Jump to content

Zhou Tong (archer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ghostexorcist (talk | contribs) at 23:47, 30 October 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the archer Zhou Tong. He is not be confused with the Water Margin Bandit Zhou Tong.

Zhōu Tóng (周侗) (1040–1119 CE?)[1] was the archery teacher of Song Dynasty general Yue Fei. He was a master of the Chinese bow. According to popular legend, he was also a Shaolin monk and taught martial arts to Wu Song, Lin Chong and Lu Junyi, three of the 108 outlaws on whom the Water Margin is based. His fictional martial nickname is "Iron Arm" (铁臂).[2][3]

In Cantonese, using the Wade-Giles superscript number system, Zhou Tong is pronounced Jau1 dung6 or Jau1 tung4. Common english renderings of this are "Jow Tong, Jou Ton, Jao Tong, Jao Tung, Chow Tong and Chou Tung". His surname (周) means “complete, encircle, cycle, thoughtful or attentive”. His given name (侗) means “big, ignorant, rude or rustic”. Please note the surnames Zhou and Zhao are two totally different unrelated families. Template:ChineseText

Fact or Fiction?

Yue Fei's biographies

File:General Yue Fei Novel.jpg
Front cover of General Yue Fei.

In 1345, Yuan Dynasty Prime-Minister Toktoghan (脫脫) finished compiling the Sòng Shǐ (宋史 - "History of Song"), a massive 496 volume record of various historical events and biographies of noted Song Dynasty personage.[4] The 365th volume in this collection is the Yuè Fēi Zhuàn (岳飞传 – "Yue Fei Biography") (biography 124), which was presumably written with material originally gathered by General Yue Fei's grandson, the poet and historian Yue Ke (岳柯) (1183 - post 1240).[5][6][7] In all, Zhou Tong is only briefly mentioned in the second paragraph of the entire biography. The work states, "學射与周侗，盡其術，能左右射。侗死，溯望設祭于其冢。"[8]

[Yue Fei] learned archery from Zhou Tong. He learned everything and could fire with both hands. After [Zhou] Tong's death, [Yue Fei] would offer sacrifices at his tomb.

Very little is actually written about the historical Zhou Tong. On the contrary, there is a larger abundance of "legendary" material available about him, which makes it very difficult to clearly distinguish who he really was. The only reason his name is still known is because of his association with General Yue Fei.

Many modern sources take their information about Zhou Tong from the wuxia "fiction" entitled Speak Yue's Entire Biography (說岳全傳), which was written by Qian Cai (钱彩) sometime between the reigns of Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Yongzheng (1661-1735). This novel was later translated into english by Honorable Sir T.L. Yang, former Chief Justice of Hong Kong from 1988 to 1996, current Chairman of the Hong Kong Red Cross, and sold under the name of General Yue Fei (ISBN 962-04-1279-6).

In the introduction of his translation, Honorable Sir T.L. Yang states:

The work is a historical novel in form, but it is in fact based almost mainly on legends which were current amongst the common people for centuries. Indeed some of the events described there are nothing more than Qian Cai's own imagination.[9]

In writing the 說岳全傳 biography, Qian Cai used legends and his own imagination to reconstruct Yue Fei's life hundreds of years later in the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, despite its exaggerations of Yue Fei’s military prowess, the 岳飞传 biography could be considered the best secondary source since it was published closer to the time in question.

Shaolin

According to the book Xingyiquan: Theory, Applications, Fighting Tactics and Sprit by Lian Shou Yu and Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, Zhou Tong was "a very good martial artist who had studied in the Shaolin temple”.[10] Wahnam Grandmaster Wong Kiew kit, author of the Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense Health and Enlightenment, has expressed this same view on many occasions. [11][12] Eagle Claw Grandmasters Leung Shum and Lily Lau believe he was a Shaolin Monk.[13][14]

Neither of the 岳飞传 (1345) or 說岳全傳 (1661-1735) biographies ever mention Zhou Tong as being a Shaolin monk. Nor does the Liùhéquán Xù (六合拳序 - "Preface to Six Harmonies Boxing") written by Xingyi Master Dai Longbang (戴龙邦) in 1750.[15][16] This could mean Zhou Tong's portrayal as a Shaolin monk first arose in the mid to late Qing Dynasty.

