According to legend, it is said that one day within the Shaolin Temple, a nun named Ng Mui, one of the five masters, witnessed a confrontation between a snake and a crane. From their entwined struggle, she grasped the essence of agile and victorious martial arts.

Ng Mui subsequently passed on this martial art to Yim Wing Chun, the wife of a salt merchant in Fujian. Yim Wing Chun further developed the art, incorporating techniques such as leveraging force, attacking the centerline, intercepting and redirecting, and launching direct attacks when the hands are free of resistance. These techniques were employed to counter the traitors of the Shaolin Temple and was subsequently named "Wing Chun Kuen", in honor of Miss Yim.

Yim Wing Chun passed on her teachings to her husband, Leung Pok Chau, who then passed them on to Leung Lan Kwai.  Leung Lan Kwai became the instructor of Wong Wah Bao, who, together with his friend Leung Yee Di from the Red Ship Opera Company, extended the knowledge to encompass boxing and stick skills. Consequently, Wong Wah Bao incorporated the "Six and a Half Point Pole" into the Wing Chun system. He then proceeded to teach Wing Chun to Leung Jan, a renowned Chinese Herbal doctor based in Foshan.  Leung Jan demonstrated his mastery of Wing Chun, defeating all who dared to challenge him in martial arts competitions. Consequently, Leung Jan earned the title of "Mr. Foshan Jan."

Leung Jan, in turn, passed on the art of Wing Chun to Chan Wah Shun. Due to Chan Wah Shun's occupation in the financial sector, he acquired the nickname "Qian Wah."

In his later years, Chan Wah Shun took on a disciple named Ip Man, his Kung Fu brother, Ng Chung Su, passed on his skills on Chan's behalf.  Ip Man ventured to Hong Kong to further his studies and encountered Leung Bik, the second son of Leung Jan. After three years of studying under Leung Bik and delving into the inner techniques of Wing Chun, Ip Man returned to Foshan.

Following the liberation of Mainland China, Ip Man settled in Hong Kong and established Wing Chun classes at a staff club in Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. His first disciple was Leung Sheung. In his later years, Ip Man accepted Bruce Lee as his disciple, with Wong Shun Leung serving as Lee's primary mentor. Bruce Lee and Wong Shun Leung emphasized practical combat, earning the epithet "Two Dragons Go to Sea" at the time. In a letter to Wong Shun Leung in November 1970, Bruce Lee expressed his gratitude and acknowledged the influence of Wing Chun, stating, "Since practicing seriously, I feel that my previous prejudices were wrong... I am very grateful to you (Wong Shun Leung) and my master (Ip Man) for guiding me in the Wing Chun path when I was in Hong Kong. In fact, thanks to you (Wong Shun Leung), I have been able to embrace a more realistic approach..." This demonstrates Bruce Lee's deep affinity for Wing Chun.

Bruce Lee later became a martial arts master and a superstar in the film industry. Ip Man, in turn, was hailed as a grand master by his disciples.