THE COLOURFULL EMEI BOXING As its name suggests, the Emei School of Kung Fu originated from the Emei Mountain, a famous Buddhist Centre in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. It is sometimes listed alongside Shaolin and Wudang as one of the three major schools of Chinese Kung Fu. But it is different from the other two in style. Shaolin boxing, whose emergence and development have been related to Buddhism, is characterised by leaps and falls and other vigorous, sweeping movements; Wudang exercises, which are of Taoist origin, emphasise the use of gentle movements against forceful ones; while the Emei school, which is said to be younger that those of Shaolin and Wudang, has assimilated the strong points of the two. In terms of theory, the Emei School advocates the combination of movement and stillness, and of internal and external exercises. It lays stress on both fitness building and the acquisition of practical skills for combat. It requires its follower to cultivate good moral qualities and use his combat skills mainly for defence. Here are the 7 categories of boxing styles belonging to the Emei School : 1. Fire Dragon Style (Picture 1) Different stories are told about the origin of this kind of boxing. One story says that it was invented by a daughter of the late Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in collaboration with Gu Tinglin, a surviving adherent of the overthrown dynasty, while another says that it was evolved by an old Kung Fu master after observation of the fighting between two big monkeys in Emei Mountains. A third story goes that during the Qing Dynasty an 80 year old elder of the Buddhist monastery in the Emei Mountains used this kind of boxing to fight a triumphant battle against suppressive Qing soldiers, following which its name spread far and wide. A set of Fire Dragon Boxing consists of some 160 movements, mostly in the form of quick twists and turns of the waist and hips aided by nimble footwork. The exertion of force is based on qigong, by which one's vital energy is summoned up. In actual combat much attention is paid to taking advantage of an oncoming force exerted by the opponent. Index and middle fingers are used to attack vital points on the opponent's body so as to get the better of him. The beginner can harden his index and middle fingers by practising on a sandbag. 2. Dragon Style (Picture 2) Dragon Boxing, imitating the movement of dragons, is totally different from Fire Dragon Boxing, which in fact has little to do with this fabulous creature. Devoid of the twists and turns characteristic of Fire Dragon exercise, Dragon Boxing movements are firm and steady as befits the majestic-looking figure of the legendary dragon, which is regarded by the Chinese as a symbol of national dignity. 3. "Sword" Boxing (Picture 3) This type of boxing is so named because the performer does the whole set of exercise with the middle and index fingers of each hand pointing forward like a sword. He never jumps or somersaults, but frequently lunges forward to spring surprise attacks on the vital points of the opponent's body after making a lot of decoying moves. A whole set of routine contains 60 or 70 major movements and is completed at a stretch within less than two minutes. 4. Bazi Boxing (Picture 4) Bazi was the name of a state existing 2,000 years ago in the eastern part of what is now Sichuan Province. Bazi Boxing has long enjoyed popularity among the Sichuan people. Its routine is short but vigorous, consisting of simple movement with clear-cut rhythm. Though its movement do not have very large amplitude, it can however be used effectively against opponents who show great swing in their actions. Leg movements generate attacking force, and arm action is accentuated by a turn of the waist. The exerciser assumes a natural posture, moving his hands and legs in perfect harmony. He breathes in such a way as to impart immeasurable strength to his movements. 5. Ziwu Boxing (Picture 5) So named because Shendeng, an eminent monk in the Emei Mountains who invented it, usually practised it during zi (midnight) and wu (midday) hours. When using this kind of boxing in combat, attention is paid to attacking the centre line of the opponent's body and defending that of one's own. Emphasis is laid on the following points: 1) Dodge the opponent's attack and look for a chance to hit back; 2) When the opponent has got hold of you, press your shoulder against his body and try to get the better of him with a clever move; 3) Switch over to offensive by means of holds and infighting methods; 4) Apply the breathing method of exhaling when attacking and inhaling when retreating; 5) Give full play to your speed and skill. 6. Emei Plum Blossom Boxing (Picture 6) There are many kinds of plum blossom boxing. The Emei type evolved by Sichuan's Zhao Beitao amalgamates the strong points of several varieties and acquires an easy flowing style of its own. The whole set comprises more than 100 movements which are distinctly of offensive and defensive nature, and is performed at a stretch of within 2 minutes. It is said that Zhou Beitao had spent a whole winter working under plum trees before he succeeded in creating this style of boxing. Hence the name Emei Plum Blossom Boxing. 7. Five-Tiger Boxing (Picture 7) This kind of boxing is reminiscent of the fierceness of the tiger, the "King of animals". Based on five postures of a tiger now tearing down a mountain, now charging right and left, swivelling around and sitting down with head held upright, a set of Five-Tiger Boxing contains 60 major movements done with immense vigour and clear rhythm, and with perfect co-ordination between fists and legs. It can also be practised between 2 persons.

