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Northern Praying Mantis
Northern Praying Mantis () is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after Shandong, its province of origin. It is one of the best known styles of Northern Shaolin kung fu, "Northern" kung fu and it encompasses of many styles, with the three main ones being the ''six-harmony style'', ''eight-steps style'' and ''seven-star style''. According to common folk stories, it was created by Wang Lang (王朗) and was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired the style. One version of the myth places the creation of the style during the Song dynasty when Wang Lang was supposedly one of 18 masters gathered by the Abbot Fu Ju (福居), a legendary persona of the historical Abbot Fu Yu (福裕; 1203–1275), to improve Shaolin kung fu, Shaolin martial arts. However, most legends place Wang Lang in the late Ming dynasty, or early Qing dynasty circa 1650. Features The praying mantis, mantis is a long and narrow pred ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Strike (attack)
A strike is a directed, forceful physical attack with either a part of the human body or with a handheld object (such as a melee weapon), intended to cause blunt trauma, blunt or penetrating trauma upon an opponent. There are many different varieties of strikes. A strike with the hand closed into a fist is called a ''punch (strike), punch'', a strike with a fingertip is called a ''jab'', a strike with the leg or foot is called a ''kick'', and a strike with the head is called a ''headbutt''. There are also other variations employed in martial arts and combat sports. "Buffet" or "beat" refer to repeatedly and violently striking an opponent; this is also commonly referred to as a combination, or combo, especially in boxing or fighting video games. Usage Strikes are the key focus of several sports and arts, including boxing, savate, karate, Muay Lao, taekwondo and wing chun. Some martial arts also use the fingertips, wrists, forearms, shoulders, back and hips to strike an oppone ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese Era Name
Chinese era names, also known as reign mottos, were titles used by various Dynasties of China, Chinese dynasties and regimes in History of China#Imperial China, Imperial China for the purpose of regnal year, year identification and numbering. The first monarch to adopt era names was the Emperor Wu of Han in 140 BCE, and this system remained the official method of year identification and numbering until the establishment of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic of China in 1912 CE, when the era name system was superseded by the Republic of China calendar. Other polities in the Sinosphere—Korean era name, Korea, Vietnamese era name, Vietnam and Japanese era name, Japan—also adopted the concept of era name as a result of Chinese politico-cultural influence. Description Chinese era names were titles adopted for the purpose of identifying and numbering years in Imperial China. Era names originated as mottos or slogans chosen by the reigning List of Chinese monarchs, monarc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lu Junyi
Lu Junyi is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels, four Chinese great classical novels. Nicknamed "Jade Qilin", he ranks second among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. In some Chinese folk tales derived from the novel, Lu Junyi is a martial arts student of Zhou Tong (archer), Zhou Tong, who purportedly also trained the Song dynasty general Yue Fei in archery. Background The novel depicts Lu Junyi as nine ''Chi (unit), chi'' tall, having eyes that sparkle and the looks and aura of a majestic deity. A native of Daming Prefecture (present-day Daming County, Hebei), Lu is a consummate practitioner of martial arts, especially in the use of Gun (staff), staff and Qiang (spear), spear. His near-invincibility in combat, impressive appearance and prestigious status as a wealthy squire earn him the nickname "Jade Qilin". Arrest and imprisonment Song Jiang, the acting chief of the Liangshan Marsh, Liangshan b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Four Generals Of Song
4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is a square number, the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. Evolution of the Hindu-Arabic digit Brahmic numerals represented 1, 2, and 3 with as many lines. 4 was simplified by joining its four lines into a cross that looks like the modern plus sign. The Shunga would add a horizontal line on top of the digit, and the Kshatrapa and Pallava evolved the digit to a point where the speed of writing was a secondary concern. The Arabs' 4 still had the early concept of the cross, but for the sake of efficiency, was made in one stroke by connecting the "western" end to the "northern" end; the "eastern" end was finished off with a curve. The Europeans dropped the finishing curve and gradually made the digit less cursive, ending up with a digit very close to the original Brahmin cross. While the shape of the character f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kaifeng
Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is most known for having been the Chinese capital during the Song dynasty#Northern Song, 960–1127, Northern Song dynasty. As of the 2020 Chinese census, 2020 census, 4,824,016 people lived in Kaifeng's Prefecture, of whom 1,735,581 lived in the metropolitan area consisting of Xiangfu, Longting, Shunhe Hui, Gulou and Yuwantai Districts. Located along the Yellow River's southern bank, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the west, Xinxiang to the northwest, Shangqiu to the east, Zhoukou to the southeast, Xuchang to the southwest, and Heze of Shandong to the northeast. Kaifeng is a major city for scientific research, appearing among the world's top 200 List of cities by scientific output, cities by scientific output as track ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lei Tai
The ''lei tai'' is an elevated fighting arena, without railings, where often fatal weapons and bare-knuckle martial arts tournaments were once held. "Sanctioned" matches were presided over by a referee on the platform and judges on the sides. Participants would lose if they surrendered, were incapacitated, or were thrown or otherwise forced from the stage. The winner would remain on the stage (as its "owner") unless ousted by a stronger opponent. If there were no more challengers, they would become the champion. Private duels on the stage had no rules and were sometimes fought to the death. The lei tai first appeared in ancient China, and in its present form during the Song dynasty. However, ancient variations of it can be traced back to at least the |
