This document discusses the evolution of Wing Chun kuen from a single long form to three separate forms. It suggests this evolution was influenced by events during the Taiping Rebellion period in mid-19th century China. Specifically, it proposes the first generation of Snake Crane Wing Chun split the single form into three separate forms to better handle traitors who had flipped sides from the Taiping forces to support the Qing dynasty during the rebellion era. It provides historical context about the rebellion period and key figures like Lee Man Mau to support this proposed connection between the development of Wing Chun and events of the Taiping Rebellion.

1. 蛇鶴詠春翁國榮體育會蛇鶴詠春翁國榮體育會蛇鶴詠春翁國榮體育會蛇鶴詠春翁國榮體育會
Snake Crane Wing Chun Yung Kwok Wing Athletic Association
(SCWCYKWAA)
Update: 2013-05-01, by Wayne K.W. Yung
http://scwc.com.hk/SCWC e-mail: ccwayne@yahoo.com
太平天國動亂時期太平天國動亂時期太平天國動亂時期太平天國動亂時期 ：：：： (1)(1)(1)(1) 詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三
TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom Revolution Era : (1) Wing Chun kuen single set
system evolves into a three sets system
太平天國太平天國太平天國太平天國動亂動亂動亂動亂時期時期時期時期 ：：：： (1) 詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三詠春拳一拆三
TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom Revolution : (1) Wing Chun kuen single set system
evolves into a three sets system
作者 co-authors: 香港 「蛇鶴詠春」 翁國榮 Wayne Yung , Snake Crane Wing Chun, HK
美國 「易金詠春」 涂福如 Hendrik Santo, Yik Kam Wing Chun, US
前兩期已介紹過一套 108 式詠春拳由苗順的峨眉十二樁融合了五枚的白鶴拳，變成了
蛇身鶴肢之一套 108 式詠春拳，但為何會演變成三套詠春拳，這與太平天國起義有叛
徒投靠清廷有關。
Previous two issues of the New Martial Hero magazines have introduced Miu Soon
fused the FuJin Wite Cane with the Emei 12 Zhuang to create the Snake body Crane
limbs single long set Siu Lin Tau system. As for why this single set system later
evolve to become a Siu Lin Tau , Chum Kiu, and Biu Jee a three sets system? That
is related to the traitors of the 1855 uprising era . These traitors flipped from anti
Qing to become Qing army.
三套拳種三套拳種三套拳種三套拳種詠春拳的由來詠春拳的由來詠春拳的由來詠春拳的由來
The creation of the three sets system
現從易金詠春及蛇鶴詠春兩線去觀看詠春拳發展的歷史，易金詠春是從梁蘭桂那一代
傳紅船弟子，易金是其中一位，及後 1854 紅船時期參與李文茂起義反清，之後廣西
建大成國。這時期詠春拳是傳一套 108 式的小練頭。
Looking at the evolution of Wing Chun from the angle of Yim Kam and Snake
Crane Wing Chun lineages, Yik Kam Wing Chun lineage is one of many Wing Chun
lineages which has branch out from the RedBoat opera Wing Chun in the Leung
Lan Kwai generation ; Later in 1854 , Yik Kam involved in the uprising lead by Lee
Man Mau. At this era, Wing Chun kuen is a single long set Siu Lin Tau system art.

