According to oral tradition, the style was developed by Fang Qiniang (方七娘; Amoy Min Nan: Hng Chhit-niâ), a female martial artist.

The entire system of fighting was developed from observing the crane's movements, methods of attack and spirit, and may have evolved from the southern Shaolin animal styles.

It is a short-ranged fighting style where hand strikes are performed by imitating the crane's beak, with moves executed in conjunction with the movements of the practitioner's spine.

[1][8] For purpose of self-defense, this form uses various body parts (elbows, fingers, legs, palms, fists) and weapons, as well as movements that are coordinated, flexible and strong.

[8] Fang Zhong-gong, father of style founder Qīniáng, was one of the monks of the "Southern Shaolin Monastery", that is mentioned in many Nanquan legends.

It is said that this incident was a dream of her doing her chores instead of doing it for real and only after waking up, she started revising her theories[8] In other accounts, the crane does not block a stick, but evades and counters it.

[1] Since it was created by a woman, White Crane fighting elements are especially popular in women's self-defense training because the movements do not require great strength.

Fang Zhong was from a wealthy family and renowned for excellent fighting skills, having trained with well-known martial arts masters.

Fang Zhong is a survivor from the end of the Ming Dynasty and had participated in anti-Qing and Fuming activities, having connections to Hongmen associates.

She had four principal students who later developed four main branches of Fujian White Crane: Eating, Crying, Sleeping, and Flying.

Zeng Si and Qiniang returned to the Gu family's ancestral hall in Hou Temple, Rulin Village, Wulijie Town, Yongchun County to teach martial arts.

[10] According to the yong chun bai he tradition, the Ong Gong Shr Wushuguan was established in the town of Yongchun (永春; Minnan: eng2 chhun1), prefecture of Quanzhou, Fujian province, when its founders were taught by Fang Qiniang during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor (r. 1521–66) of the Ming dynasty.

Li Wenmao (李文茂), an opera performer and leader of the 1854–1856 Red Turban Rebellion in Foshan, is said to have practiced the Yǒngchūn style of White Crane.

[15]: 96 At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Lin Shixian (林世咸), an expert in Yongchun Baihequan (永春白鹤拳), went to Fuzhou to teach his martial art.

Wu Xianggui (Go Ken Ki) is believed to have introduced the Fujian White Crane techniques to the noted Naha-te pioneers.

[18][19] Kenwa Mabuni would subsequently learn Sanchin from either or both Higaonna Kanryō and Chojun Miyagi, and integrate it into his Shitō-ryū karate.