LIU HE BA FA — WATER BOXING

六合八法拳 (Liù Hé Bā Fǎ Quán)
Mind–Intent • Six Harmonies • Eight Methods • Water Boxing

“Nothing under Heaven is softer than water, yet nothing overcomes the hard and strong better.”
— Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78

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WHAT IS LIU HE BA FA?

六合八法拳 — Liù Hé Bā Fǎ Quán
Six Harmonies • Eight Methods Boxing

Full classical name
心意六合八法三盤十二勢 — Xīn Yì Liù Hé Bā Fǎ Sān Pán Shí’èr Shì
Mind–Intent • Six Harmonies • Eight Methods • Three Stances • Twelve Postures

Also known as
水拳 — Shuǐ Quán — Water Boxing

Essence
Internal power = alignment + structure + whole-body connection led by intent (意 yì) rather than external muscular force.
Internal sequence: 心 → 意 → 氣 → 神 → 空 (xīn → yì → qì → shén → kōng)
Mind → Intent → Qi → Spirit → Emptiness

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ORIGIN & HISTORY

Ancient Transmission

陳摶（陳希夷） — Chén Tuán / Chén Xīyí (871–989 A.D.)
Taoist sage • Internal alchemy • Mount Hua (華山)

• Born during the Late Tang Dynasty, lived through the transition into the Five Dynasties / Ten Kingdoms period.

• Famous for internal cultivation systems (內功 nèi gōng), sleeping practice (睡功 shuì gōng), and profound cosmology (易學 yì xué).

• Frequently referenced in Taoist scriptures as one who achieved the state of “fasting of mind” (心齋 xīn zhāi).

• Historically accredited with:

  • Early Tai Chi Ruler system (太極尺法)

  • Internal alchemy treatises (氣功、內功)

  • Foundation principles that later became Liu He Ba Fa

According to Taoist records, Chen Tuán refused imperial appointment after passing palace examinations.
Instead, he withdrew into the mountains, meditating and writing.
He is said to have reached a level where:

“He slept by day, traveled in spirit at night.”
— Taoist Records of Mount Hua

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Hidden for Centuries

After his death, Chen’s writings were believed lost — until the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368 A.D.).

李洞賓 / 李東風 — Lǐ Dòngfēng
(Sometimes recorded as 李洞賓, sometimes 李東風 depending on lineage)

• Scholar–official and cultivator.

• Traveled to Mount Hua searching for Chen’s cave.

• Discovered manuscripts including:

  • Six Harmonies (六合)

  • Eight Methods (八法)

  • The original structural outline of the art

Li did not commercialize or modify the material — he transmitted the teachings only to secluded Taoists on Mount Hua.
For centuries it existed only in closed-door transmission (關門傳).

This is why Liu He Ba Fa was considered:

“A legend rather than a martial art.”

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Integration Era (Shaolin • Xing Yi • Tai Chi • Bagua)

From the Ming through late Qing dynasties:

• Internal cultivators from Shaolin, Hsing Yi (形意), Tai Chi (太極), and Bagua (八卦) encountered the system.

• They contributed footwork, striking methods, and martial refinements.

• However, they were required to preserve:

  • Six Harmonies (六合)

  • Eight Methods (八法)

  • The “Water” strategy principle

This is why Liu He Ba Fa can resemble Tai Chi, Xing Yi, and Bagua without being any of them.

It predates all three.

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Modern Lineage – The Revealing of the System

吳翼翬 — Wú Yìhuī (1887–1961)
The man responsible for revealing the art to the world.

• Already trained in:

  • Shaolin

  • Xing Yi

  • Bagua

  • Tai Chi

• Became holder of the complete Liu He Ba Fa transmission

• Taught at the Shanghai Central Guoshu Academy, the most elite martial academy of the time

From Wu Yi Hui came the two branches that exist today:

 

Lineage Details Closed-Door / 66 Posture Lineage Smaller groups, kept “secretive,” academic posture naming Refined / 96 Movement Lineage (Chan Yik Yan → Liang Zi Peng → disciples)Breaks posture into internal movement units (more accurate for teaching)

 

Noteworthy students:

• 王薌齋 — Wáng Xiāngzhāi (founder of Yiquan / Dachengquan)

• 陳亦人 — Chén Yìrén (Chan Yik Yan) (received complete transmission)

Chan Yik Yan is the only student confirmed to receive the full art, theory, writings, and permission to teach.

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Western Expansion

Chan Yik Yan’s students — most notably:

• 梁子鵬 — Liang Zi Peng

• Liang’s international disciples (North America, Europe)

…began teaching the art to the outside world beginning in the 1970s and 1980s.

Because the transmission was so selective:

Even today, Liu He Ba Fa remains rare.
It is not a commercial system.
It is given, not sold.