2. 從蛇鶴詠春，羅悌雲師祖是蛇鶴詠春三傳是很清楚的，在光緒十六年(1890)曾筆錄蛇
鶴詠春門秘，一直低調地在羅家傳了三代，直至今天才正式公開。但往上看，第二代
及第一代又如何？ 為何要一拆三，是為了甚麼？
From Snake Crane Wing Chun lineage, Grandmaster Law Tiu Wen was the third
generation of this lineage. he had made written note on the Snake Crane lineage in
1890. This lineage has operated in low key style for three generations since then to
last decade. Looking back towards the first and second generation of this lineage,
one asked the question of "why is it the single set system become a three sets
system " as in this lineage?
蔡李佛宗師陳亨公 蛇鶴詠春三傳羅悌雲師祖
ChoyLeeFat GM Chan Heng Snake crane wing Chun third generation
現從易金歌訣現從易金歌訣現從易金歌訣現從易金歌訣蛇鶴詠春念頭歌蛇鶴詠春念頭歌蛇鶴詠春念頭歌蛇鶴詠春念頭歌追溯源頭追溯源頭追溯源頭追溯源頭
Searching for the root ot wing chun from the yik kam and snake crane lineage
siu lin tau notes.
據易金小練頭歌訣看來，這一套 108 式的小練頭詠春拳是需要較長時間去練的，因為
涉至古代練氣修脈之體修，所以比較難掌握，是需要較長時間訓練。相比現今三套拳
的詠春，內容注重於應用上，較之容易理解、掌握，與運用。但為何要把一套 108 式
以內修為主的小練頭去分拆成三套容易於應用上的拳術呢？
Based on the Yik Kam Siu Lin Tau writing, the single Siu Lin Tau long set needs a
longer time to learn and handle. This is because this set is based on the ancient
Chinese internal development as prerequisite. The set starts with the training of mind,
body, breathing and qi , thus, it needs a longer period of time to develop the basic.
On the other hand, the three sets focus on applications, thus, it is easier to learn ,
handle, and applied in a short period of time. And so, why is the system evolve from
a long set which has a heavy internal development to an application focus three sets
system?

3. 蛇鶴詠春的念頭歌尾句就給了一個極大啟示，「蛇鶴能制逆宗童」是為了克制叛逆的
人士，到底是誰叛逆呢？在甚麼時候？若以三十年為一代，蛇鶴詠春二傳應約在 1860
時代左右，當時正直太平天國動亂時期，而其第一代應是把一套 108 式的小練頭詠春
拳一拆為三套拳，到底 1855 年到 1860 年前後發生了甚麼事。
The last line of the Snake Crane Wing Chun Lim Tau song gives a big revelation.
The line says " Snake Crane can subdue the traitor kids." thus, we know the single to
three sets evolution is to satisfy the need of handling the traitors. But, who is the
traitors? When is this evolution happen? If thirty years is count as one generation,
then the second generation of Snake Crane Wing Chun is around 1860, 1860 is the
era of TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom uprising. Since there is no mention of the second
generation is the one who evolve the system, the first generation must be the
generation who evolves the single long set system into the three sets system. And,
what happen in this 1860 era which causes the evolution?
李文茂起義李文茂起義李文茂起義李文茂起義
The uprising of Lee Man Mau
1853 年（咸豐三年）夏天，太平天國定都金陵後，勢頭直捲全國，當時三個廣東秘密
會社在上海與上海小刀會正計劃密謀，在中國南方發動反清「起義」，欲攻佔廣州
城，以穩固太平天國南方大門。1854 年李文茂帶領紅船子弟數千，聯同天地會陳開等
響應太平天國共同攻打廣州城，三個社團、合共 40 多縣達 100 萬的人士參加，並一
度圍攻廣州城。因為他們響應洪秀全，故稱為洪兵、亦為洪門子弟。這三個社團的首
領包括有佛山的天地會陳開，紅船子弟李文茂及肇慶的梁培友。
The uprising of TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom 1853 started anti Qing wave in china. At
that time, three secret society groups in Canton were meeting in Shanghai with the
Shanghai Small Knive association to plan an anti Qing uprisings in Southern China.
The plan is to seize GuangZhou city for the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom.
In 1854, Lee Man Mau leads a few thousands of RedBoat opera members , union
with the leader of Tian Tee Hui, Chen Hoi, to support the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom
attacks on GuangZhou city. These three secrete societies lead hundreds of
thousands supportes from more than forty districts, and they tried to capture the
Guang Zhou city once. Since these army are the supporters of the TaiPing heavenly
kingdom's leader Hung Sau Chuen, they were called hung army. A part of this army
is the members of Tien Tee Hui or Hung Mun. The leaders of this Hung army are the
FutShan Tien Tee Hui leader , Chen Hoi, the RedBoat opera leaders Lee Man Mau
and Leung Pei Yau.

