A STATUE FOR THE FOUNDER OF BA GUA ZHANG—GRANDMASTER DONG HAI CHUAN

The opening ceremony of the statue of Grandmaster Dong Haichuan was performed successfully On April 6th, 2008.

--The statue of Grandmaster Dong Haichuan

--The statue of Grandmaster Dong Haichuan

Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan, the very founder and disseminator of Ba Gua Zhang (a traditional Chinese Martial Art also known as the Eight Trigram Palm), was born in Zhu Jia Wu on the 13th of October 1799AD (the fourth year of the Jia Qing era of the Qing Dynasty) in Wen An County, He Bei Province. He died on the 25th of October 1882AD (the eighth year of Guang Xu era of Qing Dynasty), at the age of 83. He was buried in a cemetery of the Xiao Niu Fang village (which was later renamed Liu Fang Nan Li), in Dong Zhi Men, Beijing. In the year that followed, a monument was built by his disciples on the tomb of Mr. Dong Hai Chuan, which is now the northwest part of Liu Fang Nan Li’s uptown and which falls under the responsibility of the Xiang He Yuan Office of the Chao Yang District. In 1982, the tomb and the monument were moved to the Wan An Cemetery which is located in the western suburb of Beijing.

Ba Gua Zhang originated from Beijing and is deeply rooted in the Chinese traditional culture with its theory stemming from the Yi King (Book of Changes). In the late Qing Dynasty, Ba Gua Zhang was created by Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan while he was in the mansion of Prince Su in Beijing. Ba Gua Zhang became the top martial art amongst royalties of the time and rapidly expanded to other parts of Beijing but also to Tianjin, to the He Bei Province and later even to the whole country. Ba Gua Zhang was so popular amongst the enthusiasts that it greatly influenced the whole martial arts field.

The Beijing Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute was founded in 1982. With years of development, the Research Institute has become a solid organization of more than 900 members along with a large number of enthusiasts nation-wide. Meanwhile Ba Gua Zhang is widespread in the US, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc.

The year 2008 will mark the 208th anniversary of Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan’s birth. In memory of the founder of Ba Gua Zhang, Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan, to represent the history and cultural essence of Ba Gua Zhang and to support the flourishing development of this martial art, Beijing Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute was planning to erect a statue of Grandmaster Dong Hai Chuan, on this Beijing Olympic Year, at the site of his original tomb. Please note that this endeavor has been approved by the Beijing Wushu Association and Xiang He Yuan Office of the government of Chao Yang District.

This activity was applauded by the members of Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute and enthusiasts of Ba Gua Zhang home and abroad. Donators from Harbin, Ji Lin, Inner Mongolia, Shan Dong, He Bei, He Nan, Hu Nan, Si Chuan, Chong Qing, Guang Dong and Zhu Hai took part in this ceremony. Donators from Hong Kong, Canada and Singapore sent Congratulatory Letters to the Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute. In their letters, it is said that this event will add even more to the development of Ba Gua Zhang and the union of all the members of Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute.

Mr. Zhang Yaoting, the former president of Chinese Wushu Association, Mr. Shi Yong, the vice president of China Sports Publications Corporation, Mr. Cheng Chunhe, the dean of Beijing Wushu Academy, Mr. Mao Xinjian, the vice president and secretary-general of Beijing Wushu Association, Mr. Zhang Youfeng, the vice dean of Beijing Wushu Academy, Mr. Feng Zhiqiang, the famous Chinese Martial Artist of Chen Style Taiji, Mr. Ma Chuanxu, the second and third term of president of Ba Gua Zhang Research Institute, Mr. Sun Zhijun, the forth generation of Ba Gua Zhang, the famous Chinese Martial Artist of Cheng Style Ba Gua Zhang, Mr. Gu Yu, the Secretary of Discipline Inspection Committee of the Xiang He Yuan Office of the Chao Yang District were invited to the ceremony. Mr. Jia Shusen, the president of the Ba Bua Zhang Research Institute, Mr. Zhang Yaoting, Mr. Cheng Chunhem, Mr. Feng Zhiqiang and Mr. Sun Zhijun made speeches on the ceremony.

--President Jia Shusen

--Mr. Zhang Yaoting

--Mr. Cheng Chunhe

--Mr. Feng Zhiqiang

--Mr. Sun Zhijun

Sports Channel of China Central Television, Xinhua News Agency, China Sports Newspaper, Chinese Wushu Magazine, Wuhun Magazine, Beijing Youth Daily, and Beijing Evening Paper wrote about this event.

--Group Photo-1

--Group Photo-2

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Translated by Stella (Hu Ya Li)