Li Ziming
Encyclopedia
Li Ziming (June 25, 1903 – January 23, 1993) was a martial arts expert and 3rd generation descendant of Baguazhang
creator Dong Haichuan
, under the lineage of Liang Zhenpu
- progenitor of Liang Style Baguazhang
.
province on June 25, 1903, and died on January, 23, 1993, at the age of 89.
He had a very cultured upbringing including the study of literature
and martial arts, and was very talented at calligraphy
and painting
.
In 1921, he became a disciple of 2nd generation Baguazhang
master, Liang Zhenpu
, and friend of his father; he began intensive study of Baguazhang
. Liang passed down the art of Baguazhang
through the oral tradition. He practiced every day until he achieved a very deep understanding of the fighting secrets of Baguazhang
.
After extensive training with Liang, Li entered the Hebei
province Martial Arts Academy and trained in martial arts under famous masters Zhang Zhankui, Shang Yunxiang, and Ju Qingyuan.
He later returned to Beijing
, where he often exchanged techniques and sparred with martial arts brothers Guo Gumin, Li Shaoan, and Zeng Xingsan, as well as many other famous martial arts masters. Li reached a very high level of technical proficiency and attainment in all aspects of Baguazhang
including forms, weapons, theory and fighting methods. He was especially skilled at the art of fighting and his hand-to-hand combat skills increased perceptibly over the years.
Li dedicated his life to the preservation of Baguazhang
forms, the research of Baguazhang
theory, and the popularization of the art.
In 1979 in order to protect Dong Haichuan
's tomb, he suggested to move it to Wanan Public Cemetery from the old location; on August 2 and 3, 1980, a group of over 100 Beijing
Baguazhang
practitioners under his leadership moved Dong's remains as well as accompanying stone tablets to the new location in Wanan Public Cemetery.
Li Ziming was conscientious and meticulous with all things relating to Baguazhang
. He was not given to flattery, and followed a strong code of morals and righteousness. He was well-known for being generous, kind, modest, amiable, charitable, and benevolent to others. He was very patient when teaching his students, while never holding anything back from them. Li Ziming conducted extensive research about the applications of other styles of Baguazhang
, and took the best elements from each style. He inherited the complete Baguazhang
system and fostered the development of many famous martial artists and masters.
In 1981, he helped establish the first single-style research association in China - The Beijing Baguazhang Research Association - and he was elected its first president; he held this title until his death in 1993. He also established a Baguazhang
coaching station.
He received many honors of distinction by both national and international martial arts associations. After his death, he was the second person to be buried next to Dong Haichuan after Liang Zhenpu
in Wanan Public Cemetery.
Li Ziming's more famous disciples include Ma Chuanxu (second president of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association), Wang Shitong, Zhao Dayuan, Di Guoyong (current president of the Beijing Xingyiquan Research Association), Sui Yunjiang
, Li Gongcheng, Wang Tong, Zhang Quanliang (who has released several VCDs and DVDs), Sun Hongyan, and Ma Ling.
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
creator Dong Haichuan
Dong Haichuan
Dong Haichuan was born on the 13th of October 1797 in Zhu village, Ju Jia Wu Township, Wen'an County, Hebei Province, China and died on the 25th of October 1882 in Beijing. He is regarded as a skillful martial artist and is widely credited to be the founder of Baguazhang...
, under the lineage of Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu was a Chinese martial artist.He was born in Beihaojia Village in Ji County in Hebei province on May 20, 1863 during the Qing Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Tongzhi, and died on August 13 at the age of 69 due to illness. He trained in Tan Tui and Biaozhang during his early childhood...
- progenitor of Liang Style Baguazhang
Liang Style Baguazhang
Liang Style Baguazhang is the style of Baguazhang descended from Liang Zhenpu , the youngest disciple of Baguazhang's founder, Dong Haichuan...
.