Skills

File:Zhoutong&students.jpg
Zhou Tong teaching Yue Fei archery.

Military

The 說岳全傳 biography reads, "...because Zhou Tong was old, he was eager to teach the miltary arts for all the eighteen weapons to [Yue Fei]."[9] Lian Shou Yu and Dr. Yang Jwing Ming state, Zhou Tong taught Yue Fei "a complete system involving barehand combat, weapons, military tactics, horsemenship, archery, and other related subjects."[10] The 岳飞传 biography reads, “家貧力學，尤好【左氏春秋】、孫吳兵法。"[8]

Despite his family's poverty, [Yue Fei] was studious, and particularly favored the Zuo Zhuan edition of the Spring and Autumn Annals and the strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi.

According to this history, Yue Fei read the military classics prior to becoming Zhou Tong's student. Most importantly, this biography never mentions any kind of Kung fu styles in connection with Zhou Tong. Although it is possible that he had former military training, Zhou Tong is only represented as Yue Fei's archery teacher.

Weapons

Chinese Bow - The 說岳全傳 biography states he was a master of the Chinese bow and taught Yue Fei a fictional technique known as "The Bow for Supernatural Arms".[9] However, the 岳飞传 biography states, "...未冠，挽弓三百斤，弩八石。"[8]

...before his adulthood, [Yue Fei] was able to draw a bow of 300 catties and a Cross-bow of 8 stone.

The word “adult” in this sentence is pronounced Guàn (冠 - "Hat") in Chinese. This actually refers to Jí Guàn (及冠 -“Conferring Hat"), an ancient Chinese term that means "20 years old" where a young man was able to wear a hat as a social status of adulthood. But a teenager can undergo this ceremony as early as the age of 15.[17][18] In the 28th chapter of the book Èr wáng shì (鄂王事), by Sun Qiu (孙遒), it states Yue Fei became Zhou Tong’s student after the age of 15.[19][20] So he was very strong before he became Zhou Tong’s student.

Eighteen Arms of Wushu - See Military and Students.

Boxing

The following skills come from sources not originating from the Song Dynasty.

Chuojiao - According to the book Jiuzhuan Lianhuan Yuanyangtui, practitioners of "9 Ring Mandarin Duck Chuojiao" consider Zhou Tong their founder. It also states Zhou Tong learned Chuojiao boxing from Deng Liang (邓良), who created the style on the basis of the 18 basic feet attacks. He later passed the style onto Yue Fei. This book was written sometime during the 1980's.[21][22][23]

File:20041025182335644.jpg
From the ”Testicle Eight Outstanding Techniques” Manual

Elephant Style - See Eagle Claw in next section.

Zhou Tong can be linked to numerous styles through his students.

Eagle Claw - Zhou Tong was also master of an ancient art known as "Elephant Style".[24] According to Eagle Claw Grandmaster Lily Lau, “[Yue Fei] inherited this set of techniques from [Zhou Tong] in Shaolin.”[13] Yue Fei later adapted this style to create the Yībǎi Lingbā Qínná (一百零八擒拿 – “108 Seize-Grab”) techniques, which became a staple of the Eagle Claw system.[14]

Although these 108 techniques are widely accepted to have been created by the general, there is no historical evidence to support the belief that Zhou Tong taught this style to Yue Fei.

