Are XinYi and XingYi really two different arts?

Submitted by GrahamB on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 4:31am.

Xin Yi Liu He

All Chinese martial arts that are considered "traditional" have interesting and disputed histories. The history of XingYi (one of the three main Chinese internal martial arts) is particularly interesting because its verifiable history is so incredibly long. We can (pretty) accurately trace it hundreds of years back to the 1600s when a man named Ji Long Feng was recorded as practicing Xin Yi... and that's where another particular problem starts - are Xin Yi and XingYi really two different arts, or the same thing?

Image by amy-wong.com via Flickr

Ji Long Feng practiced the precursor style to XingYi known as "Xin Yi Liu He" (Heart/mind 6 harmony boxing), not "Xin Yi" (Heart/mind boxing) or "XingYi" (shape/intent boxing) Everybody knows that XingYi was created in Shanxi by Li Neng Ran (1809 - 1890) out of Dai family Xin Yi - but is that accepted wisdom really the whole story?

Well... maybe. Maybe not. It depends how you look at it. Hold your righteous indignation in check for a few minutes while I draw a comparison to a completely unrelated human endeavour, that shows how human beings like to classify things in a certain way that doesn't really reflect reality: religion.

Image by Kees van Mansom via Flickr

There are considered to be 3 main world religions*: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. While the ideologies are wildly different, they all come from the same source. I don't mean God, I mean a human souce. While proclamations of belief have changed radically over time and along different branches, there's still an unbroken lineage of teacher to student going back in all of them to the same place and time. While a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim might not consider they have much in common with each other (and indeed have been in perpetual states of conflict with each other for centuries now), if an alien from outer space landed on earth and somehow managed to download the entire history of the Judeo-Christian religion into his brain, he might consider them to simply be 3 different branches of the same family tree. Look within Christianity itself - there are multiple divisions. Take the cataclysmic Catholic/Protestant split so evident in Northern Ireland. In 1988, when Pope John Paul II delivered a speech to the European Parliament, a Presbyterian Minister Ian Paisley shouted "I Denounce you as the AntiChrist!" and held up a red poster reading "Pope John Paul II ANTICHRIST" in black letters. Yet would a Muslim living in one of the Arab states recognise a real difference between a Presbyterian Minister and a Roman Catholic Priest? Aren't they both just "Christians"? Yet, here we have one Christian telling another that he is not a Christian in big black letters on a red poster.

The point I'm making is that categorisation of martial arts (or religions) can depend more upon your point of view, politics and your emotional investment as much as anything else.

The accepted reading of XingYi's history is that it was created at a certain point in time. At that point in time the art stopped being called "Xin Yi" and it become known as "XingYi". It later split off into Hebei and Shanxi divisions, so it also, at a certain point in time it stopped being just "XingYi" and became "Hebei XingYi" or "Shanxi XingYi". Hopefully the ridiculous nature of this "putting reality in boxes" view is starting to become apparent. Of course, people need to use these "boxes" to meaningfully discuss things, which is why we use them in all walks of life, but the problem is we then start thinking of the walls of these boxes as being real, firm and solid, and we get very upset when other people want to re-arrange reality into different sized parcels than our own. My teacher had 3 Chinese nationals as teachers and (contrary to the accepted wisdom of the Internet), none of those 3 drew a real distinction between Xin Yi and XingYi. They were both "different names for the same thing".

Image by appelogen.be via Flickr

I don't dispute the difference in emphasis between styles. Dai Xin Yi, for instance, makes use of a training method called Squatting Monkey, where the spine is bowed and then forcibly straightened in a violent expand/contract motion as the practitioner steps forward into a forward weighted posture. Hebei XingYi in contrast is known for its use of a rear weighted San Ti posture where the weight is kept on the back leg, even when stepping forward. But do these differences mean that it's a different art? Or is it the same art with a different emphasis? I'd contend that the difference isn't as hard and fast, or as black and white, as it is made out to be. If you look for differences there will always be differences even between two students of the same school and same style, but if you stop focusing on the differences and look for the similarities then you see things in a different way.

if you look at my previous post in which I compare photos of myself performing postures from our line of Hebei XingYi to photos of Master Yan Long Cheng performing the 10 Animals of Dai XingYi you can see the immediate similarities between the postures, even though the stance used is often different.

So, are XingYi and Xin Yi two completely different arts or should they be regarded as one art that has been passed through the hands of many thousands of practitioners over several hundreds of years? Let me know what you think in the Comments section.

* If you look at religion in terms of sheer numbers I'm not so sure these would be the top 3, but that's tangental to the point I'm making, so let's let it ride for now.

