What's in a name? Part 2: "Sihing"

 

This series is primarily for my students, but I hope the information presented is of interest to others. 

In this series, I'll be addressing the different titles that are observed at my Kwoon, Seattle Wushu Center, as they apply to our Kajukenbo, Wushu, Tai Chi, and Eskrima classes. Please note that the titles featured in this blog apply to our school, and the uses may differ in other schools.

-Restita DeJesus

"Titles can be confusing, and some may consider the titles as a relic of the past and not necessary in the modern martial arts world. However, part the tradition of an art lives on in the observation of the line of seniority."

The title "Sihing" is and honorific title used in many Kung Fu schools and means "Elder brother" in Cantonese ("Shixiong" in Mandarin), however in some Chinese based martial arts schools the term might be gender-neutral and used for both male and female students. The female equivalent is "Sijie" (Cantonese-elder Sister) or "Shijie" (Mandarin).

At my school, Seattle Wushu Center, we use the gender-neutral Cantonese title "Sihing". Like many Chinese martial arts titles, the term Sihing is based on "family ties".....the relationship within the Kung Fu family. 

"Sihing" is usually the most senior students in a class (or school, depending on how the school uses the title), and is called such by junior classmates. The title is based on experience level, not age, so it is possible that a "Sihing" could be younger than some of the classmates. At Seattle Wushu Center's Kajukenbo classes, the title "Sihing" is used for any black belt, apprentice black to 2nd degree black. In our Tai Chi and Wushu classes, we tend to use the Mandarin terms "Shixiong" (male older brother) or "Shijie" (female older sister).

But, this is where it can be confusing for students. Since the term means "older brother", or "older sister" in regard to "Sijie", ANY older student of higher rank than you *could* be considered "Sihing", and it would be correct. So why is it that my school recognizes only black belts from apprentice black to 2nd degree as "Sihing" then? In our lineage, black belts hold the title of Sihing when they get their black belt, whereas the title is in reference to your relationship with a higher rank in everyday situations. The more appropriate term for black belts that are under Sifu status, is "Tai Sihing" or "Tai Sijie" (Most Eldest brother or sister)

Formal address would be "Sihing- (last name)", however some schools might use the the "Sihing- (first name).

 In our Kajukenbo lineage, it is considered good manners to refer to the Sihing by their title even outside the school. However the Sihing may request that students call them by their usual name outside of the school.  (for example, "Please call me Josh outside of class, Sihing is for the class"). A Sihing usually doesn't demand that junior students call him/her by the title, as it is a title used by the junior classmates to recognize their seniority. If junior classmates respect that seniority, then the proper ettiquette is to refer to the Sihing by the title unless requested otherwise. 

At our school, the Sihing may request that they be called their usual name outside of the school, however the title still applies during school events and functions that are held outside of the school if other students are in attendance....... the "family-ties" still apply. A compromise between formality and familiarity is to call the senior student "Sihing-(first name)", however using the formal "Sihing- (last name) is proper etiquette.

Keep in mind though, as with other titles, the terms may not appl or differ, depending on who is addressing the individual. For example, students of other schools or students of classes not of the same style, might be allowed to use the Sihing's usual name because they are not "related" directly to the family. But I've found that many practitioners of other martial arts use the titles as good manners, especially if the Sihing has more years of experience than the student of the other school or art.

Also, the Sifu of a school could refer to the Sihing by their given name ("Mike", "Josh", etc), since they are a student of that Sifu (i.e. "child of the parent"), or may choose to refer to the senior student as "Sihing- (first name)", especially around new students. Or they may refer their student by their titles while in class (this is what i choose to do at our Kajukenbo classes). 

Alternatively, if a Sihing has a more senior classmate (who is not yet a Sifu), they in turn call that older student "Sihing", however the older classmate could refer to the younger as "Si-Dai" (Younger brother) or "Si-Mui" (younger sister). However, the older classmate may just refer to the younger student by name, if allowed by the school. 

Although the information presented above can make a mind spin,  at my school, just call black belts Sihing at all times, and it's your choice to refer to higher ranked color belts as Sihing if you'd like to be polite and formal. For example, when speaking to a fellow student of equal or lower rank, you could say "You should ask Sihing Mary about that form, because I don't know it yet" (even though Mary might only be an orange belt but the student you're speaking to is a lower yellow belt. It makes reference to Mary being the older sister to both you and the other student.  (That being said, remember that students do not teach other students forms unless given permission by the Sifu).

I realize that titles can be confusing, especially for beginner students, and some may consider the titles as a relic of the past and not necessary in the modern martial arts world. However, part the tradition of an art lives on in the observation of the line of seniority.