Bagua zhang
Bagua zhang (八卦掌 in pinyin: bā guÃÂàzhǎng) (Pa Kua Chang, Bagua Quan, Pa kua ch'ÃÂüan, Bagua, Pakua, Pakua boxing, Pakua hand movements, Pa Kua circle walking) is one of the three major internal Chinese martial arts. The word literally means "eight trigram palm". The trigrams refer to diagrams from the Yijing. These diagrams in turn refer to eight animals, upon which in some styles of Baguazhang movements or fighting systems are based on.
The trigrams and their corresponding animals in martial arts are:
- Li (離) - Chicken (鷂)
- Kun (坤) - Qilin (麟)
- Dui (兌) - Monkey (猴)
- Qian (乾) - Lion (獅)
- Kan (坎) - Snake (蛇) (see Snake Kung Fu)
- Gen (艮) - Bear (熊)
- Zhen (震) - Chinese Dragon (龍)
- Xun (巽) - Fenghuang (鳳)
Bagua was developed by Dong Haichuan (董海川) in the early 19th century, who apparently learnt from Taoist and Buddhist masters in the mountains of rural China. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court. Famous disciples of Dong to become teachers were Yin Fu (尹福), Cheng Tinghua (程廷華), Song Changrong (宋長榮), Liu Fengchun (劉鳳春) and Ma Weiqi (馬維棋). Although they were all students of the same teacher, their methods of training and expressions of palm techniques differed. The Cheng and Liu styles are said to specialize in "Pushing" the palms, Yin style is known for "Threading" the palms, Song's followers practice "Plum Flower" (梅花 Mei Hua) palm technique and Ma style palms are known as "Hammers." Some of Dong Haichuan's students, including Cheng Tinghua (who was killed), participated in the Boxer Rebellion.
One of the most famous Bagua practitioners of the 20th century was Sun Lutang (孫録堂), Xingyiquan (形意拳) disciple of Guo Yunshen (郭雲深), who also studied Baguazhang under Cheng Tinghua. Sun Lutang became well known as the founder of one of the five major styles of Taijiquan (太極拳).