|
|
|
|
The other two martial mountains,
Songshan and Wudangshan, are associated with external
and internal Gongfu respectively. Although Shaolin Gongfu
has internal practices, it is more renown for its external
Gongfu because it focuses on conditioning the body, developing
physical power and expressing an outward manifestation
of strength. Likewise Wudangshan Gongfu has some external
methods, but its reputation stands as the home of many
internal or soft styles of Gongfu and qigong. O-Mei emphasizes
both internal and external methods equally. Unlike Shaolin
and Wudangshan, O-Mei does not have a single dominant
philosophy. She is not centrally organized, so its martial
arts have naturally grown to be more diverse. O-Mei Gongfu
is reminiscent of Wudang philosophy melded with Shaolin
techniques, although some consider it to be a little closer
to Wudang due to the heavy Taoist influence.
O-Mei Gongfu is composed of over 200 different styles
of Gongfu, collected over the last 2000 years. And it
is still growing. She still absorbs styles from all over
China. Following the 1937 Sino-Japanese war, many northern
Chinese grandmasters ended up in Sichuan. They brought
with them an assortment of different fighting styles,
expanding the breadth of O-Mei Gongfu within this century.
It is said that O-Mei Gongfu can be divided into five
pai and eight men. Pai means school or system; Men literally
means gate, but in Gongfu it refers to a specific school
or lineage, often the result of reformations in a method
by a revolutionary master. One Pai may include several
Men, but not the other way around. The five Pai are Huangling
Pai (emperor's clothes), Dianyi Pai (point), Qingchen
Pai (named after a place), Tiefo Pai (Iron Buddha) and
Qingniu Pai (black cow.) The eight Men are mostly named
after family surnames; they are Zhen Men (monk), Yue Men
(after famous Song General Yue Fei), Zhao Men, Du Men,
Hong Men (red), Hua Men, Zi Men, and Hui Men. O-Mei is
also famous for its sword method, as well as Sun-clan
fist, Du-clan fist, Huolong (fire dragon) and its monkey
and eagle imitative boxing. |
|
 |
|
|