Kung Fu: Shaolin Salutes the Ming!

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In the Beginning

It is usual in Kung Fu classes, right at the start, for the group to salute their teacher who salutes them back. In this version the students’ left hand (which is Yang) covers the clenched fist of the right (which is Yin) and a slight bow made and returned. The right hand represents the Moon (Yin) the left hand the Sun (Yang) the two brightest objects in the sky. The salute ‘says’, to those aware of the symbolism: ‘Ming’ (brightness/brilliance/enlightenment) the name of the last true Chinese Dynasty, before the conquest of China by the despised Mongol, Manchu in the 17th Century!. A similar ‘salute the Ming!’ assembly marks the session’s formal close..

Kung Fu and Secret Societies

This salute, often called the sign of the ‘enlightened’ or ‘concealed’ fist, was practised by groups like the Red Turbans and White Lotus Society. Dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty and the restoration of proper Chinese rule, these trained in Martial Arts secretly with this purpose in mind.

More Senior members of such groups used more advanced salutes e.g. advancing the left leg, whilst making the slight bow and hand gestures listed above. The body-language involved in this incorporates the threat of a kick. The salute ‘said’ to those in-the-know, ‘Kick out the Qing! Return the Ming!’ Although not the way to greet a Qing Soldier, such salutes correctly performed served, within such Martial groups, to identify individuals as relative beginners (Si Di) or more seasoned veterans (Si Hing) and to screen out those in the wrong place at the wrong time and so on.

Better than a Handshake!

Salutes are performed when entering and leaving the training hall, before and after fighting in training or in contests (to highlight the organized, ritualised and ‘enlightened’ nature of proceedings and emphasise the absence of gratuitous violence) and at other times when politeness and formality might be required. Unlike some martial arts, the Kung Fu practitioner always keeps his eyes fixed on the person(s) saluted. Saluting is preferred to handshaking, as many covert Qin Na (seize and control) applications originate from apparently friendly handshakes which are, in fact, nothing of the kind. The bow and salute are designed to prevent such surprise-attacks and facilitate concentrated attention on those acknowledged thus.

Overall

Non-verbal communication between humans considerably predates its spoken equivalent. Vital messages were communicated via a medium relying upon eyes rather than ears. Such messages are considered very potent psychological influencers of others’ behaviour in subtle yet powerful ways. Kung Fu salutes demonstrate an intense awareness of such principles, the potency of the medium and the demands of the contexts in which they are typically used.

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Source by Peter Allsop