 | Changquan: Encyclopedia - Changquan
Changquan
Chángquán (Chinese: 長拳; literally "long fist") is a general term for external (as opposed to internal) Northern Chinese martial arts (like the term Northern Shaolin in some cases).
This includes:
- Pào Chuí (Chinese: 炮捶; literally "cannon punch") pre-Tang Dynasty
- Shàolínquán (Chinese: 少林拳; literally "Shaolin fist") c. 6th century
- Chāquán (Chinese: 查拳; Cha Yuanyi style) Tang Dynasty (618–907)
- Tàizǔ Chángquán (Chinese: 太祖長拳; Emperor Taizu long fist) Song Dynasty (960–1279)
- Fānziquán (Chinese: 翻子拳; literally "tumbling fist") Song Dynasty (960–1279)
- "red fist" Hóngquán (紅拳) Song Dynasty (960–1279)
- "flood fist" Hóngquán (洪拳) 13th century
- "Chinese fist" Huáquán (華拳) Tang Dynasty (618–907)
- "flower fist" Huāquán (花拳) c. 1700
The core of Long Fist was developed in the 10th century by Zhao Kuangyin, founding Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960–1279), who owed much of his empire-building to Shaolin Kung Fu. His style was called Tàizǔ Chángquán, which means the Long Fist style of Emperor Taizu.
In some Long Fist styles 'the best defence is a strong offence', and in this case the practitioner launches a pre-emptive attack so aggressive that the opponent doesn't have the opportunity to attack. The Long Fist fighter likes to keep the opponent at middle-to-long range distance.
The Chángquán of contemporary wǔshù draws on Chāquán, "flower fist" Huāquán, Pào Chuí, and "red fist" Hóngquán. Of contemporary wǔshù events, Chángquán, with its whirling, running, leaping, and acrobatics, is the most widely-seen. Chángquán is difficult to perform, requiring great flexibility and athleticism, and is often practiced from a young age.
In semi-legendary "classic" writings transmitted by Tàijíquán's Yang family, their martial art is referred to by the name Chángquán (長拳) in one of the received texts. These texts can only be reliably dated to the second half of the 19th century.
See also
- Northern Shaolin (martial art)
- Nanquan
- Dao (sword)
- Jian
- Gun (staff)
- Qiang (spear)
Other related archives10th century, 1279, 13th century, 1700, 19th century, 618, 6th century, 907, 960, Chinese, Chinese martial arts, Chāquán, Dao (sword), Emperor Taizu, Fānziquán, Gun (staff), Jian, Nanquan, Northern Shaolin (martial art), Pào Chuí, Qiang (spear), Shaolin Kung Fu, Shàolínquán, Song Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Tàijíquán, Yang, contemporary wǔshù, internal
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Changquan", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
