History

The Song Dynasty Taoist sage Chen Tuan (Chen Tuan 陳摶, also known as Chen Xiyi 陳希夷 or by his nickname, Chen Po) is often credited with its origin and development.He was associated with the Hua Shan Taoist Monastery on Mount Hua in Shaanxi Province.

The Liuhebafa form "Zhu Ji 築基" was taught in the late 1930s in Shanghai and Nanjing by Wu Yihui (1887–1958). It is said he had learned the art from three teachers: Yan Guoxing, Chen Guangdi (who learned the art from a monk, Da Yuan and a Taoist, Li Chan), and Chen Helu.

Many of Wu Yihui's students had martial arts backgrounds and modified the form to merge it with their own knowledge. This is one of several explanations for its similarities with other martial arts such as Xingyiquan, Baguazhang, T'ai chi and Yiquan.

The Six Harmonies and the Eight Methods are the guiding principles of Liuhebafa that give it its name.

The system of Liuhebafa, called Huayue Xiyi Men contains several forms, including bare hand and weapons forms as well as Qigong methods.

Six Harmonies, 六合

1.體合於心 Body and Mind Combine

2.心合於意 Mind and Intent Combine

3.意合於氣 Intent and Chi Combine

4.氣合於神 Chi and Spirit Combine

5.神合於動 Spirit and Movement Combine

6.動合於空 Movement and Emptiness Combine

Eight Methods, 八法

1.氣 Chi

2.骨 Bone

3.形 Shape

4.隨 Follow

5.提 Rise

6.還 Return

7.勒 Retain

8.伏 Conceal