WUDANG SHAN - HOLY MOUNT WUDANG

WUDANG TAOIST KUNG FU ACADEMY

The Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy - WTKFA - www.wtkfa.org is headed under the direction of: Great Grand Master, the Late Abbot Guo Gao Yee; Grand Master, Jhong Yun Long; Head Coach, Master Xiugang Yuan; Assistant Coach, Master Bin.Master Jhong Yun Long, also known by his Taoist name Qinhui, is the 14th Generation Direct Inheritor of the Wudang Sanfeng Sect. Master Jhong has been learning Wudang Kung Fu since he was a young boy, he was a direct disciple of many Kung Fu masters such as the late Wudang Abbot Guo Gao Yee and Zhu Chengde, and also Mt. Laoshan Taoist priest Kuang Changxiu. He is very famous all through out China as the authority of the true Wudang Kung Fu Tradition.In 1989, Master Jhong and the late Abbot Guo together founded the Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy - WTKFA - with the approval of the WTA (Wudang Taoist Assoc.). It was the first time ever in the long history of the Wudang Arts that Wudang Kung Fu was introduced to the outside world and general public at large in China. From the spring of 1996 to the winter of 2000, Zhong was elected as the standing committee member of WTA and the Abbot of the Purple Heaven Palace.

WTKFA teaches the traditional Wudang Taoist Inner Kung Fu arts, such as Wudang Taiji, Wudang Hsing-Yi, Wudang Pakua, Wudang Tai Yi Sword, Yellow Mud Yin Palm, Three Secret Pure Yang Arts, Wudang Yang Sheng Health Preservation Arts, Wudang 8 Immortals Sword, Wudang Nei Tan Meditation, 36-form Wudang Boxing, Heavenly Gate Qigong, Golden Elixir Steel Clothing, Moon Gazing Qigong, Wudang 27-Movement Sword, Wudang Spear, Zhi Ran Divine Hitting Boxing, Six-Round Mind Will Elbow Boxing and many other rare Wudang Kung fu arts.

Wudang Internal Kung Fu has the characteristics of overcoming toughness with flexibility, hardness with softness and movement with stillness, and seeks to cultivate the Inner Qi of the practitioner to a supreme refined level. Wudang Internal Kung Fu not only has the functions of body-strengthening and self-defense but also can preserve one's inner energy, increase vitality, aid in longevity, promote self-healing, and give one a deep inner peace and tranquility.

Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy - WTKFA - www.wtkfa.org is located in the Mysterious Mist Palace Mount Wudang Scenery ZoneShiYan City, Hubei Province, China.

MOUNT WUDANG SECT

Regarding Mt. Wudang as its birthplace, this sect was called the Wudang Tradition. Mt. Wudang, also called Mt. Taihe, was a sacred site of Daoism, and even before the Ming dynasty was honoured as the birthplace of the Great Perfect Warrior Emperor of the Mysterious Northern Heaven. Historically, Daoism on Mt. Wudang was affiliated to the Orthordox Oneness sect in earlier times, and to the Complete Perfection sect in later times. During emperor Zhengzong's era (AD 998-1022), the Orthodox Oneness sect spread to Mt. Wudang and developed into the main power of Daoism on Mt. Wudang, under which the Elder Mao sect, the Three Mao sect and the Lay Daoist Priest Tradition emerged. The Complete Perfection spread to this area 200 years later. During the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty (AD 1368-1398 AD), Qiu Yuanqing, the fourth generation patriarch of the Dragon Gate branch, became master of Jade Dragon Temple on Mt. Wudang. In the middle of the Ming dynasty, the Dragon Gate had replaced the Orthodox Oneness sect, becoming the main power of Daoism on Mt. Wudang. During the Yongle ear of Ming emperor Chengzu (AD 1403-1424), Zhang Sanfeng, a Daoist of the Complete Perfection sect, founded the Wudang Tradition, a new Daoist sect which differed from the Complete Perfection sect in religious theories and rules as well as sectarian style. The Wudang Tradition attributed its origin to Cheng Tuan's Daoist sect, but then the government put it under the Complete Perfection sect. The Wudang Tradition was characterized by its worship for the Great Perfect Warrior Emperor, its practice of Chinese Inner School Boxing, its advocacy of the Integration of the Three Doctrines and its emphasis on Cultivation and Refinement of Inner Alchemy and Spiritual Nature. It was a new sect of the Complete Perfection Tradition which emerged between the Yuan and Ming dynasties. According to the General Summary of Perfect Men and Sects, the Wudang Tradition had as many as eight branches, among which the Spontaneity sect, the Sanfeng sect, the Renewal sect and the Penglai sect lasted until modern times.

