BSL Lyrics: Shaolin Straight Sword

[GeneChing]

Look's like we're moving into new territory with the weapons - anyone else has weapon lyrics? Well, if not, you do now.

And thanks for all the positive feedback on this. I'm curious how many BSLers are having trouble decoding the moves - that's where the power of lyrics reside, interpretation. This set has one of my all time favorites - rhinoceros watches the moon. It so evocative and poetic and the rhino horns can be an analog to the sword finger and sword. More so for me, it changes my emotional content when doing this move. I mean, what would a rhino be thinking as it watched the moon? How do you reflect that in your interpretation of the move?

LUNG YIM GHIM: DRAGON MOVEMENTS STRAIGHT SWORD
1. Stand straight, holding the sword.
2. Immortal flicks his clothes.
3. Lion watches the ball.
4. Immortal points the way.
5. Rhinoceros watches the moon.
6. Black dragon goes through the cave.
7. Sit in horse, listen to the wind.
8. Old tree twists its gnarled roots.
9. Green dragon turns around.
10. Taoist Tai Kung fishing.
11. Two hands lift up the sword.
12. Phoenix nods its head.
13. Yeh Cha (the nocturnal ghost) searches the sea.
14. Twist, hook and block.
15. Holding the moon to the chest.
16. Black dragon goes out to the sea.
17. Yeh Cha (the nocturnal ghost) searches the sea.
18. Back arm chopping Wah mountain.
19. Black dragon swings its tail.
20. Black dragon plays with the pearl.
21. Black dragon goes out to the sea.
22. Back step, hooking movement.
23. Golden rooster stands on one leg.
24. Twist, hook and block.
25. Holding the moon to the chest.
26. Black dragon goes out to the sea.
27. Yeh Cha (the nocturnal ghost) searches the sea.
28. Pretty girl threads the needle.
29. Stir up the wind.
30. White ape steals the peach.
31. Hide the sword under the armpit.
32. Immortal stretches his back.
33. Pretty girl threads the needle, lifting up her leg.
34. Golden dragon coils around the jade pillar.
35. Forward step, sword strikes down.
36. Yeh Cha (the nocturnal ghost) searches the sea.
37. Taoist Tai Kung fishing.
38. Immortal stirs up the clouds.
39. Hero's single leg stance.
40. Wild horse breaks out of the stable.
41. Golden dragon climbs up the tree.
42. Immortal stretches his back.
43. Black dragon swings its tail.
44. Offer incense to the sky.
45. Black dragon swings its tail.
46. Stretch the body fully, sword strikes down.
47. Black dragon spits the pearl.
48. Pretty girl threads the needle.
49. Phoenix spins around.
50. Forward step, sword strikes down.
51. Hook, strike down, Golden dragon.
52. Twist stance, hook, and lift.
53. Holding the moon to the chest.
54. Black dragon goes out to the sea.
55. Yeh Cha (the nocturnal ghost) searches the sea.
56. Pretty girl threads the needle.
57. Black dragon goes out to the sea.
58. Taoist Tai Kung fishing.
59. Double hand thrusting straight.
60. Turn around, black dragon goes out to the sea.
61. Dragon king salutes the water, three times.
62. Prince stands by the river.
64. Back step, finishing form.

[NorthernShaolin]

Gene,

In #3 and #5 I used the translation word gazes instead of watches.

In #6, 16, 19, 43, 45, 54 instead of Black, I have Swimming Dragon.

In #21, 26, 57, 60, instead of Black Dragon, I have Fierce Dragon.

In #47 Instead of Black Dragon, I have Green Dragon.

#9 Instead of Green dragon Turn Around, I have Green Dragon Flips it Body.

#14 I do not have listed but maybe it is there…I have to review it later.

#30 Instead of White Ape Steals the Peach, I have White Monkey Offers Fruit.

#39 Instead I have Brave Hero Points the Way.

#41 Instead of Golden Dragon, I have Swimming Dragon

#51 Instead of Golden Dragon, I have Chicken Stands Up

#61 I have Imperial Court’s in front of the word wat

[Starchaser107]

..wow, I wish that I learnt my martial arts in this fashion.
only "lyrics" I know is for tai chi...

