠家拳)
• Baimeiquan (白眉拳)
• Nanzhiquan [it] (南极拳)^[16][17]
• Ruquan [it] (儒拳)^[18]
• Fut Gar (佛家拳)
• Diaojiaquan [it] (刁家拳)
• Zhujiaquan [it] (朱家拳)^[18]
• Yuejiaquan (岳家拳)
• Zhongjiaquan [it] (钟家拳)^[18]
• Kunlunquan (昆仑拳)
• Yanzaoquan [it]

Fujian Nanquan

• Wuxingquan (五形拳)
• Wuzuquan (五祖拳)
• Luohanquan (罗汉拳)
• Meihuazhuang (梅花桩)
• Lianchengquan (连城家拳)
• Dishuquanfa (地术拳法)
• Yongjiafa (泳家法)
• Wumeiquan (五枚拳)
• Yuanquan (猿拳)
• Shiquan (狮拳)
• Huquan (虎拳)
• Xiangdianquan (香店拳)

Hubei Nanquan

Hubei Nanquan contains five major schools (Hubei wu da pai, 湖北五大派):^[18]

• Hongmenquan [it] (洪门拳)
• Kongmenquan [it] (孔门拳)
• Yuemenquan [it] (岳门拳)
• Yumenquan [it] (鱼门拳)
• Sunmenquan (孙门拳)

Other Nanquan

• Jow-Ga kung fu (周家拳) (from Guangxi)
• Baoquan (Leopard Kung Fu)
• Fu Jow Pai
• Nan Pai Tanglang (Southern Praying Mantis)
• Hung Fut

See also

• Northern and southern China
• Styles of Chinese martial arts
• Wushu (sport)

Bibliography

• Guangxi Wang (2012). Chinese Kung Fu. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521186643.
• Lu Zhouxiang (2018). Politics and Identity in Chinese Martial Arts. Routledge. ISBN 9781351610032.
• Benjamin N. Judkins & Jon Nielson (2015). The Creation of Wing Chun: A Social History of the Southern Chinese Martial Arts. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-1438456959.

Notes

1. He is a Northern Shaolin Kung Fu (Taizu Changquan) practitioner who contributed to the development of the southern styles.
2. (Chinese: 南拳; pinyin: Nán quán; lit. 'southern fist', or Chinese: 南派; pinyin: Nán pài; lit. 'southern school')

References

1. Guangxi Wang (2012). Chinese Kung Fu. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-05-2118-664-3.
2. Lu Zhouxiang (2018), "Nanquan, literally southern boxing or southern fist... refers to various schools of martial arts in regions to the south of Yangtze River, especially in Fujian and Guangdong provinces."
3. Guangxi Wang (2012), pg. 21 & 22, "Nanquan (southern boxing) originates from a hilly, sub-tropical region. With Fujian and Guangdong as the center, it is common in the area south of the Yangtze River... The Nanquan family took shape in the early-to-mid-Qing Dynasty, from the late seventeenth to late eighteenth century. It includes hundreds of sub forms, and these are widely found in Fujian, Guangdong, Hubei, Hunan and Zheijiag, as well as in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau."
4. Tong, Alex W. (2022). The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts: Exploring the Connections Between the Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual Aspects of Martial Arts. North Atlantic Books. p. 9. ISBN 9781623176655.
5. Thomas A. Green & Joseph R. Svinth (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-15-9884-244-9. Two volumes.
6. Guangxi Wang (2012), pg. 22, "Nanquan is characterized by its strict regulation, compact movements and emphasis on lower-body. The forceful and quick Nanquan techniques require a balance between rigidity and flexibility, with rapidly changing arm and hand positions. It is fairly unique in this aspect."
7. Frantzis, Bruce Kumar (2007) [1997]. The Power of Internal Martial Arts and Chi: Combat and Energy Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-i. North Atlantic Books. p. 376. ISBN 9781583941904. Southern Shaolin (nan Shaolin, nan quan/chuan) A style of fighting known for movements that can be done in a small space, the classical example being on a boat. Southern Shaolin styles are characterized by short, close-in, tight arm movements, low kicks, and short, tight footwork.
8. Lu Zhouxiang (2018), "Nanquan was influenced by Shaolin Kung Fu and the combat techniques practised by General Qi Jiguang and General Yu Dayou's soldiers in the 16th century."
9. Guangxi Wang (2012). Chinese Kung Fu. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-05-2118-664-3.
10. From Jixiao Xinshu.
11. Crudelli, Chris (2008). The Way of the Warrior. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 121. ISBN 9781405337502.
12. Sensei/Renshi Nathan Chlumsky (2015). Inside Kungfu: Chinese Martial Arts Encyclopedia. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-13-2911-942-0.^{[self-published source]}
13. "Wushu Nanquan Application – Guagaiquan". UMBC Wushu. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
14. DK (2013). The Sports Book. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. ISBN 978-14-0935-033-0.
15. Sun, Q.; Mao, L.; Li, C. (October 6, 2023). Illustrated Book Of Traditional Chinese Sport. World Scientific Publishing Company. p. 304. ISBN 9789811271823.
16. Wu Bin, Li Xingdong e Yu Gongbao, Essentials of Chinese Wushu, Foreign languages press, Beijing, 1992, ISBN 7-119-01477-3
17. Carmona José, De Shaolin à Wudang, les arts martiaux chinois, Gui Trenadiel editeur. ISBN 2-84445-085-7
18. Duan Ping (段平); Zheng Shouzhi (郑守志), eds. (2007). 汉英英汉武术词典 [Chinese-English and English-Chinese Martial Arts Dictionary] (in English and Chinese). People's Sports Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5009-3001-3.