If your asking what styles makes it up then this is what I understand. There are two major stories I have heard. The one I think is less likely is this one. Back when the Mongols were invading the Manchu ruled china; the Chinese forces were being decimated. They had the Mongols wildly out number, but still didn't stand much of chance. The final battle was near the capital, and thus very important. The Mongol forces were supposed to be near 10,000 (hard to believe since the Mongols tended to do best when heavily out numbered, and thus normally used small numbers of forces), the Chinese had about the same. Then a small force of Shaolin warriors arrived, about 200, and offered their service to the empire. The warrior monks of the Shoalin temple put in the front, (since their fighting skill was legendary) as a sort "exhausting line". When the battle was over, the Chinese won. The actual Chinese soldiers lost were about 1,000 man and horse. The Mongols, about 9,000. The monks, 0. The battle had made the Mongols so fearful of these warriors; they fled and did not attack again. However it had the same affect on the government. They feared the monks, since they were foreigners ruling a country that hated them, that had a force of warriors that were patriotic to the point of tears, and invincible.
The fearful government sent a large force of soldiers to attack and destroy the temple. According to legend there was also a large number Tai Chi Chaun practioners in the ranks, since they were tried of being know as the "other temple". They managed to burn the temple to the ground and kill many monks in the process. How ever the five masters managed to escape, and devolved a style that was the opposite of Shoalin. It would rely on close in strikes that use very little effort. As apposite to Shaolin's long range, some times over done strikes. Some say that they had been creating this style as a sort of "secret weapon". That made since, many of the warriors that attacked the temple were turn coat Shoalin monks.
The other version is the same; the only difference is that it was masters of 5 different styles. They were (if you believe this version) trying to systemize the hundreds of forms of Kung Fu. These masters decided to instead of systemizing Kung Fu they would instead put together the best parts of their style and create a new one, regardless of the fact that the rest of the masters that they wanted to have help with this project were not their. They taught their style in the end to a monk named Ng Wing Chun. She was taught it as means to deal with a man who was trying to force her to marry him. Sifu Ng managed to easily beat the crap out the much taller and stronger man. After that i'm not sure. But the style was of course named after it's first master.
I think the second makes more since, but what ever floats your boat. Now I haven't heard much of anything about what the other styles were that made Wing Chun, which makes it harder to believe. But if the second story is true, I have a feeling the other styles were Tai Chi Chaun, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, and Mantis Kung Fu (notice that is 3 plus Shaolin, which makes 4, and their were 5 styles, I have not come across the last style that seems to have influenced wing chun). Ohh, I almost forgot from were it says they taught Wing Chun to a monk named Ng Wing Chun, which is agreed upon between the two stories. If that is not what you wanted, then I guess that I just wasted my time.
Sweet Brighit Bless your Blade,
John
