Speak of Hong Yuanjia

Author: Chen Qu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Chen Qu, a novelist and biographer who shocked the literary world with his novel "Huo Yuanjia," comes from Xiao Nanhe Village in Xiqing District, the hometown of the famous martial artist. Directly targeting the sensationalized portrayals in film and television works, Chen Qu has published the monograph "Authentic Huo Yuanjia." With an objective and fair perspective, the book uncovers the layers of mist surrounding characters in film and television through detailed historical records, restoring the true image of the patriotic martial artist and revealing the real Huo Yuanjia to readers. Through visits to the Huo family descendants and research into historical materials, Chen Qu has written the monograph "Authentic Huo Yuanjia," providing a detailed account of the martial arts master Huo Yuanjia's heroic deeds in his hometown, his victory in martial arts competitions, the founding of the Jingwu Association, and other events related to Huo Yuanjia. The development of the Jingwu Association, the journey of Huo Dongge to Southeast Asia to establish the Jingwu Association, the origins and descendants of the Huo family, and other related details are also thoroughly explained in the book, clarifying fictional characters and events in recent film and television works. The book also includes two chapters: "The Legal Battle Over the Film 'Huo Yuanjia'" and "An Introduction to Selected Jingwu Fist Forms." This book is rich in historical data, nearly complete, and a masterpiece that combines historical significance, knowledge, interest, and readability.
Huo Yuanjia, styled Junqing, was from Xiaonanhe Village in Nanhe Town, Xiqing District, Tianjin. He was born in the seventh year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1868). His father, Huo Endi, was an exceptional martial artist who often traveled to the Northeast as a bodyguard for merchants and gained considerable fame in martial arts circles. In his later years, he returned to his hometown to farm and supervised his sons and nephews in studying literature and practicing martial arts to inherit the family legacy. Huo Endi had three sons, the eldest being Huo Dongdong, the second Huo Yuanjia, and the third Huo Yuanqing. Huo Yuanjia was the fourth in the family's birth order. Huo Endi had ten sons in total, known as the "Ten Brothers of the Huo Family." Listed by age, they were Yuanzhen, Yuanshan, Yuandong, Yuanjia, Yuánhé, Yuanying, Yuánliáng, Yuánxiáng, Yuánzhōng, and Yuánchén. Huo Yuanjia was the fourth in this order. Huo Endi had three sons: the eldest was Huo Dongdong, the second Huo Yuanjia, and the third Huo Yuanqing.
Huo Yuanjia was frail as a child and often suffered bullying from neighborhood children. Among his brothers, he was frequently mocked. Huo Endi was displeased by this and once told his wife, "They say 'noble families produce fierce sons,' but how did our martial arts family end up with such a weakling?" He decided to prohibit Huo Yuanjia from practicing martial arts and only allowed him to study, hoping to avoid tarnishing the family's reputation in the future.
Huo Yuanjia had a strong will. His father's decision wounded his pride. He spent his days studying "zihyúzhě" (classical Chinese phrases), but how could he be a descendant of a martial arts family? He made up his mind to practice diligently and not be a weakling. So, he secretly practiced martial arts and competed with his brothers in secret.
To the west of Xiaonanhe Village was a jujube grove, which was also a burial ground and rarely visited. Huo Yuanjia chose this place to practice martial arts whenever he had free time. Without a master to guide him, he would listen in on his father teaching the brothers and then practice alone in the grove, refining his techniques until he mastered them. His sweat flowed more than his brothers'. He often observed his brothers' practice sessions, learning from their strengths and avoiding their weaknesses, so he improved rapidly.
Over time, Huo Yuanjia's secret martial arts practice was discovered. He worried his father would find out because he had defied his father's wishes. However, the news still reached his father. His father was furious and severely scolded him, ordering him never to practice martial arts again. Huo Yuanjia was not intimidated and continued to practice in secret, but he promised not to fight anyone and never to bring shame upon the family.
In those days, some martial arts masters often traveled far to challenge renowned fighters, aiming to defeat them and gain fame. On a certain day in October of the sixteenth year of the Guangxu era (1890), a man arrived, dressed in martial arts attire and carrying a small bundle. He claimed to have long admired the "Mizong Art" of the Huo family and had come from afar to seek instruction.
Huo Endi, being an expert, understood his intentions. After warmly hosting him, he had the younger generation practice martial arts for him. However, the man laughed loudly after watching only a short while and said, "Huo, the master, is truly worthy of his reputation. In Xiaonanhe Village, he is the best." He raised his thumb and then shifted his tone, "A frog in a well knows nothing of the vast sky." Huo Endi was furious and demanded a match. Huo Yuanqing, the most skilled among the younger generation, stepped forward to intervene, saying, "No need for Father to trouble himself; let me take him on."
Huo Yuanqing fought with the man, alternating attacks and defenses for over ten rounds, with neither gaining the upper hand. Seeing this, Huo Endi knew the man was up to no good and was about to step in himself when he heard, "Watch me!" Huo Yuanjia leaped up like a whirlwind. His father, seeing it was him, was livid and wanted to shout him off, but it was too late—Huo Yuanjia had already engaged in combat.
When Huo Yuanjia attacked, he moved like lightning, his stance as steady as Mount Tai. With a move called "Directly Trampling the Gate," he punched the opponent in the face. The man dodged by turning his head. Suddenly, Huo Yuanjia felt a kick to his leg, causing a slight pain. Seizing the moment, he struck with a sweeping kick while the man was repositioning his leg. The man's leg went limp as if paralyzed. Huo Yuanjia seized him and lifted him like a king lifting a tripod, throwing him over ten feet away, breaking his leg.
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