Praying Mantis Boxing - According to the folk manuscript Luóhàn Xínggōng Duǎn Dǎ (罗汉行功短打),[25] first published anonymously on April 15, 1794,[26] two of Zhou Tong’s students are listed among the eighteen masters invited to Shaolin by the Abbot Fu Ju (福居), a legendary persona of the historical Abbot Fu Yu (福裕) (1203-1275),[27][28] during the early Northern Song Dynasty. Lin Chong is listed as a master of “Mandarin duck kicks" (Chuojiao) and Yan Qing, the adopted son of Lu Junyi, is listed as a master of "Sticking, Grabbing, and Falling". The manual records the founder of Mantis fist, Wang Lang (王朗), “absorbed and equalized all previous techniques” learned from the 17 other masters.[29][30]

Historically, this list is erroneous as Lin Chong, Yan Qing and not even Zhou Tong himself would have been born yet in the early years of the Northern Song Dynasty. Plus, the historical Abbot Fu Yu lived towards the end of the Southern Song Dynasty. Even if the gathering was held then, Lin Chong and Yan Qing would have died of old age long before this time.

Xingyi - According the book Henan Orthodox Xingyi Quan written by Pei Xirong (裴锡荣) and Li Ying’ang (李英昂), Master Dai Longbang "于乾隆十五年为“六合拳”作序云：“岳飞当童子时，受业于周侗师，精通枪法，以枪为拳，立法以教将佐，名曰意拳,"[15][16]

wrote the Preface to Six Harmonies Boxing in the 15th reign year of the Qianlong Emperor [1750]. Inside it says, '...when [Yue Fei] was a child, he received special instructions from Zhou Tong. He became extremely skilled in the spear method. He used the spear methods to create methods for the fist. He established a method to teach called Yi Quan [意拳].'

In his book Xíngyì Quán Shù Jué Wēi (形意拳术抉微), author Liu Dian Chen (刘殿琛) mentions that some military works consider Zhou Tong the founder of Xingyi.[31][16]

Wudang Qigong - 13th generation lineage Wudangquan Master Fan Keping (范克平) teaches a neigong (Chinese breathing meditation) style said to originate from Zhou Tong called the Shènzi bādà Qígōng (肾子八大奇功 - "Testicle Eight Outstanding Techniques").[32] A book of this style supposedly appeared during the Ming Dynasty and was taught on Wudang Mountain. It became a "hereditary style", taught only to close family members.[33]

Background

File:Zhou Tong Cover.jpg
The front cover of Zhou Tong’s Biography

Family

According to Zhou Tong's own fictional wuxia biography 铁臂金刀周侗传 ("Iron Arm, Golden Broadsword: The Biography of Zhou Tong"), he was from Unicorn Village of Shaanxi Province and had a wife and child. But both mother and son died prematurely. His son Zhou Yunqing (周云清) followed Lu Junyi to fight the Liao State and died in battle.

The 說岳全傳 biography states Zhou Tong later took young Yue Fei as his student and adopted son when the boy was seven years old:

I see that [Yue Fei] is clever and handsome and I, an old man, wish to have him as my adopted son … He need change neither his name nor his surname. I only want him to call me father temporarily so that I can faithfully transmit all the skills I have learned in my life to a single person. Later, when I die, all he has to do is to bury my old bones in the earth and not allow them to be exposed, and that is all.[9]

However, the 岳飞传 biography makes no mention of Zhou Tong adopting Yue Fei at all.

Students

According to popular legend, Zhou Tong took the future-Water Margin bandits Wu Song, Lin Chong and Lu Junyi as his students. One martial arts website even counts the villian Shi Wen-gong among his students.[34] These men were known as some of the strongest martial artists in 12th century China. The 說岳全傳 biography states:

Zhou Tong had been the tutor of Lin Chong, an instructor of eight thousand Imperial Guards; and he also taught military skills to Lu Junyi, a millionaire of the Prefecture of Da Ming in Henan Province.[9]

Lu Junyi was his last student prior to taking on young Yue fei and his four sworn-brothers Wang Gui, Tang Huai, Zhang Xian and, later, Niu Gao. He taught Yue Fei and Tang Huai the spear, Zhang Xian learned the "Hook-Sickle" spear, Wang Gui learned the Yanyue Dao, and Niu Gao learned the double clubs. All of them learned the skill of archery in addition.

One alternate history states he took Yue Fei as his student sometime after the boy turned eleven.[35] The book Èr wáng shì (鄂王事), states this happened after Yue Fei was fifteen.[19] The 宋史•岳飞传 biography makes no mention of Zhou Tong teaching anyone else while instructing Yue Fei in archery.