Life and work
Li Ziming was born in Lijia Village, Ji County in HebeiHebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province on June 25, 1903, and died on January, 23, 1993, at the age of 89.
He had a very cultured upbringing including the study of literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and martial arts, and was very talented at calligraphy
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
and painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
In 1921, he became a disciple of 2nd generation Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
master, Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu was a Chinese martial artist.He was born in Beihaojia Village in Ji County in Hebei province on May 20, 1863 during the Qing Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Tongzhi, and died on August 13 at the age of 69 due to illness. He trained in Tan Tui and Biaozhang during his early childhood...
, and friend of his father; he began intensive study of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
. Liang passed down the art of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
through the oral tradition. He practiced every day until he achieved a very deep understanding of the fighting secrets of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
.
After extensive training with Liang, Li entered the Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province Martial Arts Academy and trained in martial arts under famous masters Zhang Zhankui, Shang Yunxiang, and Ju Qingyuan.
He later returned to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, where he often exchanged techniques and sparred with martial arts brothers Guo Gumin, Li Shaoan, and Zeng Xingsan, as well as many other famous martial arts masters. Li reached a very high level of technical proficiency and attainment in all aspects of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
including forms, weapons, theory and fighting methods. He was especially skilled at the art of fighting and his hand-to-hand combat skills increased perceptibly over the years.
Li dedicated his life to the preservation of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
forms, the research of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
theory, and the popularization of the art.
In 1979 in order to protect Dong Haichuan
Dong Haichuan
Dong Haichuan was born on the 13th of October 1797 in Zhu village, Ju Jia Wu Township, Wen'an County, Hebei Province, China and died on the 25th of October 1882 in Beijing. He is regarded as a skillful martial artist and is widely credited to be the founder of Baguazhang...
's tomb, he suggested to move it to Wanan Public Cemetery from the old location; on August 2 and 3, 1980, a group of over 100 Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
practitioners under his leadership moved Dong's remains as well as accompanying stone tablets to the new location in Wanan Public Cemetery.
Li Ziming was conscientious and meticulous with all things relating to Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
. He was not given to flattery, and followed a strong code of morals and righteousness. He was well-known for being generous, kind, modest, amiable, charitable, and benevolent to others. He was very patient when teaching his students, while never holding anything back from them. Li Ziming conducted extensive research about the applications of other styles of Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
, and took the best elements from each style. He inherited the complete Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
system and fostered the development of many famous martial artists and masters.
In 1981, he helped establish the first single-style research association in China - The Beijing Baguazhang Research Association - and he was elected its first president; he held this title until his death in 1993. He also established a Baguazhang
Baguazhang
Bāguàzhǎng is one of the three main Chinese martial arts of the Wudang school, the other two being Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. It is more broadly grouped as an internal practice...
coaching station.
He received many honors of distinction by both national and international martial arts associations. After his death, he was the second person to be buried next to Dong Haichuan after Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu
Liang Zhenpu was a Chinese martial artist.He was born in Beihaojia Village in Ji County in Hebei province on May 20, 1863 during the Qing Dynasty under the rule of Emperor Tongzhi, and died on August 13 at the age of 69 due to illness. He trained in Tan Tui and Biaozhang during his early childhood...
in Wanan Public Cemetery.
Li Ziming's more famous disciples include Ma Chuanxu (second president of the Beijing Baguazhang Research Association), Wang Shitong, Zhao Dayuan, Di Guoyong (current president of the Beijing Xingyiquan Research Association), Sui Yunjiang
Sui Yunjiang
Sui Yunjiang is a famous Chinese martial artist. He was born in Heilongjiang province on November 18, 1945. From an early age he studied martial arts with famous masters including Li Ziming, Han Qichang, Wang Zhizhong, and Zhao Shide. His specialties are Liang Style Baguazhang and Meihuazhuang...
, Li Gongcheng, Wang Tong, Zhang Quanliang (who has released several VCDs and DVDs), Sun Hongyan, and Ma Ling.