Yiquan
| Also known as | Dacheng quan, I Chuan, Mind Boxing |
|---|---|
| Focus | Striking |
| Country of origin |
 China
|
| Creator | Wang Xiangzhai |
| Famous practitioners | Han Xing Chiao Han Xing Yuen Shao Dao Sheng |
| Parenthood | Baguazhang, Liuhebafa, Tai chi, Xingyiquan, Fujian White Crane, Shuai jiao |
| Olympic sport | No |
| Yiquan | |||||||||
| Chinese | 意拳 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literal meaning | "Mind Boxing" | ||||||||
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| dacheng quan | |||||||||
| Chinese | 大成拳 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Great Achievement Boxing" | ||||||||
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| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Yìquán |
| Wade–Giles | I4 Ch'üan2 |
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Standard Mandarin | |
| Wade–Giles | Ta Ch'en Ch'uan |
Yi quan, also known as Dacheng quan, is a martial art system founded by the Chinese Xingyiquan master Wang Xiangzhai (王薌齋).
Yi Chuan, "Yi" meaning Intent, (but not intention), "Chuan" meaning to grasp that which has been scattered.
Having studied Xingyiquan with Guo Yunshen in his childhood,Wang Xiangzhai travelled China, meeting and comparing skills with masters of various styles of kung fu. In the mid-1920s, he came to the conclusion that Xingyiquan was often taught wrong, with too much emphasis on 'outer form', neglecting the essence of true martial power. He started to teach what he felt was the true essence of the art using a different name, without the 'xing' (form). Wang Xiangzhai, who had a great knowledge about the theory and history of his art, called it "Yiquan" (意拳) In the 1940s one of Wang Xiangzhai's students wrote an article about his "school" and named it "Dachengquan" (大成拳), which means "great achievement boxing". This name was not used by Wang Xiangzhai. Wang thought the name was a poor choice as it was boastful and not very descriptive of the intent.
In the 1930s in Shanghai, Wang's school became famous. A few of his core students were training with him at that time. Brothers Han Xing Chiao and Han Xing Yuen, Shao Dao Sheng (perhaps Wang's most accomplished student), all came together during this period. Han Xing Chiao, who was formally adopted by Wang as a son and lived with him for 15 years, was studying One Finger Tway Na (massage), with a scholar and doctor named Qian Yan Tang. Wang studied medicine and culture with Qian Yan Tang, a famous scholar and doctor. The two hit it off and were brothers in researching many mysteries. It was here that Qian introduced the idea that further exploration of Zhang Zhuang (standing practice first and most foundationally taught by Wang's uncle and teacher Guo You Sheng), might be fundamental to the development of Yiquan. Wang researched this idea in the doctor's library, which was full of classic texts. Wang was always changing the practice and method of Yiquan, always innovating, based on natural principles. Much of the development of Yiquan was done in Shanghai. With the help of Han Xing Chiao, Wang set the Zhuang in order, creating a system of 24. Later, the basic eight postures were refined into Ju, Bao, Peng, Tway, An, Hua, Ti and closing with Jia So Su. These basic eight postures are still the core of Zhang Zhuang. After this, Wang moved to Beijing, and Han Xing Chiao followed later. When Han arrived there, he found Wang was only teaching three Zhuang. Bao is the universal Zhuang, and so Wang only really taught Bao from that point on. Most of the other practices were dropped as well (for example, push hands and Fa Li). However, students still tried to use Fa Li improperly. When the students saw Wang move fast, they thought of it as Fa Li, or issuing force. There is actually no difference in practicing fast or slow. There is no force at all. The misconception is caused by the mind. The mind conceives of the result as based in two different states, hard and soft, as well as fast and slow. As long as the mind clings to this dualistic model, the student will break everything into two. But the moment of experience is only one. Wang continued development of his art, but few, if any, could follow. Only those who could grasp the one state, and keep it, can move with it. Schools that were founded by students who never progressed this far are numerous to this day. This has always been the social factor of true transmission.
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