a different perspective - interesting read

[Wingnut]

If you ask any person in Foshan about martial arts they will proudly speak of one person, placing him in a hreo's role if not an almost god like status, yet if we go back around 100 years Huang Xi Xiang was just an obscure, unknown street performer trying to make a living... If you were visiting a local tea house or wine shop in a common ally you might have come across him, watched, mocked, or maybe even tossed a few coppers in his direction. Now however this young street urchin is a world celebrity, a cultural icon. In reality, this martial artists like many others, Died lonely. It was after death the honour and fame came.


A child prodigy of the martial arts earns a living on the street corner

foshan, in Guangdong province has many outstanding features. The birthplace of cantonese opera, a place for collecting silk fabric, a proud traditional medicine tradition, and a home for southern kung fu. On the 27th year of Daoguang, (on the 9th day of the 6th month-lunar calendar) on an ordinary day Huang Xi Xiang was born into a poor family. The father takes the few coppers he has earned to by a chicken kills it and cooks it for his wife. The father is one of the 10 big names of martial arts, but does not bare any of the extravigance seen in todays movies, and when the son is born the father is depressed becuase other martial artists say the son doesnt look like him and spread rumours.

The father felt hopeless becuase he thought his son would have to inherit his "begging bowl" and follow in his footsteps as a street performer. he did not realise that his son would in fact supass him, and carry forward his fathers martial arts attainment.
The father saved money for huangXi Xiang's schooling but HuangXi Xiang was not fully absorbed in his study. Being born in a city famous from kung fu, and his father being one of the best practitioners did not agree that he should not study martial arts, his thoughts were about kung fu and he would skive off school to go and secretly watch his father teach, then before school finished he'd go back. At this time, although his father was not successful, he was a hero in Huang Xi Xiang eyes. His fathers skill with fist and feet, spear, staff and sword cannot be beat, Huang Xi Xiang cannnot concentrate on studying, wanting to follow in his fathers footsteps thinking that going into the world of rivers and lakes is good.

when the father discovered what huang Xi Xiang was doing, he beat his son savagely. That was extremely hard earned money being wasted which he earnt with great hardship and difficulty. All of the fathers hopes and ambitions were on his son's shoulders. Now....

Huang Xi Xiang said to his father, "Dad, later i will earn a living with you together".

While stroking Huangs Xi Xiang head, The father shook his thinking that perhaps this is the life his son is to lead.

From this point on, The father never forced Huang Xi Xiang to go to school and never beat him again.

Very quickly the father discovered that Huang Xi Xiang has a talent for learning gong fu and relasied that he only needed to teach something once and HuangXi Xiang could do it. During this time though The father was spending more time learning martial arts then teaching, and through comprehensive study huang Xi Xiang unifies each styles merit. At 7 or 8 years old. HuangXi Xiang started earning a living with his father on the streets.



A new kid becomes famous within 1 competition.

at 12 or 13 HuangXi Xiang starts putting on good shows and attracting attention from the common people leaving the big crowds applauding his performances. At this time though, nobody knew HuangXi Xiang name, only that he was a kid you performed well. His name became famous in a duel with another street performer.

At that time another martial artist, Jeung Dai Hong, was also earning a living on the street corner. Jeung Dai Hong specialised in the left handed Fishing pole Skill and set up an arena beating all oncomers. One time when he called for anyone to come and compete with him Huang Xi Xiang jumped up on stage Suprising his father who didn't have time to stop him.

Jeung Dai Hong thought that Huang Xi Xiang was a disobediant youth and didn't think of him as a challenger and tells huang Xi Xiang to get down from the stage. Instead of gettign down, HuangXi Xiang Calmly say's to Dai Hong " Senior, Dai Hong, Junior Wong Fei Hong Would like to challenge you to a match with the staff".

The courage from this young boy cuased a huge applaud within the crown who had gathered round. Dai Hong was starteled that this wet behind the ears youth was Wong Kei Ying's Son. After knowing this. Dai Hong politely accepted Huang Xi xiangs challenge.

The challenge went on for a while with many of the crowd anxious and worried abotu Huang but Huang finally one. and Dai hong paid a lot of respect to the young boy who was able to spend that much time devoted to training kung fu.

It was this point that the common people remembered the childs name.


Wong Fei Hong

during the same year, Father and Son earned money near fermented soyabean lane and saw Tit Kyu Sam's Student Lum Fok Sing in the crowd get chased down by people trying to kill him. The father run's to help and lends a hand in the emergency. Wong Fei Hong joins in and together they solve the situation. To show gratitude Fok Sing agrees to teach Wong Fei Hong Tit Sin Kyun and the Fei Tor.

After completing his training with Fok Sing, Wong Fei Hong skill was even better, so much so that his father couldn't even match him.

