- Joined
- Nov 24, 2019
So in this game, we learned that Red Snakes boss Mr. Muscles was a practitioner of Xin Yi Liu He Qaun martial art right.
And we also learned about the origins of the Dragon and Phoenix mirror and the treasure located 'somewhere up north' in China and thus the whole goal of Lan Di pursuing said mirrors (and Niao Sun betraying him).
And we also learned of the origins of the Verdant Bridge in Bailu which was made to commemorate the visitation of the royalty that passed through that village etc.
So anyways, Xin Yi Liu He Quan, is an offshoot of Xin Yi Quan, a rather seemingly linear but brutal and practical style of Chinese martial arts.
This was sorta explained by the martial arts shop owners to Ryo in Naiowu.
Xin Yi Quan ('Heart-Mind Fist", developed first in the Shanxi, Henan and Hebei provinces) uses a 12 animal style form while Xin Yi Liu He Quan uses 10 animal, practiced by Chinese Muslims from Henan and Anhui (which spread to Shanghai and the surrounding areas in the early 20th century), and the Dai Family Xinyi Quan in Shanxi province.
Xingyi means "shape-mind", was later developed in the Shanxi and Hebei provinces as well, mostly by the Song and Che families
The notion of using the 'spirit' of the animal (the nature and logic of how it would attack or move), more so than actually fully mimicking an animals movements like Shaolin 5 animal style or Snake Fist, Eagle Claw, Mantis, Tiger Claw, Monkey Fist etc which use forms to explain and incorporate the animal movements.
Xinyi Liu He Quan is based on ten animals.
The core of the system, the ten animals, which are not forms, but techniques or groups of techniques repeated over and over by students. In fact in Shanghai, the system of Xinyi Liuhe is colloquially known simply as “the ten big animals”. The ten animals are: chicken, hawk, swallow, eagle, tiger, horse, bear, snake, monkey and dragon. Contained within are specific fighting principles and strategies that are designed to suit ten different body types. Traditionally, a student would only learn one or two animals, and only successors of the system would learn all ten.
We know that Mr. Muscles demonstrated three animal movements, so was he a regular student or a true successor. Or did he just beat it out of his master when he turned bad? hmm..
Legend has it that the system was created by the famous general of the Song Dynasty, Yue Fei, who based this new and ingenious system on spear techniques.
The linearity of both styles incorporated the physics of using a spear (forward thrusting linear movement but coil like spiral circulating strikes in said linear movement, like a spear disarming another weapon linearly would have to circle it out of an opponents hand or aim).
There is then a gap of several hundred years, before it reappeared at the end of the Ming Dynasty, when a man named Ji Long Feng travelled to the Zhongnan Mountains in Shaanxi province and studied with many masters there, who also gave him the manual of King Wumu (aka Yue Fei).
The first Muslim to learn the style was Ma Xue Li, who passed it down to few people.
Xinyi Liuhe is a system designed for use on the battlefield, and so very little grappling or high kicking is used. The idea is to attack directly and finish the opponent off as quickly as possible. a battalion of troops advancing into an enemy would have very little space for moving around, and so would engage the enemy directly, running them down in their tracks.
The core footwork of the system, “treading chicken step” (not to be confused with Baguazhang's circle walk, demonstrated in this game as "Rooster Step") is reflected in this idea. However some schools incorporate both as there are some similarities.
Ji Bu, or Chicken Step, a very odd looking posture which is incredibly demanding on the legs and develops huge internal power. Ji Bu is practiced both standing and walking, and looks very simple, however it is the core from which the whole system is built on.
For example although it just looks like a step, it is hiding both a knee and a shin kick. This shin kick is called Gua Di Feng, and is a trademark movement of the style. Xinyi Liuhe people are famous for the power of this kick, which they practice by kicking trees daily, much like how certain Bajiquan practitioners practiced punching, forward step elbowing and body checking trees daily...
The 'chicken step' being the forward movement you'd need to do for spear thrusting. This is what makes these styles brutal. In addition to incorporating a Rock Paper Scissors like 5 Elements methodology of striking:
Anyways, learning more about Xin Yi Liu He Quan history and in how it can be incorporated more into this story:
So up north we have the Chinese Muslims; they used the style to protect themselves from persecution, but also for business.
See, they were often hired as bodyguards for caravan transports because they were known to be the most formidable guards due to their style ("the most brutal of practical martial arts" as noted by the Niaowu martial art store owners in Shenmue 3)
So I think historically wise, this could then tap into some of them being the guards of the Phoenix and Dragon mirror treasure that must have at one point the treasure needed to be transported from one area to another in a caravan, guarded by Chinese Muslim bodyguards using Xin Yi Liu He Quan; and somehow that could tie into the Chi You Men who might have been their opposition years ago.
This could also explain why Mr. Muscles somehow knows the style. Perhaps he is an outcast member of those practitioners as it is often stated that "Xin Yi Liu He Quan cannot be corrupted', yet he is corrupt. So they banished him and he started a gang (Red Snakes).
Similar to how Pail Toss guy lost his way in Bailu as well as that bum guy in Aberdeen (though both not evil)
This could be a way of bringing Mr. Muscles back into the story perhaps (if needed). But also further explain the history of the treasure and why the heroes of the story have to travel further up north to seek their answers.
This could also be a way of having more martial arts masters teach Ryo more martial arts. Perhaps he can learn some Xin Yi Liu He Quan himself, as well as incorporate more Bajiquan and the circular style of Baguazhang which the latter was only briefly touched upon in this game (the circle walk, aka Rooster Step exercises).
