Biography of Sigung Wong Kiew Kit

[Martin Do]

Fantastic

[Robin]

Lion King

Hi there,

ready for the next installment??

Here we have another fantastic chunk of our Kung-Fu history, giving the story of one of Sifu's Kung-Fu brothers (with a most excellent nick name) on his path to excellence in the art of Lion Dance.

Incedentally, if any of my Kung-Fu brothers would like to give me a similar nickname, I would be happy with Yang LuChan

The Lion King

Ah Weng was the latest of the three boys to join Sifu Lai's class, but he stayed on the longest. When Sifu Lai completed his term at Soon Tuck Wooi Koon and taught at other places, Ah Weng, together with some other selected disciples, faithfully followed the master. When Sifu Lai passed away many years later, Ah Weng was one of the founders of Chin Wah Kungfu Gymnasium in honour of Sifu Lai Chin Wah.

About sixty years ago in Canton ("Guangzhou" in Romanized Chinese) in South China, there was a famous kungfu master called Lam Seai Weng ( -- pronounced as "Lin Si Yong" in Mandarin), who practised Hoong-Ka Kungfu, the same type of Shaolin Kungfu as Sifu Lai's. As Lam Seai Weng was a pork-seller before he became a professional kungfu instructor, he was often known by his nick-name Pork-Seller Weng ( ). My classmate Ah Weng is also a pork-seller, so he is also nick-named Pork-Seller Weng. Actually his full name is Lau Wing Fook ( ). Because "Wing" and "Weng" sound almost alike, he comes to be known as Ah Weng, and not Ah Wing.

Although his nick-name reminds us of the great kungfu master of South China, Ah Weng's chief interest was not kungfu but Lion Dance. He once confided in me that his primary aim of following Sifu Lai faithfully was to learn Lion Dance from the master. And he achieved his aim remarkably. Of all Sifu Lai's disci¬ples, Ah Weng learned the most about Lion Dance from the master. After Sifu Lai had passed away, Ah Weng became the Lion Dance instructor at Soon Tuck Wooi Koon, while my senior classmate, Wong Choy Way ( ), became the kungfu instructor.

Ah Weng broke tradition by seeking advice on Lion Dance from the instructor of a rival school, Sifu Wu Chian ( ), who is a very senior and much res¬pected Lion Dance master teaching at Chap For Hong. Sifu Wu Chian responded graciously, befitting of a great master. I regard Ah Weng's move as a very admirable act. Ah Weng not only gained by learning the techniques of another school, thereby enhancing his own knowledge and skill of Lion Dance, he also ex¬pressed a symbolic gesture of goodwill, attempting to lessen the rivalry between the two prominent Lion Dance schools of Penang, namely Soon Tuck Wooi Koon and Chap For Hong.

But some people thought differently. They con¬strued his act as unbecoming, as bowing to a rival school. Nevertheless, no one, not even his critics, could deny that Ah Weng's Lion Dance performances were artful and lively, and many people considered him as one of the best Lion Dance artists Penang had ever produced. Some people even called him, half jokingly, the Lion King



Below are some archive pictures of Grand Master Lam Sai Weng, the fmaous Shaolin Master in question.

[Dave]

Hi all,

Many thanks to Sigung and to Yang Lu Chan, a.k.a Sifu Robin for providing us with such fascinating and entertaining reading.

Best wishes,
Dave, a.k.a 'Dave'.

[Martin Do]

Many thanks to Sigung and to Yang Lu Chan, a.k.a Sifu Robin for providing us with such fascinating and entertaining reading. Best wishes,
Dave, a.k.a 'Dave'.

I completely agree with your big brother or can I start calling you "chemical Dave" or "explosive Dave" if I can remember correctly what it is you do for a living .....which wasn't much for some parts of the year if I remember correctly .

[Jimbeaux]

Incedentally, if any of my Kung-Fu brothers would like to give me a similar nickname, I would be happy with Yang LuChan

That doesn't mean "pork-seller Robin" does it?? Just kidding. Thanks a lot, I'm really enjoying these posts.

