BAK FU PAI
White Tiger Boxing is a kind of Hakka Kung Fu style. It belongs to the first of the five tiger boxing of Emei family (i.e. White Tiger Boxing, Black Tiger Boxing, Tiger Claw Boxing, Tiger Roaring Boxing, and Tiger Shape Boxing).
Fung Do Duk "馮道德", is a legendary figure in Chinese martial arts history. He is associated with the martial art style known as Bak Fu Pai "白虎派"(White Tiger Kung Fu) Kung Fu.
Fung Do Duk is believed to have lived during the Qing Dynasty in China. According to the legends surrounding Bak Fu Pai, Fung Do Duk was a highly skilled martial artist who specialized in the White Tiger Style.
The White Tiger Style, or Bak Fu Pai, is known for its aggressive and powerful techniques, inspired by the movements and characteristics of a tiger. Fung Do Duk is considered one of the key figures in the development and propagation of this martial art style.
Legend has it that Fung Do Duk trained under the guidance of the Bak Fu Pai founder, Grandmaster Cheung Lai Chuen. He was said to have displayed exceptional talent and dedication, mastering the intricate techniques and principles of the White Tiger Style.
Fung Do Duk was reputed to possess extraordinary strength and agility, making him a formidable martial artist. He was known for his dynamic footwork, swift strikes, and relentless fighting spirit. It is said that he traveled throughout China, engaging in battles and challenges against practitioners of different martial arts styles, proving the effectiveness of Bak Fu Pai.
During the Ming Dynasty, China faced internal rebellions and corruption, leaving it vulnerable to the Manchu invasion in 1644. At this time, Hong Mei, the abbot of the southern Shaolin Temple, known as the "Red Eyebrows," passed away. His successor, Chi Thien Su, also known, took over his position. However, Chu Long Tuyen, another skilled martial arts master, refused to acknowledge this transition. He believed that the Ming Dynasty had become corrupt and chose to align himself with the Qing rulers instead.
In 1644, the Manchu forces attacked the southern Shaolin Temple located in Quanzhou, Fujian province. Only five masters managed to escape, and they became known as the Five Elders. The Five Elders were Chi Thien Su, Ng Mui (Who taught Yim Wing Chun), Fung Doe Duk, Mew Hing Doa, and Bak Mei. One of these elders, Chi Thien Su, founded a new temple at Nine Lotus Mountain in Fujian, where the survivors sought refuge. However, Chu Long Tuyen, fearing retribution against his family and students, chose not to reveal his true identity and was henceforth known as Bak Mei, or White Eyebrow.
According to certain accounts, Bak Mei is said to have betrayed the Qing Dynasty by providing information about their plans against the Manchu invaders to the Manchu Shunzhi Emperor. He then returned to the Shaolin Temple with intelligence about the Manchu's attack plan. Eventually, after the destruction of the temple, both Bak Mei and Fung Dou Dak, another master, embarked on separate paths to study Taoism.
Bak Mei trained an anti-imperial force, but they were eventually captured by the imperial troops. In order to protect his captured followers from torture and death, Bak Mei was compelled to teach and lead 50,000 imperial troops in a second assault on the Shaolin Temple, resulting in its destruction. During this battle, Bak Mei engaged in a single combat with Chi Thien Su, the leader of the Shaolin, and defeated him by breaking his neck. Bak Mei claimed that he took this action to prevent the troops who followed him from massacring the monks in the temple.
While Bak Mei is often depicted as a traitor, his actions, as well as those of Fung Dou Dak, were motivated by a desire to safeguard their followers from harm. It is conceivable that if Bak Mei and Fung Dou Dak had not supported the imperial forces, their followers would have faced torture and death.
The Manchu troops successfully destroyed the Shaolin Temple, which had been a symbol of resistance against the Qing Dynasty. It is believed that Bak Mei played a role in the temple's destruction, assisting the Manchu forces by using his knowledge of the temple's defenses.
Bak Mei, the legend goes, was the main responsible for the destruction of the Shaolin Temple. Fung, managed to save the precious Dit Dar herbal medicine manuals amidst the engulfing flames. Escaping through a concealed tunnel, he sought refuge in Taoism to evade the vigilant Qing soldiers who were actively hunting down Buddhist monks. Seeking solace, Fung sought shelter in a Taoist monastery situated on Emei Mountain, where he dedicated himself to honing his martial arts skills. Blending his Shaolin expertise with Taoist principles, he underwent a transformative journey. Throughout his endeavors, Fung received assistance from Doo Tin Yin, a skilled physician and herbal expert. It is believed that Doo Tin Yin aided Fung in gaining entry to the Taoist monastery and possibly used his position as an imperial physician to safeguard Fung from his adversaries.
After the temple was destroyed, Bak Mei and Fung Dou Dak left the temple on separate paths in order to study Taoism.