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Summary

 

Era Holder Contribution Tang → Five Dynasties Chen Tuán (Chen Xiyí)Original internal principles; water boxing foundation Yuan Dynasty Li Dongfeng Discovered manuscripts on Mount Hua; preserved method Qing → Republic Era Wu Yi Hui Public transmission; posture naming system Modern Era Chan Yik Yan → Liang Zi Peng Full system; 96 movement breakdown; global transmission

“Older than Tai Chi.
Deeper than Xing Yi.
More elusive than Bagua.”

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FRAMEWORK

Six Harmonies — 六合 (Liù Hé)

1. 身與心合 (shēn yǔ xīn hé) — Body + Mind

2. 心與意合 (xīn yǔ yì hé) — Mind + Intent

3. 意與氣合 (yì yǔ qì hé) — Intent + Qi

4. 氣與神合 (qì yǔ shén hé) — Qi + Spirit

5. 神與動合 (shén yǔ dòng hé) — Spirit + Movement

6. 動與空合 (dòng yǔ kōng hé) — Movement + Emptiness

Eight Methods — 八法 (Bā Fǎ)

氣 (qì) energy • 骨 (gǔ) bone/structure • 形 (xíng) shape • 隨 (suí) follow
提 (tí) lift • 還 (huán) return/cycle • 勒 (lè) restrain • 伏 (fú) conceal

Three Stances — 三盤 (Sān Pán)

高盤 (gāo pán) high • 中盤 (zhōng pán) middle • 低盤 (dī pán) low

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MOVEMENT QUALITIES (WATER PRINCIPLE)

如水無形 (rú shuǐ wú xíng) formless like water • 動中求靜 (dòng zhōng qiú jìng) stillness within motion
以柔克剛 (yǐ róu kè gāng) softness overcomes hardness • 借力打力 (jiè lì dǎ lì) borrow force to issue force
纏絲勁 (chán sī jìn) silk-reeling power

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FIVE CHARACTER SECRETS — EXCERPTS

意動氣相隨 (yì dòng qì xiāng suí) — where intent moves, qi follows
心虛腹要實 (xīn xū fù yào shí) — empty the mind, strengthen the abdomen
形似遊龍戲 (xíng sì yóu lóng xì) — move like a roaming dragon at play
陰陽運行數 (yīn yáng yùn xíng shù) — skillful alternation of yin and yang

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THE LONG FORM — 96 MOVEMENTS

心意六合八法三盤九十六式 (Xīn Yì Liù Hé Bā Fǎ Sān Pán Jiǔshíliù Shì)

Section I — Opening & Water Principle (1–16)

1 停車問路 tíng chē wèn lù — Stop the cart and ask the road
2 懸崖勒馬 xuán yá lè mǎ — Rein in the horse at the cliff
3 關門推月 guān mén tuī yuè — Close the door, push away the moon
4 拂雲見日 fú yún jiàn rì — Brush the clouds and see the sun
5 懸崖勒馬（左）…(zuǒ) — Rein in the horse (left)
6 摘星換斗 zhāi xīng huàn dǒu — Pluck stars, change the dipper
7 鴻雁雙飛 hóng yàn shuāng fēi — Wild geese flying in pairs
8 關門推月（二）…(èr) — Close the door, push away the moon (repeat)
9 孤雁出群 gū yàn chū qún — Lone goose leaves the flock
10 野馬追風 yě mǎ zhuī fēng — Wild horse chases the wind
11 江水長流 jiāng shuǐ cháng liú — River flows without end
12 臥虎聽風 wò hǔ tīng fēng — Hidden tiger listens to the wind
13 指東打西 zhǐ dōng dǎ xī — Point east, strike west
14 青龍探爪 qīng lóng tàn zhǎo — Green dragon stretches claws
15 九轉還丹 jiǔ zhuǎn huán dān — Elixir forms in nine rotations
16 拂雲見日（二）…(èr) — Brush clouds and see sun (variant)

Section II — Water • Wind • Animal Training (17–40)

17 隨波逐流 suí bō zhú liú — Push boat with the current
18 驚馬回頭 jīng mǎ huí tóu — Startled horse turns head
19 花落硯台 huā luò yàn tái — Flower falls onto the inkstone
20 高山流水 gāo shān liú shuǐ — Water flows down the mountain
21 書童進書 shū tóng jìn shū — Page boy delivers the book
22 樵夫挑柴 qiáo fū tiāo chái — Woodcutter carries firewood
23 天官指星 tiān guān zhǐ xīng — Celestial officer points stars
24 五雲托日 wǔ yún tuō rì — Five clouds hold the sun
25 托天蓋地 tuō tiān gài dì — Support heaven, cover earth
26 燕子抄水 yàn zi chāo shuǐ — Swallow skims across water
27 旭日照耳 xù rì zhào ěr — Rising sun strikes the ears
28 攔截雙推 lán jié shuāng tuī — Check & push with both hands
29 清風掃葉 qīng fēng sǎo yè — Gentle breeze sweeps leaves
30 燕子銜泥 yàn zi xián ní — Swallow carries mud
31 靈猿摘果 líng yuán zhāi guǒ — Clever ape plucks fruit
32 猛虎回頭 měng hǔ huí tóu — Fierce tiger turns head
33 順轉乾坤 shùn zhuǎn qián kūn — Turn heaven and earth
34 風擺荷葉 fēng bǎi hé yè — Wind sways lotus leaves
35 藏手勁拳 cáng shǒu jìn quán — Concealed hand with power punch
36 琴韻遮面 qín yùn zhē miàn — Lute hides the face
37 流星追月 liú xīng zhuī yuè — Meteor chases the moon
38 餓虎撲食 è hǔ pū shí — Hungry tiger pounces
39 後撥犀牛 hòu bō xī niú — Push back the rhinoceros
40 盤龍戲水 pán lóng xì shuǐ — Coiling dragon plays in water

