Yi Quan (意拳), also known as Dacheng Quan, is a popular martial art founded by Master Wang Xiangzhai. It represents a profound evolution of traditional Chinese combat, moving away from fixed forms toward a training process of: stillness → slow smooth movements → rapid yet fluid movements, as well as no force -> single-direction forces -> multi-directional forces in one.
Yi Quan’s roots lie in the lineage of the legendary Guo Yunshen’s Xingyi Quan. Living in a neighboring village, Wang Xiangzhai began training under Master Guo at the age of 8. He was famously required to practice Zhan Zhuang(standing meditation) for up to 4 hours each time.
In 1926, while in Shanghai, Wang officially renamed the art “Yi Quan,” signaling a shift in philosophy: Yi (intent/mind) became the master, while Xing (form/shape) became only the servant.
Yi Quan is a sophisticated synthesis of internal and external arts. With Xingyi as its core, it integrates several high-level influences:
- It preserves the “three forces in one” concept from Xingyi, incorporating the Five Elements (five types of force) and the specialized characters of the Twelve Animals.
- The “Tiger Taming” stance (Fu Hu Zhuang) originates from Xingyi, while the “Dragon Subduing” stance (Xiang Long Zhuang) is drawn from Bagua Zhang.
- Evidence shows this art also integrated elements from:
- Fujian White Crane (Zonghe Quan)
- Praying Mantis (Tanglang Quan)
- Xinyi LiuHeBafa (from Master Wu Yihui)
- Jian Wu (“Health Dance” from Huang Muqiao)