Wong Fei-hung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wong Fei-hung |
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Alleged photo of Wong Fei-hung by his disciple Kwong Kei-tim (鄺祺添), rediscovered in 2005
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| Born | Wong Sek-cheung (黃錫祥) 9 July 1847 Luzhou Hamlet, Lingxi Village, Xiqiao Country, Fatshan, Nanhai, Canton, Kwangtung, Qing Empire |
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| Died | 17 April 1925 (aged 77) Chengxi Fangbian Hospital, Canton, Kwangtung, Republic of China |
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| Native name | 黃飛鴻 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Canton, Kwangtung, Republic of China | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Chinese | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnicity | Cantonese | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Chinese martial arts, Hung Gar Hung Ga, Drunken boxing |
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| Teacher(s) | Wong Kei-ying Lam Fuk-sing Sung Fai-tong So Chan |
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| Rank | Grandmaster | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Martial artist, physician, revolutionary | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Ms. Luo
(m. 1871; died 1871)Ms. Ma
(m. 1896, died)Ms. Cen
(m. 1902, died)Mok Kwai-lan
(m. 1915) |
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| Children |
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| Notable relatives | Wong Kei-ying (father) Pok Lai-ngor (mother) |
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| Notable students | Leung Foon Lam Sai-wing Dang Fong Ling Wan-kai |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 黃飛鴻 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 黄飞鸿 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Wong Sek-cheung (birth name) |
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| Traditional Chinese | 黃錫祥 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 黄锡祥 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Tat-wun (courtesy name) |
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| Traditional Chinese | 達雲 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 达云 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Wong Fei-hung (born Wong Sek-cheung, also known as Tat-wun; July 9, 1847 – April 17, 1925) was a famous Chinese martial artist, doctor, and folk hero. He became very well known because he was the main character in many martial arts movies and TV shows.
Wong Fei-hung was an expert in the Hung Ga style of Chinese martial arts. He was also famous as a doctor who practiced traditional Chinese medicine. He taught and used treatments like acupuncture and Dit Da at his clinic, Po Chi Lam, in Guangzhou. A museum honoring him was built in his hometown of Foshan.
Wong Fei-hung's Life Story
Wong Fei-hung was born in a small village called Luzhou Hamlet in Foshan, Guangdong Province. This was during the time of the Qing dynasty in China. His family's original home was also in this area.
Learning Martial Arts
Wong started learning Hung Ga martial arts from his father, Wong Kei-ying, when he was just five years old. He often traveled with his father from Foshan to Guangzhou. His father would sell medicine and show off his martial arts skills in the streets.
When Wong was 13, he met Lam Fuk-sing, a student of a famous martial artist. Lam taught him how to use a sling and important moves from the Iron Wire Fist style. Later, he learned the special Shadowless Kick from Sung Fai-tong. Wong Fei-hung was very friendly, like his father, and made many friends in the martial arts and medical worlds. These friendships helped him learn a lot and improve his father's martial arts style.
Starting a School and Clinic
In 1863, Wong opened his own martial arts school in Guangzhou. Most of his students were metal workers and street sellers. In 1886, he opened his family's medical clinic, Po Chi Lam, also in Guangzhou.
According to stories, Wong was hired by Liu Yongfu, a military commander, in the 1860s or 1870s. He worked as a medical officer and martial arts teacher for soldiers in Guangzhou. He even went with the army to fight during the Japanese invasion of Taiwan in 1895.
Life in the Republic of China
In 1912, the Qing dynasty ended, and the Republic of China began. During these early, unsettled years, many businesses in Guangzhou hired guards to protect their shops. Wong, being a skilled martial artist, worked as one of these guards.
In 1919, Wong was invited to perform at the opening of a martial arts association in Canton. That same year, his son, Wong Hon-sam, who was a bodyguard, was sadly killed by a rival. This event deeply affected Wong, and he stopped teaching martial arts to his other sons.
Between August and October 1924, Wong's medical clinic, Po Chi Lam, was destroyed during a local uprising. Wong was very sad about losing his clinic. He became ill and passed away on April 17, 1925, in a hospital in Guangzhou. He was buried near Baiyun Mountain.
After his death, Wong's fourth wife, Mok Kwai-lan, and his sons, along with his students, moved to Hong Kong. There, they opened new martial arts schools.
Wong Fei-hung's Fighting Style
Wong Fei-hung was a true master of Hung Ga martial arts. He organized the main parts of Hung Ga and created its famous Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist. This style includes his special Ten Special Fist techniques. Wong was also famous for his powerful Shadowless Kick. He would often name his techniques as he performed them.
Wong was skilled with many weapons, like the staff and the southern tiger fork. One story says he once defeated 30 gangsters on the docks of Guangzhou using only a staff!
Some of Wong's most well-known students included Lam Sai-wing, Leung Foon, Dang Fong, and Ling Wan-kai.
It's sometimes mistakenly said that Wong was one of the "Ten Tigers of Canton". However, his father, Wong Kei-ying, was one of them, but Wong Fei-hung himself was not. People sometimes call him the "Tiger after the Ten Tigers."
According to some stories, So Chan also taught Wong Fei-hung the unique style of drunken boxing.
Wong Fei-hung's Family Life
Wong Fei-hung was married four times. His first wife died in 1871, and he remained a widower for 25 years. In 1896, he married his second wife, and they had two sons and two daughters. After she passed away, he married a third time in 1902. His third wife had two sons before she also died. His fourth and final wife, Mok Kwai-lan, married him in 1915 and stayed with him until his death. The names of his first three wives are not known.
Wives
- Wong's first wife was named "Lo" or "Law". They married in 1871, but she died just three months later.
- His second wife was named "Ma". They married in 1896, and she passed away from illness. They had two sons and two daughters together.
- His third wife was named "Sam" or "Sum". They married in 1902, and she also died from illness. They had two sons.
- His fourth wife was Mok Kwai-lan. They married in 1915. She lived longer than him and passed away in Hong Kong in 1982. Wong believed his first three wives died due to a curse, so Mok was officially his concubine, not a formal wife.
Children
Wong Fei-hung had four known sons and two daughters:
- Wong Hon-syu (son, with his third wife)
- Wong Hon-hei (son, with his third wife)
- Wong Hon-lam (son, with his second wife)
- Wong Hon-sam (son, with his second wife)
There is not much information available about his two daughters.
Grandchildren
Wong had at least three grandsons and six granddaughters. His family members now live in different parts of the world, including Australia, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Wong Fei-hung's Legacy
Wong Fei-hung's memory lives on.
- In 1996, the Wong Fei-hung Lion Dance Martial Arts Museum was built in his hometown of Foshan.
- A special Wong Fei-hung Memorial Hall was built in 2000 and opened in January 2001 in Foshan to honor him.
Images for kids
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The man in this photograph was once thought to be Wong Fei-hung, but it was later confirmed to be his son, Wong Hon-hei.
See also
In Spanish: Wong Fei-hung para niños
- Wong Kei-ying
- Ten Tigers of Canton
- Wong Fei-hung filmography
