Tomb of Zhang Congfu, Founder of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist

Tomb of Zhang Congfu, Founder of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist

The Tomb of Zhang Congfu, Founder of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist, is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

Name: Tomb of Zhang Congfu, Founder of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist

Era: Qing Dynasty

Location: Baxinzhuang Village, Youzhao Township, Pingxiang County, Xingtai City

Approval Date: February 7, 2001

The Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist in China originated from the Large-Frame Plum Blossom Fist and was developed as a variation based on the latter. According to the Plum Blossom Fist "Origin Scripture": "During the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Congfu, the eighth-generation master of the Plum Blossom Fist, was exceptionally intelligent from childhood. He studied under Zhao Xueyi from his own village, mastering the Twelve Levels of the Plum Blossom Fist—cultivating both internal and external disciplines, excelling in both civil and martial arts. Building upon the foundation of the Large-Frame Plum Blossom Fist and drawing out its essence, he added his own unique insights to create the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist." The tomb of Zhang Congfu, founder of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist, is located approximately 500 meters northwest of Baxinzhuang Village, Youzhao Township, Xingtai City, Hebei Province, China.

Zhang Congfu, courtesy name Shoukang, was a native of Baxinzhuang Village, Youzhao Township, Pingxiang County, Shunde Prefecture (present-day Xingtai City). He was born on the first day of the first lunar month in the first year of the Qianlong reign (1735). From an early age, he studied the Plum Blossom Fist under Zhao Xueyi, the seventh-generation grandmaster of the art in his village. He practiced both literary and martial aspects through the Twelve Levels, cultivating internal and external disciplines and mastering both. Based on the Large-Frame Plum Blossom Fist, he created the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist (commonly known as the Grounded Plum Blossom Fist), earning fame across Hebei, Shandong, and Henan. In the capital, he once saved Emperor Jiaqing and was offered an official post, which he declined, accepting only an imperial robe and a yellow mandarin jacket. He devoted his entire life to the development of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist and passed away in Baxinzhuang Village, Pingxiang County, on the fifth day of the first lunar month in the 21st year of the Jiaqing reign.

After creating the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist, Zhang Congfu upheld the traditional philosophy that "all Plum Blossom Fists belong to one family." He maintained the original generational hierarchy, a practice unique among martial arts styles, which helped prevent division or conflict within the Plum Blossom Fist community. This reflects the depth of the Plum Blossom Fist’s teachings. Compared to the Large-Frame Plum Blossom Fist, the history of the Small-Frame is relatively short, spanning just over 200 years, yet it has achieved unprecedented growth during this time.

Zhang Congfu’s tomb is a place of reverence for Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist enthusiasts worldwide. It serves as a site for commemorating the grandmaster, as well as a hub for exchanging, refining, and studying the art, and is the birthplace of the Small-Frame Plum Blossom Fist.

In 2001, the tomb of Zhang Congfu was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Hebei Province.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Hebei Province