ER MEI SHI ER ZHUANG

EMEI

A brief overview of Emei Shi Er Zhuang and its lineage holders
In China, there are many sacred mountains, related either to Taoism or
Buddhist traditions. The group associated with Taoism is known as the Five
Great Mountains (五岳: Wǔyuè), whereas the group associated with Buddhism
is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains (四大佛教名山: Sìdà Fójiào
Míngshān). When it comes to mountains related to Chinese martial arts, the
three most famous mountains are three:

•Mount Song, where the Shaolin temple resides (Buddhist tradition),associated
to what many people nowadays refer to as external martial arts
•Mount WuDang, associated with Internal martial arts (Taoist tradition)
•Mount Emei, associated with Qi Gong and Health practices.

Emei mountain is a quiet special place, as it was started by a Taoist priestess,
who later entered Buddhism. So, the mountain combines both traditions, with
the Taoist elements addressing the health of the physical body and the
Buddhist elements focusing on spiritual advancement.

The origination and development of Emei School martial arts is different from
that of Shaolin School and Wudang School. According to legends, the Shaolin
School was initiated by Bodhidharma, a Chan Buddhist master who came to
China during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 BC); while
Wudang School was supposedly created by a Taoist master Zhang Sanfeng in
the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The origination of Emei School was much
longer before the aforementioned two schools.

After studying the existing historical data, it is concluded that the origination
of Emei Martial Arts could possibly date back to periods before the Xia Dynasty
(夏朝, 21st century BC-16th century BC) and it took shape during the Warring
States Period (475 BC-221 BC) with the famous “White Ape Monk” (actual
name Situ XuanKong司徒玄空), that by imitating the actions of apes, created a
set of techniques called Tong Bi Quan (which is also one of the main motions
in the Emei 12 zhuang sets).

During the Wei魏 (220–266) and Jin晋 (266-420) Dynasties, Taoism and
Buddhism were introduced to Emei Mountain. Influenced by the religious
culture, Emei Martial Arts achieved progress and development. Taoists and
monks absorbed Taoist regimen and Buddhist Zen cultivation to develop a
perfect sect of martial arts that integrated toughness with softness, combined
the static with the dynamic and coupled the internal techniques with the
external ones.

After the Song Dynasty (宋朝, 960-1279), Emei Mountain stopped being a place
for Taoist practices and became a famous Chinese Buddhist Mountain and
housed a great number of monks, many of whom were martial artists. During
the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1130), a monk went to the top of Mount
Emei*. There the monk trained and meditated and after reaching
enlightenment, took the name of Bai Yun (Mandarin, which means ‘White

Cloud’). Master Bai Yun (白雲禪師)of the Jinding Temple in Emei Mountain
based his study on the Taoist internal alchemy, Buddhist practices, Dao Yin
and breathing techniques, and the mechanism of waning and waxing in human
body, coupled with the static and dynamic exercises and fighting skills in
martial arts, and combined them into the practice of what is nowadays known
as Emei Shi Er Zhuang. The literal meaning is explained below:

Emei Shi Er Zhuang (峨眉十二庄)
Emei : Emei mountain

Shi Er : Number 12 (Shi means 10; Er means 2)

Zhuang : Road (wide, not a path; Reaching out to all kinds of directions;
Forms, Mobile Postures)
*When I was on the top of Emei Mountain, it was quite a surreal experience.On
the summit the temperatures are very low, especially in winter. Yet theEmei
practitioners and monks were able to handle the cold without anyheating or
extra clothing. This is due to having great Mai Qi (脈氣), greatQi flow through
the body, and their bodies being open and not stuck.
Name of Forms (in Mandarin) :

天字庄 Tian Zi Zhuang Heaven form

地字庄 Di Zi Zhuang Earth form

之字庄 Zhi Zi Zhuang Branches form

心字庄 Xin Zi Zhuang Heart form

游龙庄 You Long Zhuang Swimming Dragon form

鹤翔庄 He Xiang Zhuang Flying Crane form

拿云庄 Na Yun Zhuang Holding Cloud form

旋風庄 Xuan Feng Zhuang Tornado form

大字庄 Da Zi Zhuang Big form

小字庄 Xiao Zi Zhuang Small form

幽字庄 You Zi Zhuang Darkness form

明字庄 Ming Zi Zhuang Brightness form balance.

The Heaven & Earth Forms are the foundation for all the other Forms.
the system is an ancient practice that was meant to increase mind, body and
energy potentials. So, we will give here a quick panoramic towards the whole
system and what the other forms are meant for.
We can generically classify the 12 sets of forms in three main parts:
Generating, Storing and Increasing the Energy:
-The Heaven & Earth (that we just mentioned)
-the Branches & Heart forms (which will put the Qi into circulation around all
the different areas of the body)
Reinforcing the body, making it agile and use it in combat:
-The Swimming Dragon & the Flying Crane (which will make the bodystrong
and agile)
-The Holding Cloud & Tornado forms (which will deal with the releasing and
control of energy)
Refining the spirit and the mind:
-Small & Big forms (which will combine the Intent and Awareness With the
body fine motions and apparent stillness)
-Dark & Bright forms (which are the meditative and spiritual side of the style,
and only few people in history ever reached this level)
The special characteristic of the style is the way of moving the whole body
using Yong3 Dong4 - 蛹動 - or moving the different joints and articulations of
all body following the motion patterns of a pupa warm (like small waves),
which will open up the body and increase mobility of joints and the relaxation
throughout the whole body. -EMEI

