Wong Fei-hung

Wong Fei-hung
Alleged photo of Wong Fei-hung by his disciple Kwong Kei-tim (鄺祺添), rediscovered in 2005
BornWong Sek-cheung (黃錫祥)
(1847-07-09)9 July 1847
Luzhou Hamlet, Lingxi Village, Xiqiao County, Foshan, Nanhai, China
Died17 April 1925(1925-04-17) (aged 77)
Chengxi Fangbian Hospital, Guangzhou, China
Native name黃飛鴻
NationalityChinese
StyleChinese martial arts
Hung Ga, Drunken boxing
TeachersWong Kei-ying
Lam Fuk-sing
Sung Fai-tong
So Chan
RankGrandmaster
Other information
OccupationMartial artist, physician, revolutionary
Spouse
Ms. Luo
(m. 1871; died 1871)
Ms. Ma
(m. 1896, died)
Ms. Cen
(m. 1902, died)
(m. 1915)
Children
  • Wong Hon-lam (son), with Ms. Ma
  • Wong Hon-sam (son), with Ms. Ma
  • 2 daughters, with Ms. Ma
  • Wong Hon-syu (son), with Ms. Cen
  • Wong Hon-hei (son), with Ms. Cen
Notable relativesWong Kei-ying (father)
Pok Lai-ngor (mother)
Notable studentsLeung Foon
Lam Sai-wing
Dang Fong
Ling Wan-kai
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黃飛鴻
Simplified Chinese黄飞鸿
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHuáng Fēihóng
Bopomofoㄏㄨㄤˊ ㄈㄟㄏㄨㄥˊ
Wade–GilesHuang Fei-hung
IPA[xwǎŋ féɪxʊ̌ŋ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationWòhng Fēi-hùhng
JyutpingWong4 Fei1-hung4
IPA[wɔ̏ːŋ féihʊ̏ŋ]
Wong Sek-cheung
(birth name)
Traditional Chinese黃錫祥
Simplified Chinese黄锡祥
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHuáng Xīxiáng
Wade–GilesHuang Hsi-hsiang
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingWong4 Sek3-coeng4
Tat-wun
(courtesy name)
Traditional Chinese達雲
Simplified Chinese达云
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDáyún
Wade–GilesTa-yün
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingDaat6-wan4

Wong Fei-hung (born Wong Sek-cheung with the courtesy name Tat-wun; 9 July 1847 – 17 April 1925) was a Chinese martial artist, physician, and folk hero, who practiced in 19th century Guangzhou. Though he was considered an expert in the Hung Ga style of Chinese martial arts, his real public fame was as a physician who practiced and taught acupuncture, Dit Da (Chinese chiropractics) and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine in the (now closed) Po Chi Lam (寶芝林; 宝芝林; Bǎozhīlín; Bou2-zi1-lam4), a medical clinic in Guangzhou. Two museums dedicated to him were built in his birthplace in Foshan, Guangdong.

Wong has been the subject of numerous martial arts films and television series, most notably the Once Upon a Time in China film series (1991–1997) by Tsui Hark. He has been portrayed by several stars of Hong Kong and Chinese cinema, including Gordon Liu, Jackie Chan, Kwan Tak-hing, Jet Li, Vincent Zhao, and Sammo Hung. The Wong Fei-hung film series holds the Guinness World Record for the longest running film series and most films in a movie series.