Baguazhang () is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being tai chi and xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice (or neijia). Baguazhang literally means "eight trigram palm", referring to the bagua "trigrams" of the Yijing, one of the canons of Daoism.

History

The creation of baguazhang as a formalized martial art is attributed to Dong Haichuan, who is said to have learned it from Taoist and Buddhist masters in the mountains of rural China during the early 19th century. Many Chinese authorities do not accept the Buddhist origin, instead maintaining that those teachers were purely Taoist in origin, the evidence lying in baguazhangs frequent reference to core concepts central to Taoism, such as yin and yang theory, I Ching, and Taoism's most distinctive paradigm, the bagua diagram. The attribution to Buddhist teachers came from the second generation teachers, i.e. Dong Haichuan's students, some of whom were Buddhist. There is evidence to suggest a synthesis of several pre-existing martial arts taught and practised in the region in which Dong Haichuan lived, combined with Taoist circle walking that emulates the cyclical patterns found in nature. Through his work as a servant in the Imperial Palace he impressed the emperor with his graceful movements and fighting skill, and became an instructor and a bodyguard to the court. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court.

Famous disciples of Dong Haichuan to become teachers were Yin Fu, Cheng Tinghua, Ma Gui, Song Changrong (), , Ma Weiqi (), Liu Baozhen (), Liang Zhenpu, and Liu Dekuan (). Although they were all students of the same teacher, their methods of training and expressions of palm techniques differed. For a beginner, the circle is six to twelve feet in diameter. Baguazhang is also known for practicing with extremely large weapons, another reference to Nezha, such as the bagua sword () and the bagua broadsword (). This is the source of the theory of being able to deal with multiple attackers and find solutions to seemingly complicated scenarios, within training or in daily life. Baguazhangs evasive nature is also shown by the practice of moving behind an attacker, so that the opponent cannot harm the practitioner.

Although the many branches of baguazhang are often quite different from each other (some, like Cheng-style, specialize in close-in wrestling and joint locks, while others, like some of the Yin styles, specialize in quick, long-range striking), all have circle walking, spiraling movement, and certain methods and techniques (piercing palms, crashing palms, etc.) in common.

Baguazhangs movements employ the whole body with smooth coiling and uncoiling actions, utilizing hand techniques, dynamic footwork, and throws. Rapid-fire movements draw energy from the center of the abdomen or dantian. The circular stepping pattern also builds up centripetal force, allowing the practitioner to maneuver quickly around an opponent.

In media

  • Baguazhang inspired the main basis of airbending in the 2005–2008 Nickelodeon Animation Studio TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan's 2010 film counterpart, its 2024 Netflix counterpart, and its sequel series The Legend of Korra.
  • Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings features baguazhang being used by Ying Li, mother of the title character and wife of Wenwu (the MCU's version of the Mandarin).
  • Baguazhang is used by Zhang Ziyi as Gong Ruo Mei and Zhang Jin as Ma San in The Grandmaster.
  • Jet Li uses baguazhang when playing Gabriel Yulaw in The One.
  • Baguazhang inspired the Hyuga clan's gentle fist-fighting style in Naruto.
  • Ling Xiaoyu of the Tekken series of games is said to practice Baguazhang and Piguazhang styles.
  • Kitana uses a variation of baguazhang in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. It was also used by Ashrah in Mortal Kombat: Deception.

See also

  • Bagua—the eight trigrams, used as guiding principles for baguazhang.
  • I Ching—the Chinese Classic relied on by Taoist thinking.
  • Feng shui—the metaphysical system of interior design based on the bagua.
  • Tai chi—a similar neijia.

Notes

References

  • Robert W. Smith, Chinese Boxing,
  • Bok Nam, Park & Dan Miller, The Fundamentals of Pa Kua Chang: The Methods of Lu Shui-T'ien As Taught by Park Bok Nam,
  • Shou-Yu, Liang, Baguazhang : Emei Baguazhang Theory and Applications,
  • O'Brien, Jess, Nei Jia Quan: Internal Martial Arts Teachers of Tai Ji Quan, Xing Yi Quan, and Ba Gua Zhang,
  • Frantzis, Bruce Kumar, The Power of Internal Martial Arts: Combat Secrets of Ba Gua, Tai Chi, and Hsing-I,
  • Wang Shujin, Bagua Linked Palms - Translated by Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao-Yen, (1-58394-264-5)
  • Wang Shujin, Bagua Swimming Body Palms - Translated by Kent Howard and Chen Hsiao-Yen, (1-58394-245-9)

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