Related blogs:

The XingYi classics

XingYi: Hititng bodies and Beng Chuan

GrahamB's blog
Login or register to post comments

Ground shaking content i get

Submitted by amery buck on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 10:37pm.

Ground shaking content i get form your blog. Very nice post about two different arts. Thanks for your beneficial information about 642-982 dumps, 70-431 dumps and 642-971 dumps certifications. These are the best certifications in the world.

Gucci online shop. We

Submitted by dawei on Sat, 07/24/2010 - 1:50am.

Gucci online shop. We Provide Discount Gucci Bags,Gucci Handbags,Gucci Shoes and Gucci Wallets. gucci bags gucci handbags gucci jewelry gucci Cheap and Discount Gucci Handbag or Wallet Gucci Handbags is your best Gucci Bag provider gucci sale gucci shoes cheap gucci shoes gucci shoes sale gucci men shoes gucci shoesn,cheap gucci shoes , Gucci established itself as a luxury fashion label in the clothing, accessories and jewelry field. he quality of their fabrics and materials made Gucci the symbol of Made in Italy.

visvim hockney

Submitted by keer on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 7:24am.

Converse all stars
visvim folk
buy converse boots
Visvim christo
converse chucks
Converse sneakers
pink converse
visvim online
all star shoes
converse all star shoes
Emu boots
visvim shoes
Converse on stars
Converse leather
Converse all star
emu australia boots
Visvim
Converse boots
Converse chuck taylor
Converse shoes
Converse all stars
converse chucks taylor
Visvim fbt
Converse double tongue
Converse one star
Converse Uk shop
visvim hockney
discount converse
converse outlet
converse store
Converse Weapon
converse all star shoes
all stars shoes
chucks shoes
chuck taylor shoes

It's good to know the

Submitted by Vincent on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 1:34am.

It's good to know the history of the martial arts that we have right now, despite of the changes, still the tradition of having martial arts deserve to be given some appreaciation. This is one of the traditions that we owe from the ancesors. I would like to take some installment loans to familiarize myself to different kinds of martial arts, it could be a great shield as a form of self defense as well as you were able to value the traditions that we inherint from our dear ancestors.

Some merchants who sell

Submitted by huajianji on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 1:47am.

Some merchants who sell replica watchesa lot of fine wine have taken it into their fake watches own hands to ascertain authenticity.fake rolex English wine merchant Corney and Barrow replica rolex claims to have written and photographic records of every surviving Petrus produced since breitling 1964 and uses these along with tell-tale signs on the cork, bottle and label to authenticate the wine.

chateaux liberally opened

Submitted by huajianji on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 1:50am.

chateaux liberally opened old replica watches wines, topped them off and recorked them fake watches with a fresh cork!Of late, we are seeing sophisticated fake rolex methods of ascertaining a bottle’s contents. replicaFrench scientists suggested using a particle accelerator to measure the radiation emitted when a wine bottle is placed under an ion beam.

Step around burgers, put

Submitted by ping1234 on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 12:47am.

Step around burgers, put away chicken; to grills something that could be genuinely rapidly foodstuff, think portable charcoal bbq grill about that fish filet within the filet mignon.

A lot of chefs forget fish whenever they take out their own charcoal barbecue grill, favoring the actual classic beef and pork. Unfortunately grilling fish releases fillets which might extremely kamado grill flaky along with flavorful, a person wouldn't think twice about barbecue grill not often known the very beer batter or maybe typically the profound baking.

Grilled fish is actually healthful - virtually fat-free outdoor barbecue grill help save a little brushing of vegetable oil to prevent it from inserting -- plus making that at real wood cedar planks can kamado grills certainly add full flavour free of improving unhealthy calories.

Karen Adler along with Judith Fertig, the making duo by Kansas referred to as typically the kamado ceramic grill Queens, reported ample at home cooks, particularly landlocked Midwesterners, skip fish relating to grill together with are usually surprised to find out barbecue grills how very easy it is without question.

With every, Adler plus Fertig bbq grills possess created much more when compared with 20 cookbooks, primarily on grilling in barbecue grill accessories addition to barbecuing, this includes the particular recently launched "Techniques with regard to Cooking charcoal bbq grill Fish" and also "Skills intended for Planking"

"I consider the way to grilling fish is to cedar plank this," Adler kamado ceramic grill stated. Planking, or maybe making on a fabulous cedar planks of savoury solid wood which has been grill bundles soaked in water, helps to continue to keep fish succulent plus reduces the call to turn the actual fish filet over, extremely firmly sticking isn't a concern. Fish with the latest planks chefs by means of portable outdoor grill roundabout temperature. You need to soak the exact cedar in cold water for not less than one hour before putting this about typically the grill so the plank doesn't burn during cooking.

