Liu Yun-qiao (劉雲樵, 1909 - January 24, 1992) was a
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
Army
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
and a
martial artist
Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preserv ...
from the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
. He was born in Jibeitou Village, Cangzhou, Hebei Province and is most famous for his martial arts prowess. He was a closed-door disciple of martial artist
Li Shuwen
Li Shuwen () (1864–1934) was a master practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Bajiquan. He was known as "God Spear Li" (神槍李). His prowess was said to be enough that he boasted that he did not have to strike the same opponent twice. He ...
and was proficient in various martial arts, chiefly in
Bajiquan
Bajiquan () is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen ba ji quan ().
Origins
Baji quan was originally called bazi quan ( or ) or "rake fist" ...
.
He established the Wutan Martial Arts Promotion Center (武壇國術推廣中心, also just referred to as "Wutan"), and also established the "Bajiquan Association" (八極拳協會), "
Jian-yi Association" (劍藝協會) and a few other martial arts institutions. So far, the associated groups have spread all over the world and have contributed a lot to the promotion of traditional
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. Th ...
.
Biography
Early life
Born into a family of scholars, there were more than 20 scholars in the Liu family during the
Qing Dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...
, and they were famous in the local area. His grandfather, Liu Zijing, once served as the prefect of
Hanzhong
Hanzhong (; abbreviation: Han) is a prefecture-level city in the southwest of Shaanxi province, China, bordering the provinces of Sichuan to the south and Gansu to the west.
The founder of the Han dynasty, Liu Bang, was once enfeoffed as the ...
,
Shaanxi
Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see #Name, § Name) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichu ...
. His father Liu Zhiyi and uncle Liu Zhijie were both generals of the Beiyang Army. Because of this, everyone in his hometown called their home "General Liu's Mansion".
Liu Yunqiao was born in Jibeitou Village, Cangzhou County, Hebei Province. He was in poor health since he was a child. In 1914, when he was five years old, his servant Zhang Yaoting taught him
Mizongquan in order to strengthen his body.
The famed
Bajiquan
Bajiquan () is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is kaimen ba ji quan ().
Origins
Baji quan was originally called bazi quan ( or ) or "rake fist" ...
master
Li Shuwen
Li Shuwen () (1864–1934) was a master practitioner of the Chinese martial art of Bajiquan. He was known as "God Spear Li" (神槍李). His prowess was said to be enough that he boasted that he did not have to strike the same opponent twice. He ...
served as a teacher in Yun-qiao's father's army. In 1916, when Liu Yun-qiao was 8 years old, his father invited Li Shuwen to teach in his house and Yun-qiao became Li Shuwen's closed disciple.
At the age of 19, his father wanted him to study in the Law Department of Chaoyang University. Instead, Liu Yun-qiao chose to follow master Li Shuwen in his travels. In 1931, by the invitation of Li Jinglin, Li Shuwen went to Shandong Guoshu Museum as the chief instructor, accompanied by Liu Yun-qiao. At that time, Zhang Xiangwu, another disciple of Li Shuwen, was in charge of maintaining law and order, eliminating bandits and tobacco and drug distributors in Huangxian County, Shandong Province. Li Shuwen took Liu Yunqiao to visit him. At this time, Liu Yunqiao began to show his prowess, defeating several warriors who came to challenge him and earned the title/nickname of "Xiǎo bàwáng" (小霸王, Eng. "little overlord").
When Li Shuwen lived in Huangxian County, martial artist Zhang Xiangwu asked him to help him correct his Kunwu swordsmanship. Liu Yunqiao followed Zhang Xiangwu and learned
Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan
Yang family-style () T‘ai-Chi Ch‘üan (Taijiquan) in its many variations is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the primary five family styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
History ...
, Wudang swordsmanship, Qingping swordsmanship and Kunwu swordsmanship. At the end of 1931, when Li Jinglin passed away, Li Shuwen asked Liu Yunqiao to follow Zhang Xiangwu and continue wandering by himself. Liu Yunqiao spent more than two years with Zhang Xiangwu, during which time he learned
Liuhe Tanglang from the famous local martial artist Ding Zicheng. In 1933, when Gong Baotian visited Zhang Xiangwu as a guest, and from Gong, Liu also learned
Bagua Palm
Baguazhang or Pakua chang () is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being T'ai chi and Xing Yi Quan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or neijia quan). ''Bāguà zhǎng'' literally m ...
.