4. 佛山粵劇博物館李文茂座像 瓊花會館模型
The statue of Lee Man Mau n FutShan Opera museum The model of Fine Jade Association
廣州城起義失敗後，轉戰廣西，並建立大成國，改潯州為秀京，年號洪德，並設宮鑄
錢。陳開稱平潯王，封李文茂為平靖王，梁培友為平東王，梁大昌為定北王。當時易
金及一眾紅船子弟緊隨李文茂，另一部份紅船弟子則留在紅船上，及至清廷於 1855
年火燒瓊花會館（俗稱火燒南少林），紅船全被破壞，導至粵劇在廣東被禁戲長達十
五年，往後從開八和會館至今。李文茂於兩廣繼續反抗滿清，最終於 1858 年失敗身
亡。1861 年 8 月清軍陷潯州，陳開被俘遇害。餘眾繼續鬥爭。同治三年（1864
年），大成國失敗。
After the anti Qing uprising in GuangZhou was defeated by the Qing, the battle
migrate to GuangXi, the DaChen kingdom was established there. Chen Hoi, Lee
Man Mau, Leung Pei Yau , and Leung Dai Cheong become kings in this kingdom. At
that time, Yik Kam and a group of RedBoat opera members were the supporter of
Lee Man Mau. In Canton, there are other groups of RedBoat opera members
remain in Canton. In 1855 Qing Government destroyed the Fine Jade Hall of the
Red Boat opera and killed the troupers. This destruction of Fine Jade hall event is
later pseudonym as the burning of the ShaoLin temple. After this incident,
Cantonese opera was ban for fifteen years. Fifteen years later the Eight Harmony
hall of Cantonese opera started and on until today. Lee Man Mau was continuous
fighting the battle until he passed away in 1858. In 1861 Qing army captured Chen
Hoi and executed him. The battle was continued until 1864, DaChen kingdom was
totally destroyed.

5. 平靖王李文茂發安民曉諭 廣東八和會館
The notice of Lee Man mau in DaChen kingdom Canton Eight harmony hall
詠春與詠春與詠春與詠春與蔡李佛蔡李佛蔡李佛蔡李佛
Wing Chun and Choy Lee Fut
太平天國主力部隊太平軍是由蔡李佛陳亨公及其弟子訓練的，當太平天國開始壯大
時，清廷利誘很多太平天國將領如張國樑等，投身朝廷，對抗太平天國，及後太平天
國內部亦意見不同，致其內部分裂，不再團結。於 1855 年在兩廣總督葉名琛帶領
下，火燒矎花會館，紅船弟子逃出，散落廣東佛山一帶，當時清廷鼓勵民間團練，對
抗洋人，致佛山武風甚盛，習武者以蔡李佛居多，而投清叛徒多留守佛山一帶，及後
為了復仇，所以就開展了一拆三之詠春拳，來對付身懷蔡李佛拳術在佛山的太平天國
叛徒。之後三合會則傳出火燒（南）少林寺的傳說、說當時的不同門派（南拳）都源
出福建少林寺之少林五老，目的是將各自武術團體組織團結一起，共同反清。
Grandmaster Cheng Heng and his students from Choy Lee Fut were the trainers of
the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom army. As the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom grow bigger,
Qing recruited many officials of the TaiPing Heavenly Kingdom to work for Qing.
Many has flipped from anti Qing to become Qing officials, for example the famous
Cheung Kwok Leung. In 1855, the gorvennor of Canton Yip Ming Shun lead the Qing
army to destroy the RedBoat opera union and burned the fine jade hall. Many
RedBost opera members had escaped and scattered around FutShan area. The
traitors who had become the Qing army , who was Choy Lee Fut trained , also
resided in the same area. Due to the purpose of revenging the RedBoat opera
members, Wing Chun leader evolve the single set system into three sets system for
the purpose of quick training to fight against these traitors who was ex Choy Lee Fut
practitioners. Furthermore, a story of the burning of the Southern Shaolin was
released by the Tien Tee Hui for the purpose of, to unite the different martial art
groups to support the anti Qing movement.
據一拆三套詠春拳訓練方式，注重在應用上可在短時間訓練一些可打高手，由於有蔡
李佛背景的太平天國叛徒多在佛山一帶，廣東佛山就成為兩者的角逐地方，使蔡李佛

