Legends

The three important men who brought the Northern kung-fu styles first to Beijing and ultimately to the world in the mid 1800's were:

Yang, Lu Shan- d.1872, T'ai-chi Chuan, arrived in Peking around 1850 to take the job of instructing at the Shen Ji Ying,[the Emperor's security camp] both to the princes and to the palace guard. He had spent at least 18 years [perhaps as many as 40] as a servant in the Chen family village before returning home and teaching Wu, Yu-shiang and his brother in Yung Nien [both Yang and Wu's home village] for five years. Wu arranged for Yang to get the job at the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City. What Yang taught there did not resemble the Chen except in a few basic postures and in any event seems to be more than a mere modification and more of a breakthrough. Some reports say he went to Wudang Shan and studied Taoist meditation.  Little is understood about Lu shan's breakthrough other than the basic history, which is that he went to Peking and took the highest martial arts position there and became known as "Yang the Invincible." Yang style T'ai-Chi is the most widely practiced martial art in the world today. Yang was as famous for his weapons skills as he was for his extraordinary empty hand skills. He defeated the most famous spear expert of his day in match in front of the Emperor.

Chi, Lung-Feng created Hsing-I Chuan in the early 1600's. He was well versed in military martial arts, especially spear, and had studied at Shaolin. Fish et al   Several generations later the master of the style was Li, Nen jang. He was the most famous martial artist of his generation in China. Li taught Kuo, Yun Shen [Devine Crushing Fist] who arrived in Peking sometime after Yang, Lu Shan and Tung, Hai Chuan [circa 1860-1870]. Kuo had killed a man in a duel and was shackled and put in solitary for 3 years. He came out stronger than ever. His Hsing-I system practiced dozens of weapons besides the basics of sword, knife, and spear.

Tung, Hai-chuan- d1882,Pa Kua Chang. Tung arrived in Peking at age 50 [circa 1864] and was undefeated. He initially taught Lohan Chuan but eventually he taught his new art which became known as Pa Kua Chang. He trained the Duke of Ssu's bodyguards. He taught each student differently based on what martial arts they had studied previously and this resulted in eight different methods. Tung's "name was in the book" as an acknowledged master of Luo han Ch'uan, one of the major systems of Northern Shaolin. Fish ibid  

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