WONG FEI HUNG,

Wong Fei Hung was born on July 9, 1847. He was probably one of the most famous modern era Chinese martial artist and folk hero (of the 19th and early 20th century). Much of his fame was spread by Cantonese Star Kwan Tak Heng portrayal of him in the sixties in Cantonese black and white movies and by famous Cantonese story tellers such as Lee Tai Soh (of Singapore Chinese Radio Station) making him a folk hero. During the sixties, many people could not differentiate between Wong Fei Hung and Kwan Tak Heng (who was the first actor acting the role of Wong Fei Hung in a movie). Kwan Tak Heng mostly acted in Wong Fei Hung's movies. As movies were a major source of entertainment, no other actor had managed to take on the role of Wong Fei Hung as sensationally as Kwan Tak Heng and the villain part by Sek Kin (who also played the main villain in Enter the Dragon against Bruce Lee). Jet Lee (Once Upon A Time in China Part 1-3 with his Shaolin martial arts were box office hits), Jacky Chan (several movies were also box office hits) and many famous actors sensationalized and make him exceptionally famous. Previously one would have thought he never got married as all these movies by Kwan Tak Heng, Jacky Chan, Jet Li and others never mentioned about his family (other than his father Master Wong Kei Ying).  New information are now available to give a more correct view of Master Wong Fei Hung.

Wong Fei Hung's father was Master Wong Kei Ying one of Canton's 10 Tigers (10 best martial artists of Canton). These 10 martial artists were supposed to be high profiled and esteemed Grandmasters in Canton. Wong Fei Hung learned the Hung Ga style (traced back to Hung Hei Kun) and traditional Chinese medicines from his father. Hung Hei Kun managed to escape being captured by the Ching soldiers (as China was then ruled by the Manchu which started the Ching Dynasty without any attack as General Wu San Kuei (Ng Sam Kwai in Cantonese) opened the gates of the Great Wall of China to allow the Manchu in). Many Chinese peasants rose against the corrupt Ming government who underestimated Li Cher Chern's (Lee Chee Seng in Cantonese) capabilities. As the Ming Government surprisingly collapsed, the Manchu pretended to be the saviours marched into the capital Beijing without any resistance and set up the Ching Dynasty. Li Cher Chern's army was too busy celebrating and failed to realise General Wu San Kuei of the Ming Dynasty had allowed the Manchu in without a fight. The main reason was Li Cher Chern try to take Ng Sam Kwai's most loved woman Chan Yin Yin for himself. This is why they say that the Great Wall was meant to keep the invaders away but China fall without a fight (when General Ng Sam Kwai opened the door due to a beautiful maiden).
Hung Hei Kun met with Fong Wing Chun (nothing to do with Yim Wing Chun who founded Wing Chun), daughter of Fong Sai Yuk. She taught him the Crane Style to balance the Tiger style he learned earlier from Ji Sin Sim See. They later got married. Hung Hei Kun established his own martial art style Hung Ga (also known as Hung Chuan in Mandarin or Hung Fist). He was also thought to hide in some Chinese Junks (known as Hung Chuan or Red Boat) to avoid being captured by Ching soldiers. Some people credited Wong Fei Hung 's Hung Ga to Lok Ah Choy a fellow Shaolin student of Hung Hei Kun. Many people think there is only one Shaolin Temple in China. The fact is that the Southern Shaolin was in Fujian Province (was always active against foreign invaders and Japanese pirates during the Ming Dynasty and later form the source for anti-Ching movements) while the Northern Shaolin is on Mount Soong. The Ching emperor burned down the Southern Shaolin temple for harboring rebels such as Hung Hei Kun and others purportedly trying to restore the Ming Dynasty. Wu Chu Chuan (Five Ancestors Fist) is a martial art based on the 5 masters from Southern Shaolin who managed to escape the burning of the Shaolin temple. Among them are the notorious Pak Mei (converted to Taoist) and Fung Tow Tak (Taoist) were considered traitors, Ng Mui See Tai (or Wu Mei See Tai) credited with teaching Yim Wing Chun (lady founder of Wing Chun), Miu Hin (father of Miu Chui Fa and maternal side grand father of Fong Sai Yuk) and Ji Sin Sim See (Cha'n master who taught Hung Hei Kun the Tiger style)
Some people think Wong Fei Hung was also one of Canton 10 tigers. There is however no evidence. Some call him the Tiger after the 10 Tigers of Canton. There is also some rumor that he was the trainer for the Canton Provincial Ching Army. In fact Master Lam Sai Weng also served in that capacity later on.
When Wong Fei Hung was 13, he learnt Tit Sin Kuen (Iron Wire Fist)from Lam Fuk Sing (林福成), a student of Tit Kiew Sam (Iron Bridge Three) Leung Kwan. He met Lam during a street martial arts performance in Douzhixiang. Leung Kwan (nicknamed Tit Kiew Sam) was ranked number three in Canton Ten Tigers (Gongdong Sup Fu). Master Wong later learnt Mo Ying Keok (No Shadow Legs meaning they were so fast you can hardly see them) from Sung Fai Tong (宋輝鏜). He was also thought to have learned Drunken Fist (Chui Kuen) from So Hut Yi (Beggar So Chan also one of Canton 10 tigers).

