What Are the Origins of White Eyebrow Kung Fu System?

White Eyebrow is a rare style of Chinese kung fu. A mental as well as physical system, it combines the fighting style of Shaolin kung fu with Taoist philosophy and discipline.

  1. White Eyebrow Creator

    • White Eyebrow kung fu was created by a Taoist monk named Pak Mei in 1647 just after the rise of the Qing Dynasty. According to PlumPub.com, Pak Mei was said to have white hair that fell across his brow, but the style's name more likely derived from a white headband many people wore at the time.

    Development of the Style

    • Pak Mei studied kung fu among the monks at Song Mountain, the location of the main Shaolin temple. After traveling to O Mei, he acquired new physical and mental skills. He used his knowledge to create a style that combined aspects of Buddhist and Taoist martial arts.

    Myth

    • Pak Mei might have aligned his allegiance with the Qing Dynasty and covertly infiltrated Shaolin temples in the southern regions of China, where he was alleged to have identified families that were not loyal to the Qing. Some modern kung fu instructors refuse to teach Shaolin techniques to those who have trained in Pak Mei's White Eyebrow style, citing Pak Mei as a traitor to the temple.

    Physical Elements

    • White Eyebrow is a close-range fighting style noted for its elegant footwork and circular "hunting steps." Hands are held in a relaxed state until strikes are made by whipping the fingers and snapping the wrists.

    Mental Elements

    • White Eyebrow kung fu employs a concentration and mastery of the qi (internal energy). According to Kwong Man Fong, this Taoist principle is intended not only to generate power in the strikes but to maintain the fighter's personal health.