Planking occurs in convenient pertaining to extremely thin fillets of water fish, this sort of since perch, which in turn can certainly sink while outdoor bbq grills. Whenever it's done preparing food, the fish bbq smokers is good straight out of the cedar.Aluminum foil likewise helps out lining the particular bbq grill grates and also generating packets to get fish.

While with regard to the time to barbeque grill fish, Adler charcoal grills as well as Fertig advise a very simple "10 minutes of the inch of thickness" rule, turning over at the particular halfway point. A good salmon fillet that calculates 3/4 -inch-thick will likely barbeque smoker grill need to barbeque grill about 7 to 8 minutes, or simply bbq grill approximately 4 minutes upon each side over high, direct heat.Nearly every type of fish and also shellfish may be
bbq grill smoker cooked upon the exact grilling.

UGG

Submitted by Jerry890607 on Wed, 08/18/2010 - 1:22am.

UGG is a brand that is all about luxury and comfort for everyday life. http://www.uggbootsretails.com has provided wholesale price of different trendy styles of boots,Such as UGG Bailey Button, UGG Argyle Knit.which are made of Australian-made Grade-A sheepskin--plush fleece. UGG Classic Cardy Offering thecomfort,quality and luxury of authentic sheepskin, hand stitched genuine UGG Bailey Button for cheap.Get UGG Classic Cardy from us now! **100% authentic sheepskin for unrivalled comfort.**Offer the best quality,fast shipping and reasonable price.**Durable double stitched construction. **Lushiously thick inner fleece for extreme toastiness.

watches

Submitted by Breguetreplica on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 2:16am.

Hardy Burberry for sale like replica Rolex Datejust II , Gucci replica watches or replica IWC watches are advisable to you. Business class traveler of the luxury airline interacts with fashionable affluent people of the great centers of the world. If you are one among them you can wish for Rolex Yachtmaster replica watches , Hublot replica or replica movado and replica Vacheron Constantin . If you are a lover of silk, art, vitage vine, classic painting and an expert in art and beauty you can find shelter in replica DeWitt , replica watches , replica watches , designer watches , swiss watches , swiss watches , designer watches , replica A.Lange & Sohne watches , replica Rolex Milgauss , designer watches or replica watches . You can b proud of wearing an

wholessale gucci shoes

Submitted by edhardyhive on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 8:30pm.

wholesale gucci shoes
discount prada slippers
nike air max 2010
fashion chanel handbag
nike shox TL1 TL3
urban gucci clothing
replica jordan shoes
louis vuitton sneakers
cheap ed hardy clothing
wholesale coach shoes

replica watches

Submitted by lx123 on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:22pm.

Since time began, the earth's replica watches only satellite replica watches, the moon has both fascinated and intrigued mankind causing strange replica handbags phenomena and replica handbags setting the rhythm of our daily lives. Perrelet, pioneer in the development of ugg boots the perpetual ugg boots movement since 1777, captures the course of the moon and allows the wearer to follow replica watches its evolution replica watches on one's wrist with its unique Big Central Moonphase ugg boots timepiece which ugg boots blends inspiration with extreme precision.All of replica watches the fake replica watches Movado watches have one thing in common-their spectacular design. These watches are well known over the world for their dial without any numbers or markings. The only give away is a diamond at 12 o'clock, and the Movado replica watches engraving in replica watches small letters at 6 o'clock.

replica watches

Submitted by lx123 on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:23pm.

AbercrombieThe developers

Submitted by abercrombie on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 1:45am.

AbercrombieThe developers are so Abercrombie & fitch productive and competent that they can quickly foresee the desires and high demand in the clients, dependant on the today's designer field. The way, this brand provides theAbercromb & fitch needs of its consumers is abercrombie and fitch completely extensive. The customers sense greatly regarded by buying fitch clothing the garments, for they've entire trust and confidence that the products, fitch clothingwhich they've picked up fromthe sites of this brand, is surely about to suit and fitch clothing and you will be really durableabercrombie and fitch clothing. To buy even a single means that you must abercrombie and fitch abercrombie and fitch clothing amount from your wallets, but following donning and fitch clothing that shirt, you are surely about to really feel which you have invested in prudently and worthily.

abercrombie new,

ambercrombie,

abercrombie et fitch,

abercombrie fitch,

mens leather thongs,

clothes sale,

abercrombie men,

ambercombie and fitch,

hollister clothing sale,

abercrombie and fitch shirts,

abercrombie&fitch,

abercrombie fitch shop,

men abercrombie,

abercrombie shop，

abercrombiestore，

abercrombie london，

abercrombie uk ，

Abercrombie outlet ，

abercrombie and fitch uk ，

abercrombie fitch uk，

Abercrombie & fitch uk，

abercrombiekids

asics shoes

Submitted by asics on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 9:08pm.

air jordan 2010

Submitted by co2010 on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 8:21pm.

