History of the HFY Logo

[William E]

A Brief History of the HFY logo

As a HFY family member I wanted to address the question that has come up once again regarding the origins of the HFY logo. This history will provide an accurate account of the logo evolution while also keeping the so-called "HFY Champions" from continuing to spread misinformation about HFY and push their own agendas.

Back in the early 1980's, GM Gee was working with a clothing supply company to provide new kung fu uniforms for his students. This company had a designer who worked closely with GM Gee and his strict criteria of what was to be include in the logo. The result was a series of three logos that were developed for the HFYWCKF lineage.

Evolution of the logos

All three versions of the logo were used at one point in time from early 1980's until the present. Through the years, the logo was standardized and refined by Mathew Kwan, himself a 9th generation disciple in the HFYWCK lineage.

1) 2 butterfly swords sitting outside the red plum flower
2) Chinese characters sitting inside the red plum flower
3) The current logo which represents the HFYWCKF lineage today

Symbols and their meanings

· The petals of the red flower represent the 6 different realities (smell, hear, taste, feel, see, mind), the six gates.
· The star represents the 5 elements (wood, metal, fire, earth, water).
· The yin yang symbol represents the HFY connection to Daoism.
· The reverse swastika symbol represents the HFY connection to Buddhism.
· The 2 butterfly swords represent the wing chun weapon.

Conclusion

There is no great mystery behind the HFY logo. The symbols themselves have a very specific meaning behind them and their relation to HFY. This should answer any public question regarding the HFY logo.

William E.

[Savi]

Excellent post Sir William, and a great topic also! I have learned something new about the history of the logo as well! I never knew that there were different ones previous to the current one.

But now that I think about it, to me - it is really not so much of a surprise but more so it is like getting out of Fau Kiu into Saan Kiu. Being an artist (mediocre I think) myself, from start to finish much of my drawings also go through several phases to completion.

Thus far, everything I have seen in HFY combat (weapons), health (senses, petals, elements), and philosophy (Chan) is also in the logo itself. The science behind the HFY logo is quite masterful in art and design, and is definitely a reflection of Grandmaster Gee's expertise. I noticed in some of my recent assignments that he has a VERY skilled eye for shapes and form even in the realm of art.

[Sihing68]

William,

Thank you for sharing the HFY logo history with the forum. I personally went through (seen or pocess items) the evolution of the logos. They are all great, but of course the current logo stood out above them all. It examplifies what HFYWCK stands for. Yes, I agreed with your conclusion as the so called "bashers" will continue to stay with their agenda regardless of what we present. They can say or believe what they want to, but "persuading" the public without the knowledge or the understanding of the Hung Fa Yi history is just not proper.

[Savi]

Originally posted by William E
·The yin yang symbol represents the HFY connection to Daoism.
·The reverse swastika symbol represents the HFY connection to Buddhism. This is an interesting element. Chan represents the union of Daoism and Buddhism correct? How much of this factor (Chan/Zen) plays into the practice/study of Hung Fa Yi Wing Chun in the combative sense and the spiritual sense? What is the influence it carries, in other words?

[passing_through]

Chan represents the union of Daoism and Buddhism correct?

Not quite. Chan points to an experience beyond words. As such, the words used to lead people to the experience are not written in stone.

As for how Chan has been seen by some as a union between Taoism and Buddhism...

when Chan was first introduced into China, Hinayana Buddhism with its monk-orientated clerical practices and formal study of the sutras was already well established in the Confucian culture of the North. Chan found a home more in the southern parts of China where Taoism also had strong influence. For the Chan monks, teaching and explaining themselves in the South, to use Taoism imagery was only natural. It's similar to the Jesuits using American Indian traditions to teach about the Bible in their early conversion efforts in North America.

Respectfully,
Jeremy R.