Wong Fei Hung

Wong Fei Hung (黃飛鴻 huang2 fei1 hong2) (1847 - 1942) was often mistaken to be one of the Ten Tigers of Canton - the top ten kung fu master in Guangzhou (Canton) during the end of Qing dynasty of China. In fact he was often called "the tiger after the 10 Tigers of Canton" leading through poor translation to the assumption that he was a member of this group. His father however, Wong Kei-ying, was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton.

He became a legendary hero, and many Hong Kong movies are based on his story - indeed, both Jackie Chan (in Drunken Master I and II, portrayed as a trouble-making youth), Jet Li played Wong Fei Hung (Once Upon a Time in China Series). From the late 1940's into the 1960's, there was a Wong Fei Hung movie series[?] (played in Hong Kong only) consists of more than 100 movies and so it was once claimed to be the longest movie series ever. The star at that time was Kwan Tak Hing[?] who gained his nickname "Master Wong" through this movie series. The character of Wong Fei Hong also appeared as a child in the movie Iron Monkey[?].

Another movie series with same Chinese name was Once upon a time in China by Jet Li in the 1990s, and it was the first movie series about Wong Fei Hung played outside China. His trademark move was known to be the Wong Family's "Shadowless Kick".

Wong Fei Hong was also known as a real-life folk hero (who actually existed in History), perhaps the equivalent to a Chinese Robin Hood. Although considered by profession a healer/medical doctor, practicing acupuncture/Chinese medicine at his 'Po Chi Lam' Clinic, he was also one of China's most skilled (and legendary) martial artists at the time. Known for his compassion to treat any patient, he was a teacher and considered a revolutionary at the time as well. He helped invent a system/branch of Tiger-Crane Form and "Ten Special Fists" Boxing that still is used to this day. A monument exists for him in China.