Celebrity Feet: Spike Lee air jordan shoes iD Zoom Kobe IV New York Knicks Spike Lee mightve thought that wearing Blue and Orange Knicks colored kicks would bring some luck to the lowly New York Knicks when they hosted the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon because wearing White and Grape colored Air Jordan Spizikesdidnt help the game before. Spike and his son, Jackson Lee, were spotted courtside on Sunday rooting for the hometown Knicks where Spike was seen rocking a pair of air jordan 11 iD Zoom Kobe IVs colored up in Blue, Orange, and White. Also in attendance on Sunday was New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who sported a air jordan 2010 Sportswear t-shirt in Black and Neon Green with a pair of matching Air Jordan 1 of Blue White Black in Black and Green. http://airjordanshoesol.com/

Affliction clothing are

Submitted by beisitong on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 11:41pm.

Affliction clothing are often decorated by complicated images and popular due to its proper colors which dash Fashion sense largely. That's one of the reasons for its fans to pursue them amazedly. Affliction sinful clothing, decorated with the wings of the eagle and many other special images, colored white, grey and black, looks mystic and personalized. Customers who would like to be individualized and fashionable prefer to buy such sinful shirts. And in summer or any other seasons, Affliction clothing is very appealing and attractive. For example, affliction shirts is very suitable for autumn and spring, as well as the late summer. Rosetta Stone Homeschool features a foreign language curriculum specifically designed to provide homeschool students with a rich, fully interactive and engaging language-learning experience, while giving parents the tools and resources needed to manage student progress without extensive planning or supervision. Rosetta Stone Spanish Homeschool is self-paced and designed to make it easy for parents to offer language learning even if they don’t speak the language their students are studying. Students are instantly captivated by Rosetta Stone Italian so they stay engaged. Plus, Rosetta Stone French with positive reinforcement and quick results, their language-learning confidence soars!…… No one can deny every Tiffany Jewelryis a masterpiece in the world. As a top grade brand in the world, Tiffany Accessories not only have fashion styles and unique designs, they also have exquisite workmanship so that every piece of Tiffany Necklaces are of high quality. According to those factors, Tiffany Bangles has been more and more successful in the world. Now Tiffany Bracelets have been developed into an international brand. Burberry Polo shirts Brands have been more like a trend now and have become an active part of the formal and informal apparels of individuals. Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts is one of these excellent brands that have been well recognized around the world. The founder of Polo Ralph Lauren is Ralph Lauren himself that has produced some contemporary polo shirts over time. There have been a whole lot of products that are produced by this brand. The brand started off from men’s ties and moved on to increasing the products polo t shirts. Ugg Boots series have very good public praise worldwide, like deeply by the people because of the fashionabe style and the comfortable . Classic tall Ugg Tall are always a favorite with women!Wrapped in a taller upper for supreme comfort,it can be worn folded down for a different accent and look. With the development of Ugg Cardy the selection is better this year than in any previous year Ugg Short

perfect rolex replica watches free shipping

Submitted by replica watches on Fri, 09/03/2010 - 1:15am.

I bought a perfect replica submariner watch from Replica Watches Store just cost me $80 with Free Shipping option

There you can buy all submariner series watch with very low prices, such as Rolex Submariner Replica watches includes Rolex Submariner Date Replicas, Rolex Submariner 16610 Replicas, Rolex Submariner 50th anniversary Replicas, Rolex Submariner Green, Rolex Submariner Blue, Rolex Submariner Full Gold, Rolex Submariner Ceramic Bezel Watches, rolex series includes
Fake Rolex Replicas,
Rolex Daytona,
Rolex oyster perpetual DateJust
Breitling watches, includes
Breitling for Bentley,
Breitling Navitimer

	kelley g (11)
	ashe (60)
	GrahamB (33)
	Dai Zhi Qiang (44)
	RickMatz (237)
	griffin (1)
	txk1987 (1)
	leycelP (1)
	leilaP (1)
	muqtada123 (4)

Are XinYi and XingYi really two different arts?

Ground shaking content i get

Gucci online shop. We

visvim hockney

It's good to know the

Some merchants who sell

chateaux liberally opened

Step around burgers, put

UGG

watches

wholessale gucci shoes

replica watches

replica watches

AbercrombieThe developers

asics shoes

air jordan 2010

Affliction clothing are

perfect rolex replica watches free shipping

Who's online

Navigation

Bloggers

Similar links

Popular content

Today's:

All time:

Last viewed:

Upcoming events

Copyright