Death

The 說岳全傳 biography states Zhou Tong developed a fever brought on by an exciting horse race between him and 16 year old Yue Fei. He died seven days later on:

...the fourteenth day of the ninth month in the seventeenth year of the Reign of Xuan He, and his age was seventy-nine.[9][36]

He was laid to rest at the "Hill of Dripping Water" and Yue Fei came to visit him on the 1st and 15th of every month. On his bi-annual visits, Yue Fei would shoot three arrows in honor of his adopted father.[37] [38]

The 岳飞传 biography states, "侗死，溯望設祭于其冢。"[8]

After [Zhou] Tong's death, [Yue Fei] would offer sacrifices at his tomb.

Modern Day

Film

In the 1940 film Yue Fei (岳飛), Zhou Tong was portrayed by Huang Shou Nian (黄寿年).[39]

In the 1940 film Serve the Country Loyally (尽忠报国), Zhou Tong was portrayed by Li Ming (黎明).[40] The name of this movie comes from the famous tattoo on Yue Fei's back.

File:Zhou Tong.JPG
Actor Jing Ci Bo as Zhou Tong

In the 1962 film The Birth of Yue Fei (岳飛出世), Zhou Tong was portrayed by Jing Ci Bo (靓次伯). A 10 year old Sammo Hung played young Yue Fei.[41] This film was largely based on the 說岳全傳 biography.

File:Majingwu 857b13184e7f483bb480e11c59a8cbe3.jpg
Actor Yu Cheng Hui as "Master Shadow-Glow"

Veteran martial arts actor Yu Cheng Hui (于承惠) [42] [43], who played the villain, "Wang Renzhe", in Shaolin Temple (1982) and "Master Shadow-Glow" in Seven Swords (2005), has expressed interest in playing Zhou Tong in a future movie. In an interview, Mr. Yu said he never shaved his famous beard for any role, even at the request of movie producers, because he wanted to portray the legendary figure.[3]

Yu Cheng Hui is also a famous swordsman and even created his own sword form called shuāngshǒu jiàn (雙手劍) - "Double-handed Sword"). Its alternate name is tángláng jiàn (螳螂劍 - "Praying Mantis Sword").[43]

Literature

The wuxia novel Tiě Bèi Jīn Dāo Zhōu Tóng Zhuàn (铁臂金刀周侗传 - "Iron Arm, Golden Broadsword: The Biography of Zhou Tong"), written by Wang Yun Heng (汪运衡) and Xiao Yun Long (筱云龙), details the fictional adventures of Zhou Tong as a young man. It has 451 pages, 72 chapters and reads "left-to-right" like an english language novel. Black and white line drawings sporadically appear (from 20 to every 40 pages) throughout the publication to illustrate the action in a certain chapter. These pictures are reminiscent of the Manga genre.[2]

This is now a very rare book. In 1986, only 66,000 copies were made.