The Kung originating Fu of Buddhist Temple EMEI, located in the province of Sichuan to the southwest of China, both evokes the combination and fusion of older systems:Shao Lin and Wu Tang of which their exercises, movements and routines are reflected of the combination of the external forms with the internal ones of the Kung Fu, making the movement with the calm, the speed with slowness, the hardness with the smoothness, the deep practice of the internal system in the expression of the techniques with a root in the external forms totally different from both systems before mentioned, where the medical instructor must cultivate his spirit first to be able to obtain the perfection of his mind soon and the one of his body.

From the Emei system or O-mei comes numerous styles of Kung Fu which such fulfill philosophical principles and of development, but different between its styles, thus we have a form of the Kung Fu Emei of the style Fire Dragoon that evokes the perfection of the movements in form circular in all its techniques and requires much of the torsion and contorsión with the use of the emptiness for the use of the circular forces centripetal and centrifuges to neutralize the opponent, like a winged Dragoon that skirts in the wind water, earth and fire.
The Emei Temple in China is called "Temple of the Sky" by the characteristics of being denominated sacred Mountain where they practiced and secretly practice sophisticated styles from long ago where were 200 styles that that were  disappearing with the time  because of the hermetic owns kungfu
Kungfu  Emei   discovers the internal-external mystic of mountains  of the Province of SiChuan, China, this Mountain is considered sacred and they favor all climates to him in diverse heights, coexisted Buddhist temples there and Taoists in harmony during years and hundreds of styles was developed secretly from long ago last of generation in generation until some were lost in the time

Emei Martial Arts.(article)
Emei is famous in China for numerous rare and mysterious martial arts that developed there from the Gongfu (Hard work over time) of Daoist, Buddhist and also laymen. Daoist temples were first erected on this mountain in the eastern Han dynasty (200 B.C.). Later Mount Emei became one of the holy Buddhist Mountains when Buddhism flourished in the Tang dynasty (800 A.D.).

At one time over one hundred temples were operating simultaneously. Buddhist and Daoist monks lived in harmony practicing meditation, healing arts Daoyin (Yoga) herbalism and the various modalities of their spiritual practices. Even today there is left behind in the museums a great wealth of poetry, literature, painting and medicinal knowledge as well as martial arts that developed on Mount Emei.

Martial art methods came collectively to be called the Emei Wushu school. Many of the arts blend the training methods, sparring techniques, hand forms, and weapon forms of both Buddhist and Daoist styles into one. Traditional Emei Wushu is both Buddhist and Daoist in nature as well as a mixture of internal and external martial arts. At the same time, the Emei school has extracted the essence of Shaolin, Wudang and other schools of Northern China.

Many famous body guard families and military men have also visited the Mountain to learn martial arts and later developed their own styles from the eclectic methods that flourished on Emei. In this way hundreds of "hidden" styles many of which were taught only to member of a family or clan were created thrived and later disappeared.
 

