Ten Tigers of Canton

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Traditional Chinese	廣東十虎
Simplified Chinese	广东十虎
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Guǎngdōng Shí Hǔ Wade–Giles Kuang-tung Shih Hu IPA [kwàŋtúŋ ʂɨ̌ xù] Yale Romanization Gwǎngdōng Shŕ Hǔ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Gwong2dung1 Sap6 Fu2 IPA [kʷɔ̌ːŋ tʊːŋ sɐ̀p fǔː] Yale Romanization Gwóngdūng Sahp Fú

The Ten Tigers of Canton or Ten Tigers of Guangdong (simplified Chinese: 广东十虎; traditional Chinese: 廣東十虎; pinyin: Guǎngdōng Shí Hǔ; Jyutping: Gwong²dung¹ Sap⁶ Fu²) refer to a group of ten Chinese martial artists from Guangdong (Canton), China, who lived during the late Qing Dynasty (1644–1912). They were said to be the best fighters in southern China at that time. Much of their existence has been embellished by folk legends and stories passed down from generation to generation.

Ten Tigers' martial arts

The Ten Tigers of Canton traced their martial arts lineage to the Southern Shaolin Monastery in the Jiulian Mountains in Fujian province. Southern Shaolin is a branch of the better known Shaolin Monastery in Henan province. As such, the Ten Tigers' martial arts styles resemble those of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The Ten Tigers are:

Name	Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese	Pinyin	Jyutping	Nickname / Other names	Martial arts specialties
Wong Yan-lam	王隱林	王隐林	Wáng Yǐnlín	Wong4 Jan2-lam4		Lama Style (喇嘛派)
Wong Ching-hoh	黃澄可	黄澄可	Huáng Chéngkě	Wong4 Cing4-ho2
So Hak-fu	蘇黑虎	苏黑虎	Sū Hēihǔ	Sou1 Hak1-fu2		Southern Shaolin Kung Fu (南少林) Black Tiger Style (黑虎門)
Wong Kei-ying	黃麒英	黄麒英	Huáng Qíyīng	Wong4 Kei4-jing1		Hung Ga (洪家) Shadowless Kick (無影腳)
Lai Yan-chiu	黎仁超	黎仁超	Lí Rénchāo	Lai4 Jan4-ciu1		Hakka Fist (客家拳)
So Chan	蘇燦	苏灿	Sū Càn	Sou1 Can3	"So Hat-yee" (simplified Chinese: 苏乞儿; traditional Chinese: 蘇乞兒; pinyin: Sū Qǐ'er; Jyutping: Sou1 Hat1-ji4; literally: "Beggar So")	Hung Ga (洪家) Drunken Fist (醉拳)
Leung Kwan	梁坤	梁坤	Liáng Kūn	Loeng4 Kwan1	"Tit Kiu Sam" (simplified Chinese: 铁桥三; traditional Chinese: 鐵橋三; pinyin: Tiě Qiáo Sān; Jyutping: Tit3 Kiu4 Saam1; literally: "Iron Bridge Three")	Iron Wire Fist (鐵線拳)
Chan Cheung-tai	陳長泰	陈长泰	Chén Chángtài	Can4 Coeng4-taai3	"Tit Ji Chan" (simplified Chinese: 铁指陈; traditional Chinese: 鐵指陳; pinyin: Tiě Zhǐ Chén; Jyutping: Tit3 Zi2 Can2; literally: "Iron Finger Chan")
Taam Chai-kwan	譚濟筠	谭济筠	Tán Jìjūn	Taam4 Zai3-gwan1		Tam Ga (譚家)
Chow Tai	鄒泰	邹泰	Zōu Tài	Zau1 Taai3	Chow Tai (Chinese: 周泰; pinyin: Zhōu Tài; Jyutping: Zau1 Taai3) "Chow Tit Tau" (simplified Chinese: 周铁头; traditional Chinese: 周鐵頭; pinyin: Zhōu Tiě Tóu; Jyutping: Zau1 Tit3 Tau4; literally: "Iron Head Chow")

Wong Fei-hung and Ten Tigers

Wong Fei-hung (simplified Chinese: 黄飞鸿; traditional Chinese: 黃飛鴻; pinyin: Huáng Fēihóng), son of Wong Kei-ying, is also sometimes called the "Tiger after the Ten Tigers". In Chinese folk legend, Wong Fei-hung is best remembered for his heroic efforts in upholding the Chinese people's pride and dignity during a period when national morale was low, in the face of strong competition and oppression from foreigners.

Cultural references

Film

The Ten Tigers appeared in the 1980 Hong Kong film Ten Tigers from Kwangtung produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. It featured a star-studded cast of Shaw Studio actors, including the Venom Mob, Ti Lung and Alexander Fu.

Apart from appearances in Chinese films, the Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2004 film Around the World in 80 Days, with Sammo Hung making a special appearance as Wong Fei-hung. Wong and the Ten Tigers assisted the protagonists in fighting the aggressive Black Scorpion gang.

The Ten Tigers were also featured in the 2006 underground cult film Mad Cowgirl.

Television

In 1999, Hong Kong's ATV produced a 40-episodes TV drama series titled Ten Tigers of Guangdong (英雄之廣東十虎).

Literature

In The Eleventh Tiger, a BBC Books original novel by David A. McIntee, the Ten Tigers are featured, with Wong Kei-ying and Wong Fei-hung as major characters in the story.

References

• Baidu Baike (Chinese)