In the Qing dynasty, around 350-400 years ago there was a venerated Master Luo Ming (though to have been of Hakka decent) who was a wanderer. His skills were said to have originated from the schools of both Shaolin (thought to be Southern Fujian based martial arts of Hequan (Crane Boxing) and Houquan (Monkey Boxing and of Wudang (from the teachings of Wang Zheng Nan, known as one of the forefathers of the Internal (Neijiaquan) school of boxing).
When Luo Ming passed by Qingjiang county (now known to be Zhangshu city in Yichun jurisdiction) he crossed paths with Wu Heming. Master Wu Heming was a well known teacher of martial arts in the area and had quite a few students/followers at the time. The art that Wu Heming practiced was that of the Song Dynasty Yue Fei family's Yingmen (also known as Yue Jia Quan (Yue's Family Boxing)).
It is said that Luo Ming had somehow disrespected the local ettiquette at the time when in a hostel, this sparked off a reaction from Wu Heming resulting that the two masters swapped their hands in dual. Luo Ming was older in age and a fairly thin man, whilst Wu Heming was younger and bulkier due to the exernal power training of Yingmenquan. During the dual however all of Wu Heming's attacks could not reach Luo Ming, as he easily deflected and avoided the power of the strikes, all were neutralised and then suddenly Luo Ming attacked and with ease broke through Wu Heming. As a result Wu Heming became a disciple of Luo Ming and change his practice and those of his students to ' Zimenquan '. Luo Ming stayed in Qingjiang and together with Wu Heming toook numerous students on to impart their skills.
Since Luo Ming was said to have obtained part of his skills from Long Hu Shan (Dragon and Tiger Mountain in Jiangxi province) and the Yu Family was renowned for their skills there, the Zi Men Quan style is also sometimes referred to as Yu Family Boxing. One of the famous Yu family boxers was Master Yu Ke Rang. Master Yu was also said to have studied with Masters Luo Ming and is credited with a purer form of Zimenquan with less Ying Men influence.
Additionally based on the pure origins of the arts often it is said as Yue Family Ying Men, Yu Family Zi Men and Zhao Family Fa Men. There have been many masters and practitioners since including Feng Cheng County's - Chen Jinji, Chen Yulin, Yang Guizi, Gan Mazi, Yu Laozuo, Yang Kaiyuan and Zhang Degen. Gao An County's Yang Wo, Yang Dai, Luo Yuanlong, Huang Gou, Gao Santing, Liu Hui, Lai Zhuding and Lai Guangming as well as Qingjiang county's - Yu Kerang, Yu Shulian and their families descendants, Wan Ruiju in addition to the three Dragons. In Nanchang the capital of Jiangxi province (previously known as Hongzhou), also a number of Masters have been well renowned such as Tian Guanqing, Tian Haoren, Liu Dianchen, Weng Wenta, Yang Poxian, Liu Kemin, Mao Yimin, Tan Qimin, Mo Guanqing, Hu Xingmao and Li Zhihuai.
From the Three Dragons and Yu Ke Rang, the style of Zi Men Quan prospered, Zimenquan and Famenquan became famous throughout Jiangxi province in addition to older Ying Men Quan, for generations the number of practitioners kept expanding so much so that up until 1947, annual competitions/gatherings were held in Nanchang, where many interchanges and developments took place. This also commenced some substyles or classifications such as Lao Zimen, Xin Zimen, Fazimen and others.
Zimenquan is a martial art that emphasises strategy and direct combat applicability, as a result when Yu Kerang formulated the 8 characters, he essentially had a summary of all the key strategies into 8 Zi (Characters), each Zi is also a Taolu (Routine) and each Zi contains an essential approach/strategy.
