Wang Zi-Ping (1881–1973, Xiao'erjing: ) was a

Chinese Muslim Islam has been practiced in China since the 7th century CE.. Muslims are a minority group in China, representing 1.6-2 percent of the total population (21,667,000- 28,210,795) according to various estimates. Though Hui Muslims are the most numerou ...

practitioner of

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 ...

and

traditional medicine Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous medicine or folk medicine) comprises medical aspects of traditional knowledge that developed over generations within the folk beliefs of various societies, including indigenous peoples, before the ...

from Cangzhou, Cangxian county, Mengcun, Hebei Province. He served as the leader of the Shaolin Kung Fu division of the Martial Arts Institute in 1928 and was also the vice chairman of the Chinese Wushu Association. Wang was known for his mastery of Chaquan,

Huaquan Huaquan () is a style of Long Fist Kung Fu ( Changquan) which is believed to have originated in the Former Song Dynasty (420–479 AD) around the Hua Shan (Hua Mountain) area of Shaanxi Province. History There are written legends from the Kaiyu ...

, Pao Chuan,

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" ...

, and T'ai chi ch'uan. He was a master of

Wushu Wushu may refer to: Martial arts * Chinese martial arts, the various martial arts of China * Wushu (sport), a modern exhibition of traditional Chinese martial arts * Wushu stances, five key stances utilized in both contemporary wushu and traditio ...

Biography

Early in his life, Wang fought in the

Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...

against the foreign Western and Japanese imperialist

Eight-Nation Alliance The Eight-Nation Alliance was a multinational military coalition that invaded northern China in 1900 with the stated aim of relieving the foreign legations in Beijing, then besieged by the popular Boxer militia, who were determined to remove fo ...

. This was believed to be resulting from the fact that Ziping had lived most of his life with China under imperialist pressure from major European powers. Some accounts say he was forced into exile from his home after the end of the Boxer Rebellion and suppression of the Boxers, and became a student of Yang Hongxiu, from whom he learned the art of Chaquan. Wang won fights against Russian, American, German, and Japanese martial artists. Wang defeated a German officer's challenge in a weight lifting contest at Jiaoji. When the Germans wanted to take the antique doors of the Qinzhou mosque for themselves, Wang Zi-ping guarded the doors so the Germans challenged him to another weight lifting contest. When Wang triumphed over their challenge, the Germans left. Wang and Zhu Guofu defended martial arts historian Tang Hao (Tang Fansheng) from opponents who were angered by his work "Shaolin-Wudang Kao" which refuted the story of Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng as being the creators of Shaolin and Taijiquan. Liu Jin Sheng, who authored "Chin Na Methods" along with Zhao Jiang, was a student of Wang. He developed an exercise regime for long life. He published works on martial arts exercises. At the sixth National Games Wang served as a judge for martial arts and wrestling. When Zhou Enlai visited Burma, Wang, then 80 years old, went with them performed martial arts during the visit. He died when he was 93 years old.

Family

Wang developed "Quan Shr Er Shr Fa" (Twenty Fist Method) as well as "Ching Long Jian" (Green Dragon Sword). He was succeeded by his daughter Wang Ju-Rong and his granddaughters Grace Wu (Xiaogo), Wu Xiaoping and Helen Wu (Xiaorong). Wang Zi-ping had only one daughter, Wang Jurong, and his three granddaughters through her are Grace X. Wu, Helen Wu, and Wu Xiaoping.

References

External links

Article on the life of Wang Zi-Ping from Glenridge Martial Arts Academy

Image of Wang Zi Ping

From Warriors to Sportsmen: How Traditional Chinese Martial Arts Adapted to Modernity
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Zi-Ping Chinese martial artists Chinese Muslims Hui people People from Cangzhou 1973 deaths 1881 births Sportspeople from Hebei Naqshbandi order Chinese Sufis