h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The truth is that Pa Kua Chang's origin has no connection whatsoever with the I Ching. Pa Kua Chang was created as nothing but a fighting art. People should do actual research about something before they talk or write about something they really don't know about and try to pass it off as valid information. The martial art itself did not exist prior to the martial art's creation by Dong Hai Chuan, and the original name was Chuan Chang (Rotating Palm), then Pa Kua Chuan Chang, then just Pa Kua Chang. There was actually no connection to the martial art and the I Ching made until Sun Lu Tang (a student of Cheng Ting-Hua) started studying the I Ching and started writing about and teaching Baguazhang and a philosophical connection between the martial art that was now being called Ba Gua Zhang. Sun Lu Tang was a scholar and could read and write, Dong Hai Chuan was not a scholar and could most likely not read and maybe not write (most martial artist of that time usually could not read and write), and Dong Hai Chuan was an old man by the time sun Lu Tang started learning the martial art from Cheng Ting-Hua. Prior to Cheng Ting-Hua and Sun Lu Tang, there had been no connection being talked about or taught between the I Ching and Ba Gua Zhang. Being the case the Dong Hai Chuan most likely could not read and write, how in the world could Dong Hai Chuan even read and understand the I Ching, when it takes (at that time and still) a scholar to read, study and understand the I Ching. Dong Hai Chuan was a martial artist - a fighter and an expert at it. He became expert at it by training and practicing, not studying the I Ching. He created a martial art, not a health exercise and spiritual philosophy. He collected taxes and trained guards for a living, a philosopher can't do that kind of work and stay alive - they study, they don't practice and train to fight and kill, they hire people like Dong Hai Chuan to protect them.

Here are a few sources for some information regarding Pa Kua Chang (Baguazhang):

---> http://www.jiangschool.com/pkcdir.htm

---> http://web.syr.edu/~jbegovic/history.html

---> http://www.jiangschool.com/morepkcinfo.htm

---> http://www.jiangschool.com/Bagua's_Roots.htm

---> http://www.shenwu.com/bagua.htm

These are all sources/resources that will give you more accurate, true and valid information regarding Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang) and who created it and how it was created. There are a lot of stories about Baguazhang and who and how it was created, but only one person did an in depth thourough painstaking two year research and investigation specifically for the purpose of finding the truth and the true origins of martial are that is now known as Baguazhang. Thanks to Professor Kang Ge-Wu (K'ang Ko-Wu) in Beijing China.

The article that you have commented on was written some time ago by a researcher who hasn't posted since 2001.

Your feedback is valid - it's just posted in the wrong place - why not repost to <./>Feedback-Editorial</.> where it will catch the eye of one of our Curators.

I am sure that they will appreciate any suggestions/corrections that you may have

Thank you. I will do that.