Section III — Changes & Spirals (41–70)

41 龍形轉動 lóng xíng zhuǎn dòng — Dragon turning
42 風水連環 fēng shuǐ lián huán — Wind & water link
43 左顧右盼 zuǒ gù yòu pàn — Look left, watch right
44 水底撈月 shuǐ dǐ lāo yuè — Scoop the moon from water
45 欲擒故縱 yù qín gù zòng — Release to capture
46 返身逆轉 fǎn shēn nì zhuǎn — Reverse body turning
47 螺旋纏絲 luó xuán chán sī — Spiral silk reeling
48 雙龍出海 shuāng lóng chū hǎi — Two dragons go out to sea
49 分水擋流 fēn shuǐ dǎng liú — Part the water, block the flow
50 水火既濟 shuǐ huǒ jì jì — Water & fire combine
51 虎抱頭 hǔ bào tóu — Tiger holds head
52 左龍探爪 zuǒ lóng tàn zhǎo — Left dragon stretches claws
53 右龍探爪 yòu lóng tàn zhǎo — Right dragon stretches claws
54 半步纏絲 bàn bù chán sī — Half-step silk coil
55 撞擊開門 zhuàng jī kāi mén — Crash open the gate
56 沉身按勢 chén shēn àn shì — Sink body and press
57 小開大合 xiǎo kāi dà hé — Small opening, large closing
58 翻江倒海 fān jiāng dǎo hǎi — Turn rivers, overturn seas
59 捲浪推舟 juǎn làng tuī zhōu — Roll waves, push boat
60 進退有度 jìn tuì yǒu dù — Advance/retreat with measure
61 龍回頭 lóng huí tóu — Dragon turns head
62 水中探爪 shuǐ zhōng tàn zhǎo — Underwater claw
63 金鵝護身 jīn é hù shēn — Golden goose guards body
64 兩儀分開 liǎng yí fēn kāi — Separate yin and yang
65 一氣貫串 yī qì guàn chuàn — One qi threads through
66 合氣貫頂 hé qì guàn dǐng — Qi rises through crown
67 三環套月 sān huán tào yuè — Three rings bind the moon
68 水底三盤 shuǐ dǐ sān pán — Three coils underwater
69 九疊纏絲 jiǔ dié chán sī — Ninefold silk coiling
70 水上飄 shuǐ shàng piāo — Float on water

Section IV — Return to Void (71–96)

71 水中捉月 shuǐ zhōng zhuō yuè — Catch moon in water
72 萬象歸宗 wàn xiàng guī zōng — All phenomena return to root
73 水中抱球 shuǐ zhōng bào qiú — Embrace the sphere
74 雙飛燕 shuāng fēi yàn — Twin swallow flight
75 涓流回環 juān liú huí huán — Circular returning water
76 逆流返本 nì liú fǎn běn — Against the stream, return to source
77 龍形回環 lóng xíng huí huán — Dragon coils back
78 靜觀入定 jìng guān rù dìng — Observe stillness
79 水上托月 shuǐ shàng tuō yuè — Support moon above water
80 雲隨龍走 yún suí lóng zǒu — Clouds follow the dragon
81 氣沉丹田 qì chén dān tián — Sink qi to dantian
82 氣到四梢 qì dào sì shāo — Qi arrives at four extremities
83 龍遊海底 lóng yóu hǎi dǐ — Dragon swims the seabed
84 推波助浪 tuī bō zhù làng — Push wave, assist current
85 合水入海 hé shuǐ rù hǎi — Unite waters into the sea
86 一念歸空 yī niàn guī kōng — One thought returns to emptiness
87 勁斷意連 jìn duàn yì lián — Power ends, intent continues
88 意斷神續 yì duàn shén xù — Intent ends, spirit continues
89 神斷氣續 shén duàn qì xù — Spirit ends, qi continues
90 氣斷身形 qì duàn shēn xíng — Qi ends, body continues
91 回到初勢 huí dào chū shì — Return to beginning
92 意歸丹田 yì guī dān tián — Intent returns to dantian
93 氣歸命門 qì guī mìng mén — Qi returns to life gate
94 形神俱泯 xíng shén jù mǐn — Form and spirit dissolve
95 心意寂然 xīn yì jì rán — Mind–intent becomes still
96 動與空合 dòng yǔ kōng hé — Movement merges with emptiness

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