| Martial Arts LEGENDS part9: Fong Sai Yuk
In most versions of his legend, the Chinese folk hero Fong Sai-Yuk (Chinese: 方世玉; pinyin: Fāng Shìyù; Yale Cantonese: Fong1 Sai3 Yuk6) was trained in the martial arts by his mother Miu Tsui-Fa[1], daughter of Miu Hin[2], one of the Five Elders who escaped the destruction of the Shaolin Monastery by the Qing Dynasty.
Ever since Sai-Yuk's birth, Miu Tsui-Fa would bathe him in the Chinese herbal liniment dit da jow[3], making him practically invulnerable (cf. Achilles).
While he was still in his early teens, he accepted an open challenge from Tiger Lu and killed him.
The Death
As the legend says, Fong Sai-Yuk was killed by Bak Mei (white eyebrow), the notorious kungfu warrior in a battle embeded with revenge.
This Legend was brought to my attention in Jet Li's "The Legend"
Fong Sai-Yuk: The Movie
1993 saw the release of Fong Sai-Yuk (North American title: The Legend), a Hong Kong-made martial arts film starring Jet Li and directed by Corey Yuen. The film has strong comic elements that dovetail with the mischievous reputation of its hero, a young kung-fu master who spends his days playing around with his friends instead of learning. He slowly comes to learn that his father is the head of the Red Flower Society, an anti-Qing rebel group (cf. Tiandihui). The rest of this film follows Fong Sai-Yuk as he matures into the legendary Chinese warrior he comes to be. In the film, Fong Sai-Yuk's mother is a main character and Tiger Lu is the father of Sai-Yuk's love interest and a figure of amusement rather than a menacing villain. Fong Sai Yuk also portrayed as a mama's boy. More than once he is saved by her. There is also a sequel..
I am not certain if Fong Sai Yuk Actually existed, though he vary well could have. I have also stumbled on to sites that suggest that he indeed did exist, just as other "folk heros" such as wong fei hong existed. However Fong Sai Yuk of all the Chinese folk heros is the most difficult to find info on. Nevertheless, in chinese folklore...he is definatly a Martial Arts LEGEND!
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Martial Arts LEGENDS part9: Fong Sai Yuk
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