[Robin]

Hahaha

No, it doesn't mean 'Pork Seller Robin',

Yang LuChan was the Grandmaster who first introduced Taijiquan to the public in China, he earned the nickname 'Invincible' for his fighting skills. O.K. so I haven't earned the comparison yet

Robin

[Robin]

Thank you Sifu

Hi all,

Well done for your patience, I now present the final instalment of the first chapter of our beloved Sifu's Biography.

A very interesting passage detailing some fascinating Kung-Fu traditions that before reading I was un-aware of.

Unfortunately, I do not have the images that were intended to be included in the passage. Maybe after reading this some student’s may post them at a later date?

I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as myself, I personally feel honoured to have been given the task of sharing these passages with you and extend my heart felt thanks to Sifu, who has given us such precious gifts.







Thank you Sifu.

Enjoy....


Some Kungfu Traditions

Let us return to the training hall and observe some interesting kungfu customs. On the first and the fifteenth day of every month in the Chinese lunar calendar, I would tidy up the altar of the training hall, light the oil lamp on the altar, burn some candles and joss sticks, and on behalf of all members of the kungfu class pay homage to the Venerable Zhi Shan ( ), the First Patriarch of Southern Shaolin Kungfu, the style of kungfu we practised at Soon Tuck Wooi Koon. "Zhi Shan", which means "Extreme Kindness", is the Romanized Chinese version in Mandarin pronunciation; in the Cantonese dialect, it is pro¬nounced as "Chi Shin".

The name "The Venerable Zhi Shan" was written in beautiful Chinese calligraphy in Chinese ink on a piece of red paper framed in a tablet placed on the altar of the training hall. It should be noted that one does not worship the red paper nor the tablet, as some unfamiliar with Eastern religious practice may imagine; but one shows reverence to the spirit and memory repre¬sented by the name on the paper in the tablet, as an expression of devotion to the person who introduced Shaolin Kungfu to the south.

On both sides of the name, written from top to bottom in traditional Chinese style, was a pair of poetic couplets. The poetic couplet is a unique Chinese literary genre consisting of a poetic head-line matched by a complementary tail-line. The composition of the poetic couplet is governed by certain con¬textual, tonal, rhythmic and other literary values. Poetic couplets are often found on both sides of typical Chinese doorways, or on parallel pillars on Chinese temples. From an early age I have been much influenced by my father in appreciating classical Chinese literature. Hence, although I was only a small boy then, I was much impressed by the poetic couplet written on both sides of the tablet at the altar. The English translation, without its original poetic beauty, is as follows:

When performing kungfu sets, it is necessary to develop physical fitness, as is manifested in a strong, healthy body.

While applying staff techniques, it is essential to cultivate mental alertness, as is reflected in sparkling, spirited eyes.

I find that this couplet aptly and beautifully sums up the primary aims of kungfu.

There is another interesting feature of the tablet. At the top two corners of the tablet are placed two flowery decorations called "golden flowers". Please see Fig 2.


Fig 2 The Altar and Tablet of Worship


How these golden flowers are placed is of some significance, though not many people realize it. If they are placed with their tips pointing outwards, as in Fig 3(a), they imply that the instructor is capable,

Fig 3 Positions of Golden Flowers


ready to take any challengers. If the tips are point¬ing vertically upwards, Fig 3(b), they suggest that the instructor is also capable, but he may or may not accept challenges. Each challenge will be considered on its own merits. If the tips are pointing inwards, Fig 3(c), they mean that the instructor has retired from fighting and will not accept any challenges. An intending challenger will withdraw his challenge if he sees that the golden flowers at the instructor's school point inwards.

Most kungfu schools have their golden flowers pointing outwards; some may arrange the flowers point¬ing vertically upwards; only very few place the flowers pointing inwards. Except on rare occasions where the instructor is very old, placing the golden flowers with their tips pointing inwards, is almost tantamount to admitting the inferiority of one's kungfu.


Below is a great picture of Sifu, about 30 years ago.

[Maxime]

Fantastic...

And guess what ... I am currently writing from Love Lane Street, Penang, Malaysia. Soon Tuck Wooi Koon, Sigung Lai' kwoon, is only 50 metres away from me as I type these words!