In 1933, Li Shuwen went to Jinan to participate in the province's national martial arts examination presided over by the chairman of Shandong Province
Han Fuju
Han Fuju or Han Fu-chü (; 1890 – 24 January 1938) was a Kuomintang general in the early 20th century. He rose up the ranks of the Guominjun clique in the Warlord era but then went over to the Kuomintang, and held the position of military go ...
and served as a referee. According to Liu Yunqiao, on the way back to Tianjin, Li Shuwen was poisoned and died in Weixian, Shandong. Zhang Xiangwu informed Liu Yunqiao that he could not arrest the murderer in Weixian. After escorting Li Shuwen's coffin to his hometown, Liu Yunqiao returned to Tianjin. According to Li Zikun and Li Zifang, Li Shuwen returned to Tianjin Xiaozhan's adopted son Li Dongtang's home in 1933. He once instructed his grandchildren Li Zikun and Li Zifang to practice martial arts. He died in Li Dongtang's home due to a cerebral hemorrhage in 1934.
In 1936, Liu defeated the
Kwantung Army
''Kantō-gun''
, image = Kwantung Army Headquarters.JPG
, image_size = 300px
, caption = Kwantung Army headquarters in Hsinking, Manchukuo
, dates = April ...
Kendo
is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...
teacher Fan Ota Tokusaburo in Tianjin and appeared in the newspapers. As a result, he got the attention of the
Kuomintang Central Bureau and recruited him as an intelligence officer responsible for assassination.
While in Tianjin, Liu Yunqiao wanted to learn Bā fān quán (八番拳) from a Wang Yunzhang, but Wang disagreed. Liu Yunqiao entered Wang's
kwoon
A kwoon () is a training hall for Chinese martial arts.
According to ''A Chinese-English Dictionary (Revised Edition) 1978'', from Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (PRC), the word ''guǎn'' can also mean
1) Accommodation for guest ...
, Liu was suddenly scalded Wang Yunzhang with boiling water, and beat him. When his disciples came to protect him, Wang declared that Liu was a KMT Central Union spy and an
Hanjian
In Chinese culture, the word ''hanjian'' () is a pejorative term for a traitor to the Han Chinese state and, to a lesser extent, Han ethnicity. The word ''hanjian'' is distinct from the general word for traitor, which could be used for any cou ...
. Regardless, Wang ended up agreeing to teach Liu Bafanquan and after that, Wang closed his kwoon and went to Shanghai to make a living.
Military service period
In 1936, the Kuomintang Central Bureau of Statistics sent Liu Yunqiao to Shaanxi. In 1937, Liu applied for the fifteenth period of the Seventh Branch of the
Huangpu Military Academy
The Republic of China Military Academy () is the service academy for the army of the Republic of China, located in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung. Previously known as the the military academy produced commanders who fought in many of China's ...
in Fengxiang, Shaanxi. After graduating in 1939, while waiting for distribution, he was arrested and imprisoned for accidentally wounding the principal of the military school because of an accident that occurred during a hunting trip. After being interrogated by General
Hu Zongnan
Hu Zongnan (; 16 May 1896 – 14 February 1962), courtesy name Shoushan (壽山), was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army and then the Republic of China Army. Together with Chen Cheng and Tang Enbo, Hu, a native of Z ...
, the governor of the Northwest, Liu was
pardoned
A pardon is a government decision to allow a person to be relieved of some or all of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. A pardon may be granted before or after conviction for the crime, depending on the laws of the ju ...
. He was awarded the rank of second lieutenant and went to the Taihang Mountains to fight against the Japanese army. He was injured many times.
In 1940, Liu Yunqiao was injured and taken prisoner, and was locked up in a prisoner of war camp in Yuncheng, Shanxi. Liu Yunqiao managed to escape, swam across the Yellow River and fled back to the back, where he was recuperating in Xi'an. After that, he joined the intelligence unit and went deep behind enemy lines for assassinations. In 1941, he served as the captain of the Northwest Detective Team. In 1943, he was transferred to the Chief of Staff of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Line District Command.
In 1949, he retreated to Taiwan with the Nationalist Government, and was at the rank of high school. He served as the captain of the training brigade in Hukou, Hsinchu County, and later as the head of the personnel section of the staff of the Paratrooper Command. In 1955, he served as the director of the Northern District Center of the Joint Logistics Service. After the expiration of his service, Liu Yunqiao retired from the military and spent two or three years at Jingmei's home in Taipei.
