The Founder of Wing Chun: Mr. Zhan of Foshan

Liang Zan (1833–1904) is recorded in the "Liang Shenyuan Tang Clan Genealogy": "Liang Zan is the 20th-generation ancestor of the Liang family. His name was Liang Can Cheng, his courtesy name was De Rong, and his alias was Fu Nan. He was born on the 15th of the 11th lunar month in the 18th year of the Jiaqing reign (1833), and passed away on the 27th of the 5th lunar month in the 20th year of the Guangxu reign (1904), at the age of 71." During the reign of the Tongzhi Emperor, he lived in Qingzhengtang Street in Foshan, where he operated a traditional medicinal store passed down from his father, called "Rong Sheng Tang," commonly known as "Zan Sheng Tang" by the locals. He was proficient in calligraphy and familiar with many styles of Shaolin kung fu. He developed numerous friendships with martial artists and was introduced by his friend, Liang Xijia, to hire the opera martial artist Huang Huabao and the "Du Shui Gui" Liang Erdi as his teachers.

Liang Zan used the narrow horse stance common in the Red Boat style to create the "two trees grasping the sheep" stance. He adapted this technique to the characteristics of the southern people's body type and strength, using methods like palm strikes, elbow strikes, and wrist techniques to increase the force of inertia, shortening the distance of power application, eliminating unnecessary movements, and simplifying the style. He focused on close combat, defending the centerline, and quickly responding with counterattacks. Liang Zan took martial arts from his exchanges with opera troupes, particularly the complex 12-form Wing Chun Shaolin routine, and extracted the practical core. He innovated its philosophy, altered its usage, and simplified and transformed it to be effective. The system included the beginner's form "Xiao Nian Tou," the intermediate "Xun Qiao" for finding the opponent's force initiation, the advanced "Biao Zhi" for delivering force through the fingertips, as well as the wooden dummy form, the eight-slice knife, and the "Six-and-a-half-point Staff" from Southern Shaolin. He simplified the complex martial arts into a practical system with three sets of punches and three sets of weapons, which he named "Wing Chun" to distinguish it from the style practiced in the opera troupe.

Wing Chun in combat is characterized by using borrowed force, attacking fast to defeat slower movements, using stillness to control movement, and using softness to overcome hardness. It incorporates the Tai Chi principle of "four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds," linking defense and attack. The philosophy of not actively meeting the opponent's attack but letting them injure themselves forms a simple and complete defensive system that is easy to learn and can rapidly neutralize an opponent’s attack, regardless of body type.

During the Daoguang reign (1870–1890), Liang Zan opened the first "Wing Chun" teaching studio at his "Zan Sheng Tang" herbal shop in Foshan, which became highly popular among local merchants suffering from security problems. In 1926, the "Foshan Jingwu Monthly" published an article by Feng Chengjian, who had served Liang Zan's son, Liang Bi. It stated: "Foshan is famous for Wing Chun, and it was Liang De Rong who brought this skill to the area. Wing Chun, as a technique, uses borrowed force to neutralize an attack and attacks using the opponent's attack. It is similar to the 'Fan Zi Men' style, so those who practice it can apply it in a few years."

Liang Zan's disciple, Ip Man, in an article from 68 years ago titled "Draft to Organize the Wing Chun Hall Fellowship Association," recorded the following history: "Huang Huabao was a member of the Red Boat opera troupe and worked with Liang Erdi. When the master Chan Zen mingled with the troupe as the 'Bo Tou,' he passed down the exclusive Six-and-a-half-point Staff to Liang Erdi. Huang Huabao and Liang Erdi, having worked together in the Red Boat, were able to observe and exchange their knowledge, integrating their styles into one. This is how the Wing Chun Staff became part of the style." Ten years later, Chen Huashun (also known as Qian Hua) began formalizing the Wing Chun system with three sets of punches and three sets of weapons, marking its independent form and structure. This system was formally recorded, creating a major martial arts school in Southern China.

For over a century, the Wing Chun system has been passed down among martial artists both domestically and internationally, and Wing Chun practiced by its practitioners has become universally recognized as "Foshan Wing Chun." Its founder, Liang Zan, is still honored as the "Wing Chun King, Mr. Zhan of Foshan."