Mt. Wudang, also known as Mt. Taihe and the Mountain of Mystery, is located in Danjiangkou City, Hubei Province. Adjoining the Qinling Mountains in the west and Shennongjia in the south, it stretches over 800 li and consists of 72 peaks, 36 cliffs and 24 valleys. With its magnificent temples, the mountain attracts endless pilgrims. It is a famous Daoist sacred site in China.Mt. Wudang has a very long history in connection with Daoism. It is recorded that Xie Yun and Yi Gui of the Jin dynasty, Liu Qiu of the Southern Dynasties and Yao Jian of the Tang dynasty all entered the mountain to practice Dao. Temples such as Wulong Shrine, Taiyi Temple and Yanchang Temple had been built by the Tang dynasty. Both the imperial families of the Song and Yuan dynasties believed in the spirit of the Perfect Warrior of the north. As a result, Wudang Daoism, whose major belief is that of the Perfect Warrior, became prosperous gradually during these two dynasties. The celebrated Daoist priest of the Five Dynasties, Chen Tuan, was once a hermit at Jiushi Cliff, Mt. Wudang, where he Abstained from Grains and Refined the Vital Breath for more than 20 years. At the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the famous Daoist, Zhang Sanfeng, lived on the mountain in seclusion. At that time, all the temples on Mt. Wudang were destroyed in wars. Zhang Sanfeng said to others, "This mountain is bound to thrive someday." As things turned out, after Zhu Di, king of Yan, rose in revolt as a military governor of the northern outlying prefectures and usurped the throne from his niece, Emperor Jianwen claimed that he had been assisted by the Perfect Warrior in the "pacification" campaigns and so set up temples in large scale on Mt. Wudang, the sacred place of the latter. Emperor Chengzu sent Longping Marquis Zhang Xin, leading over 200,000 soldiers and artisans, to complete 8 "gong", 2 "guan", 36 "antang" and 72 "yanmiao". In addition, they built 39 bridges, 12 pavilions and the 70-odd-kilometer-long path leading from the piedmont to the peak. Mt. Wudang at that time had the grandest temples and largest Daoist communities of the country. It was honored as "the first famous mountain under heaven". After more than 500 years, several of the buildings were damaged throughout the ages. Only the six temples (gong) of Zixiao, Taihe, Jindian, Nanyan, Yuzhen and Yuxu, the two temples (guan) of Fuzhen and Yuanhe, and buildings such as Mozhen Well and Xuanyue Gate still remain in existence.

