FENG KE SHAN - FATHER OF CHUOJIAO
Feng Keshan (1767~1858) , was said to have studied a multitude of martial arts since his youth, he had a natural talent and could acquire the essence of both letters and combat quickly leading to the interest in his skills and qualities by rebellious leaders. In the Chuojiao tradition it is thought that Feng Keshan was principally a student of Master Wang Xiang from Rencheng (today's Jinning, Shandong), Master Tang Hengdong from Hua County (Huaxian, Henan) and Master Wang and Li from Hejian. The various boxing systems from those teachers included Erlangquan, Huaquan, Yanqingquan, Meihuazhuang, BaFanshou and Zhiziquan which are the basis of the skills that Feng Keshan later propagated across the Baoding regions of Hebei Province.
After the failed Bagua Uprising in 1813, Feng Keshan became a wanderer (even a Monk Fajing) and had travelled from Dezhou county in Shandong province to Hua county in Henan province. He changed his names many times and as a result was known in each area often by a different name. Only his closest disciples would know his actual name. In Dezhou he taught Liu Tang Gen (6 Sequences of Roots). In Raoyang he first taught Huaquan (Marvellous Boxing) in 12 Tangzi (Routines) in the Southern villages. In the Northern villages he taught Jinggang Jia (Jingang frames) in 8 Tangzi and Jing Gang Chui (Jingang Strikes) in 8 Tangzi. In Shen county, in addition to Jingang Chui he taught various boxing methods - Erlang quan and Bafan shou.
Master Feng Keshan’s first disciple was Song Yulin and Song Yuelong in Dezhou , who has been recorded as having studied the Liu Tang Gen methods. Later around 1815 in Raoyang his disciples included the Duan Family, the Duan brothers (Duan Yonghe & Duan Yongqing) received tuition in Chuojiao as they were taught privately (Zhao Canyi (name in Raoyang) was hired as a private martial arts teacher for the household). Also around the time there was a famous Hongquan (Red) and Huaquan (Flower) boxing teacher Zhou Laoting, who became Master Feng’s senior disciple and contributed to further developing the Chuojiao art in Raoyang. Zhao Canyi then in approx. 1825 headed to Lixian (Li county), northwest from Raoyang. He was introduced to the Liu family (to teach their three sons) by Duan Yonghe to become resident teacher there.
The Liu family had in fact employed 3 well known teachers of the time Zhao Canyi (Feng keshan), Yang Jing and Tang Youyi. This time Master Zhao taught a complete and ordered system which included Liu Tang Gen, Jing Gang Jia as fundamentals and then 18 sequences of Chuo jiao divided into scholarly and military (Wen/Wu Tangzi). In addition Yia zi Chui, San lan Shou and other great works were developed. Although teachers of the Liu family proper other locals were also taught. Some of the disciples in Li county included Wei Chang Yi and Wei Laofang amongst many others. Another Master Wang Zhiguo of the same generation as Master Zhao Canyi, was also a practitioner of the Chuojiao and Fanzi martial arts and contributed to various branches of the style. His sons were sent to study with Zhao Canyi and developed excellent skills. Since Zhao Canyi spent many years in Hebei teaching in different areas, the variations to Chuojiao are numerous. Fundamentally, however they have all become similar in concept and essence whilst the structure and organization of the systems contents may differ.
DEVELOPMENT AND BRANCHES OF CHUOJIAO
In addition to the teachings of Zhao Canyi (Feng Keshan) , other masters also imparted their knowledge: Yang jing was a known exponent of old 13 postures Taijiquan amongst other indigenous arts and Tang youyi was an expert of Ditanquan (Ground Falling and Combat Methods). In time however certain disciples had realized the situation and asked the great master why they all learnt different styles. Why some learnt ruan quan (soft boxing styles) and others ying quan (Hard Boxing styles). Master Zhao (Feng) responded “none is better than the other, none is complete nor incomplete, you are all brothers (as disciples) if you like you can mutually exchange your skills. Certain disciples did with the assistance of Master Zhao just that, and as a result the commencement of the comprehensive Chuojiao style began. Together with his fellow colleagues and senior students (Tang, Yang) and excellent disciples (Duan, Zhou) coupled with the students in Li county further developed the style into the complete art which then became a very comprehensive system of martial arts known as “Chuo Jiao Men”.
Thus, although Chuojiao is recognized is a specific martial art it in fact encompassed a great many martial arts systems from the Central China Plains (Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi and Henan Provinces). Presently there are 3 main branches of Chuo jiao teachings. Hebei Chuojiao, Dongbei Chuojiao and Beiping (Beijing) Chuojiao. Hebei Chuojiao is classified as the ‘Original’ with two main sub-branches, the Raoyang school and the Lixian school. Both counties are recognized as “Wushu Zhi Xiang” (Chuojiao zhi xiang) a term used in China to indicate the concentration of martial arts skills in areas. They are known as representative of the Hebei branch of Chuojiao and probably the most original. Of the students in Lixian, the Liu Family continued the teachings proper and following the Wen/Wu classification of the sets. Zhou Laoting's disciple Zhao returned to his county Gao Yang and only passed the art to his sons and their family, being supplemented later by his descendants and the boxing styles from neighbouring villages. Wei Changyi taught the style which later became the Beijing Chuo Jiao Fan Zi style as passed on by Wu Binlou, who had researched all branches and attempted to restore or develop the style. Master Wu Binlou was famous in Beijing and taught many students. The arts contents differ in structure and the forms contain many ‘fanzi’ based names. Although a division of Chuojiao it is known as Chuojiaofanziquan. Since the developments above Master Zhao Canyi (Feng Keshan) is regarded as the first patriarch/generation master of Chuojiao.(In some lineages it is Master Wang Zhiguo).