In 1863 at the age of 17, Wong Fei Hung set up his first martial arts school in Shuijiao. Twenty six years later in 1889, he opened Po-chi-lam (寶芝林) at Ren'an. Po-chi-lam (寶芝林) is the name of his centre where he teaches martial arts and used traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients . He was known to offer free services to the poor (those who could not afford to pay for the services).


Please note that Master Wong was able to learned all these martial arts from the Canton Ten Tigers or their disciples due to his father Master Wong Kei Ying being one of them. It was explained in my article on Huo Yuan Jia, father of Wushu that previously it was forbidden to learn martial arts without the consent of your master. Prior to that you have the saying "Yat yat wai see chong sang wai fu" (literally translated as one day master, whole life father). Learning martial art was a serious matter since your master of only one day become a father for life to you. Following the Confucian beliefs on filial piety means you have to obey and respect him for life. Further you are not to learn any other martial art without his permission. In big martial art organizations such as the Wudang, Emei or Shaolin any breach of conduct could have the whole organization hunting you down like the secret societies hunt their ex-members. You could be killed or paralyzed for just peeping at someone learning martial art. Even Master Huo Yuan Jia was forbidden to learn Wushu as he was constantly sick. When Master Huo set up Chin Woo to spread Chinese Wushu to all Chinese, he also invited lots of masters from other schools to teach their wushu at Chin Woo. This revolutionized wushu enabling Chinese youth to learn all types of Wushu and their true essences with the aim in strengthening them.Chin Woo was founded by the legendary Master Huo Yuan Jia, the man who loosen all rules and allow everyone the opportunity to learn Wushu. For more information please refer to my article Master Huo Yuan Jia, father of modern Wushu. In 1919, Master Wong was invited to perform at Chin Woo Guangzhou opening ceremony. This show he was indeed a famous martial artist of high esteem in Canton.

Leong Foon, Lam Sai Wing, Tang Fung, Wong Hon Hei (his son) and Ling Wan Kai were his most well known students. In most movies about Master Wong Fei Hung his favorite disciple was Leong Foon who was considered the most handsome and talented. He was killed in a lui toi (platform) fight with an enemy of Master Wong. Lam Sai Weng skill was no where near that of Leong Foon and Ling Wan Kai. When Master Wong was not around, Leong Foon would be looking after Poh Chi Lam. If Leong Foon were to follow Master Wong, Ling Wan Kai would normally be in charged. As there is little information on Ling Wan Kai, we can safely assume he must had died earlier like Leong Foon. Master Lam Sai Wing and Tang Fung were the disciples that spread his teachings all over the world. Many people claim their Seekong (Great Grandmaster) to be Master Lam Sai Wing which is hardly surprising. During that time China was politically and economically unstable with many masters becoming bodyguards to politicians and rich people. Master Wong Fei Hung and his disciples were constantly fighting against other schools and secret societies (and triads) trying to outdo each other for territories and fame. Many of his students and disciples (including his sons) were killed as a result. Even with their fame and martial art skill, Master Lam Sai Wing and Master Wong Fei Hung were frequently ambushed but managed to fight their way out. There were also stories of how Master Wong Fei Hung and Master Lam Sai Weng managed to escaped hundreds of axes welding killers in a theatre. Master Wong was well known for helping the oppressed. So it is quite surprising that he had so many enemies. Probably they were all fighting for fame and territorial control.