[GeneChing]

Some are particularly poetic (ie. right punch, left bow stance) but even many of the modern styles have lyrics. You learn them if you study Chinese.

[Northwind]

Does anyone know if this form has any alternative names? Also, does anyone know the Chinese name for this form (Mandarin / Cantonese / or just the characters)?

[Northwind]

Wondering if it might be "Dragon Shape" - 龍形 - Lóng xíng
But that's completely a wild guess. Any other ideas?

Edit:
Just noticed Gene put the Cantonese as LUNG YIM GHIM up there. Interesting. But still curious about the long xing vs alternatives

Edit #2:
Okay...My apologies - my internet fu is not strong today :P I've just answered most of my questions - did a youtube search and found some vids labeled exactly my guess of long xing jian. And a lookup confirmed that 形 = xing / yim/ying

I originally learned this only as "dragon sword" and haven't touched it in over a year. But for some reason today my cat was messing in my short weap area & knocked down my jian. And then I got to playing with it again :P

Thanks for watching my brain **** and sorry

[GeneChing]

...I know where I have it written in Chinese, and I believe I know where that document is...buried in a storage file underneath my work table at home. I'm hoping some other BSL person has the Chinese and can pop it up here before I have to go digging for it.

My romanization is from the Cantonese because I learned this form from Wing Lam, who was from Hong Kong. It's an unsystematic romanization, as Cantonese often is. It's just the spelling we used at the Lam Kwoon, which was colloquially phonetic.

[NorthernShaolin]

Here is one version. But this one is slightly different than what we posted above. Two lyrics short. I have not taken the time to figure out if the missing lyrics in this are merged with two others.

Attachment 6033

[mickey]

Greetings,

Question: Was this sword originally part of the BSL style or was it picked up at Ching Wu? And how many weapons in the BSL curriculum were picked up at Ching Wu?

NOT TRYING TO FLAME, DEFAME OR KICK DIRT!!!!

mickey

[NorthernShaolin]

Mickey,

According to my notes, the Ching Wu weapons taught were common weapon sets that were already in many different Northern styles curriculum already. In 1915, the Chief Instructor, Chao Linho made a decision to add these popular weapon sets to the Ching Wu original curriculum. Specifically I'm referring to Ta Mor Sword and Five Tiger Spear, which were already part of BSL curriculum.

As far as I'm aware, the Dragon Shape Sword is originally part of BSL curriculum and was (is) a prize sword set. However there is another sword set with the same name (roots connected Chi Chi Kwong?) but with different Chinese character and many schools teach this one rather than the BSL version.

[bawang]

doesnt lyrics mean the actual descriptions on how to use each technique? you guys are just posting the names of the techniques

[GeneChing]

We use it literally here 'as pertaining to or writing lyric poetry' but the proper term would be quanpu (拳谱). By either definition, the term is poetic, so it does indeed describe how to use it on an abstract level, but on a simplistic level, it's just the names of techniques.

[bawang]

i can see how you can call it that, ok. but i still gotta ask, what is the point of making a thread about it? the list of techniques can easily be found on the internet or the back of a dvd. the actual rhyming descriptions for each technique, the written oral transmission, thats the stuff thats hard to get.


i dont see whats the point of posting those names, since they are all codewords.

[GeneChing]

one time i was coming into the gym, i had just injected 5000 mg of dianabol. i see a small skinny shrimp man hogging my squat rack. i flex my muscles infront of him and say, if you dont get off i will eat your flesh, then rape you. he got scaeres then i hit new pr.

You see the point in posting this but you don't see the point in posting quanpu?

[bawang]

this is a proper lyric (non bsl)
.


and fyi, any technique with something gazing the moon means leaning the body to dodge.


i usually dont bother you guys pondering the mysteries of the super mysterious ancient secrets, but gu ruzhang is from my hometown, hes my homie. i feel that intentional ignorance is disrespectful to his legacy.