Dong Hai Chuan Bagua

Dong Haichuan (1797 or 1813 – 1882) was born in Zhu village, Hebei Province, China. He is regarded as a skillful martial artist and is widely credited to be the founder of Baguazhang. Most, if not all, existing schools of Baguazhang place Dong Haichuan at the beginning of their lineage.

He is said to have learned from Taoist (and possibly Buddhist) masters in the mountains of rural China during the early 19th century. There is evidence to suggest a synthesis of several pre-existing martial arts taught and practised in the region in which Dong Haichuan lived, combined with Taoist circle walking. Because of his work as a servant in the Imperial Palace he impressed the emperor with his graceful movements and fighting skill, and became an instructor and a body guard to the court. Dong Haichuan taught for many years in Beijing, eventually earning patronage by the Imperial court.

Dong Hai Chuan Bagua Lineage

• 1st Generation: Dong Hai Chuan

• 2nd Generation: Liang Zhen Pu

• 3rd Generation: Li Ziming

• 4th Generation: Yuanming Zhang
  

The Bagua Zhang of Dong Hai Chuan and it’s many branches originates in the mountains of Sichuan from the “Ancient Eight Methods” of Taoist Mountain Bagua.  Dong Hai Chuan had a number of adept students.  Notable among them were Yin Fu, from whom many branches have evolved, and Liang Zhen Pu, who left a line of single succession through Li Ziming.  Master Zhang studied with Li Ziming in Beijing in the late 1980’s and carries this special lineage into the 21st century.

The Bagua of Master Yuanming Zhang combines this line as well as another lineage, the Ching Cheng Mountian Bagua, which is a lineage passed on to a single lineage holder.  The source of Taoist Bagua is Laozi.  Among the most important lineage holders are Zhang Daolin and Zhang Shan Feng.  The Taoist Bagua of Mt. QingCheng comes to Master Zhang through Yin Yi who was preceded by Pan Long.  This method is a continuance of the Taoist ancient Eight Methods and their complete form.