An Indian monk while traveling through China noticed that during meditation the Chinese monks were falling asleep, so he developed a routine of exercises, including fighting techniques to increase physical and mental health.

At the time of the Ch'ing dynasty (1644-1911) the Manchus invaded China and forbade any practise of Martial Arts, which they knew was going on at the Shaolin temple, this was too well fortified to take by storm so they bribed a monk who showed them a secret entrance. When the Manchus entered they burnt the temple and killed the occupants, all that is for five elders who managed to escape, one of these being a nun named Ng Mui. As the five dispersed throughout China Ng Mui came to the temple of the White Crane, which she entered and continued her vocation.

One day Ng Mui met a woman who was being harassed by a local landowners son called Wong. Ng Mui told the girl to tell Wong to leave her alone for a year, in which time she would return and give him her answer as to marriage, Wong agreed and the girl spent one year being taught the fighting techniques by Ng Mui.

When they returned one year later the girl told Wong that they would fight, and if he won she would marry him, but if he lost he was to leave her alone forever, Wong agreed but she beat him easily so she was able to marry the man she wanted, a Leung Bok Cho.

One day during a quarrel they fought and again using the techniques taught her she won easily, which so impressed her husband he asked to be taught the style, which she did. He then taught the style and passed on the art and to do honour to his wife named it Wing Chun, after his wife's name of Yimm Wing Chun, which means Beautiful Springtime.