6. 及三套拳種的詠春拳流行於此。所以一拆三應是發生於 1855 年之後，是來對付有蔡
李佛拳術背景的太平天國叛徒，也就是蛇鶴詠春念頭歌尾句「蛇鶴能制逆宗童」的由
來，「一由離橋偏身進，一從埋身子午行」。自始蔡李佛跟詠春之冤就在此結下。
1858 年由於李文茂戰死及大成國被清廷所滅，其他追隨之紅船弟子亦被殺滅或逃亡，
易金得脫，後執敎於番偶曹家 ，將 108 式長套小練頭傳曹順，並在曹家傳承，即今天
的易金詠春或稱曹家班中詠春。
With the focus in the application, the three sets system can train good fighters
against the traitors within a short period of time. Since they both reside in the
FutShan area, FutShan become the confrontation zone. Thus, the evolution of the
three sets system happen after 1855 , after the destruction of the Fine Jade Hall, to
counter the ex Choy Lee Fut train traitors. And, That is what it means by -- " Snake
Crane can subdue the traitor kids".
The combat strategy is : Wing Chun is using its capture the center line close body
concept to against the traitors. This is the beginning of the friction between Choy Lee
Fut and Wing Chun kuen.
After Lee Man Mau passing and the vanished of DaChen kingdom, the escaped Yik
Kam taught in the Cho family, he taught the long set Siu Lin Tau system to Cho
Soon , and that is the beginning of the Cho family Wing Chun lineage.
梁蘭桂梁蘭桂梁蘭桂梁蘭桂
梁蘭桂是清嘉慶(1796-1820)；道光(1820-1850)；咸豐(1850-1861)時期人士。經歷了
太平天國及大成國時期，一拆三套拳詠春拳相信是由梁蘭桂以短橋窄馬、埋身攻擊，
守中用中拳理、以對付偏身打法之長橋大馬有蔡李佛背景的投清叛徒。後把三套拳傳
給黃華寶、梁二娣、羅晚恭等，梁蘭桂後因逃避清廷緝捕而往廣東南方去。
Leung Lan Kwai
Leung Lan Kwai was living in the era around 1796 to 1861, he went through the
TaiPing anti Qing uprising era. From different angles, such as time line, seniority,
legend of having the nick name Ng Mui, and technical signature, it seems that Leung
LAN Kwai is extremely likely to be the Wing Chun elderly who created the three sets
system after the destruction of the fine jade hall for the purpose of vengence against
the traitors. He then passed the three sets system to Wong Wah Boh, Leung Yee
Dai, Law Man Kung and others. While Yik Kam was engaged in other battle field with
Lee Man Mau. Later, since he was wanted, Leung Lan Kwai escaped to the
Southern Canton to hide from the Qing.
總結總結總結總結
Conclusion
若從易金訣與蛇鶴念頭歌最後之句看當時習一長套與三套系統者的心態情懷，易金訣
之「劍指膀肘呈英雄」表現了獻身起義的熱忱與對未來的希望，而念頭歌的「蛇鶴能
制逆宗童」則表現了仇恨與報復，兩種不同的時局，兩種不同的情懷，好似春天與秋
天之別。

7. Compare the closing salutation line of the Yik Kam kuen kuit with the last line of
Snake Crane Lim Tau song, one can notice the difference in mentality at these two
different Wing Chun kuen eras.
Yik kam kuit says " Sword finger wing elbow present to the hero" which means
"Snake (technique ) Crane (technique) present to the leader of Tien Tee Hui ." where
sword finger is a Snake technic, wing elbow is a Crane technic, and hero, Ying
Hunng, is a pseudonym of the leader of Tien Tee Hui , Hung ying.
Snake Crane Nim Tau song says " Snake Crane can subdue the traitor kids"
One writing present to the hero , the other writing for subdue the traitors. One is at
the beginning era of the uprising, the other is close to the end of the uprising. Their
different are analogy to spring and autumn. One fills with hope, the other one fills
with hatred.