Notes and References

  1. ^ Zhou Tong's lifespan was calculated from the 說岳全傳 biography. If he died at age 79 in 1119, the same year Yue Fei turned 16, then he would have been born in the year 1040. Of course this is not a definitive date as the 說岳全傳 biography is largely fiction.
  2. ^ a b Tiě Bèi Jīn Dāo Zhōu Tóng Zhuàn (铁臂金刀周侗传 - "Iron Arm, Golden Broadsword: The Biography of Zhou Tong"), by Wang Yun Heng (汪运衡) and Xiao Yun Long (筱云龙) (ISBN ?)
  3. ^ a b Interview with Yu Cheng Hui (于承惠) (Chinese only)
  4. ^ It is considered the largest of the Twenty-Four Histories, but was compiled in only two and a half years time. (See here (Chinese only))
  5. ^ Newly Recovered Anecdotes from Hong Mai's (1123-1202) Yijian zhi
  6. ^ Song Dynasty Renaissance 960-1279
  7. ^ Arthur Waldron, “China's New Remembering of World War II: The Case of Zhang Zizhong.” Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 4, Special Issue: War in Modern China (Oct., 1996), pp. 945-978
  8. ^ a b c d History of Song - Biography of Yue Fei (宋史•岳飞传) (ISBN ?) (See also, 岳飞子云 (Chinese only))
  9. ^ a b c d e f Qian, Cai. General Yue Fei. Trans. Honorable Sir T.L. Yang. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. (1995) ISBN 962-04-1279-6
  10. ^ a b Lian, Shou Yu and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. Xingyiquan: Theory, Applications, Fighting Tactics and Sprit. Boston: YMAA Publication Center, 2002. (ISBN 0940871-41-6)
  11. ^ Answer 1
  12. ^ Answer 6
  13. ^ a b Eagle Claw Fan Tsi Moon & Lau Fat Mang's History - Part I
  14. ^ a b Ying Jow Pai History (see the first picture box near the center entitled "NORTHERN EAGLE CLAW KUNG FU")
  15. ^ a b Pei, Xirong and Li, Yang’an. Henan Orthodox Xingyi Quan. Trans. Joseph Candrall. Pinole: Smiling Tiger Press, 1994. See also, Xing Yi Quan (Mind-Form Boxing) Books Scroll down, 5th book from the top.
  16. ^ a b c Heart Chinese boxing emphasizing flexibility and confusing the opponent (Chinese only)
  17. ^ 及冠 jíguàn ( v. ) (of men) formerly, come of age, usu. at 20
  18. ^ A Study of the Gender and Religious Implications of Nü Guan (See page 18)
  19. ^ a b Èr wáng shì (鄂王事), by Sun Qiu (孙遒) (ISBN ?)
  20. ^ 南宋军事家，民族英雄----岳 飞 (Chinese only)
  21. ^ Jiuzhuan Lianhuan Yuanyangtui (ISBN 7-5009-1096-7)
  22. ^ See also, Chuojiao (Feet Poking Chuan)
  23. ^ See also, Chuo Jiao Fist
  24. ^ In Chinese, elephant is pronounced Xiàng (象). However, the same character can also mean "shape, form, or appearance". The elephant style in question is a mistranslation of xiang, which actually refers to Xiàng Xíng Quán (象形拳 - "Imitation Boxing"), a fighting technique which emphasizes the imitation of the offensive and defensive actions of a certain animal or person (象形拳 (Chinese only). See also Zhongguo Gongfu Bai yang tong, by Wong Ting [ISBN -7-80015-299-5].
  25. ^ (2001). Luohan Xinggong Duan Da. JOURNAL OF SPORT HISTORY AND CULTURE (体育文史), No.1, P.36-37,9 [ISSN 1671-1572]
  26. ^ This is the western equivalent of “the sixteenth day of the third month of the spring of 1794" (See here).
  27. ^ Fuyu material
  28. ^ In Shaolin Temple history celebrity
  29. ^ Praying Mantis
  30. ^ What's Praying Mantis Kung Fu?
  31. ^ xíngyì quán shù jué wēi (形意拳术抉微) ISBN 7-5377-2003-7
  32. ^ Wudang Tai He Men is recruiting students (Chinese-English mix)
  33. ^ Nanjing Ancient martial bookstore (Chinese only)
  34. ^ The Creation of Xing Yi
  35. ^ Is totally dedicated to one's country (Chinese only)
  36. ^ This is not a reliable date since the "Xuan He" reign era of Emperor Huizong lasted only seven years (1119-1125) and not seventeen. The 說岳全傳 biography states Zhou Tong died when Yue Fei was sixteen. This would be the first year of Xuan He. Again, this too is not a reliable date.
  37. ^ Part 3 - Yue Fei - An Anti-Jin national Hero
  38. ^ How many children does Yue Fei have? Their fate how? (Chinese only)
  39. ^ CNMDB (Chinese only)
  40. ^ CNMDB (Chinese only)
  41. ^ CNMDB (Chinese only)
  42. ^ Hong Kong Cinemagic - Yu Cheng Hui
  43. ^ a b The HK Actors Index

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zhou_Tong_(archer)&oldid=84727359"