You cannot even imagine how powerfully the last installement of Sifu' biography rings into me.

Let us all send blessings to all our past masters and ancestors who dedicated their lives to maintain the Shaolin arts alive.

Bowing humbly,

[Charles David]

Poetic Couplets.

As we have come to expect, our Sifu surprises us in unexpected ways. This thread is revealing so much about kung fu culture which I had no idea about. I can only guess at what the rest of this (eagerly anticipated) book will bring.

I'm really looking forward to seeing those illustrations of the altar, tablet, flowers and kung fu poems. In the absence of those photos, I thought I might add a picture of another kind of couplet which is commonplace where we live in China.

In the days and weeks preceeding Chinese New Year, people decorate the front gates and doors of their homes with auspicious words. In fact, there is rarely a house or store without such adornment. Visually, these couplets add immeasurably to the social landscape; besides being exceedingly handsome, the ubiquitous red and black "pillars" give a sense of shared values and community cohesion. As a mere beginner in Chinese, I cannot appreciate the literal meaning of the poems, but I suspect their wisdom has a profound effect on people's minds and spirits.

Although I do not have a couplet which imparts kung fu wisdom, I do have a photo of some New Year's couplets, which I took in the countryside around our school here in Jinshitan.

Finally I would like to invite ay of our chinese scholars to translate, or add to my own slim understanding.



Enjoy.

[Anthony S]

The alter for the Venerable Chee Seen

Upon the conclusion of the Special Kung Fu course last week we had the honor of visiting the building on Love Land in Chinatown, Penang where Sifu began his study of Shaolin Kung Fu 55 years ago.

In the back of the hall there was an alter to one of the Patriarch's of our lineage, Chee Seen. Sifu was 10 years old at that time and was assigned the job to care for the alter. At that time there wasn't a statue of the god you see in the photo. After some years there were a couple of more boys assigned to help Sifu care for the alter.

At that time, 55 years ago, there were hardly any Kung Fu schools in Penang. Some 25 years later there were about 100. Today there are hardly any again.

Uncle Righteousness would conduct class, M-F from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. Sifu told us he attended class each night over the years, "without fail".

[Anthony S]

Correction

Training with Uncle Righteousness was from 8.00 to 10.00 (every night from Monday to Friday). On Saturday the students practiced Lion Dance from 8.00 to 10.00 too. Sunday night, to use Uncle Righteousness' words, was for those of courting age to date girls.

While in Penang last week I met and had some interesting conversations with a Dragon. This Chinese gentleman, Mr. Chong, runs a wonderful bakery across the street from the Copthorne Hotel. When Mr. Chong told me he was 69 years old I couldn't believe it based upon how he looked and moved. I mentioned my visit to my Sifu's old school and he recognized it as being famous for Lion Dance. If you're in Penang go by the bakery and say hello to Mr. Chong. He may regale you with stories of Chinese culture, festivals and more. Ask him about the Chinese master who worked for the Penang police covering the Triads. He had the skill of Palm across space and people could hear the sound of loud and powerful wind when he was practicing. There's more to this story but you'll have to ask Mr. Chong to tell it to you.

[Neil Kelson]

Fantastic read! Thanks Sifu & Robin.

[Emiko H]

Dear Sifu and Robin,

Thank you for this wonderful thread.

I cannot believe that I've only just now seen and read this!

I would like to ask: is the second chapter to be shared in installments like this also?

I would not dream of asking to read the third chapter until after the book has been published, but I am hoping that we might be given a chance to peek at the second chapter of Sifu's biography.

Indeed, it is essential that Sifu's story, not just our Shaolin Kungfu, Wahnam Taijiquan and Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung, be preserved for posterity.

Warmest wishes,

Emiko

[Andrea]

I would like to ask: is the second chapter to be shared in installments like this also?

I would not dream of asking to read the third chapter until after the book has been published, but I am hoping that we might be given a chance to peek at the second chapter of Sifu's biography.

Andrea

[Martin Do]

Fingers cross

Me too