Ten Tigers of Canton / 廣東十虎


The Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten Tigers of Guangdong[1] (simplified Chinese: 广东十虎; traditional Chinese: 廣東十虎; Mandarin Pinyin: Guǎngdōng Shí Hǔ; Jyutping: Gwong2dong1 Sap6 Fu2) refer to a group of ten Chinese martial artists from Guangdong (Canton), China, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). They were said to be the best fighters in southern China at that time. Much of their existence has been embellished by folk legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.

Contents

[hide]
1 Ten Tigers' martial arts
2 Wong Fei-hung and Ten Tigers
3 Cultural references
3.1 Film
3.2 Television
3.3 Literature
4 References
Ten Tigers' martial arts

The Ten Tigers of Canton traced their martial arts lineage to the southern Shaolin Monastery at the Jiulian Mountains in present-day Fujian province. The southern Shaolin is a branch of the (more famous) main Shaolin Monastery on Mount Song in Henan province. Hence, the Ten Tigers' martial arts styles resemble those of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Name Nickname / Other name Specialty martial arts styles

Wong Yan-lam (simplified Chinese: 王隐林; traditional Chinese: 王隱林; pinyin: Wáng Yǐnlín)[2] Lama Pai (喇嘛派)
Wong Ching-ho (simplified Chinese: 黄澄可; traditional Chinese: 黃澄可; pinyin: Huáng Chéngkě)[2] Nine Dragons Fist (九龍拳)
Sou Hak Fu (simplified Chinese: 苏黑虎; traditional Chinese: 蘇黑虎; pinyin: Sū Hēihǔ) Hak Fu Mun Black Tiger Style (黑虎門)
Wong Kei-ying (simplified Chinese: 黄麒英; traditional Chinese: 黃麒英; pinyin: Huáng Qíyīng)[2] Hung Fist (洪拳),
Shadowless Kick (無影腳)
Lai Yan-chiu (Chinese: 黎仁超; pinyin: Lí Rénchāo)[2] Seven Stars Fist (七星拳)
So Chan (simplified Chinese: 苏灿; traditional Chinese: 蘇燦; pinyin: Sū Càn) "Beggar So" (simplified Chinese: 苏乞儿; traditional Chinese: 蘇乞兒; Mandarin Pinyin: Sū Qǐ'er; Jyutping: Sou1 Hat1ngai4) Drunken Fist (醉拳)
Leung Kwan (Chinese: 梁坤; pinyin: Liáng Kūn) "Iron Bridge Three" (simplified Chinese: 铁桥三; traditional Chinese: 鐵橋三; Mandarin Pinyin: Tiě Qiáo Sān; Jyutping: Tit3 Kiu4 Saam1)[2] Iron Wire Fist (鐵線拳)
Chan Cheung-tai (simplified Chinese: 陈长泰; traditional Chinese: 陳長泰; pinyin: Chén Chángtài) "Iron Finger Chan" (simplified Chinese: 铁指陈; traditional Chinese: 鐵指陳; Mandarin Pinyin: Tiě Zhǐ Chén; Jyutping: Tit3 Zi2 Can2)[2] Eagle Claw (鷹爪功)
Tam Chai-kwan (simplified Chinese: 谭济筠; traditional Chinese: 譚濟筠; pinyin: Tán Jìjūn)[2] Crane Sun Fist (鶴陽拳)
Chow Tai (simplified Chinese: 邹泰; traditional Chinese: 鄒泰; pinyin: Zōu Tài) "Iron Head Chow" (simplified Chinese: 周铁头; traditional Chinese: 周鐵頭; Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōu Tiě Tóu; Jyutping: Zau1 Tit3 Tau4) / 周泰 (Mandarin Pinyin: Zhōu Tài; Jyutping: Zau1 Taai3) Soft Palm (軟綿掌),
Bagua Staff (八卦棍)

Wong Fei-hung and Ten Tigers

Wong Fei-hung (simplified Chinese: 黄飞鸿; traditional Chinese: 黃飛鴻; pinyin: Huáng Fēihóng), son of Wong Kei-ying, is also sometimes called "Tiger after the Ten Tigers". In Chinese folk legend, Wong Fei-hung is best remembered for his heroic efforts in upholding the Chinese people's pride and dignity during a period when national morale was low, in the face of strong competition and oppression from foreigners.

Cultural references

Film

The Ten Tigers appeared in the 1980 Hong Kong film Ten Tigers from Kwangtung[3] produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. It featured a star-studded cast of Shaw Studio actors, including the Venom Mob, Ti Lung and Alexander Fu.

Apart from appearances in Chinese films, the Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days, with Sammo Hung making a special appearance as Wong Fei-hung. Wong and the Ten Tigers assisted the protagonists in fighting the aggressive Black Scorpion gang.

The Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2006 underground cult film Mad Cowgirl.

Television

In 1999, Hong Kong's ATV produced a 40-episodes TV drama series titled Ten Tigers of Guangdong (英雄之廣東十虎).

Literature

In The Eleventh Tiger, a BBC Books original novel by David A. McIntee, the Ten Tigers are featured, with Wong Kei-ying and Wong Fei-hung as major characters in the story.

References

^ Kim, Sun-Jin. Tuttle Dictionary of the Martial Arts of Korea, China & Japan. [1996] (1996). Tuttle publishing. Korea. ISBN 0-8048-2016-3.
^ a b c d e f g 王春芙, 王春英, 陳朝華, Southern Metropolitan daily Guangzhou publications (南方都市報廣州專刊副). Guangdong's past & present. (廣東的前世今生). Using for name verifications. Originally in simplified characters. Published by 花城出版社. Digitized Aug 7, 2007 University of Michigan.
^ shi hu xing yi wu xi

----------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Tigers_of_Canton