Veteran life
In 1967, the guard room of the Presidential Palace was reorganized, and his classmate
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
was in charge. In 1968, Liu Yunqiao visited Malaysia. After returning to China, he was recommended by Kong Lingsheng and summoned by Chiang Kai-shek. He served as a security consultant and taught Bajiquan in the guard room of the Presidential Palace.
In 1970, he visited
Manila
Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populate ...
,
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
, and opened classes in Tai Chi, Bagua Zhang, and Kunwu Sword in Manila. In 1971, he founded "Wu Tan" magazine and "Wu Tan Guoshu Promotion Center". The magazine ceased publication in 1973.
In 1978, Liu served as a coach in the "Lián zhǐ bù quánshù shīzī xùnliàn bān" (聯指部拳術師資訓練班) organized by
Chiang Ching-kuo
Chiang Ching-kuo (27 April 1910 – 13 January 1988) was a politician of the Republic of China after its retreat to Taiwan. The eldest and only biological son of former president Chiang Kai-shek, he held numerous posts in the government ...
and trained four trainees, including the "Seven Seas Guards" that formed the Presidential guard for Chiang Ching-kuo.
In 1982, he opened a martial arts coaching class and taught in person. In the same year, he visited the American branch. In 1983, he visited the Japanese branch. In 1987, the "Bajiquan Committee" was established. In 1991, the "Swordsmanship Committee" was established.
Liu Yun-qiao died at the Cathay General Hospital in Taipei City on January 24, 1992, at the age of 84.
Family
Liu Yunqiao had a partner in his hometown, and they had a son and two daughters after marriage. During the Anti-Japanese War in 1941, he married Zhu Jianxia in Baoji County. Ms. Liu Zhu Jianxia finally settled in Taiwan with Liu Yunqiao.
Bibliography
* "Bā jí quán" (八極拳), 1985
* “Kūn wú jiàn pǔ” (昆吾劍譜), 1990
In 1989, Liu was invited by the Chinese National Art Association to compile textbooks on Chinese martial arts.
Disciples
Liu Yunqiao's disciples are divided into two major systems. One is Wutan disciples. They are ranked according to their generations.
* Wǔ zì bèi (武字輩):
**Liáng Jìcí,
Adam Hsu
Hsu, Chi ( born December 14, 1941), commonly known as Adam Hsu is a martial artist and essayist known for his expertise in various forms of Chinese martial arts.The article notes: "這些武館大都是名師執教授藝,如止戈武塾的 ...
,
Su Yu-chang, Dài shìzhé, Zhōu gāoshān, Chéng Zhìshùn, Huáng Yìnán, Wǔ Sōngfā, Xī Jiājùn, Huáng Xīmíng, Chén Guóqīn, Huáng Wěizhé (wǔshù jiā), Lín Déyù,
Tsai Hong-tu, Chén Zhǎnglín, Jì Zhāohuá.
* Tán zì bèi (壇字輩):
**Guō Xiàobō, Sūn Qìngyú, Céng Qǐzhuāng, Zōu Jiāxiāng, Wēng Zhōngliáng, Yè Qǐlì, Lú Zhǎngguì, Wáng Jìnzhōng, Céng Qíxiáng, Liú Míngzōng, Lín Zhòngxī, Xǔ Qiūdé, Zhāng Guānghóng, Lín Sōngxián, Guān Fēng-zhōng, Zhèng Shǎokāng, Xú Yǒnghóng, Wáng Xīngguó.
*Guāng zì bèi (光字輩)
**Shì Guōyīngzhé, Chén Bǎichéng, Céng Fēng-shū, Zhào zhī, Chén Qíwén.
In addition, it is the military and police system, such as Jiang Zhitai, deputy leader of the first group of Seven Seas Guards
Department of Military Information System: Jin Liyan, Guo Gantai, Liu Daxin.
In popular culture
In manga series
Kenji Kenji may refer to:
*Kenji (given name), a masculine Japanese given name, and list of people & characters with this name
*Kenji (era), a Japanese era spanned from 1275 to 1278
* ''Kenji'' (manga) (拳児), a 1980s manga by Matsuda Ryuchi
* "Kenji" ...
, the protagonist's Bajiquan teacher Liú Yuè-xiá (劉月俠) is based on Liu Yun-qiao.
Notes
References
External links
Wutan Martial Arts Promotion Center Official websiteWutan Japan branchBaji men
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liu, Yun Qiao
1909 births
1992 deaths
Chinese martial artists
Martial arts school founders
Martial arts writers
People from Cangzhou
Taiwanese martial artists
Chinese people of World War II
20th-century philanthropists
Chinese baguazhang practitioners