Beggars' Sect

The Beggars' Sect is a fictional martial arts sect featured prominently in works of ''wuxia'' fiction by writers such as Jin Yong, Gu Long and Wolong Sheng. The sect has also found its way into martial arts films such as ''King of Beggars''. The sect's members are mostly beggars as its name suggests, but some of them are from other walks of life. They are noticeable in public for their dress code and behaviour. The members adhere to a strict code of conduct and maintain the utmost respect for ranks and hierarchy. They uphold justice and help those in need through acts of chivalry. The Beggars' Sect is also one of the supporting pillars in the defence of Han Chinese society from foreign invaders. Cha, Louis. ''The Return of the Condor Heroes'' (神雕俠侶). ''Ming Pao'', 1959. The sect has a wide network of communications and the members are reputed for their excellent information gathering skills. This is due to the sect's large size and the nature of its members, which allows them to blend into different parts of society easily.

History

The sect was founded in the Han dynastyCha, Louis. ''The Legend of the Condor Heroes'' (神雕俠侶). ''Hong Kong Commercial Daily'', 1957. and lasted for centuries. The sect plays significant roles in ''wuxia'' novels such as ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' (Northern Song dynasty) and the ''Condor Trilogy'' (Southern Song dynasty to Yuan dynasty).

The Beggars' Sect was one of the largest and most respected martial arts sects in the '' wulin'' (martial artists' community) until the Yuan dynasty.Cha, Louis. ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' (天龍八部). ''Ming Pao'', 1963. Its fame and popularity began to decline in the Yuan dynasty due to ill discipline among its members and incompetent leadership.

Organisation

The sect is divided into various sections, including the "dirty clothing" section () and the "clean clothing" section (). The former consists of typical beggars, while the latter comprises non-beggar members. It has many branches () spread throughout the land and each of them is headed by a ''duozhu'' ().

Each member carries at least one pouch-like bag () and the number of bags he/she carries indicates his/her rank in the sect. The highest rank a member can attain is that of an elder (), which is second only to the chief. Elders carry nine bags each.

The sect is headed by the chief (), who represents the highest authority in the sect. Each chief is selected from a pool of nominees based on his/her prowess in martial arts, contributions to the sect, personal conduct and popularity, among other factors. The chief carries the revered Dog Beating Staff () as a symbol of leadership. The sect have various practices and customs, such as the one which allows all members to spit once on a newly elected chief as a form of salute.

The Four Great Elders serve as the chief's deputies and reserve the right to strip the chief off his post if he/she fails in his/her duties. Besides, there are also elders with designated duties, such as the Discipline Elder (), who enforces law and order in the sect, and the Training Elder (), who oversees the martial arts training of members.

The sect holds monthly meetings in a different location each time.

Skills and martial arts

The most notable martial arts of the Beggars' Sect are the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms () and the Dog Beating Staff Technique (). The chief is expected to have a profound mastery of both skills, especially the latter, which is only passed on from a chief to his/her successor. No other members know the 'Dog Beating Staff Technique'. The sect has a battle formation known as the Dog Beating Formation. A typical member is usually armed with at least a wooden staff.

Since members are not limited to only beggars, people from all walks of life, including scholars and soldiers, join the sect. As such, the sect's martial arts are rather diverse, since some members have learnt other forms of martial arts prior to joining the sect. For example, Wu Changfeng in ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' uses a customised saber movement while Chen Guyan carries a sack filled with poisonous creatures for use against enemies.

Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms 降龍十八掌

The eighteen stances are:
# The Proud Dragon Repents ()
# The Dragon Soars in the Sky ()
# The Dragon is Seen in the Fields ()
# The Swan Descends Gracefully ()
# Use Not the Submerged Dragon ()
# A Sudden Advent ()
# Crossing Great Rivers ()
# Tremors that Shook the Land ()
# Diving into the Abyss ()
# The Twin Dragons Fetch Water ()
# The Fish Frolics in the Depths ()
# Timely Riding the Six Dragons ()
# Dark Clouds but No Rain ()
# With a Loss comes Confidence ()
# The Dragon Fights in the Wilderness ()
# Treading on Ice ()
# The Ram Charges into the Fence ()
# The Divine Dragon Swishes its Tail ()

Dog Beating Staff Technique 打狗棒法

The ten stances are:
# A Fierce Dog Blocks the Path ()
# Whack Two Dogs with a Staff ()
# Oblique Hit on the Dog's Back ()
# Flip the Dog Upside-down ()
# Retrieve the Staff from the Mastiff's Jaws ()
# Whack the Dog's Head with a Staff ()
# Reverse Jab the Dog's Bottom ()
# Lift the Mad Dog with the Staff ()
# Squash the Dog's Back ()
# No Dogs Under Heaven ()

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beggars' Sect
Organizations in Wuxia fiction