Water Margin
''Water Margin'' (), also called ''Outlaws of the Marsh'' or ''All Men Are Brothers'', is a Chinese novel from the Ming dynasty that is one of the preeminent Classic Chinese Novels. Attributed to Shi Nai'an, ''Water Margin'' was one of the earliest Chinese novels written in vernacular Mandarin Chinese. The story, which is set in the Northern Song dynasty (around 1120), tells of how a group of 108 outlaws gathers at Mount Liang (or ''Liangshan'' Marsh) to rebel against the government. Later they are granted amnesty and enlisted by the government to resist the nomadic conquest of the Liao dynasty and other rebels. While the book's authorship is traditionally attributed to Shi Nai'an (1296–1372), the first external reference to the novel only appeared in 1524 during the Jiajing reign of the Ming dynasty, sparking a long-lasting academic debate on when it was actually written and which historical events the author had witnessed that inspired him to write the book. The nove ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lin Chong
Lin Chong is a fictional character in ''Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "Panther Head", he ranks sixth among the 36 Heavenly Spirits. In some folk tales derived from the novel, he is said to have learnt martial arts from Zhou Tong, who purportedly trained the Song dynasty general Yue Fei in archery. Background Lin Chong resembles Zhang Fei, a general of the Three Kingdoms era, in appearance. Over six '' chi'' tall, he has piercing eyes and a head like that of a panther, which earns him the nickname "Panther Head". He is a martial arts instructor of the Imperial Guards in Dongjing (東京; present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the imperial capital of the Song dynasty. Framed and exiled Lin Chong introduces himself to Lu Zhishen when he sees the monk working out with his hefty staff and is deeply impressed. Lu tends a vegetable plot for a temple in Dongjing. They become sworn brothers. While they are chatting, Gao Yanei, the play- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chuojiao
''Chuojiao'' () is a Chinese martial art that comprises many jumps, kicks, and fast fist sequences. The fist and feet work in unison and strike continuously forward, like "falling meteorites", never giving the opponent a moment to recover. The qinggong portion of this style's training involves a practitioner jumping against a wall with heavy weights affixed to his/her calves. This style is practiced mainly in northern and northeast China, including central Hebei, Beijing, and Liaoning. History ''Chuojiao'' originated in the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) and became popular during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911). The source from Wu Binlou, a famous Chuojiao expert and founder of Beijing style, believed ''Chuojiao'' comes from the Wen Family Boxing style of the Song dynasty (960–1279). ''Chuojiao'' is attributed to Deng Liang, who is said to have created the style on the basis of the 18 basic feet plays. He developed the basics according to calculations of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gao Huaide
Gao Huaide (高懷德; 926 – 982) courtesy name Cangyong was a general in ancient China, first in the Later Zhou military and later in the Northern Song military. Life Gao Huaide's father Gao Xingzhou was a general in the Later Zhou military. In 944, just 18 years old, Gao Huaide accompanied his father in resisting the invasion by the Liao forces from the north. In Qicheng (near today's Puyang, Henan Province), his father was surrounded by the Liao forces and with no aid in sight, Gao Huaide fought a way out and saved his father on his horseback. In 957, the Later Zhou military tried to invade Shouchun (in today's Shou County, Anhui Province) which was occupied by Southern Tang kingdom. At night, Gao Huaide and a few men went across the Huai River for reconnaissance and in the morning caught a Southern Tang soldier who provided important information. When Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou watched the battle from a height, he noticed a general who fought many enemies by himsel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duan Quan
Duanquan, also known as short-range boxing, is a form of kung fu practiced primarily in the Hebei province of China. It is a short-range style created specifically for combat. The founder of this art is unknown except that it evolved more than four hundred years ago. A highly-dynamic and combat-oriented martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the pres ..., duanquan focuses on short and compact routines, low stances, and quick movements. Students are taught to be highly mobile, in order to keep the opponent disoriented and unable to attack. Low stances and small but quick movements are major features of this style. The arms and legs are bent slightly. They also use simple and sudden moves and the techniques are executed smartly, wasting no energy. By practicing duanquan, s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yan Qing
Yan Qing is a fictional character in '' Water Margin'', one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature. Nicknamed "''Langzi''" (浪子; meaning "the Wanderer" or "the Prodigal"), he ranks last among the 36 Heavenly Spirits, the first third of the 108 Stars of Destiny. Background Yan Qing, who is more than six ''chi'' tall, is a handsome youth with a fair complexion, red lips, thick eyebrows, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Tattoos of big bright flowers cover his body. In addition to his skill in martial arts, archery and wrestling, Yan Qing sings well and plays many kinds of instruments. His charming looks, his proficiency in learning new tongues and his astuteness in assessing situations and picking up leads make him an ideal spy and infiltrator. He realises this potential after joining Liangshan. Orphaned when a child, Yan Qing is raised by the wealthy squire Lu Junyi, who lives in Daming Prefecture. Grateful to Lu, Yan Qing, who becomes one of two stewa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
