Wan Lai Sheng (also known as ChangQing or nick named XuanWei) was born in FuZhou, Hubei province. He graduated from PeiPing Agricultural University. He was known as a master of the Liu He (Six Harmony), Ziran (Natural) and Shaolin branches of martial arts. He was the disciple of Du XinWu, chief inheritor of the ZiRan or “Natural” school. He was also a student in the Shaolin Six Harmonies style with Zhao Xin Zhou. Exposed to much martial arts he also worked with Luohan Shaolin and masters of specific weapons.
In 1928 the Republic government of China established the famous Central Guo Shu Institute in NanJing. The Institute was headed by five chosen master. Wan was one of these five along with Gu Ru Zhang (the founder of the Southern branch of Northern Shaolin). He had also been a qualifying finalist, along with Gu Ru Zhang and Guo Cheng Yao in the highly competitive tournament of that year. Then he was brought to fame by winning the Five Provinces North China Tournament in 1928. He also captured First in the First Nanjing Wushu Arena Contest, a well publicized event. He was very active in Kung Fu producing such works as “Teaching Course of Practical Combat”, “Wushu Collected”, “School of Chinese Bone and Traumatology Medicine” and others. His work made him a “literary star” of the Wushu community. He was known to be honest, persistent and kind, especially to his students.
He was appointed president of Ling Guang Wushu Gymnasium in the Republic of China. At 25 years of age he was made the head drillmaster of the Wushu Military Training Center. In this position and others he would often call upon the aid of those he knew and respected such as Gu Ru Zhang, the famous teacher of the Northern Shaolin style. He was also coach of the Hunan Province Wushu Training Gymnasium. Still spry in his seventies these are valuable and interesting records of one of those who “stayed the path.”
A staunch Chinese patriot, he died in FuZhou at the age of ninety.
His disciples include:
Liang Shou Zhong took Chen Dong Guan and Wan Lai Sheng as his masters to acquire skills in FuJian Shaolin Arhat School, Liu He and Ziran. He is a long time San Shou Coach of FuZhou Wushu Association, was invited to teach in Tokyo, and was appointed a second level Wushu judge in 1990, and a sixth dan in 1996, the same year he was entered into “Wushu Celebrities”. He has produced essays such as pieces on Hard and Light Skills in the Ziran school, etc. His Arhat section of FuJian Wushu Boxing and Weapons was selected to be included in the Chinese Wushu Boxing and Weapons Record.
Lin Qin Song is a direct disciple particularly in the Ziran branch. He is a sixth Dan and the head coach of the Tokyo branch of the Wan Li Sheng gymnasium, in Japan.
Wu Sun Xiong, president of the Macao branch of the Wan Lai Sheng Martial Organization.
Liang Chaoqun, the general coach of Wan Lai Sheng Martial Arts Association, France.
Chen Huai Xin, author of the text “ZiRan Men”.
Du Fei Hu, the grandson of Du Xin Wu himself.
Resources
Wan Lai Sheng VCDs’s #3
Wu Sun Xiong’s special order VCD
Background on Six Harmony Boxing
