Women warriors of China: Wing Chun

China has a rich martial arts culture that is respected throughout the world. The skills and prowess of Shaolin monks, for example, have reached almost mythical proportion. Quite fitting, really, since the roots of martial arts in China can be traced from within the Shaolin temple.

The history of Chinese martial arts in general is no doubt interesting (and will be covered in another article); but for now, let's limit our focus on a particular discipline that was created by a woman to protect another woman.

Wing Chun is the Cantonese name for the martial art known in China as Yongchun (literally, "Spring Chant"). Like most stories set in ancient times, the story of how Wing Chun began is shrouded in mystery.

Beginnings of Wing Chun

The teachings of Wing Chun are passed down orally from master to disciple. It's no surprise then that there are more than 10 different oral traditions about the origin of the martial arts. The most popular tradition, however, revolves around a Buddhist nun and a young woman.

The Venerable Ng Mui was a highly-respected nun from the Shaolin temple. She is supposed to have developed the fighting style which we call Wing Chun after watching a fight between a snake and a crane.

In the mid-1600s, Ng Mui relocated to Sichuan province, after she escaped one of many raids on the Shaolin temple by the Manchus. In Sichuan province, she became friends with a family of tofu-sellers made up of Yan Er and his daughter Yan Yongchun.

Yan Yongchun had long been betrothed to a salt-seller named Liang Bochou. However, a local warlord became enamored with her and wanted her hand in marriage. Yongchun refused and the warlord promised that if she was able to beat him in a fight, he would not force her into marriage.

Upon hearing this, Yonchun escaped into the mountains and sought the counsel of Ng Mui. She stayed with Ng for the next two years, learning and perfecting a fighting style that emphasizes technique over power to subdue a bigger and stronger foe.

When Yongchun returned to her village, she successfully defeated the warlord and went on to marry Liang Bochou. She taught him the skills she had picked up from Ng Mui and he in turn passed it on to other disciples. It is said that Liang was the one who gave the discipline its name, in honor of his wife and teacher.

Since the Qing dynasty, Wing Chun has gained more and more followers. While it was first developed for women, it is now acknowledged as an effective martial arts discipline for both sexes. One of its most popular practitioners was Bruce Lee, who trained in Wing Chun before developing his own Jeet Kune Do.