Five Elders
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| Five Elders | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 少林五祖 | ||||||||||||||||||
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In China, there are numerous Shaolin temples spread across the country. At various times throughout history, certain Shaolin temples were burned down for political reasons.
In Southern Chinese folklore, the Five Elders of Shaolin (Chinese: 少林五祖; pinyin: Shàolín wǔ zǔ; Jyutping: Siu3 lam4 ng5 zou2) are survivors of one of the destructions. Shaolin Monastery by LianZong Wang Qing Dynasty, variously said to have taken place in 1647, in 1674 or in 1732.
The Kung Fu Five Elders
(~1647?) Within many martial arts circles, the original Five Elders are said to be
| Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin Mandarin | Pinyin Cantonese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ji Sin (Gee Sin) | 至善禪師 | 至善禅师 | Zhì Shàn Chán Shī | Ji Sin Sim Si | Also transliterated as Ji Sin Sim Si, literally, Chan (Zen) teacher" |
| Ng Mui | 五梅大師 | 五梅大师 | Wǔ Méi Dà Shī | Ng Mui Daai Si | Noted as founder of Ng Mui Kuen, Wing Chun Kuen, Dragon style, White Crane, and Five-Pattern Hung Kuen |
| Bak Mei | 白眉道人 | 白眉道人 | Bái Méi Dào Rén | Bak Mei Dou Yan | Literally "Taoist with White Eyebrows" |
| Fung Dou Dak | 馮道德 | 冯道德 | Féng Dàodé | Fung Dou Dak | Taoist |
| Miu Hin | 苗顯 | 苗显 | Miáo Xiǎn | Miu Hin | an "unshaved" (lay) Shaolin disciple |
The Five Family Elders
The founders of the five major family styles of Southern Chinese martial arts, were all students of Gee Sin (see above), are also sometimes referred to as the Five Elders. This has caused some confusion.
| Common English | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin Mandarin | Pinyin Cantonese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hung Hei (Goon) | 洪熙官 | 洪熙官 | Hóng Xīguān | Hung Hei (Goon) | founder of Hung Gar |
| Lau Saam Ngan | 劉三眼 | 刘三眼 | Liú Sānyǎn | Lau Saam Ngan | literally "Three Eyed Lau;" founder of Lau Gar |
| Choi Gau Yi | 蔡九儀 | 蔡九仪 | Cài Jiǔyí | Choi Gau Yi | founder of Choi Gar |
| Lei Yau Saan | 李友山 | 李友山 | Lǐ Yǒushān | Lei Yau Saan | founder of Lei Gar; teacher of Choi Lei Fut founder Chan Heung |
| Mok Ching Giu | 莫清矯 | 莫清矫 | Mò Qīngjiǎo | Mok Ching Giu | founder of Mok Gar |
The Triad Five Elders
(~1760) The Tiandihui/Hongmen claim that their society was born of an alliance between Ming loyalists and five survivors from the destruction of the Shaolin Temple by the Qing government; forged at the Honghua Ting (Red Flower Pavilion), where they swore to devote themselves to "fan qing fu ming" (反清復明 - "Fan Ching Fuk Ming", "overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming").
The five survivors from the Shaolin temple are called the Triad Five Elders and they are:
| Common English | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | Pinyin Mandarin | Pinyin Cantonese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choi Dak Jung | 蔡德忠 | 蔡德忠 | Choy Dak Jung founded the Ching Lin Tong Fung Wong Kwan or Green Lotus Hall of the Phoenix District. This is the first out of the 5 Hung Mun lodges established in China. The color of this lodge’s flag was black with the Chinese character of Piu (meaning Glorious) on it. And, It was also known by the name of Sap Kau Tai or 10 steps and it’s seal was in the shape of a Rhomboid. | ||
| Fong Daai Hung | 方大洪 | 方大洪 | Fong Dai Hung founded the Hung Shun Tong Kam Lan Kwan or Hung Obedience Hall of the Golden Orchid District. This is the second out of the 5 Hung Mun lodges established in China. It was also known by the name of Sup Yee Tai or 12 steps. The color of this lodge’s flag is Red with white trim and had the word HUNG printed on it. This lodges seal is triangular shaped. | ||
| Ma Chiu Hing | 馬超興 | 馬超興 | Mah Chiu Hing founded the Ka Hau Tong Fuk Po Kwan or Heavenly Queen Hall of the Happy Water Margin District. The color of this lodges flag is scarlet or Dark Red and has the word Hop (United) printed on it. The seal of this lodge is square shaped. He also established the Po Ko Wui or Robe of the Elder Brother Society in Szechuan. His Buddhist name was Yan Wai. | ||
| Wu Dak Tai | 胡德帝 | 胡德帝 | Wu Dak Dai founded the fourth Hung Mun lodge in Hunan and Hubei. His lodge was called Cham Tai Tong Lin Cheung Kwan or Great Blending Hall of the Beautiful Lotus District. It was also known as Yee Sap Kau Tai or Twenty Nine steps. The color of this lodge’s banner was white, and had the word WO or Harmonious printed on it. The seal of this lodge was in the shape of a Parallelogram | ||
| Lei Sik Hoi | 李式開 | 李式開 | Lei Sik Hoi founded the fifth Hung Mun lodge called Wand Fa Tong Lung Sai Kwan or Extension Conversion Hall of the Western Dyke District in Zhejiang and Jiangxi. The color of this lodge’s flag is Green with the character Tung or Mutual printed on it. He is also responsible for establishing the Red Spears Society or Hung Cheong Wui. The shape of this lodge’s seal was circular. |
See also
References
External links
- "Hungmun – The Secret Rebellion Societies, also known as The Triads."
- Chu, Robert; Ritchie, Rene; & Wu, Y. (1998). Complete Wing Chun: The Definitive Guide to Wing Chun's History and Traditions. Boston: Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3141-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Rene Ritchie, Robert Chu and Hendrik Santo. "Wing Chun Kuen and the Secret Societies". Retrieved August 14, 2005.
- Wingchun Archives: Preserving the History & Methods of Wing Chun Kung Fu
- The Heroes of South Shaolin