Our School Name and Logo
Our Name
Our System represents the pinnacle of Chinese martial arts. We are not limited to a single methodology or philosophy. Some schools specialize in one or two styles, and these names are reflected in the name of the school. As the System’s founder, Master Sifu Lee Chi Wai, studied under more than one master, it would be impossible to show this honored connection to their respective lineages in a single name! Furthermore, it was not Master Lee’s intention to use his own family name to represent the System. Our System stands to promote Chinese martial arts. We have done, and continue to do, much research on both tradition and modern science.
When you look at the name of our System, you can see this principle of honoring all kung fu, its practice and the ongoing pursuit of excellence through martial arts is maintained.
Chung Wah is the Cantonese spelling of Zhong Hua. Zhong means ‘middle’. Here it is a short form for ‘Middle Country’, or ‘China’. Hua means ‘the glory, splendor, or essence of’. Chung Wah (Zhonghua) is a classical and scholarly term to denote China, its culture and traditions. Wu is the character for martial, the martial arts and their practices. This was explained in detail on the previous section on the System’s Logo. Xue means ‘to study or learn’. Together, these two characters refer not just to a system of martial arts Shu), but a unified, diverse System of comprehensive study that goes beyond martial technique.
These characters appear frequently throughout our System; on publications, letters, uniforms and so on. The main headquarters, located in Ontario, is called the Chung Wah Kung Fu International Research Centre. , Individual branches also bear the first four characters to signify their connection to one another.
It may be said that the entire Chung Wah System and the ideals it stands for are represented in our school logo. Comprised of three symbols, a profound meaning is derived when they are united.
This meaning is intimately connected with the underlying theories of gung fu and the various martial philosophies and techniques, and should be kept in mind as one pursues learning.
Our Logo
I. Wu: This word, meaning war, martial, or military, represents military traditions, theories, philosophies and the ideals of martial arts. Wu is a paradox, comprised of two words:
The right upper portion is a radical which pertains to violence or fighting. The left lower part means to stop. Thus, the character, ‘Wu’, represents the true meaning of martial arts: to stop violence, or conflict. Similarly, the true martial artist learns to deal with and prevent conflict in both their environment and within themselves in the most peaceful way.
II. The large, round symbol is from Chinese philosophy, and is called Yin (black) and Yang (white), which together, represent the fundamental forces of nature.
The physical world is comprised of energy. This energy is in constant flow, represented by the circle made of the interconnected shapes of Yin and Yang. This circle is also known as the Taiji Great Ultimate or Extremity) diagram. All manifestations, cycles and changes in the universe may be represented through this symbol. As day cannot exist without night, male without female, up without down, action and rest, death and rebirth all depend upon one another for existence.
The color of the logo is black and white, symbolizing the balance between yin and yang and our ever-present struggle to differentiate and choose between good and bad.
In short, Yin and Yang in the Taiji symbol represent the natural balance and constant change in all things. By understanding the principles of Yin and Yang, one may find Dao, ‘the Way’…a path to understanding life.
This Taiji symbol, superimposed over Wu (martial), represents the life of martial arts, its change, its ideals, and the path of learning one may take towards self-improvement and understanding.
III. Placed in the centre of the large Taiji symbol is a smaller Taiji. This represents the unique personal balance in life we all must strive to find, using martial arts as one of the ways to achieve our goal.
Summary
The entire Chung Wah System Logo may be represented in the phrase, The deepest meaning of these concepts may only be discovered through sincere and diligent effort, as one learns to apply the principles of gung fu to their daily living.
