Kung fu bkgnd

Pien San (Side Body) Wing Chun originates from the village where Dr.Leung Jan retired after leaving Foshan. Gulao was his home (a small village in Heshan province).Traditionally in Chinese culture the leading Kung Fu master of thevillage would teach the village youngsters in order that they would beable to protect their village from bandits and raiders who wereprevalent at this time and would prey on the weaker villages. Like allstyles of Kung Fu this teaching had two purposes, one was to provide apractical fighting system that would allow the youngsters to defendthemselves and their loved ones. The second was to promote health inmind and body to allow the youngsters to live long lives. In additionwith the ability to deal out deadly techniques, there must be someresponsibility so the Master much teach the youngsters to be mature,responsible people.

The Red Turban Rebellion

In 1854, Liu Duchuan (Lao Doo-Chuen), brother of Guangdong Three Harmonies Society member and Shanghai Xiaodaohui (Siu Do Wui, Small Knife Society) leader, Liu Lichuan (Lao Lee-Chuen), was sent back to Guangdong (which had been charged with paying 80.6% of the Opium War reparations) to help organize an uprising in support of the Taiping. In June, He Liu (Ho Lok), a smuggler and society member whose brother had been murdered in a prefectural purge, began to raise a band of men in search of vengeance. Helped by Liu Yingcai (Lao Ying-Choi), he prepared to attack the Dongguan county seat.

They moved on Stone Dragon town. Thirty thousand members and six hundred boats worked towards the goal of "taking down the Dragon, lifting the tiger, stopping the goat, bowing the Buddha, and reaching the Western paradise." In this code, dragon signified the Stone Dragon, tiger the Tiger Gate, goat the Goat City (Guangzhou), Buddha the Buddha Mountain (Foshan), and Western Paradise the province of Guangxi.

He Liu's uprising began a chain reaction through the region, and on June 11, 1854, Chen Kai (Chan Hoi) and Liu Duchuan lead 7000 Three Harmonies Society members to revolt in Foshan. On June 12th, members of the Precious Jade Flower Union, under the direction of Li Wenmao, took to the streets in full costume, waving red banners. Known practitioners of yongchunquan (wing chun kuen) at the time who could have participated in this uprising included:

• Huang Huabao (Wong Wah-Bo), who was sometimes said to have been a native of Gulao (Koolo), Heshan (Hoksan). Considered the dashiheng (dai sihing, senior) of the troupe, he played the wusheng (mo sang, male martial lead), and was particularly skilled in the roles of General Kwan and the Monkey King, and in the use of the gun (kwun, pole).
• Liang Erdi (Leung Yee-Tai), who played the wudan, (mo deng, 'female' martial lead).
• Dahuamian Jin (Dai Fa Min Kam, Painted Face Kam), also known as Xin Jin (San Kam, New Kam), and sometimes said to have properly been Luo Jin (Lok Kam) of Jinju (Kamjuk), Sanshui (Saamshui), who played the wujing (mo jing, martial painted face).
• Yijin (Yik Kam, Wing Gold) who played the qingdan (ching deng, proper 'female'), a virtuous leading role.
• Li Fushun (Lai Fook-Shun), also known as Xiao Fu (Siu Fook, Young Fook), who played the xiaosheng (siu sang, young male), the beardless scholar-lover.
• Cao Shun (Cho Shun), known as Dayan Shun (Dai Ngan Shun, Cross-eyed Shun), a native of Panyu (Poon Yee). He played the xiaowu (siu mo, Little Martial), and was a disciple of Yijin.
• And others, including mentions of Liang Langui (Leung Lan-Kwai), Gaolao Zheng (Go Lo Chung, Tall Chung), Huazi Ming (Fa Jee Ming, Flower Mark Ming), Huamian Biao (Fa Min Biu, Flower Face Biu), etc.

A few hundred at first, within a few days, tens of thousands of common people joined as well, showing their allegiance with red turbans. And the Hongjin (Hung Gam, Red Turban) Rebellion was born.

The rebels burned the Qing offices, and on July 4, took control of the town and ushered in the Daning (Dai Ning, Great Peace). Their troops came to be known as the Hong Bing (Hung Bing, Vast Army), with Chen Kai as the Chen Nan Wang (Chan Nam Wong, Subdue the South King) and Li Wenmao as his second.

Hill bandits soon began to move on the Guangdong capitol, Guangzhou. On July 14, Kan Xian, who had previous started a revolt in Huayan, assaulted the north gate. He Liu marched to join them, and from Panyu, Red Turbans camped on the Manchu parade grounds outside the east gate. Bannermen and local militia defended the city. On August 19 and 24, Chen Kai and Li Wenmao tried to crush the militia forces between Foshan and Guangzhou but failed. Soon thereafter, rebel infighting began to take its toll. By September 5, He Liu pulled out, by September 7, the siege began to falter, and by November 5, it broke.

The Wrath of the Qing

The take over of Foshan lasted until January, 1855 when, following mistreatment at the hands of some of the rebels, the locals became solidly pro-government. On January 18, Bannermen and local braves succeeded in routing the rebels and taking back the city. Then Governor-General Ye Mingchen's purge began.

Li Wenmao retreated to Guangxi. His forces captured several cities, including Liuchow, where he established the Da Sheng (Great Achievement) Kingdom. Li's regime enjoyed popular support, but in 1858 he was wounded in a failed attempt to seize Guiling. He died soon thereafter. Chen Kai died in 1861.

Following the destruction of the Precious Jade Flower Union, while some of the surviving members hid in Foshan and surrounding towns and villages, they first taught their martial arts to non-Red Junk members.