Tongbei Boxing
01 · Historical Records
Tongbeiquan, also known as "tongbiquan," is a mimic-style (animal-imitation) school of boxing, named for the form and intent of the long arms and quickness of the ape. Its techniques derive from northern boxing methods of the Ming and Qing periods, emphasizing extended long-range striking and issuing force on light contact, with free-hand single drills as the mainstay and set routines as supplementary. After being introduced into Beijing in the late Qing and early Republican period, tongbeiquan established teaching grounds in Niujie, Guang'anmen, Tianqiao, Dongsi, Haidian, Fengtai and elsewhere, gradually differentiating into influential schools such as Baiyuan (White Ape) Tongbeiquan, Qi-family Tongbeiquan and Wuxing (Five Phase) Tongbeiquan, each differing from the others in stance, method of issuing force and weaponry.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
Tongbeiquan, also called "tongbiquan," is an important component of traditional Chinese martial arts and is widely practiced in the Beijing area. Tongbeiquan takes the ape's long arms as its form and the ape's quickness as its intent; its striking methods are distinctive, chiefly targeting acupoints, the ligaments of the bone seams and the joints, giving it strong combative effectiveness. Tongbeiquan has 108 free-hand techniques, 24 forms, six routes of general hand methods, six routes of stepping-palm, six rounds of breakdown routines, 24 cannon strikes, and 24 forms of moving-stance internal training. Its weapons include the duanmen spear, tiangang sabre, tiangang sword, twelve-section staff, eight-step thirteen-sabre set, qili staff, ganzi whip and dengkerpi. Tongbeiquan takes free-hand single drills as the core and set routines as supplementary, with post-and-sandbag drilling and armored sparring as its main training methods. Tongbeiquan is characterized by swift hand work, deep, extended, cool and crisp power, issuing force on light contact, extended long-range striking, the blending of hardness and softness, nimble ingenuity and ready transitions between attack and defense. A mnemonic verse describes the state of training: "Eye sees and mind intends, and hand and foot arrive; neither grasping nor seizing, yet still as if empty; ten fingers grip the ground as power pierces the crown; when the hand goes out, the body shakes like a bell and bends like a bow; qi resides in the elixir field, intent dwells at the crown, and the moment of issuing power is always in the waist."
The 108 loose hands and 24 forms
The body of the style, loose-hand drills rather than set forms: 108 loose hands, 24 forms, six sets of palms, splittings and cannon strikes.
Breaking-gate spear, Tiangang sabre and sword
The weapons of the style, the breaking-gate spear, Tiangang sabre and sword, twelve poles, thirteen cuts and others.
Stake-and-bag drills and armoured sparring
The training methods of the style, post-and-bag work for long reach and armoured sparring to test strikes to joints and sinews.
Eight generations of the white-ape school
One of the major branches, passed from Lu Yunqing of Shandong to Shi Hongsheng of Beijing and on for eight generations.
The five-element and Qi-family branches
The other branches: the five-element line from Zhang Ce in Haidian and Fengtai, and the Qi family line at Tianqiao and Dongsi.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
In the course of its transmission and development, tongbeiquan has formed many schools; the most influential are Baiyuan (White Ape) Tongbeiquan, Qi-family Tongbeiquan and Wuxing (Five Phase) Tongbeiquan. Baiyuan Tongbeiquan was transmitted from Lu Yunqing of Shandong to Shi Hongsheng of Beijing, and then on to Ma Xiaohe, Zhang Wencheng and others; it has been transmitted mainly in the Niujie and Guang'anmen area of Beijing for eight generations. Wuxing Tongbeiquan was passed by Zhang Ce to Ma Xichun, Dong Xiusheng and others, and is transmitted in the Haidian and Fengtai area of Beijing, with five generations of inheritors to date.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
Master-apprentice transmission is the traditional mode of transmission for tongbeiquan: the master orally imparts and personally demonstrates, passing on the boxing methods, internal training and combative techniques to his disciples. Qi-family Tongbeiquan was passed by Qi Xinyu, a native of Hebei, to Qi Taichang and Chen Qing of Beijing, who in turn passed it on to Cui Jing and Wang Zhanchun; it has been transmitted for nine generations in the Tianqiao and Dongsi area of Beijing. Tongbeiquan integrates health preservation, practical combat and martial-arts appreciation in one, carrying traditional Chinese martial-arts culture; it has not only practical combat value but also emphasizes cultivating both inner and outer dimensions, promoting physical and mental health, and embodying the usefulness of its combative and fitness functions. Tongbeiquan's movements are smooth and flowing, blending hardness and softness, displaying the aesthetic value of the martial arts. The project teaches not only martial skills but also emphasizes the cultivation of martial virtue, transmitting traditional virtues such as respect for teachers and for the way, giving it educational significance and socio-cultural value.
05 · Associated Representative Bearers
Representative bearers recorded under this item, organized by national nomination batch:
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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