Bajiquan is fully named "Wushi Kaimen Bajiquan", which originated from Cangzhou Wushi. Yanwang Zhu Di held the war of "Jingnan" around Cangzhou in the 1st year of Jianwen during the Ming Dynasty in order to obtain the position of Emperor. After he became Emperor, he commanded to recover the spoiled land around Cangzhou. In the 1st year of Yongle of Ming Dynasty (1403), the ancestor of Hui nationality, Zuo Yong Gong was nominated directly by the Emperor to be the officer of Salt Transferring Department of Cangzhou, Hejian Fu, and Zhili (Hebei Province). Zuo Yong Gong moved to Cangzhou from Anhui Huizhou and lived in the south of Cangzhou. Since then, the Hui nationality of Wu has developed greatly in Cangzhou. They purchased lands of modern Mengcun Town and Heludian of Mengcun Country, Xiaolu Cun of Haixing Country, Bao Guantun of Nanpi Country, Wu Zhuangzi of Huanghua City, Houzhuangke of Qingyun Country, Shandong Province (belonged to Cangzhou at that time), and developed the places.

The 4th generation ancestor Cai Gong (Zuoyong Gong was 1st generation ancestor) had four sons: An, Tai, Wangping, Lian. Santong, Sanhuai, and Sanshan. The sons of Tai (6th generation) moved to Mengcun, Shimeng. The grandson of Lian (7th generation) moved to Houzhuangke. As a result, the Wu persons of Mengcun and Houzhuangke are the 4th generation descendents of Cai Gong. There was a great grandson (10th generation) of the later generation of Houzhuangke who was named Zhong (also named Hongsheng) and born in the 51st year of Kangxi 91712). His father died when he was young, his family was very poor, and they had nothing to eat and wear. His mother took him to relatives in Mengcun when he was a baby. Later, he grew up there under the care of his elder niece from the Yunming Gong family (11th generation) and other persons.

Wu Zhong was very smart and diligent when he was young and was crazy about Wushu. He chanted lection and studied culture in Qingzhensi at eight, and began to practice Wushu. He was taught by a few masters and eventually developed another art. The different forms and actions all derive from the word "Wu". Bajiquan was also named after Wushi.

Wu Zhong traveled alone south to Shaolinsi in Jinjiang, Fujian Province (it was recorded as "Zhejiang Shaolinsi". Actually, there is no Shaolinsi in Zhejiang but Jinjiang Shaolinsi; the first words of the two names are alike, so the writer made a mistake.). He won the lance competition three times against monks from Shaolinsi, and avoided being touched by any hidden weapons. He was admired by the Presbyter and the officers there, and they named him called "Supernal Lance". The Presbyter sent him a bag of darts. Since then, ¡°Supernal Lance" Wu Zhong had been famed and was called "Three Worthies in Wushu" together with Kang Dali (famous for Duandaqinna) and Li Zhang (famous for Tiliudandao), and became good friends with them.

The news of Wu Zhong winning Shaolinsi was celebrated throughout the capital. Yinti, the 14th son of Kangxi Emperor, summoned him to compete. Wu Zhong won two times. Then, Yinti took him as master. It was said that "Wu Zhong is No. 1 from Nanjing to Yanjing (Beijing)". The persons in the Wushu circle were curious about the new unknown school with the characteristics of Bajiquan. So historically, it was called "Special Art".

Wu Zhong came back to Mengcun in 40th year of Qianlong (1775) when he was over sixty. He took care of his mother and taught art in the Wu family, which was called "Wujiaquan" at that time. There were many persons studying Wushu, but only three became heirs; they were Wu Rong (his daughter), Wu ZHongyu (his grandson of same family), and Wu Ying( his great grandson of same family).

In 1790 (55th year of Qianlong), Wu Ying was commanded to compose the first systematic book on Bajiquan Wushu. He named the "Special Art" (Wujiaquan) officially as "Bajiquan", fully named as "Wushi Kaimen Bajiquan". It ended the history of Bajiquan as a special art that had no name of its own. The first book coincided with the establishment of Bajiquan School. In the preface of Wushu, it was stated clearly that "We created Bajiquan to avoid the ¡°special art¡± being lost in oblivion. There were no Bajiquan Schools in Chinese Wushu history before this, and it also confirms the time of establishment and the founder. In "Wushu", Wu Zhong Gong did not call himself 1st generation but to address "Lai" as 1 generation respectfully, and called "Pi" as "Shi Xiong". There is nothing that can be found in the historical record about "Lai" and "Pi".