PAI, LI LUNG'S PAI LUM HOMEPAGE

PAI LI LUNG'S PAI LUM KUNGFU HOMEPAGE: WHAT'S IN A NAME

Pai, Li Lung

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

�Pai Lum kung fu� is a term used by the grandmaster of the system
to refer to his teachings. Although the Pai family system has been
handed down from generation to generation, it has been the
tradition for each generation to change the name used to refer to
the teachings.

Grandmaster Pai was taught by his grandfather, who had his own
name for the system. When his grandfather died, the
�grandmaster� title and the system passed to the next practicing
relative, and the system was given a new name. When that
relative died, the system was passed to Grandmaster Pai, who
called it �Pai Lum kung fu.� The system�s name reflects the
generation or family member who taught it.

The Chinese characters for the system�s name actually translate
literally as �white dragon skilled man.� But like many Chinese
terms, this one has many meanings, references, and definitions:

�Pai� means �white� or �pure.� It also is the name of the
current grandmaster, Daniek K. Pai.

�Lum� is Cantonese for �forest,� which refers to unknown
knowledge. The character we use is �lung� (�dragon�),
which symbolizes all knowledge.

�Kung fu� is the generic term used in the United States to
refer to the Chinese martial arts. It means �skilled man�
or �skill achieved through time and effort.� A skilled
flower arranger, dancer, or astronaut has kung fu.

�Pai Lum kung fu,� therefore, means �white dragon skilled man� or
�a man who is skilled in pure knowledge.� There are more meanings
to the name, some of which are deeper, more symbolic, or special
to the Pai family of practitioners.