The following article
written by Jim Hanna was first published
in the Feb 1982 issue of Inside Kung Fu.
Boxing, Breathing, and Magic
by Jim Hanna
In 1912, China was in a
state of turmoil. The Ching Dynasty had dissolved, and the newly formed Chinese
Republic never became firmly established. The provincial warlords held much of
the actual political power and oftentimes fought against each other. In this
confusion bandits and outlaws prospered, in fact, some became so strong that
they rivaled the warlords. The rural villagers and farmers were at their mercy,
since all of the available soldiers were fighting for one faction or another.
In order to survive in such a world these peasants banded together into a group
that became known as the Red Spears.
Guns were difficult for the secret society to obtain, so they used farm tools
and traditional weapons instead. Bamboo canes, clubs, knives, swords, lances,
shovels, forks, and especially the long, red tasseled spear were among their
favorites. Such weapons, in conjunction with the sacred disciplines of boxing,
breathing, and magic, took much time to master. In other secret societies that
existed at that time a man could join up, get a weapon, and immediately confront
the enemy. This was not so with the Red Spears.
Neophytes who were received into the sect were required to undergo highly
concentrated training before being permitted to fight. Each evening the local
boxing master--who was also usually a priest--received both neophytes and senior
members at the village kwoon where practice took place.
They stayed with him, all night, until released at dawn. For 128 days the
neophytes strenghtened themselves through grueling, physical exercises. Their
bodies were repeatedly subjected to full-contact kicks and punches in order to
toughen the muscles. This demanding training, coupled with weapons and empty
hand practice, developed them into superb athletes.
However, as physically
skillful as they became, it was still not enough. To face the better equipped
bandits and warlords, the Red Spears were guided through intense spiritual
training. Taoist priests are said to have directed them to kneel naked upon the
ground and pray to various deities. The ensuing religious experiences were
enhanced by charmed potions, and all physical pleasures such as sex, alcohol,
tobacco, meat and narcotics were denied so as to keep the body uncorrupted.
Purification also involved maintaining an extremely disciplined personal life
that, at the most extreme levels, forbade the consumption of any solid foods.
Taoist priests taught that, ideally, the body was to be nourished only with
liquids and the chi ("life force") that is in the air. This life force was
assimilated through a secret training method called "shen hu hsi" (deep
breathing). Through shen hu hsi the chi taken from the universe was directed
throughout the body along a system of meridians that is normally unperceived by
the common man. The mastery of shen hu hsi was considered important for
developing many physical abilities. By "sinking" his chi, a boxer could root
himself to the ground in a seemingly immovable stance. On the other hand, by
lightening his chi he was thought to be able to jump over trees or walk on sand
without disturbing the grains. If the boxer was truly adept, such things as
riding the wind were supposed to be possible.
However, invulnerability was by far the most important of all magical
powers.To obtain this gift the boxer prayed to several gods and begged them to
make his body like iron. He also received a magic talisman to wear into
battle. If he was pure, then his prayer was received and his magic would be
strong. Only after completing this basic training could the neophyte try out
what he had learned in actual combat. He was also then permitted to receive
more advanced instruction. Whether or not the boxer's "magic" was real, each
fighter's belief in it was strong enough to permit fearless behavior on the
battlefield
The enemies of the Red
Spears must have become surprised as they attacked a seemingly helpless
village. Instead of facing defenseless farmers, they were confronted by an
utterly fanatical group of warriors, all of them stripped to the waist, wearing
red trousers, and ready to fight to the death.
Although the Red Spears were formed almost spontaneously, each village was later
organized by Taoist priests into a greater movement. To illustrate how
successful the sect became, it is estimated that 530,000 men became members.
The secret society, in effect, became a formidable army that was structured
along military lines. The Red Spears of Honan province, for example, were
divided into nine divisions with a chief in command of every 2,000 men.
The sect had originated and continued for several years as a noble and inspired
group. But in the end, they became corrupt like many other secret societies
before them. Criminal elements slowly infiltrated their huge membership, and
what the Red Spears once fought, they then became part of. At any rate, their
time was running out. Mao Tse Tung was consolidating his communist government,
and the reason for the sect's existence was no longer present.
The Red Spears are noteworthy for several reasons, the most important being
that they were one of the last secret societies of changing China. As the
communist government became established, its leaders frowned upon the ancient
ways of boxing, breathing and magic. They knew that these disciplines could not
compete against the modern methods of combat, and they knew that armies of
fanatical fighters were not ideal for social order. It
was time for China to step out of the past and into the 20th century. The old
ways had served their purpose, it was now time to discard them. And so, an
ancient and unique world came to an end. One can only imagine how phenomenal
such boxers must have been. In their world they routinely faced death, and were
the last true believers in the sacred disciplines of boxing, breathing, and
magic.
