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I am wondering if somebody knows why the ten tigers were so popular. Is it only a legend or did they really were fighters and if they were figthters what made them specials fighters. I haven't found a source where they are mentioned in the history during the turmoil of the last dynasty Qing.
Any sources?

Thanks,

Mig

The Ten Tigers were genuine kung fu men-two Hung Gar patriachs were included Wong Kei Ying and Tit Kiu Saam-as was So Hak Yee (Beggar So) of Hak Fu Moon, Tit Jih Chen (Iron Finger Chen), Wong Yan Lum (Hap Gar Kuen) etc- as to why they were famous?? The legends state they were deeply involved in Fahn Ching Fuk Ming (fight the Ching Restore the Ming) revolutionary work-to be a well known fighter/teacher at a time when Han Chinese were forbidden to practice kung fu shows real balls!!! I think some of their exploits have been blown out of all proportions, in the Robin Hood way, but like Robin Hood there is truth in there too.

There is even a Doctor Who (aaagh!!) book called The Eleventh Tiger which has Doctor Who (aaagh!!!) joining forces with the Ten Tigers to battle evil, both supernatural and Ching, he even takes over stewardship of Po Chi Lam for a time when Wong Kei Ying is arrested-I dont recall that Wong snr called his Kwoon that but never mind. Its quite a fun read all in all-it even claims that Wing Chun's Jan Sin Sang (Leung Jan) was a member of the Tigers????

Heard the ten tigers were so called after the fact rather than during the time of their existence. In many cases also the key styles were Hung Kuen (hung Mun) based (except two - one is a Nanzhi Quan and the other a Xiajia practitioner....