WUDANG IMMORTAL - ZHANG SANFENG

The Life of Zhang Sanfeng: Zhang Sanfeng was a Daoist from Yizhou of Laodong (southwest of present-day Zhangwu in Liaoning province) in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, whose name was Quanyi, whose other name was Junshi, and was also called Sanfeng. He lived from ca.1314~1320 to 1417. Mysterious legends about the 'Secluded Immortal': Zhang Sanfeng was called 'Sloppy Zhang' since he was careless about his appearance. It was said that Zhang Sanfeng was 'well built, with a tortoise-shaped figure and a crane-shaped back, big ears and round eyes, and a thick and long beard and whiskers. He always wore a Daoist cassock with a palm-bark rain cape. When he had a meal, he could eat a lot, but sometimes he ate only once every few days, or ate nothing for a few months. He was very learned, capable of remembering whatever books he read, and of writing poems and essays. He was very casual and free from restraint, with the manner of immortals. There were quite a few legends about his life experience and his background. One of them said that he was born in the Jin Dynasty. There was a story which said that at the end of the Song Dynasty, there was a rebellion, so Emperor Huizong called on him, and Zhang Sanfeng once beat or killed one hundred rebels with one of his fists. Another story said that he could survive by abstaining from grains, move as fast as immortals, and come back to life after death. All his life he was immune to reputation and wealth, and fond of pure cultivation in seclusion. According to his testimony, he was once a county magistrate, quit his position and left his family some time later, and then became a Daoist of the Complete Perfection Tradition. Once he ran into the Perfect Man of the Fire Dragon, who offered him an elixir formula. Wandering to Mt. Wudang with his disciples, Zhang built a cottage for cultivation of Dao after cutting down the bushes and disposing debris and rubble. He predicted: 'The mount will be flourishing some day" and told his disciples 'to carefully preserve the transmission of Dao carefully'. Soon he left Mt. Wudang and wandered to Sichuan to visit the Perfect Men and the historical sites of Mt.Qingcheng and Mt.Heming. He also authored a treatise on Taiji shadowboxing as a method to cultivate Dao and keep fit, which is still very popular even today. Claim to be a Secluded Immortal: Zhang Sanfeng had been wandering all over the country in his life, often of uncertain whereabouts. He was famous for his 'seclusion' and claimed to be a 'secluded immortal". In the 24th year of Hongwu (1391), the emperor Zhu Yuanzhang sent Zhang Yuchu to look for him everywhere, but in vain. During the years of Yongle (1403-1425), the emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty sent some officials to look for him several times, but again found him nowhere. As a result, the emperor had Daoist temples constructed on Mt.Wudang on a large scale, so that Zhang's prophecy of the flourishing of Mt.Wudang could come true. In the 3rd year of Tianshun (1459), Emperor Yingzong conferred on him the title Perfect Manifestation of Pervasive Subtlety", and in the 22nd year of Chenghua (1486), the emperor Xianzong granted him the title 'Brilliant and Lofty Perfect Immortal'. In the 3rd year of Tianqi (1623) Emperor Xizong claimed that Zhang Sanfeng descended unto the altar by manifesting his spirit, and offered him the title Perfect Flying Dragon Sovereign Who Manifests Salvation, Promotes Benevolence, and Benefits the World". With the admiration and confirmation of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty and the surge of Daoist believers, the legend of Zhang's immortality was told and renewed constantly. Until the Qing Dynasty were there still stories circulation about meeting Zhang Sanfeng and being taught Daoist skills. Zhang's Thought and Works:Zhang Sanfeng's shared the same general ideas about Daoism as his contemporaries, i.e., that the three religions in China come from the same origin. Zhang maintained that the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism had the same tendency to cultivate one's own moral character and benefit the people of the world in spite of their different founders. Therefore Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism all could be named Daoism. In his On the Great Dao, Zhang said that Confucians tried to practice Dao and benefit the world, Buddhists preferred to realize Dao and awaken the world, while Daoist immortals would rather preserve Dao and save mankind. He insisted that cultivation of Dao meant the 'Cultivation Yin and Yang, Spiritual Nature, and Bodily Life"; 'The sages of the three religions established their doctrines based on this concept". Moreover, Zhang considered that “Meritorious Virtue is the essence of Dao, while the Golden Elixir is its application, allowing one to attain Immortality". Zhang Sanfeng left many works. Li Xiyue of the Qing Dynasty compiled the Complete Works of Gentleman Zhang Sanfeng, which was preserved in the Selections of the Daoist Canon.

