Xingyiquan

By Grandmaster Gasper and Micah Collins, with additional information from Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang

Three are different accounts regarding the origins of Hsing-I Ch'uan (also transcribed as "Xingyiquan"). One credits Boddhidharma with it's creation; while another credits General Yueh Fei of the Northern Sung Dynasty (960–1127 C.E.). Today the debate still lingers as to whether it is a Taoist art like Tai Chi Ch'uan and Ba Gua Zhang or a Buddhist art, such as having originated from the Shaolin temple. Some scholars believe the art should be dated at least as far back as the Liang Dynasty (550 C.E.). Regardless of the esoteric origins of the art, it is certain that Hsing-I was developed by both Taoist and Buddhist masters alike, over many generations. Nevertheless, the Taoist overtones of the art are definitive and correlate with the legends of General Yueh Fei having learned the art (like Dong, Hai-Ch'uan with regards to Baguazhang), from a "wandering Taoist."

Literally, Hsing-I Ch'uan translates to "form and intention boxing" or "mind-body boxing."

The three major schools of Hsing-I are Shan Xi, Hebei, and Honan. The Shan Xi and Hebei methods are based upon the five forces of Taoist cosmology and the Twelve Animal styles; although the names of the animals sometimes vary a bit from family to family. The Honan style is often termed "Muslim" style Hsing-I (due to the fact that it has been practiced exclusively by the Chinese Muslim community for generations). Though similar in many ways to the Shan Xi and Hebei, it does not follow the same Taoist cosmology; having only Ten Animals. The Shan Xi method is definitively the more complex of the three main styles, and is also considerably more rare. The Hebei style is much more common and contains its own unique characteristics as well. The Honan School is devoid of any actual physical representations of the Five Elements in form. They are conceptual ideas only and the forms extremely simplistic usually only one or two movements long.

More recently, Sun, Lu-T'ang (1861-1932), developed the Sun Style which he learned from Guo, Yan-Shen, master of the Hebei style. Sun Style is an outgrowth of the Hebei School and master Sun, Lu-Tang was considered by many to the highest level master who ever lived. Not unlike the legendary masters of old, Sun also came under the tutelage of a wandering Taoist who took notice of his Kung-fu. Regardless, Sun style, like other offshoots, are variants of the aforementioned three major styles.

The core training in Hsing-I is known as the "Five Elements." These deceptively simple attacks correlate strike and sinking "stomp," along with proper body alignment, to release tremendous force through integrated body movement.

Pi Chuan/Splitting Fist or Metal

Tsuan Chuan/Drilling Fist or Water

Bong Chuan/Crushing Fist or Wood

Pao Chuan/Exploding Fist or Fire

Heng Chuan/Crossing Fist or Earth

The Five Elements are the foundations of Hsing-I Ch'uan. After reaching proficiency in the Five Elements, the Hsing-I practitioner then learns the Creative and Destructive cycles of these forces (Water extinguishing Fire, for example, or Earth creating Wood), Once these are understood, they are combined into two person forms. This develops the techniques into practical applications.

The majority of subsequent Hsing-I forms, up to the Twelve Animals, emphasize whole-body synchronization, over technical complexity of movement. An old saying to this end goes "Hsing-I is ugly but effective."