Читать книгу Pa-kua. Eight-Trigram Boxing онлайн
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After becoming famous in Peking, Tung was challenged by Kuo Yun-shen (“Divine Crushing Hand”) of the Hsing-i tradition. Throughout two whole days of fighting, Kuo, feared for having killed a man with his famous “crushing” hand, could not gain any advantage. On the third day, Tung took the offensive and so completely defeated Kuo that the two became lifelong friends. They were so impressed with each other’s level of accomplishment that they signed a brotherhood pact requiring all their students to train in the other’s discipline as well. For this reason—a most unusual outcome for any fight—both Pa-kua and Hsing-i are to this day coupled and complementary.
About the time of the T’ai Ping Rebellion (1850-64), Tung is thought to have been involved in a revolt against the foreign Manchu government, after which he escaped by fleeing to Peking and became an official in the Imperial court. He did not get along with the other officials, however, and was soon thereafter transferred to the household of Prince Su, a relative of Ching-dynasty emperor T’ung Chih (r. 1862-75), to work as a servant, since no one knew of his prowess as a Pa-kua master. Prince Su employed Sha Hui-tsu, a Moslem boxer, as the Chief of the Royal Guards who protected his residence. Sha held every member of the household staff to strict and immediate obedience, and his wife, an expert with a pistol, effectively reinforced her husband’s orders. Once, at a crowded banquet, Tung served tea to the guests by lightly scaling the wall and crossing the roof to the kitchen and back. Prince Su recognized from this that Tung must have great ability in some martial art, and subsequently ordered Tung to show his art. Unable to refuse, he demonstrated Pa-kua. His sudden turns and flowing style enthralled the audience. Seeing that, Sha challenged Tung to a fight but was soundly defeated. Thereafter, Tung watched for Sha to try to get revenge. Late one night Sha crept into Tung’s bedroom, knife in hand, while his wife aimed her pistol at Tung through the window. Before they were even aware that he was moving, Tung had taken the pistol away from the wife and stood there pointing it at Sha, who thereupon fell to his knees and pounded his head on the floor seeking forgiveness. Tung not only forgave him; he accepted him as a student.