Oct. 19, UIC – An ordinary man in a white Chinese Kung Fu outfit with a bald forehead like many others in the middle age, Mr. Wu Xinliang was nothing like the stubborn and aggressive character Nun Miejue in Mr. Jin Yong’s popular martial arts fiction. But he was, nevertheless, an important figure in today’s E-Mei Kung Fu School, a school that commonly considered as consisting of only female prentices.
Master Wu Xinliang was at UIC today to give a lecture on the topic “The Mysterious E-Mei Kung Fu”. As the Deputy Secretary General of the Sichuan Provincial Martial Arts Association, and an experienced researcher of the E-Mei Kung Fu, Master Wu had incomparable authority to his topic.
Who Founded the E-Mei Kung Fu School?
Actually no one was sure about the answer. Master Wu said that the development history of E-Mei was too complicated to identify who was the founding father, even Situ Xuankong, who was said to be the founder of E-Mei, was in deed only one of the most important characters in the E-Mei legend. What’s more, different E-Mei Kung Fu groups have their own founders, all claimed to be the founder of the E-Mei School.
The Development History
Master Wu introduced the development history of the E-Mei Kung Fu at the lecture. The origin of the E-Mei Kung Fu could be traced back to the rein of King Zhou Wu (11th century B.C.), but the E-Mei Kung Fu School was not founded until the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1179 A.D.). It was finally matured during the Ming and Qing Dynasty (1368-1911 A.D.). During such a long history of development, due to the special geographic location of the Sichuan Province, the E-Mei prentices had a lot of chances to learn from people who were driven to this southeast province surrounded by mountains for refuge from wars. They integrated the philosophical thinking of the Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, absorbed the essence of other Kung Fu schools and finally developed a unique Kung Fu tradition. The development history of the E-Mei Kung Fu School reflected not only the martial arts history in Sichuan, but also the changes of society and culture.
The Mystifying E-Mei Kung Fu
E-Mei is a mystifying Kung Fu School. A series of internal practices help exercisers to highly integrate their mind and Qi (a concept in Chinese traditional medicine meaning the vital energy flow in the body). The E-Mei Kung Fu tries to defeat the opponents by surprising attacks, which appear to be so mystifying and so different from other Kung Fu schools that many people mistake it as a kind of Kung Fu that practiced only by women. Master Wu explained that influenced by the unique terrain in Sichuan, the body actions of the E-Mei Kung Fu are small and seemed to be quite delicate, but when exercisers master the knacks, the actions will become surprisingly powerful. Famous E-Mei practices include the E-Mei Twelve Stances, and the Flying Crane Stance. Master Wu and his prentices made a wonderful performance at the lecture. Their performance fully embodied the power of palm and fist in Southern China Kung Fu and the features of the E-Mei Kung Fu.
Master Wu added that in fact, the mystifying E-Mei Kung Fu emphasized on a lot of practical daily use. The E-Mei Kung Fu can be used by women to protect themselves from violence. The stances can serve well as good exercises to keep healthy. E-Mei even had a medical prescription that is now used by a famous personal care product manufacturer.
The E-Mei Kung Fu Heritage
Unlike Shaolin, which is blessed by Buddhism, or Wudang that is backed by Taoism, E-Mei does not have a particular religion background to support it. Therefore, E-Mei Kung Fu is facing more difficulties in its development. Master Wu said, most prentices of the E-Mei Kung Fu School were at the age of 50-70. They were endeavoring to pass down the heritage of the E-Mei Kung Fu culture. They wrote books and TV dramas to introduce the E-Mei Kung Fu, and trying to unify the different E-Mei Kung Fu groups and build a platform for international exchange. But despite all their effort, new blood is what the School really needed. The E-Mei Kung Fu will only be passed down when its value is known by more people.
E-Mei Twelve Stances
The Ape Fist
Master Wu stood firm when being pushed
Teaching the girls how to defend themselves
Student Journalist: Zhou Tian
Photographer: Wang Yuan
Editor: Cheryl Chen/ Christy Zhao