Master Wong married four times during his lifetime. His last wife was Mok Kwai Lan. He had four sons from his marriages. The oldest, Wong Hon Sam (黃漢森), was shot to death by a colleague in a drunken brawl in 1923. His son Wong Hon Hei did learn some martial art but is not mentioned much and could have end up dead like the elder son. His other sons were not taught martial arts as Wong Fei Hung probably feared that they would get into fights and end up dead like the other sons.

Master Wong died of illness on May 24, 1924 in Chengxi Fangbian Hospital in Guangdong. He was buried at the foot of Baiyun Mountain (Bak Wan San or White Cloud Mountain). A museum dedicated to Master Wong was built in Foshan (Futsan or Buddha Mountain). Some sources claimed he died of injuries from fights and ambushes. He was already 77 years old. I am wondering what type of cowards would fight an old man at 77. No doubt he would still be a very good fighter and not easy to handle but he would not be able to match the younger opponents in term of speed, agility and stamina (especially when he was also injured). But then again in time of war, it is the people he was aligned to such as the Ching government and later on the warlord he supported that would decide his fate.

After Wong Fei Hung's death, Po Chi Lam ceased its operations. Probably, this is how the famous phrase "Wong Fei Hung sau tong" (translated as Wong Fei Hung close shop) started to be used. They did not want to be targeted by the triads and martial arts schools.

Master Wong's 4th wife, Mok Kwai-lan (莫桂蘭), and his remaining two sons, along with his disciples Lam Sai Weng and Tang Sai King (鄧世瓊), later moved to Hong Kong and established martial arts schools there. Among those linking to Master Lam Sai Weng are the Lau brothers of famous actor Lau Kar Fai (Liu Jia Hui of 36th Chamber fame and other martial arts movies), martial arts actor Lau Kar Weng ( Liu Jia Rong in Mandarin) and Lau Kar Leong (famous director Liu Jia Liang in Mandarin). I used to have a house mate about 30 years ago who learn Hung Chuan and claimed his lineage to Lam Sai Weng. They are also some linking to Tang Fung.

While care is taken to separate the facts from fictions, please do correct me if you have facts (not those from Wong Fei Hung movies and stories which are not reliable). Most of the stories of the past are passed down from mouth to mouth without any historical records or proofs. For instance, some writers said he was known for upholding the Chinese's pride and dignity against the oppression of foreigners. If that happened it would be widely published in newspapers not mouth to mouth version. Unlike Master Huo Yuan Jia (who was poisoned by the Japanese doctor he seek treatment from), Master Wong was never the target of foreigner. There should also be no comparison between Chin Woo (one of the largest Wushu organization in the world even after Master Huo was poisoned) and Poh Chi Lam (which closed down after Wong Fei Hung died in 1924). His disciples and family members moved to Hong Kong and set up several martial arts schools there. Not withstanding the above, Master Wong Fei Hung was always one of the most famous fighter of his time (especially in Canton). He was never on the wrong side of the law and therefore was never hunted down by the Ching soldiers. In fact he was working on the Ching Canton Provincial army in the capacity of military trainer. Later on Lam Sai Wing took over from him in the same capacity. This goes to show he had good relationship with the Ching Canton government. This might however made him the target of anti Ching movements. After Dr Sun Yat Sen (father of modern China) died, China was divided and ruled by many warlords which try to outdo each other. If he was aligned to any warlord, the other warlord would see him potentially as an enemy. Therefore it was not an easy period to live in China.