Ji Jike
姬際可
Existence disputedSpear master from Shanxi (1588–1662), also known as Ji Longfeng, regarded as the founder of Xinyiquan, from which Xingyiquan arose.
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Ji Jike, also known as Ji Longfeng, is regarded as the founder of Xinyiquan (the art of heart and intention), from which Xingyiquan later arose. He is the first person of this school who is generally believed to have actually existed. He was born in 1588 in Yongji in Shanxi Province and died in 1662.
From seven he studied the classics, from thirteen martial arts. According to sources he first succeeded in the imperial examinations and worked as an official, but left the career out of disappointment with corruption in the civil service. For his exceptional skill in fighting with the spear he received the nickname Divine Spear. He travelled around China and reached the Shaolin monastery in Henan Province, where according to sources he stayed over ten years.
Xinyiquan arose in the late Ming era, founded on the spear techniques for which he was famous. According to tradition, he was inspired to create the art by watching a fight of two roosters in the Shaolin monastery. After returning to Shanxi he taught members of his family and, according to sources, defeated bandits in old age. Among his most important students were Cao Jiwu and Ma Xueli, who preserved distinct lineages; through Ma Xueli runs the Henan branch connected with the Muslim community in Luoyang.
Li Luoneng, whom English sources list as his student, according to another account studied with the Dai family, which developed the Dai xinyi style in the Qianlong era; only afterwards did he modify Xinyiquan and rename it Xingyiquan. Less credible theories name Bodhidharma or Yue Fei as the founder of Xingyiquan as well.