WUDANG TWENTY-THREE FORMULAE OF THE SUPREME ONENESS

Originally named the Twenty-Three Formulae of the Supreme Oneness Five-Agents Arresting and Striking, it was an extremely secret boxing art of the Wudang lineage. In 1980, Jin Zitao (1904-1985) performed this boxing method at the National Martial Arts Viewing and Emulation Conference in Taiyuan, Shanxi, and moved all those present. Since then, this boxing form has been revealed to the public and simply known as the Wudang Supreme Oneness Five-Agents Boxing. Later, Jin was invited back to Mt. Wudang and transmitted the tradition to Zhao Jianying. Zhao, in turn, transmitted it to the Daoist Zhong Yunlong, the present boxing drillmaster of the Wudang Lineage. Jin Zitao, originally named Aixinjueluo Puxuan, was a royal member of the Qing court and the younger brother of Xuntong Emperor Puyi. Starting in 1929 he went to Wudang Mountain and learned this boxing tradition from Li Helin. Puxuan kept practicing this boxing secretly. He didn't reveal and transmit this boxing to anybody until the public performance in 1980.With high technique and deep principle, this boxing method has always been considered the Mountain Guarding Treasure of Wudang. Even among the present disciples of the Wudang lineage, few have the opportunity to learn this boxing method, for only the most promising Daoist can be initiated. Zhang Shouxing, an 8th generation disciple of the Dragon Gate Lineage in the Ming Dynasty, invented this boxing art. Based on Zhang Sanfeng's Thirteen formulae of the Supreme Oneness, this boxing is very suited for group scuffling owing to its attention to all directions, and its high mobility in prancing, warding, fighting. Simple and unadorned, its laws for footwork and bodily movements value combining softness with strength. As for striking and defense, it stresses arrest techniques, including locking up the neck, blocking the steps, seizing the arms, and dislocating the joints, etc. It is good at the "interposing strike" with the second joint of finger enhanced with bodily movements and footwork. With this technique, one cuts in with a foot to block the enemy's vanguard foot, and then turns a knee and presses the enemy to freeze him or even break his shank, and strikes the enemy in his ribs with "twining strength". Besides, its palm-strike, with relaxation and softness as its basis and strength from the interior, is very heavy and explosive and fully shows the Wudang lineage's characteristics of internal-force martial arts.

Formulae of the Wudang Supreme Oneness Five-Agents Boxing:

Preparation: Vital breath of Chaotic Oneness, circumrotation of heaven and earth.

1. The white ape bounes out; double peaks stab toward the sun.
2. Drawing the horse reins at the cliff; propping up the clouds from the seabed.
3. The flood-dragon flying in chaos; the thunderbolt striking the mountain flood.
4. The rhinoceros watching towards the moon; turning round and lifting the sky.
5. The black lion holding a ball; golden rays flashing in the court.
6. The panther standing quietly; raising his neck.
7. The roc stretching his wings; beasts escaping with fear.
8. The deer picking glossy ganoderma; the deer bowing to drink in the brook.
9. The yellow boa spitting dribble; flirting and attracting ants.
10. The carp springing; waves surging forward.
11. The lanneret exploring the mountains; seizing chickens with two claws.
12. The immortal crane blasting off; dancing in wind and clouds.
13. The golden monkey stealing the elixir; calming the fire in the furnace.
14. The black maiden reaching for the moon; pacifying billows.
15. The black bear striking backhanded; overawing the forest.
16. The golden toad gaining salvation; lying drunken in the Jade Pond.
17. The magpie stepping on a bough; standing cool in the plum-tree shade.
18. The black dragon entering the sea; pacifying the mind.
19. The mustang's quivering mane; temper getting violent.
20. The divine ape entering the cave; the spirit returning to the heart.
21. The phoenix high up in the air; all birds singing in chorus.
22. Taming the tiger in the numinous platform; guarding the yellow court forever.
23. Embracing the origin and keeping to oneness; vital breath of righteousness eternally existing.
24. Conclusion: combining motion and stillness, circumrotating heaven and earth.

Wudang Internal Kung Fu has the characteristics of overcoming toughness with flexibility, hardness with softness and movement with stillness, and seeks to cultivate the Inner Qi of the practitioner to a supreme refined level.

Wudang Internal Kung Fu not only has the functions of body-strengthening and self-defense but also can preserve one's inner energy, increase vitality, aid in longevity, promote self-healing, and give one a deep inner peace and tranquility.

Wudang Taoist Kung Fu Academy - WTKFA - www.wtkfa.org is located in the Mysterious Mist Palace Mount Wudang Scenery ZoneShiYan City, Hubei Province, China.