History of Seven Stars Praying Mantis
Origins of the Style
Grandmaster Wang Yunsheng created Seven Stars Praying Mantis during the Qing dynasty. In 1888, during the 14th year of the Guangxu reign, Pingdu’s renowned martial artist “Fast Hand Li” (Li Zhijian) visited Yantai. First, he called on Li Yichun, the 17th-generation keeper of the Mount Hua Taoist lineage. Soon after, he accepted Wang Yunsheng as a disciple and taught him Praying Mantis for three years.
During this period, Li Zhijian taught at Grandmaster Wang’s home during the day. In the evenings, he stayed with Wang’s friend, Hao Shunchang, who also trained in martial arts. Because Hao’s physique differed from Wang’s, Li taught him short forms, including Dan Chahua, Shuang Chahua, Zhuo Gang, Shiba Shou, and Gua Tui (hanging kick). Hao became widely known in Yantai village for his hanging kick.
Meanwhile, Wang, who was tall and strong, focused on long forms that involved multiple lines, such as Zhaiyao (Abstraction), Ba Zhou (Eight Elbows), Ba Kuaishou (Eight Fast Hands), and Qi Bu Tang Lang Shou (Seven Sections of Praying Mantis Hands).
Formation of Seven Stars Praying Mantis
After Li Zhijian returned to northeastern China, Wang Yunsheng and Hao Shunchang exchanged and refined their forms. Through focused study, Wang achieved a deep understanding of the techniques and theory. He named his new style Seven Stars Praying Mantis, inspired by his family home, Kui De Tang.
The style highlights the anatomical “Seven Stars”: the head, shoulders, elbows, hands, buttocks, knees, and feet. Together with the chin, these form the “eight elbows.” Wang designed the style so that each part of the body could strike effectively, creating the 14 strikes of Seven Stars Praying Mantis.
Wang also developed signature techniques, including the Seven Star Hook, Seven Star Punch, and various hand shapes. The style differentiates between the fist and the punch, influenced by Leopard Fist (Cat Fist) techniques. This method remains in forms such as Beng Bu.
Integration of Multiple Martial Arts
Wang studied Mount Hua Sect Long-Fist boxing and Praying Mantis Boxing before creating Seven Stars Praying Mantis. While some claim Li Zhijian created the style, he actually only taught Praying Mantis techniques. Wang Yunsheng developed a complete theoretical foundation and distinct forms, including Fanche, Lu Lu, Zhai Yao, and Ba Zhou.
He also created the Bai Yuan (White Ape) series, which includes Bai Yuan Toutao, Chudong, Xiantao, Rudong, Xianshu, Benzhi, and Zhilu. Wang integrated techniques from many Kung Fu schools, but the style was perfected in the 1920s by Grandmasters Yang Weixin, Luo Guangyu, and his grandson Wang Chuanyi, who preserved the complete manuscripts.
Clarifying Common Misconceptions
Books published in Hong Kong and Taiwan sometimes misattribute forms such as Hei Hu Jiao Cha, Si Lu Ben Da, and Hei Hu Chui to Seven Stars Praying Mantis. In reality, Grandmaster Wang Chuanyi learned these forms from Li Rongde at age six or seven.
Additionally, Wang Yunsheng, Li Rongde, and Su Mingyuan (teacher of Mizong boxing) exchanged forms. Because of this, some Seven Stars Praying Mantis practitioners also train Mizong sets like Da Hu Yan and Xiao Hu Yan. Similarly, Mizong practitioners study Praying Mantis forms such as Beng Bu, Luan Jie, and Ba Kuaishou.
Wang Chuanyi and Preservation of the Style
In the 1960s, Grandmaster Wang Chuanyi meticulously reorganized all manuscripts. He documented the lineage, exchanges with Bagua and Mizong masters, and communications with sworn brothers in Shanghai.
Born in 1900, Wang Chuanyi trained personally under his grandfather. At 23, he taught in Shanghai. Later, from 1952 to 1969, he taught in Dalian, Liaoning Province, ensuring that Seven Stars Praying Mantis was transmitted accurately to future generations.