At first

It is customary in Kung Fu classes, from the beginning, for the group to greet their teacher, who returns the greeting. In this version, the student’s left hand (which is Yang) covers the right fist (which is Yin) and they bow slightly and return. The right hand represents the Moon (Yin) the left hand the Sun (Yang) the two brightest objects in the sky. The salutation ‘says’, for those aware of the symbolism: ‘Ming’ (brightness/brightness/enlightenment) the name of the last true Chinese dynasty, before the conquest of China by the despised Manchu Mongols in the 17th century. A similar ‘hello to the Ming!’ assembly marks the formal close of the session.

Kung Fu and Secret Societies

This greeting, often called the ‘enlightened’ or ‘hidden’ fist sign, was practiced by groups such as the Red Turbans and the White Lotus Society. Dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing (Manchu) dynasty and the restoration of proper Chinese rule, they secretly trained in martial arts with this purpose in mind.

Older members of such groups used more advanced greetings, for example, putting the left leg forward, while making the slight bow and hand gestures mentioned above. The body language involved in this incorporates the threat of a kick. The salute ‘said’ to those in the know: ‘Put the Qing out! Give me back the Ming! Although not the way to salute a Qing soldier, such salutes performed correctly served, within such martial groups, to identify individuals as relative beginners (Si Di) or more experienced veterans (Si Hing) and to dismiss those in the wrong place at the time. wrong time and so on.

Better than a handshake!

Salutes are performed upon entering and exiting the training room, before and after fighting in training or contests (to highlight the organized, ritualized and “enlightened” nature of the proceedings and to emphasize the absence of gratuitous violence) and at other times when courtesy and formality might be required. Unlike some martial arts, the Kung Fu practitioner always keeps his gaze fixed on the person(s) being greeted. Greeting is preferred to the handshake, as many covert applications of Qin Na (seize and control) originate from seemingly friendly handshakes that are, in fact, nothing of the sort. The bow and salute are designed to avoid such surprise attacks and to facilitate focused attention on those so recognized.

general

Nonverbal communication between humans considerably predates its spoken equivalent. Vital messages were communicated through a medium that relied on the eyes rather than the ears. Such messages are seen as very powerful psychological influencers on the behavior of others in subtle yet powerful ways. Kung Fu greetings demonstrate a keen awareness of such principles, the potency of the medium, and the demands of the contexts in which they are typically used.