A brief overview of Emei Shi Er Zhuang and its lineage holders
In China, there are many sacred mountains, related either to Taoism or
Buddhist traditions. The group associated with Taoism is known as the Five
Great Mountains (五岳: Wǔyuè), whereas the group associated with Buddhism
is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains (四大佛教名山: Sìdà Fójiào
Míngshān). When it comes to mountains related to Chinese martial arts, the
three most famous mountains are three:
•Mount Song, where the Shaolin temple resides (Buddhist tradition),associated
to what many people nowadays refer to as external martial arts
•Mount WuDang, associated with Internal martial arts (Taoist tradition)
•Mount Emei, associated with Qi Gong and Health practices.
Emei mountain is a quiet special place, as it was started by a Taoist priestess,
who later entered Buddhism. So, the mountain combines both traditions, with
the Taoist elements addressing the health of the physical body and the
Buddhist elements focusing on spiritual advancement.
The origination and development of Emei School martial arts is different from
that of Shaolin School and Wudang School. According to legends, the Shaolin
School was initiated by Bodhidharma, a Chan Buddhist master who came to
China during the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 BC); while
Wudang School was supposedly created by a Taoist master Zhang Sanfeng in
the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The origination of Emei School was much
longer before the aforementioned two schools.
After studying the existing historical data, it is concluded that the origination
of Emei Martial Arts could possibly date back to periods before the Xia Dynasty
(夏朝, 21st century BC-16th century BC) and it took shape during the Warring
States Period (475 BC-221 BC) with the famous “White Ape Monk” (actual
name Situ XuanKong司徒玄空), that by imitating the actions of apes, created a
set of techniques called Tong Bi Quan (which is also one of the main motions
in the Emei 12 zhuang sets).
During the Wei魏 (220–266) and Jin晋 (266-420) Dynasties, Taoism and
Buddhism were introduced to Emei Mountain. Influenced by the religious
culture, Emei Martial Arts achieved progress and development. Taoists and
monks absorbed Taoist regimen and Buddhist Zen cultivation to develop a
perfect sect of martial arts that integrated toughness with softness, combined
the static with the dynamic and coupled the internal techniques with the
external ones.
After the Song Dynasty (宋朝, 960-1279), Emei Mountain stopped being a place
for Taoist practices and became a famous Chinese Buddhist Mountain and
housed a great number of monks, many of whom were martial artists. During
the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1130), a monk went to the top of Mount
Emei*. There the monk trained and meditated and after reaching
enlightenment, took the name of Bai Yun (Mandarin, which means ‘White

Cloud’). Master Bai Yun (白雲禪師)of the Jinding Temple in Emei Mountain
based his study on the Taoist internal alchemy, Buddhist practices, Dao Yin
and breathing techniques, and the mechanism of waning and waxing in human
body, coupled with the static and dynamic exercises and fighting skills in
martial arts, and combined them into the practice of what is nowadays known
as Emei Shi Er Zhuang. The literal meaning is explained below:
Emei Shi Er Zhuang (峨眉十二庄)
Emei : Emei mountain
Shi Er : Number 12 (Shi means 10; Er means 2)
Zhuang : Road (wide, not a path; Reaching out to all kinds of directions;
Forms, Mobile Postures)
*When I was on the top of Emei Mountain, it was quite a surreal experience.On
the summit the temperatures are very low, especially in winter. Yet theEmei
practitioners and monks were able to handle the cold without anyheating or
extra clothing. This is due to having great Mai Qi (脈氣), greatQi flow through
the body, and their bodies being open and not stuck.
Name of Forms (in Mandarin) :

天字庄 Tian Zi Zhuang Heaven form

地字庄 Di Zi Zhuang Earth form

之字庄 Zhi Zi Zhuang Branches form

心字庄 Xin Zi Zhuang Heart form

游龙庄 You Long Zhuang Swimming Dragon form

鹤翔庄 He Xiang Zhuang Flying Crane form

拿云庄 Na Yun Zhuang Holding Cloud form

旋風庄 Xuan Feng Zhuang Tornado form

大字庄 Da Zi Zhuang Big form

小字庄 Xiao Zi Zhuang Small form

幽字庄 You Zi Zhuang Darkness form

明字庄 Ming Zi Zhuang Brightness form

balance. The Heaven & Earth Forms are the foundation for all the other Forms.
the system is an ancient practice that was meant to increase mind, body and
energy potentials. So, we will give here a quick panoramic towards the whole
system and what the other forms are meant for.
We can generically classify the 12 sets of forms in three main parts:
Generating, Storing and Increasing the Energy:
-The Heaven & Earth (that we just mentioned)
-the Branches & Heart forms (which will put the Qi into circulation around all
the different areas of the body)
Reinforcing the body, making it agile and use it in combat:
-The Swimming Dragon & the Flying Crane (which will make the bodystrong
and agile)
-The Holding Cloud & Tornado forms (which will deal with the releasing and
control of energy)
Refining the spirit and the mind:
-Small & Big forms (which will combine the Intent and Awareness With the
body fine motions and apparent stillness)
-Dark & Bright forms (which are the meditative and spiritual side of the style,
and only few people in history ever reached this level)
The special characteristic of the style is the way of moving the whole body
using Yong3 Dong4 - 蛹動 - or moving the different joints and articulations of
all body following the motion patterns of a pupa warm (like small waves),
which will open up the body and increase mobility of joints and the relaxation
throughout the whole body. -