iklwc chinese terms

chinese terms & its meanings

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1. How to greet at the start and end of class.

2. Chinese Terminology Putong_hua' - a few terms

3. Traditions & meanings - old views explained
4. ageless styles

5. Tohdi today - evolved.
6. What it means to be a Tohdi in the old days
7. Rules of a martial artist
8. Novice Tohdi or open door Tohdi

We will refer to the Mandarin (putonghua) dialect as it is the official language of China and used often in most written translations.

How to greet at the start and end of class.

Salutation - Zhi Jing 致敬

Open of class:
Shanke’ (open class ) teacher says
Shirfu (teacher) Hao (Hallo) student says

Close of class:

Shake’ (close class) teacher says

Xiexie (thank you) Shirfu (teacher) student says
Shirfu (teacher); Zaijian (goodbye) student says

NB: Replace Shirfu with the title of the instructor taking the class.

Chinese Mandarin Terminology (Putong_hua') - a few terms

Shirgung - Teacher of Shirfu/Grandmaster

Shirfu - Head Instructor / Kung Fu Paternal Teacher

Shirmo - Wife of Shirfu, Kung Fu "mom"

Tohdi - Closed/Open Door Understudy to Shirfu

Shirmei - Junior Female student(Younger sister )

Shirdi - Junior Male student (Younger Brother)

Shirju - Middle Level before Senior (nephew to student, Shirdi)

Shirxiong - Older Brother

Shirjie - Older Sister

Shirshoh - One Level above Older (young kung fu brother-Shirfu)

Shirboh - Two Level above Older (younger brother -Shirfu)

Xuesheng - Student

Huan - Change

Xian - First

Kuai - Fast

Ma'n - Slow

Zuo - Left

Yo'u - Right

yi, er', san, si', wu, liu', qi, ba, jiu, shi, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Shi yi, shi er, shi san etc. 11, 12, 13, etc…

wushu term reference.

Get the proper terms when in class to understand your teacher when they use Chinese terms.
download pdf.

ageless styles

Systems under this banner are; external & internal styles often named after a family, a creator, region of origin or the main features within the forms.

kungfukids

External Styles:
1. Shaolin Quan / Kung Fu / Wushu: (Shaolin Quan, Chan Quan, Nan Quan, Northern & Southern Fist, Tam Tui (spring legs Araht form), all Animal Styles, Weapons +-80 etc.)

2.Chin-na (manipulation trapping and locking)

3. Shaui Chao (Chinese Wrestling, throwing & ground techniques)

4. Sanda / Sanshou / Lietie: (Trapping, locking, manipulations, ground fighting and no weapons.)

baduanjin taiji

Internal Styles: Weapons limited to 3, 4 or non.
1. Tai Chi Chuan/Taiji Quan (Yang, Chen, Sun ,Wu Styles)

2. Hsing I Quan (Linear, Power Stamping System)

3. Ba Gua Quan (Circular, Five Elements System)

4. Yong Chun Quan / Wing Chun / (close application, linear defence)
...view more
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zen
some of the common questions;
Is it a religion, does one worship and bow to deities/ statues.
Why must we wear uniform and why is it black?
Philosophy classes?
Do you have to understand and know Chinese?
Confusing Terms Why?
What are Quans, Styles, Forms, Regime, Patterns, Routine.
and many more questions posed to us over the past 28 years. ...view more

Traditions & meanings - old views explained.

The term Shirfu has two meanings. They are written differently in Chinese caliigraphy; but pronounced in the same manner. This must not be confused with dialect e.g. Cantonese may say Sifu. We will refer to the Mandarin dialect.

First term Shirfu:
“An Instructing Teacher”
Used as a complementary term for a Buddhist priest; it however, is used to recognise a physical rather then literary accomplishment. This term could therefore be used for a chef, head servant, tailor etc. but is a common name for a Kung Fu practitioner or master.

Second term Shirfu:
This term is written as a compound of two words. Shir meaning “to initiate teaching” and Fu meaning “father”. This term is closely connected to ancestor honor and the Chinese family lineage system. Although the two terms are pronounced exactly the same this second term has a more personal use.

