Brief History of the Chinese Martial Arts
The Chinese Buddhist martial arts originated in a monastery built in 377 A.D. in the Huo Nan province, by order of the Emperor Wei. In 527 A.D. a Buddhist prince by the name of Da Mo [aka Tamo or Boddhidharma] from India came to this monastery and found that the monks were not strong in body or mind, so he decide to teach them Indian martial arts to strengthen their them while also teaching them Buddhism. From these early Indian martial techniques, as well as, techniques from locate martial artists, a fighting system sprang forth that would later become legendary. From this point on the Shao Lin monks became known as agents of justice, helping people everywhere they went. The symbol of the Shao Lin monks became the "Wan" symbol, (an Indian mystic symbol meaning good fortune and virtue [resembling a backwards swastika] which is attributed to Da Mo).
From 600 A.D. to 1600 A.D. the Shao Lin martial arts grew to become very famous spreading all over China. In 650 A.D., the southern Fukien Shaolin with built. Both the northern and southern branches remained in close contact with each other and constantly exchanged information and ideas. This was largely made possible due to the fact that there were 1000's of large and small subtemples throughout the whole of China which were interconnected allowing for a free flow of information which played a vital role in the development of the art. In 960 A.D., the Shaolin Wu Shu art reach its point of perfect due to its completeness in formidable internal and external powers, its vast fighting techniques, meditations, chi gongs and etc,.
Northern and Southern Shao Lin Kung Fu
Then, in 1644 the Manchurians successfully invaded China. They burnt many Shaolin temples because they were bastion for revolution against them, as well as, hiding places for the royal Sung and Ming families (dynast?ies between 1279 and 1644). Then in 1768 a massive attack was made against the northern Shao Lin monks and their temples. The Manchu, or Ching [Qing] dynasty, killed many monks, burned temples and hunted down those of royal blood. This caused a mass migration of monks and royal Ming and Sung family members and officials to fleed south.
Some fled to Korea and Japan, others went into hiding among the common people in the Fukien and Guangdong country side teaching their martial arts to the locals and organizing underground societies, such as the"Triads". Still others fled to the Fukien Shaolin and other temples in the south. During this time there were four (4) main southern provinces (used by the Buddhist) for spreading kung fu and the overthrow of the Manchu. These were; Hunan, Kiangsi, Kwangtung and Fukien provinces. Within each of these provinces were royal families which continued helping and aiding the monks in one way or another.
However, the main temple of revolution in the south was the Fukien Shaolin. Here, many different styles and fighting systems flourished including the famous Five Family (Ga) Fists of Choy, Li, Mo, Liu and Hung, which became the standard style for the Shao Lin temples. Later, Chan Heung (Chan Duk's (Jimmy Woo) great great grandfather) would modify this system into the Five Family (Ga) style of; Choy, Li, Hok, Fut, Hung Gar. It was at this temple that many secert societies were born to re-establishment of the former Ming dynasty.
Note: The Five (5) ga's were taught and passed on in whole or part to others. However, for the Shaolin system to be taught in a whole and complete manner, then all five styles (familes) Choy, Li, Hok, Fut and Hung must be taught as one system.