Facing an enemy of 10, becomes famous in Hong Kong




At 16 years old Wong Fei Hong thought he could make money travelling the streets of guangzhou, so packed up from his hometown and arrived at teh lively metrapolis of guangzhou. At night Wong Fei Hong checks into an Inn, That night a some robbers attacked Wong Fei Hong one armed with a knife and others with Sticks. Wong Fei Hong smashed the stick with his arm and defeated the robbers. This caused some fame for him in Guangzhou and this became a favourite story fro disscussion ammoung the common people for a while.

During this time GZ's working class are suffering under the capitalists and no one is brave enough to speak out in their spare time they start to learn kun gfu from Wong Fei Hong and after a couple of years, Wong Fei Hong starts to develop a name attracting people from various fuit, veg and fish markets to come study under him.

During this time, Wong Fei Hong wasn't very law abiding, and likes to wander around wanting to experience more of the world so travels to Hong Kong alone. During his time in Hong Kong, an arrogant Englishman witha german shepard went around saying that Chinese are cowards and no one would compete with his dog. Several at this point of time had tried but were unable to succeed and get bit by the dog. The Englishman went around saying that the Chinese were less than dogs. Many people were angry but no body was willing to face to dog so the people did nothing. Wong Fei Hong stept forward and killed the dog. Afterwards he beat the Englishman for being so rude. The crowd applauds Wong Fei Hong for his act. Another time in Hong Kong, some fudal bullies were pickign on Pang Yuk, a peddler. Pang Yuk sort our Wong Fei Hong for help believing that Wong Fei Hong is an outstanding person who will look after people. After hearing the story, Wong Fei Hong goes Directly to the bullies home. The bully however is a triad member and has many accomplices and Weapons. Pang Yuk sees Wong Fei Hong having difficulty and uges Wong Fei Hong to forget it and go, he'll give up the stall. Wong Fei Hong however would not give up so easily and Forces the bully to give back the stall and some jade he previously took from Pang Yuk. The Bully doesn't listen and a feice battle becomes unavoidable. Pang yuk looks on in amazement and Wong Fei Hong beats down the 10 people at the bullies residence. The Bully stops the fight and gives back the stall to Pang Yuk. Becuase of these incidences Wong Fei Hong names starts to spread in both HK and GZ. 6years later though Wong Fei Hong was beccoming tired of wandering and knew that his father was wanting him to return home to get married so left Hong Kong.

The treasured sword leaves the sheath, the ganoderma lucidum forest

Wong Fei Hong returns to Foshan to marry under his fathers guidance, Wong Fei Hong is nutral in teh mannor neither enjoy or resenting it such was common in China at this time. Wong Fei Hong however did not hang around for too long before returning to Guangzhou. he was willing and interesting in stepping into an officials career and entered Guangzhou's Naval forces as a martial arts coach. After 6 years, Huang looses his position in the navy while heavily morning the loss of his father. He received his Wife and children in Guangzhou and at Yan Ngon street opens a Family tit Da Clinic Called Bou Ji Lam. By the door hangs the couplet 宝剑出鞘，芝草成林.


At Bou Ji Lam, both martial arts training and Tit Da Service are provided. People only knew of Wong Fei Hong Martial skill and not of the fact that he learnt Tit da from his father, so the choose to stay away not willing to risk their life/bodies with a Dr who may not be skilled in his trade. For a long time no body visitsWong Fei Hongmedical clinic. Even when he offers Free treatment to people, they prefer to pay money at the regular clinics. it was only at one day when Wong Fei Hong Helped a special patient that people started visiting his clinic. This person was Lau Wing Fok, commander of the black flag armed forces. he had a foot disease. Wing Fok tells Wong Fei Hong about the problem and Wong Fei Hong agrees to cure it. Lau Wing Fok does not trust people very often and has seen a few dr's but to no avail, however desides to give Wong Fei Hong a try.... Wong Fei Hong was able to cure the disease earning the trust of Lau Wing Fok. Lau Wing Fok was so happy and prised Wong Fei Hong as Hua tuo and had a plaque made for Wong Fei Hong clinic praisin Wong Fei Hong medical ability. It was after this time that Bou Ji Lam Started to becom efamous and you could hear the cry's of Huang Sifu.. Wong Fei Hongpersonally enjoyed being called by this name. It was at this time that Wong Fei Hong became very serious and upheld justice and didn't charge if people were unable to pay. Once his fame had risen, Wong Fei Hong had once again joined the military, this time the Black Flag armed forces as a Military Dr and Martial coach and with his desire to serve the country he follows Lau Wing Fok to Taiwan in 1894 to resist the Japanese army leading the 9th batallion "fok" division. stationed at TaiLam. Unexpectedly a situation occours with Lau Wing Fok which results in Wong Fei Hong having to return once again to Guangzhou. On his return,Wong Fei Hong retires from teh martial world only practicing medicine to provide relief to those who need it. he no olonger accepts students and at teh gate of Bou Ji Lam posted a sign saying 武艺功夫，难以传授；千金不传，求师莫问 Tasking people not to seek out martial instruction. The martial world no longer had Wong Fei Hong and 20 years later he died lonely and poor in Hospial[/u]