Origins
The roots of Yizong Baguazhang can be traced to Zhang Junfeng, a martial artist from Tianjin who moved to Taiwan in 1948 amidst political upheaval. While initially operating a provisions business in Taipei, Zhang eventually devoted himself to martial arts, practicing in public parks and teaching those who approached him. In 1950, he established the Yizong Martial Arts School, pioneering the transmission of internal martial systems in Taiwan.
Zhang’s Xingyiquan followed the Cheng Tinghua lineage of the Hebei school. His Baguazhang drew from both the Gao Yisheng and Guanghua Mountain traditions. Notably, his close martial brother Wu Mengxia—who studied with numerous masters before settling under the Guanghua system—played a key role in deepening Zhang’s internal understanding.
Wu passed on to Zhang not only technical refinements but also subtle insights into structural integration and internal mechanics. Taijiquan was also part of Zhang’s teaching, but it was the synthesis of Xingyi and Bagua that formed the core of what he later named “Yizong.”
In this context, “Yizong” does not refer to a singular style, but to the unification of three major internal systems into one coherent structure. It was the first such integrated internal martial arts system taught publicly in Taiwan.
Among Zhang’s foremost students was Hung Yixiang, who further promoted Yizong Baguazhang and trained many accomplished martial artists, including Luo Dexiu. Luo’s approach did not emphasize preservation for tradition’s sake; rather, he treated classical forms as codes—concealing within them deep internal logic, tactical concepts, and developmental methods. His focus was on decoding and testing these ideas, applying them in hands-on training and interdisciplinary exploration.
Through Luo’s work, Yizong Baguazhang matured into a curriculum grounded in real-time adaptability, rhythm, and structural clarity. His refinement gave the system both accessibility and depth, encouraging students not to memorize techniques, but to uncover the principles that govern them.
This is the lineage we inherit today—not a frozen system of choreography, but a living body of knowledge designed to evolve and adapt. Yizong Baguazhang is not defined by a single cultural framework; its principles find echoes in diverse traditions, and its methods are kept alive by those committed to exploring them honestly and deeply.
Beyond Borders
While Yizong Baguazhang is deeply rooted in the Chinese internal martial tradition, its principles speak a language that transcends culture. At Biyan Institute, founded by Chang Wenteng, these principles continue to unfold—not only through the Yizong curriculum, but also through disciplines beyond its original scope.
Among them is Yagyū Shinkage-ryū, a classical Japanese sword art known for its subtlety, timing, and use of strategy over brute force. Though originating from a different cultural and historical context, its core principles—adaptive structure, dynamic rhythm, and responsive flow—echo those of Baguazhang. Rather than treating it as a separate or superior system, Biyan integrates Shinkage-ryū to demonstrate the universality of internal logic in martial movement.
This is not about mixing arts at random. It is about discovering how truths repeat themselves across forms, weapons, and geographies. When the same physics and perceptual insights appear in both a Chinese palm change and a Japanese sword cut, it confirms that we are working with fundamentals—not just techniques.
At Biyan, we explore this resonance deliberately. The integration of Shinkage-ryū is not an attempt to extend Yizong, but a way to widen its lens. It’s an invitation to see that what makes internal martial arts powerful is not where they come from, but how they think about the body, the opponent, and the encounter itself.
A Living Line
We honor our lineage not by freezing it, but by keeping it in motion. Every practitioner brings their own questions, limitations, and insights. The tradition continues not through imitation, but through honest exploration.
In Yi Zong, we don’t ask you to abandon what you’ve learned before. Instead, we help you connect it. Our goal is not to restart your journey, but to illuminate the path you’re already on.