Wing Chun History
Unfortunately, the history of Wing Chun Kung Fu has only been past down verbally. That's why you’ll find two common versions of the history of this style. The main difference between the two is the founder of Wing Chun, Ng Mui. The more commonly accepted version that was passed down through the Late Grand Master Yip Man stated that Ng Mui was a nun. The alternate version based on more modern research believes that Ng Mui instead was a Monk.Original History
Ng Mui is generally credited as the founder of Wing Chun and was one of the five elders of the Sil Lum temple. Already an accomplished martial artist, Ng Mui developed a style of martial arts, after observing a snake and crane. Ng Mui improved the style which became known as Sei Ho Bak Bo (Snake and Crane Eight Step). She then refined the style further and it became known as Ng Bo Mui Fa Kuen (Plum Flower Fist). These three styles are the predecessors of Wing Chun.
During the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), gung-fu was practiced in the Siu Lum (Shao Lin) monastery in southern China primarily as a form of physical exercise. With the usurpation by the Manchurians and the establishment of the Ching Dynasty, however, many Ming patriots sought protection in the temple where their lives were not endangered and where some of the people were sympathetic to their cause. The Mings were betrayed by an insider and consequently, the Manchu soldiers attacked and burned down the monastery. Only a handful of people and the five elders escaped the burning temple. These disciples were forced to conceal their identities and activities because the Ching government had outlawed all practice of Martial Arts.
Ng Mui then devised a new, modified system of fighting based on her knowledge of what she had mastered in the temple. In essence, the style utilized techniques of efficiency of motion and direct line attacks and could be perfected in a short period of time.
Ng Mui had a student, a girl named Yim Wing Chun who lived with her father in a small village.Yim Wing Chun's popularity in the area and news of her beauty attracted the attention of a malevolent landlord named Wong. Yim Wing Chun was already promised to Leung Bok Chau, Wong decided he would marry her anyway. Upon presenting himself to ask for her hand in marriage, Wong was flatly rejected by both Yim Wing Chun and her father, so he plotted to take her by force. In a short period of time Ng Mui was able to teach Yim Wing Chun to defend herself. When Wong returned with his men, a confrontation ensued during which Wong was seriously injured by Yim Wing Chun.
Continue to Part 2