Gong Fu History

 

Gong Fu is a very ancient martial art, with origins dating back approximately 5,000 years.

The earliest reference to a martial practice that may relate to Gong Fu dates back to 2700 BC. Huang Ti (known as the Yellow Emperor) is said to have won an important battle thanks to the teaching of Choui Ti, which he reportedly transmitted to his troops.

Later, during the Han Dynasty (around 220 AD), Kwok Yee developed the “Long Hand” style. A few decades later, around 260 AD, Hua Tuo (a Chinese physician) created and taught exercises inspired by the movements of the Five Animals.

It was not until 520 AD that martial arts were formally influenced by the emblematic figure of Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from Kanchipuram, in the region of Madras. Upon arriving at the monastery, he was initially refused entry to the temple. He then spent nine years meditating in a cave facing a wall. Impressed by his dedication, the Shaolin monks eventually granted him access to the monastery.

Observing the weakened physical condition of the monks, Bodhidharma (also known as Da Mo) taught them exercises to strengthen both body and mind, along with certain combat techniques. In doing so, he developed the foundations of what would become the famous Shaolin martial arts tradition. He is also credited with establishing the concept of martial virtue and introducing Chan (Buddhist philosophy, later known as Zen).

After this period, other temples spread throughout the province of Henan, as the original temple was frequently targeted by political attacks. Shaolin monks either chose to leave the temple to teach privately or in other Buddhist or Taoist temples; in rare cases, new temples were built (such as in Fujian and Guangdong), or existing temples were converted (such as Wudang and Mount Emei).

Between the 12th and 17th centuries, martial arts were practiced and taught primarily for military purposes. General Yue Fei, who founded Xing Yi Quan in the 12th century—a style characterized by explosive, direct movements and linear or evasive footwork—used Gong Fu especially for training troops in the use of long weapons such as the spear. Meditation, internal energy control, and slow movements were practiced mainly for medical purposes.

During the 17th century, under Emperor Kangxi (1662–1722) of the Qing Dynasty, martial arts such as Gong Fu reached an important stage of development. It was during this period that codified and linked movement sequences appeared—the ancestors of today’s Taolu (forms). At that time, martial arts practice was often forbidden, so these sequences were transmitted only to selected initiates.

From this point onward, a distinction gradually emerged between internal styles (slow movements, internal energy cultivation) and external styles (fast and explosive movements).

Between the 18th century and 1948, various Gong Fu traditions continued to develop, often in competition with one another, through different systems such as Xing Yi Quan, Bagua Quan, and Tai Chi Quan. Meanwhile, in their temples, the Shaolin monks continued to preserve and transmit the original techniques of Gong Fu.

In 1949, with the rise of communism in China, many masters left the country, primarily taking refuge in Taiwan and Hong Kong.