| Chongmaster Products HISTORY OF THE MUK YAN CHONG |
| The history of the Muk Yan Chong must begin with the origins of Shaolin Temple, the founder of the Kung Fu system and Wing Chun. This will be a brief overview from my own studies and research and is not to be taken as if it were etched in gold. I am not a historian, nor an expert in Ancient Chinese history. This is mainly for the newcomer who has decided to take a journey into the path of enlightenment, and my hopes of adding some knowledge along the way. I have two legends to tell. The first....... According to legend, the origin of ancient Chinese martial arts owes it gratitude to a monk from India who went by the name of Bodhidharma. Between the 1st and 5th Century A.D., he departed India for China as a disciple of Buddhism. In time he associated himself with the monks of the Shaolin Temple in a place called Honan Province. Many, many years went by as the Indian monk enlightened the Chinese monks in yoga, meditation techniques, exercise programs for the mind and body, as well as empty-hand fighting systems. It is not known if they used a facsimile of the Muk Yan Chong in their teachings during this time period, or if Bodhidharma had furnished the idea. The second....... According to legend, between the 14th and 17th Century Gung Fu (that's Chinese for Kung Fu) was a way of life for the monks in the Siu Lum Monastery of Southern China. The Ching Dynasty government sincerely believed that they were losing control over their people. They believed they were facing an overthrow by those with power. They eventually attacked and burned down the Shaolin monastery, in an all out effort to kill off all the monks living inside. The story goes on to say that only a handful of monks escaped, with each Buddhist monk being a master of their particular martial art. It just so happens that one of them was a woman! A Buddhist nun by the name of Ng Mui. During this time period, with a government out to kill off all Shaolin monks, to wipe out all knowledge of their fighting arts, Ng Mui kept a very low profile as she continued teaching her wisdom to others. During her travels she met Yim Yee and his teenage daughter, Yim Wing Chun, in Southern China. Ng Mui and Wing Chun became close friends and over a long period of time the woman taught the young lady fighting techniques known as Kung Fu. Wing Chun eventually mastered the style and traditions taught to her. As time passed, she married and taught what she knew to her husband, Leung Bok Chau. He in turn, secretly passed them on to his close friends, who in turn through generation after generation taught their family and friends. This all took place during the terrible times of the Chinese people being ruled by the Manchu government, the same government who attempted to destroy all the Shaolin Temples and kill off all the Monks. It is said that the Muk Yan Chong was first thought of and created by Ng Mui as she stood by a well, collecting water. That is the legend.....................now for the rest of the story. It is unknown how much truth is behind this, but from my understanding, the Fukien Shaolin Temple supposedly used a large number of Wooden Dummies in a long hallway as a test or final exam for their students. The Wooden Dummies were either controlled by other monks or activated somehow when the student approached or began to pass the dummy. The student had to successfully pass by all the Wooden Dummies and make it to the end. Sometimes they were seriously injured, physically disabled, or even killed. If he/she made it to the end of the hallway, he/she would be forced to pick up the heavy and very hot metal pot of burning stones, using only their forearms. (This scene was made famous as it was featured at the beginning of each episode of the Kung Fu TV series starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine.) . The searing metal of the pot, would burn the flesh, leaving a permanent mark; the Dragon on the left arm, and the Tiger on the right. As the secrets of Kung Fu were handed down in China from generation to generation, (foreigners were not allowed to be taught!) it eventually came to the Americas. Two of the most significant and famous people to bring this to our attention and inject it into our way of life, were the late Grandmaster Yip Man, and his famous student, the late and great Bruce Lee. Yip Man was also the first to introduce the Muk Yan Chong into this country. Bruce Lee redesigned the Chong and introduced yet another version specifically used in his form, known the world over as Jeet Kune Do. (Note: to avoid arguments with JKD practitioners, do not use the words "style" or "art" when describing JKD!). Ever since Yip Man introduces the Muk Yan Chong to us in the sixties, there have been many new variations. Even the words "Muk Yan Chong" are spelled different with each new business opening its doors. The only significant structural change to the Chong since it entered this country has been the width of the base/trunk, or what is often referred to as "the main body." The custom made Chong that Yip Man is seen in photographs has a base of approximately 9 inches across. We Americans have started building them using only a 6-inch base, possibly due to the greater expense of a 9-inch verses a 6-inch, or the availability of materials for making a 6-inch versus a 9 inch. It is possible that the need for a more streamlined version due to lack of living space in the big cities. More history of the Chong as time goes by.................................................Steven J. Pollard |
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| Chongmaster Products Steven Pollard P.O. Box 389 Somersworth, NH 03878 info@chongmasterproducts.com |