THE LINEAGES
Second Generation
Since Master Zhao Canyi taught so many students in so many places and so many different facets of martial arts, it is difficult to determine all first generation students. However, only a handful were regarded as the key disciples that learnt a large portion of Zhao Canyi's legendary skills. The graph below may depict this and also the family branches that have evolved from the various teachings. The First disciples all were experts in their own right and developed the various branches of Chuojiao known today. These were Song Yuelong, Song Yulin, Zhou Laoting, The Duan brothers (Duan Xu and Duan Yong), the Liu Brothers (Liu Pangui, Liu Guanlan, Liu Guixing), YinChunZhang, Liu Gunlan, Wei Laofang, Wei Changyi, Zhao Yiguan, Wang brothers (Wang Zhanao & Wang Zhanxiong) and Gao Qintian. The disciples of Zhao Canyi were instrumental in the development of the style and it is from them that the various branches of the style were determined and passed.
Third Generation
Liu Family Chuojiao:Was spread throughout Li County, so much so that a large proportion of the county can practice some aspects of Chuojiao even until today. Liu Guanlan taught third generation Guo Gexi, Liu Songlin, Liu Zhenguo, Li Gepu and Liu Zhenjiang. Liu Family Chuojiao is representative of Lixian Chuojiao or Hebei Chuojiao.
Duan Family Chuojiao: The Duan brothers taught in Raoyang the following third generation: Liu Laowang, Li Timing, Jia Laokai, Zhang Laoxiao, Wang Laoyuan, Zhao Laozhi and others. This style is typically known as Raoyang Chuojiao.
Wang Family Chuojiao: Wang Zhanao who studied with his father Wang Zhiguo and Zhao Canyi, which also included Zhang Jingtian, Wang Zhongli who then taught others. Additonally he taught Xu Zhaoxiong who then took the style to Dongbei.
Zhao Family Chuojiao: Zhao Yiguan brought Chuojiao to Gaoyang and Baoding areas including Zhao Zhenben, Zhao Laoxian, Chen yuanhu, Zhou Yuxiang and others. Noting that this style had consolidated influences in earlier generations via Wang Zhiguo and in latter generations from Raoyang (Li Timing) and Lixian (Liu Zhenjiang). This style was commonly referred to as Gaoyang Chuojiao.
Wei Family Chuojiao: Wei Changyi taught many including the sharing with Xingyi practitioners, but his main disciple was Wei Zankui who in turn taught the famous Beijing Chuojiaofanzi Wu Binlou. Additionally Wei Laofang taught Chuojiao in Li county and his disciples spread the art in Zhangjiakou and western regions of China such as Gansu province. Some branches are also known as Lixian Chuojiao.
Yin Family Chuojiao: Yin Chun Zhang taught his son Yin Ruyan, who in turn taught Yin Xuelang. Yin xuelanghad held the skills within the family until late 20th century when he taught Liu Renyi and Zhang Hong, the current masters and propagators of this family’s Chuojiao. This style is also referred to as "Gu Zhizi".
LATTER BRANCHES (latter generations or not from Zhao Canyi)
Zhang Family Chuojiao: Zhang Jing Tian, was a disciple of Master Wang Zhi Guo. He passed his skills toZhang Heng Qing, nicknamed “Iron Leg Zhang Heng Qing” taught Chuojiao in Yangzhou to Wang Qing Fu, He Yu Shan, Tian Chun and others
Gao Family Chuojiao: In Shenyang a master from Li county by the name of Gao Bai Quan passed on a Chuo jiao style named “Di Gong Chuo Jiao” (Ground Skill Chuo Jiao). Master Gao was born in Li county and commenced the pracitce of Chuo Jiao at the age of 11 under master Wang Yong Cen (a disciple of Wei Lao Fang who studied with Zhao Can Yi).
Xu Family Chuojiao: Xu Zhaoxiong, was a sudent of Wang Zhanao (Son of Wang Zhiguo and disciple of Zhao Canyi). Master Xu brought his Chuojiao and propagated the art in Dongbei areas (Liaoning etc). This is also known as Dongbei Chuojiao.
Hu Family Chuojiao: Hu Feng San, nicknamed “Hua Qiang Hu” (Flower Spear Hu) for his command of the spear, was a master of other martial arts (Shaolin, Xingyi etc) prior to studying with the Duan brothers inRaoyang. He taught sequences of Wen Tang Zi (Scholarly Sequences) to students in the city of Shenyang inLiaoning Province, that he was said to have created after studying with the Duan brothers in Rao Yang. It is said that he mastered great Duan family’s short kicks. This is also known as Dongbei Chuojiao.
The above are basically the specific Chuojiao branches, additionally there are also styles which have incorporated or combined with Chuojiao such as:
Chuojiao Tanglang (Chuojiao Praying Mantis), Shuihuquan (Water Margin Boxing), Ma Shi Tongbei (Ma Family Tongbei),Chuojiao Dai Fanshou (Chuojiao with Rotating Hands), Ditangquan (Ground Tumbling Boxing) and others.
