Zhao Kuangyin
Founding emperor of the Song dynasty (927–976), a rider and archer to whom tradition attributes the Taizu Changquan style, from which modern Changquan (Long Fist) derives.
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Zhao Kuangyin was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty, to whom tradition attributes the creation of the Taizu Changquan style (“Taizu Long Fist”). He was born on 21 March 927 in Luoyang and died on 14 November 976 in Bianjing at the age of 49.
From his youth he excelled at mounted archery and horsemanship. According to the source, riding an unsaddled, unbridled horse in his youth, he struck his forehead on a wall above a city gate and fell, but at once got up, chased the horse and tamed it unhurt. In 949 he joined the army of Guo Wei and in the Later Zhou army rose under Emperor Shizong (Chai Rong) through the ranks to military governor (jiedushi). At the Battle of Gaoping he led 4000 elite palace soldiers against the army of the Liao empire.
In 960, during the mutiny at the Chen Bridge, he had his soldiers proclaim him emperor; by the account, he accepted only after they swore unconditional obedience. Thus he founded the Song dynasty and ruled until 976. After coming to power he invited the military commanders to a banquet and persuaded them to leave the army or accept lesser posts for high compensation. He conquered the southern states of Later Shu, Southern Han and Southern Tang; the campaign against Northern Han in 968 ended in retreat when the cavalry of the Liao empire came to help.
According to tradition, he created the Taizu Changquan style on the basis of Shaolin techniques; this style is still the foundation of modern Changquan. It is not known, however, whether he actually created the style or whether it even dates from his time.