|
Bai Mei Kung Fu, as it is known in Mandarin Chinese or Pak Mei as it is called in Cantonese, is translated as White Eyebrow because it is named after the Monk's silver eyebrows. However, according to Dr. Wong, Great Grand Master Chang Lai-chuen used the name Ngor Mei Shaolin Kung Fu instead of Bai Mei since the roots of the system is found in Mount Ngor Mei. This name was changed to Bai Mei Kung Fu in 1949. Bai Mei has been known through the years as a "forbidden" style. Contrary to popular belief, Bai Mei Kung Fu is considered as a "forbidden" style because only a few were chosen to receive the knowledge and not because Monk Bai Mei was a traitor. In the past two centuries only a few have been chosen to be disciples of the Bai Mei System in the secular world and inside the monasteries. Bai Mei Kung Fu has been a guarded secret since its birth. It has only been shared with those who have demonstrated the character and spirit that coincide with values (honesty, compassion, truth, among other virtues) that a Buddhist monk upholds. Great Grand Master Chang Lai-chuen began his training at a very young age. His first instructor was Lam Sek who taught him the patterns of Cross and Sun-Moon saber, among other patterns. He was later taught by Lee Yee-sze. Great Grand Master Chang learned from Lee other hand patterns such as Three Gates as well as other weapon patterns such as Cane of Great Battle and Tiger Fork. According to Dr. Wong, Great Grand Master Chang was introduced to the Dragon System as a teenager and was later accepted as a disciple to Master Lam Ah-hop. Great Grand Master Chang became highly proficient in the techniques of the Dragon System after several years of intensive training. Great Grand Master Chang was in his late teens or early twenties when he was introduced to the Bai Mei System by a young monk. This young monk later introduced Great Grand Master Chang to his Sifu, Monk Fah-yuen. Monk Fah-yuen was very disturbed at the young monk's audacity for showing someone from the secular world Bai Mei Kung Fu and even more for bringing this outsider to him. After Monk Fah-yuen calmed down, Great Grand Master Chang pleaded with him to be received as a student. Monk Fah-yuen then asked to see Great Grand Master Chang's proficiency in the martial arts. Great Grand Master Chang showed him a pattern of the Dragon System. The Dragon System consists of techniques which are soft in form and because of this characteristic, Monk Fah-yuen felt that Great Grand Master Chang was still at a point where he could be retrained. Furthermore, Monk Fah-yuen accepted him as a disciple of the Bai Mei System because Great Grand Master Chang 's abilities showed promise. Great Grand Master Chang spent three years in the Dah-hung Monastery in Mount Ngor Mei where he learned meditation, the art of divination, healing and last but certainly not least, Bai Mei Shaolin Kung Fu. This is how, in a nut shell, Bai Mei Shaolin Kung Fu was brought to the secular world. I have obtained much of this material from an essay that Dr. Wong wrote about the history of Bai Mei, how it was brought to the secular world, and his lineage. |