And we also learned about the origins of the Dragon and Phoenix mirror and the treasure located 'somewhere up north' in China and thus the whole goal of Lan Di pursuing said mirrors (and Niao Sun betraying him).
And we also learned of the origins of the Verdant Bridge in Bailu which was made to commemorate the visitation of the royalty that passed through that village etc.
So anyways, Xin Yi Liu He Quan, is an offshoot of Xin Yi Quan, a rather seemingly linear but brutal and practical style of Chinese martial arts.
This was sorta explained by the martial arts shop owners to Ryo in Naiowu.
Xin Yi Quan ('Heart-Mind Fist", developed first in the Shanxi, Henan and Hebei provinces) uses a 12 animal style form while Xin Yi Liu He Quan uses 10 animal, practiced by Chinese Muslims from Henan and Anhui (which spread to Shanghai and the surrounding areas in the early 20th century), and the Dai Family Xinyi Quan in Shanxi province.
Xingyi means "shape-mind", was later developed in the Shanxi and Hebei provinces as well, mostly by the Song and Che families
The notion of using the 'spirit' of the animal (the nature and logic of how it would attack or move), more so than actually fully mimicking an animals movements like Shaolin 5 animal style or Snake Fist, Eagle Claw, Mantis, Tiger Claw, Monkey Fist etc which use forms to explain and incorporate the animal movements.
Xinyi Liu He Quan is based on ten animals.
The core of the system, the ten animals, which are not forms, but techniques or groups of techniques repeated over and over by students. In fact in Shanghai, the system of Xinyi Liuhe is colloquially known simply as “the ten big animals”. The ten animals are: chicken, hawk, swallow, eagle, tiger, horse, bear, snake, monkey and dragon. Contained within are specific fighting principles and strategies that are designed to suit ten different body types. Traditionally, a student would only learn one or two animals, and only successors of the system would learn all ten.
We know that Mr. Muscles demonstrated three animal movements, so was he a regular student or a true successor. Or did he just beat it out of his master when he turned bad? hmm..
Legend has it that the system was created by the famous general of the Song Dynasty, Yue Fei, who based this new and ingenious system on spear techniques.
The linearity of both styles incorporated the physics of using a spear (forward thrusting linear movement but coil like spiral circulating strikes in said linear movement, like a spear disarming another weapon linearly would have to circle it out of an opponents hand or aim).
There is then a gap of several hundred years, before it reappeared at the end of the Ming Dynasty, when a man named Ji Long Feng travelled to the Zhongnan Mountains in Shaanxi province and studied with many masters there, who also gave him the manual of King Wumu (aka Yue Fei).
The first Muslim to learn the style was Ma Xue Li, who passed it down to few people.
Xinyi Liuhe is a system designed for use on the battlefield, and so very little grappling or high kicking is used. The idea is to attack directly and finish the opponent off as quickly as possible. a battalion of troops advancing into an enemy would have very little space for moving around, and so would engage the enemy directly, running them down in their tracks.
The core footwork of the system, “treading chicken step” (not to be confused with Baguazhang's circle walk, demonstrated in this game as "Rooster Step") is reflected in this idea. However some schools incorporate both as there are some similarities.
Ji Bu, or Chicken Step, a very odd looking posture which is incredibly demanding on the legs and develops huge internal power. Ji Bu is practiced both standing and walking, and looks very simple, however it is the core from which the whole system is built on.
For example although it just looks like a step, it is hiding both a knee and a shin kick. This shin kick is called Gua Di Feng, and is a trademark movement of the style. Xinyi Liuhe people are famous for the power of this kick, which they practice by kicking trees daily, much like how certain Bajiquan practitioners practiced punching, forward step elbowing and body checking trees daily...
The 'chicken step' being the forward movement you'd need to do for spear thrusting. This is what makes these styles brutal. In addition to incorporating a Rock Paper Scissors like 5 Elements methodology of striking:
- Metal ~ Chopping or Splitting Fist Form ~ Pi Chuan.
- Water ~ Drilling Fist Form ~ Tsuan Chuan.
- Wood ~ Crushing Fist Form ~ Beng Chuan.
- Fire ~ Pounding Fist Form ~ Pao Chuan.
- Earth ~ Crossing Fist Form ~ Heng Chuan.
Anyways, learning more about Xin Yi Liu He Quan history and in how it can be incorporated more into this story:
So up north we have the Chinese Muslims; they used the style to protect themselves from persecution, but also for business.
See, they were often hired as bodyguards for caravan transports because they were known to be the most formidable guards due to their style ("the most brutal of practical martial arts" as noted by the Niaowu martial art store owners in Shenmue 3)
So I think historically wise, this could then tap into some of them being the guards of the Phoenix and Dragon mirror treasure that must have at one point the treasure needed to be transported from one area to another in a caravan, guarded by Chinese Muslim bodyguards using Xin Yi Liu He Quan; and somehow that could tie into the Chi You Men who might have been their opposition years ago.
This could also explain why Mr. Muscles somehow knows the style. Perhaps he is an outcast member of those practitioners as it is often stated that "Xin Yi Liu He Quan cannot be corrupted', yet he is corrupt. So they banished him and he started a gang (Red Snakes).
Similar to how Pail Toss guy lost his way in Bailu as well as that bum guy in Aberdeen (though both not evil)
This could be a way of bringing Mr. Muscles back into the story perhaps (if needed). But also further explain the history of the treasure and why the heroes of the story have to travel further up north to seek their answers.
This could also be a way of having more martial arts masters teach Ryo more martial arts. Perhaps he can learn some Xin Yi Liu He Quan himself, as well as incorporate more Bajiquan and the circular style of Baguazhang which the latter was only briefly touched upon in this game (the circle walk, aka Rooster Step exercises).
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