China visit 2003
7 Stars & Chanquanshu go to China – Again!
For some of us, April
the 4th 2003 couldn’t come quick enough! This was the date we left
to go off to China. Joining with the rest of the party at different airports
as we travelled, the group comprised of 22 individuals from Scotland, England,
Switzerland and France. The whole operation was smoothly coordinated, as
was the entire trip, by our organiser Maria Faulkner (Melita Tours). Arriving
in Beijing was like coming back to a second home, which was the sentiments
of Gordon Faulkner (President of the Scottish Daoyin Yangsheng Gong Association
(DYYSGA), Maria Faulkner, and Bob Lowey (Vice President of the Scottish
Daoyin Yangsheng Gong Association). Some had arrived the day earlier including
Francois Henry who has his own School in France and an old friend of Bob’s.
Gordon Maria, Bob, Francois, and Peter Ooosterveer combined to form the
main Instructors of the group, with Mark Atkinson (President DYYSGA, England)
joining us for our training sessions while in Beijing. Another familiar
friend met us and was to join us for the whole trip acting as interpreter
and guide, Madam Zhou Jin.Originally from Shanghai, Zhou Jin has travelled
extensively living in Hong Kong where she studied, Germany and eventually
settled in Beijing working in the Sports University’s Library from
1983 – 88, which complimented her interests of literature, Music
and Philosophy. With a command of Mandarin, Cantonese, German and English
languages, Jin began studying Daoyin Yangsheng Gong with Professor Zhang
Guangde that led to further travels to France and Austria.As Associate
Professor trained in T.C.M. and Daoyin Yangsheng Gong, Jin has succeeded
in her post as International Programme Coordinator for Beijing University
of Sports Education, interpreter to the Professor and a very dear friend
of ours. From the moment of our arrival, the clock started ticking and
like all good things, passed too quickly. Six days of wonderful Chinese
cuisine, fantastic sight seeing tours and ultimately, training with our
Teacher, Professor Zhang Guangde. The Professor was in great spirits during
our time spent with him.We trained every morning with the Professor from
Sunday until Friday learning the 3rd of the Taiji Zhang’s (Palm Forms),
that is not only beautiful to practice, but as with all Daoyin Forms, subtly
nourishes every organism in your body as well as concealing martial intent.
The group was in general agreement, even those who were experiencing the
Professor’s teachings for the first time, that he was highly proficient
and instructed in an easily understanding manner, even if you had no idea
of mandarin!Sight seeing during this first week included: The Great Wall,
The Summer Palace, Drum and Clock Tower, Yonghe (Lama) Temple, The Forbidden
City, White Cloud Temple, lectures at the Yanhuang Meridian Research Institute,
and an acrobatic show to “chill out”.
Having did most of the sight seeing trips time and time before, Gordon, Maria,
Lynn and Bob managed to take time out to visit other distinguished establishments
of Beijing – KFC and the Coffee Shop at the Novatel Hotel!Prior to
our leave of Beijing onto the second leg of our China training trip, we were
honoured by a lavish meal by our hosts: Vice-President of Beijing University
of Sports Education, Tian Yi and Professor Zhang Guangde. Our guests to presented
a magnificent crystal globe to Gordon in recognition of the collaboration
between the University and Chanquanshu. The banquet included our Daoyin colleagues
who travelled from Mexico and joined us for the week, and who trained with
Master Wang. Greetings Marriana and Antonio!The 11th of April saw us boarding
a “sleeper” train to Wudang Shan in a state of enthusiasm! Strangely,
auspicious signs were manifest within the first hour of departure. Namely:
the coach number was 7, our compartment bed numbers were 7, 8, 9, and 10,
which combine to total 7, and, the number of bags in our compartment also
added to 7 – such is the 7 Stars (Qixing) !Reminiscent of Sunday school
outings, perhaps with a dash of alcoholic delinquents, many of the group
were rather excited and turned to inebriation as a sedative to help them
sleep on the rather long 22-hour journey to Wudang. The Chinese security
guards and train conductors were exceedingly polite in the way they requested
our party be removed from the train’s corridor to allow them to sleep!
On arrival at Wudang train station, we were huddled into our awaiting coach
that sped us up the mountain (understatement) to our hotel - Tian Lu. This
hotel is nestled into the mountainside along with its neighbouring building,
the Wudang School of Wushu and Taoist Arts, one of the five Martial Arts
Schools in Wudang. From the town of Shiyan, a short drive leads to Xuanye
Gate
– the opening to Wudang Mountain. Wudang Mountain is in the North West
of Hubei and is also known as Taihe and Xianshi. To the North runs the Hanshui
River and the South, the Yangtze. With a height of some 1,612 Metres above
sea level, 72 Peaks, 36 Main Temples and 72 smaller temples, the scenery
around this area is quite breath taking and the sweet mountain air vitalising.
The topmost Temple, The
Golden Palace Temple situated on Tianzhu or Heavenly Pillar looks down
to “The Cliff for Ascending to Heaven”. This has a little platform
positioned on it that has since become famous from the last scene in “Crouching
Tiger Hidden Dragon” where the wee wifey throws herself to her death.
Like all other Temples on Wudang Shan, statues of Emperor Zhenwu occupies
prime place next to the Jade Emperor of course. However, here in Nanyan
Hall, the magnificent Dragonhead Incense Burner, the White Tiger God and
Black Dragon God statues also reside with an ominous presence.