Shrouded in Mystery. Being mysterious has always been the perception of many people about Emei Wushu. That is because the Emei Wushu has never been readily passed on to "outsiders." There is an old Chinese saying, "Shandong province has highwaymen, Hebei province has Wushu experts, and Sichuan province has the men of Emei chivalry." This means that these three provinces produce top quality Wushu talents. However, the Emei chivalry man is mysterious and is similar to the Chinese legendary Yuxia (Knight Errant) who like Chinese robin hoods performed only good deeds and keep their methods hidden from the eyes of the profane. A few of the rare "hidden" styles are said to still exist in and around this mysterious abode of Daoists and Buddhists. Like a huge river having many tributaries, the Emei Wushu school has many branches. Each branch has its own distinctive styles in sparring, weaponry and hand techniques. A few of these methods include:- Emei Snake - There are three sets of Snake forms in the Emei school. The first one emphasizes Qinna (locking) and the pressure points techniques, the second one on the wrestling techniques, and the third one on striking techniques. All techniques are required to be executed swiftly, accurately and ferociously. Monk Xu Kun taught the three snake forms to Mr. Liang, Zhi-Xiang. Master Liang, Shouyu of Canada is a direct inheritor of this system. Tibetan Cobra Boxing - Another style of snake boxing, Tibetan Snake Boxing (Coiling serpent) is part of the Li family Daoqiquan style and was developed by Lama Zurdwang near the area of Emei Mountain. Dr. Painter is a direct inheritor of this rare method of ground fighting. White Eyebrow - Founded by Daoist monk named Bai Mei (White eyebrow), this branch is characterized by hard and explosive short movements. Bai Mei is also famous for being capable of almost supernatural feats of skill with Baguazhang methods of mysterious origins. Emei Dragon - There is the Green Dragon form by Monk Dan Zhen of Chunyang cave at Mt. Qingcheng. There is the Swirling Dragon form of the Green Coat Palace in Chengdu, the Black Dragon form by Priest Ji Shan of Fuhu Temple, the Plum Blossom Dragon form by Nun Wu Mei, the Fire Dragon form by Daoist monks Shen Deng and Qing Xu, and the Golden Dragon form. Emei Tiger - The Emei school has many different Tiger forms. Some of them are the Hungry Tiger Snatching Food form, the Five Tiger form, the Tiger Roar form, the Black Tiger form, the Tiger Claw form, the Fuhu form and the White Tiger form. WuJi Form - This form is a blend of Daoist and Buddhist martial arts. Like Taijiquan it is soft, yet dynamic. It stresses the use of internal Jin and applications. There are two sets of Wuji form. One set develops power and "explosive" jin . The other set is mentioned in history books; no one has claimed to know it yet. This form is only known by a handful of masters and it is taught to pupils who are carefully selected by the masters. Emei Sword Fairies - This branch, founded by Hui Yun, is based on Daoist and Buddhist Xiu Sheng Shu (the art of life or essence enhancement). There are numerous Qigong exercises, fist forms and weapon forms.    Emei Baguazhang. A controversy still smolders over the existence of a true Emei Baguazhang system. Some historians claim there is no Emei Baguazhang apart from the art developed by Dong, Hai-Chuan in Beijing and imported to the Mountain. Others claim that the Daoist monk who reputedly taught Dong was a member of the Dragon Door Daoists. This sect that had many branches throughout China some of them at Emei Mountain. They developed a circle walking meditation based on the Yijing over 2,000 years ago. As we have said before, "History is a pale shadow of the truth," no one knows for sure and Dong would not admit where he learned his art. Many of the systems of Baguazhang on Mount Emei and there are numerous forms of the art, appear to have stemmed from Yin Fu a famous disciple of Dong, Hai-Chuan.   Famous Emei Baguazhang Styles. Among the Baguazhang forms found in the Emei Wushu portfolio of martial art are:- Shengmen Baguazhang - (Generation Door Bagua) Based on the use of the Yi (mind intent) and the Yijing theory. Sengmen Baguazhang - (Monk Family Bagua) This branch is also known as the Buddhist branch. It is characterized by high stances. Imported by Shaolin monks to Emei this was part of a larger system of Shaolin Wushu. You Shen Baguazhang - (Swimming Body Bagua) Specializes in neutralizing energy, withdrawing and dodging methods. One famous Emei Baguazhang master on Emei was Li, Zhangye, titled "the Longevity Monk," of the Emei Meeting Fairies Cave. Li was exceptionally good in You Shen Baguazhang. At the age of 108, he admitted his last disciple, Lui, Zijian, to his school. Lu was also the student of Yin Fu the famous Baguazhang master a student of Dong, Hai-Chuan of Beijing. Lu later joined Shaolin and Wudang schools. At the age of 91 years old and he was still very quick in his movements. That the above methods of Baguazhang can be traced to Dong's students still does not prove that other methods of circle walking and Yijing based martial systems did not live in family and private styles practiced by Emei Daoist and Buddhist monks. Even today reliable sources report to have witnessed a group of Daoists who nightly practice the Nine Palace circle walking and Rotating in Worship of Heaven Baguazhang exercises on Emei Mountain at a secluded spot near the White Cloud Temple.   Emei Jiulong Baguazhang. The Li family's Jiulong Baguazhang system said to have been conceived by Li, Ching-Yuen while living in the Emei Mountain region is like many other martial art and Qigong methods created by laymen and secular Daoists. It was seldom taught to anyone other than to the Li male family members until after 1956. This classifies it as a family system. Like many other methods Jiulong Baguazhang being a family style it is not often included in the official lists of the publicly taught Emei Wushu Baguazhang methods as practiced by the Emei Wushu Association. This fact makes Jiulong Baguazhang no less an Emei martial art as its principles are thought to be derived from the Yijing and the Daoist sect who either taught Dong, Hai-Chuan or from the very Daoists whom legend says taught Li, Ching-yuen directly. It is historically unclear if Jiulong Baguazhang is a branch of Dong, Hai-Chuan's method imported to Emei Mountain by disciple of Yin Fu or if it stems from the Dragon Door Daoists that predate Dong, Hai-Chuan. In any case we can clearly say that the principles and method as they came into the Li family of Sichuan apparently originated from the mysterious Emei Mountain.  Portions of this article by Dr. Painter were excerpted from a copyright article in IAM Magazine, Winter 1991 entitled : Emei Wushu by Liang, Shouyu and Troy Kuan