The Five Rivers and Four Sea’s
 
     In Chinese history, Chinese scholars greeted each other with a hand sign using the right open hand to cover the left fist symbolizing peace. A martial arts warrior (Wu, martial, uses characters meaning scholar and warrior), however, generally held his weapon in his right hand and therefore greeted each other with the left open hand covering the right “fist”.
     During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) many Chinese fought against the Qing government which they considered corrupt and the standard bow’s (Bao Quan) meaning started to change. The Left open palm symbolized the Moon (Yue), and the right fist the Sun (Ri). When placed together it meant Bright (Ming). However, this was also understood by martial artists and revolutionaries as “over throw the Qing and restore the Ming”.
     In a philosophical way, the Confucian ideal of the perfection of a person through the pursuit of both the scholar’s path and the martial path can be seen in the martial bow. The right fist represents the martial component of the martial artist or Wu and the left open palm represents the scholarly aspects of the person or Wen (man). In the traditional arts of kung fu one will notice that the left palm covers the right fist.
     The closed fist is a universal symbol for violence, rigid, and does not have the capacity to grasp new things and become gentle. The open hand palm symbolizes openness, respect, courtesy and piety. This represents the more scholarly pursuits of knowledge and wisdom.    

Bao Quan
    The kung fu bow (Bao Quan or Bao Jong) is generally done with the left open hand representing the moon (Yue) covering the right fist representing the sun (Ri). The union between the two represents that one is bright (Ming). The left open palm covers the right fist, in the open palm the thumb is kept bent, not kept straight like the other four fingers, this represents that on is humble.
     In a general greeting (Zuo Yi, non-martial artists) it looks almost the same as the kung fu bow, however, the fingers of the left hand are not held out straight but are all bent and touch the back of the right fist.
     The Five Rivers (or lakes) and the Four Sea’s is a more poetic expression of the standard kung fu bow. The meaning of this expression is; when the Five Rivers (the left open palm) joins the Four Sea’s (the right fist) then the people within the Five Rivers and Four Sea’s are all brothers. In actual meaning the explanation of the Five Rivers and Four Sea’s is as follows:
Five Rivers                                                                        Four Sea’s
Dong Ting      Hunan Province                                       Bo Hai      Rising Sea
Po Yang      Jiangxi Province                                          Dong Hai     East China Sea
Qing Hai     Qing Hai Province                                       Nan Hai      South China Sea
Tai Hu         Jiang Su Province                                       Huang Hai   Yellow Sea
Xi Hu           Zhejiang Province
     The symbolism of the Bao Quan in a Chinese kung fu school would have a more martial meaning based on the ancient philosophy of Wude, or the Martial Virtues. Wude was based on Confucianism, who principals are basically outlined in the Chinese Classics. The Books now recognized as the highest authority in China are comprehended under the denominations known as The Five Ching and The Four Shu. Notice the similar heading under Confucianism, The Five…and The Four…, and martial heading, The Five Rivers and Four Sea’s. The symbolism of the Bao Quan in a Chinese kung fu school would mean:
The Left open palm is the Moon Yue
The Five Rivers symbolizes the Noble Mind
The Thumb, bent, mean that no rules will be broken.
Integrity of Morals (Adherence to a Standard)
Intellect (Pertains to one’s Knowledge)
Physical (Pertains to one’s Health)
Aesthetics (Appreciation of the Beauty)
The Right fist is the Sun Ri
Bravery
Courage
Energy
Intensity
     The Left palm covering the Right fist means that the left palm is stopping the fist, meaning that one is brave but not starting the trouble. The Dragon style motto fits perfect here; Control yourself, let others do as they will, this does not mean you are weak. Control your heart, obey the principals of life, this does not mean that others are stronger.

    Usually in a central spot within the kung fu training hall, Kwon, is a place where we show our respect. This area is known as the Li (the strength) or by it's traditional name of the Wu Tan or Martial Altar. The use of the name Altar or Shrine will create some discomfort in some students. However, the Altar is not "religious", in the case of the martial arts the Wu Tan pertains to the founder and successors of the system. 

     Bowing and lighting incense is done as a form of remembrance; not worship. On some Wu Tan you will see a statue of General Kwan Kung, on ours in most branch schools you will see General Kwan Kung with his Kwan weapon and sometimes a statue of him sitting down reading a book. General Kwan Kung was a General in the Chinese army and a school teacher. Having a statue of both would show him as a warrior and a scholar.

     General Kwan Kung was a general during the Three Kingdoms Period (CE 220-280) and he is honored for his Righteousness (Yi), Loyalty (Zhong cheng) and Fortitude (Jianren) and his placement on the Wu Tan is for respect to the ideas of what he represented and to inspire students to emulate those qualities in their daily lives and in their martial training.

     Some Wu Tan contain couplets, these are usually two vertical lines of Chinese characters one on the left side and one on the right side of the Wu Tan. These are usually use to provide incite into the system, ours is the Dragon Style Motto; Control yourself let others do as they will, this does not mean that you are weak. Control your heart, follow the principals of life, this does not mean that others are stronger. The Dragon Style Motto is not seen on our Wu Tan, however, you will see the character for Fire, inverted.

     Whenever it appears on the Wu Tan, or placed in a couplet, or in a solitary central position (as ours is) it is always inverted. Inverting a character plays with the relationship between Invert (Daozhi) and Arrival (Daoda), while both sound similar their meanings are different. The inversion of the character Fire means that the arrival of the intent that is required to implement the techniques of the system.

     In other words, it invokes the "fighting spirit", Zhandou Shen, that is desired by a martial artist. Also, the inversion of the Fire character represents a safe guard for those who have already achieved this fighting spirit; that to much fire destroys. So, Temperance and Self-Control must be central to one's training. Controlling one's fire in order to avoid escalating confrontations and personal burn out.