Tohdi today - evolved.

tohdi1

Being Tohdi today is simply approached in a manner to accommodate a western attitude initially. Tohdi are legacy holders. They undertake to train the systems in its purest forms and preserve them for generations to come. They undertake to become scholars and preservers of the classical arts. They may or may not be instructor category.

Open-door Tohdi:

This is defined with an open-door Tohdi. Open-door Tohdi have the option to leave or stay; this is the phase of the novice. Should the Shirfu/teacher or student feel at any point that they are not capable of maintaining their obligations they are relieved from Tohdi ship.

Closed-door Tohdi

Once the student has proven themselves capable of holding and preserving a system of knowledge; they will become a closed-door Tohdi. Once a student is accepted as a close-door Tohdi; the more complex knowledge is passed on to the lineage holders. They do not have the choice of leaving; this is solely left to the Shirfu/teacher. Read more on Tohdi rank ....
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What it means to be a Tohdi in the old days.

A skilled martial artist becomes a Tohdi. He/she is trained as a martial artist to carry on a tradition of a given school, system or style of the martial arts. He/she may or may not be related by blood to the master or teachers. He/she is called a Tohdi which means he carries the credentials of that school or style, and is called the inheritor or Tohdi.

Rules of a martial artist:

Must uphold and cultivate *Wu-Te

Must not arbitrarily engage in a fight or use his skills to intimidate others

Must not engage in needless arguments

Must not defame or belittle others

Must always be humble and modest and practice humility

Must learn to endure and forbear all hardships and control anger and emotions

Must by example bring honor and respect to his art

*Wu-Te / Martial ethics. Refers to the observance of customs of respect and courtesy between members of the martial arts community. Properly, a virtue to be embodied rather than merely heeded. Martial artists lacking this quality are considered to be mediocre regardless of their technical skill level.

In furthering the cultivation of moral culture the Tohdi is considered the highest ethics and motivation of his/her behavior as righteousness, but with a deeper meaning like super-moral, or doing more than what is required or expected by common standards of morality. To bestow a kindness and not expect reward is moral, but, to bestow a kindness and reject any reward is super-moral.

This altruistic behavior of the Tohdi/martial artists arose from a sense of justice which they place above family loyalty. To a martial artist personal loyalty was more important than loyalty to one’s sovereign or parents. The Tohdi/martial artist also stressed truthfulness in both word and action. The Tohdi/martial artists concern for truthfulness is connected with their sense of honor, yet in contrast to their desire for fame is their contempt for wealth. They could either except or reject great wealth without any embarrassment. The Shirfu could freely choose or refuse their students and they have the right to have the Pai-Shih ceremony performed at any time.

Novice Tohdi or open door Tohdi:

After a time of performing menial tasks the novice would be given instruction, as how to make and hold a particular stance, by the senior student. At all times he/she would be watched and his/her movements reported to the Kung fu master. The master would also question the novice at times when he saw him/her working, but he would never give the novice a chance to ask questions or complain directly to him.

After another period of time, having found the novice of good moral character, and even temperament, the novice would once again be questioned by the master. If the Kung fu master felt the novice was worthy, to become a Tohdi, he would personally give the novice some simple tests. If satisfied the Kung fu master would then inform the novice to prepare to be initiated as a Tohdi.

The Tohdi then courteously ask to be a follower of the master. If there were no objections a speech, by the master or another senior member, would be made on obedience, humanity, moral conduct and the ideas of the martial spirit. The novice would then pledge various oaths of allegiance to the master, the school and the ancestors of the school. The novice would then sign, or thumbprint, a pledge of allegiance. After this gifts of both goods and Hung-Pao were presented to the master in gratitude. The novice would also serve the master a cup of tea.

The Pai-Shih ceremony was clearly of great importance. It was the means of perpetuating the group, and the best guarantee of a future existence for the Kung fu knowledge. Novices entering the school was so precarious that Kung fu masters did not dare to consider every novice truly his disciple or student until he had passed all tests and proven him/herself worthy. The novice would not be considered an apprentice or disciple at all if the Pai-Shih ceremony was not performed. Thus this ceremony bound him/her into something more than an organization, but an intimate family unit of members having the same interest, with “uncles” and “brothers” everywhere to join in mutual aid when called upon.

These sites seem to hold great knowledge if you seek more.

Read more on Wu Wie - http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Wu-wei

some interesting reading - http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Koan

Feb 2011

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