Mei Hua Zhuang is an ancient school of Chinese boxing which existed as early as the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 221 A.D.). Historical research shows that Mei Hua Zhuang had been secretly handed down from father to son for nearly two thousand years until the end of the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty Master Zhang San Sheng began to teach it publicly. For hundreds of years Mei Hua Zhuang has spread widely throughout the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. Clearly written historical records show the lineage of Mei Hua Zhuang from the early 1500’s. Only a select few (about two per century) become advanced enough in the Mei Hua Zhuang society to advance to that list.

The practitioners of Mei Hua Zhuang were among those who initiated and acted as the main forces of the famous Yi He Tuan movement (Boxer Rebellion, 1898-1901). The implication in the Boxer Rebellion and the prohibition under most of the Communist reign from 1949 to 1987 put Mei Hua Zhuang outside the official structures. Through this situation Mei Hua Zhuang avoided transformation and even distortion as other more public arts have.

The Composition of Mei Hua Zhuang’s WuGong

Mei Hua Zhuang consists of two parts: Wenchang (theoretic field) and Wuchang (martial field). The Wenchang is derived from ancient scriptures