Baguazhang emerges from circles of mysterious fog. The reputed founder, Dong Hai-Chuan appears in the foundation of many (most or all) Eight Trigram Palm Schools.

Behind him, he leaves mists of wonder—histories devoid of clarity, brimming with speculation, mixed with semblances of truth. Dong Hai-Chuan deliberately cultivated the shroud, and, as a result mastered the marketing of Baguazhang. It’s popularity is potent and vast.

Various histories claim Dong Hai-Chuan as the inventor or creator; others report that he inherited it. Most histories weave a plot of an adventurous man wrapping Gung-fu of his local villages into the magic of shaman rituals to create the whole, the circular: Baguazhang!

Whatever happened, each bit of his story lurks in shadow…

Dong Ming Kui—Origins of Dong Hai-Chuan

Born in 1797 (or 1813), he begins with the name Dong Ming Kui, the second son of Dong Bo Xuan. His family relied on farming for a living, and Dong Han-Chuan reputedly despised working in the fields, seeking instead Kung-fu lessons. He trained extensively with teachers of the martial arts in and around the local Zhu village, in Ju Jia Wu Township, Wen An County, Hebei Province, China. In 1853, Dong Ming Kui leaves home, for some reason…

• family financial hardship
• drought and resultant difficulties
• strained relations with his parents
• the quest for fame and fortune from Gung-fu

Whatever the reasons, Dong Ming Kui leaves his home around 1853, seeking fame as a martial artist in Beijing. Despite years of previous training, Dong Ming Kui is easily defeated and, to avoid defaming his family (or to try again), Dong Ming Kui changed his name to Dong Hai-Chuan, a name suggesting an image of a hundred rivers.

And indeed, if you choose to stick to Baguazhang’s main principle—Change!—then a changed name is simply a step around the circle.

Forming Baguazhang

Accounts vary about Dong Hai-Chuan’s years of wandering in the mountains of He Bei, Jiang Su, Zhe Jiang, An Hui, and Jiang Xi Provinces. Some of my favorites include….

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