Challenges Among Masters in Chinese Martial Arts

Stories abound of challenges that took place between famous masters in the Chinese martial arts world. These stories have been transmitted orally, by the written word, and by portrayals in movies. There are colorful depictions of undefeated martial arts heroes in countless matches.

Consider that many of these experts were contemporaries who lived during the same time period and in the same city or district. This means that they would have known one another or at least been aware of one another. In Beijing for example, there were many claims about so-called undefeated masters.

An often-repeated story is about the challenges that allegedly took place between Dong Haiquan, the Bagua Zhang master, and Guo Yunshen, the Xing Yi Quan master. Another account pits Dong Haiquan against the famous Tai Chi master Yang Luchan. There are also accounts of Li Shuwen, the Baji Quan master, and of Hua Yuanjia, the Mizong fighter. and their countless victories, and so on.

While some matches between masters might have taken place, it is questionable that these matches occurred openly as portrayed in movies. This is because of laws that generally forbade these matches, but more so because of the etiquette observed by professional Chinese martial arts masters who made their living from the arts.

Matches, if they occurred, took place to test one’s skills and would be arranged in private. Martial arts masters supported one another and did not want to lose face as that could damage the other’s Rice Bowl (Fan Wan). The “Rice Bowl” referred to one’s livelihood.

This brief post is not to discount the exploits or skills of famous masters, but to reflect on the age when they purportedly occurred, the governing laws, and the high moral standards observed by these masters. If there were so many undefeated masters who lived in the same vicinity and at the same time, how could this be so?