Which Kung Fu influenced Shotokan, Shito-ryu and Shorin-ryu?
Fujian White Crane influenced Shuri and Tomari arts. Naha arts were more influenced by Hakka Kuen. So Shorin Ryu is more White Crane and Goju Ryu is more Southern Mantis, Bak Mei, Dragon Shape. The evidence is in the footwork and the patterns in the kata.
Chinese Martial Arts influenced the development of Karate in Okinawa, not Japan. So any influence in Japanese styles like Shotokan are a little more removed from that origin. Shotokan was brought to Japan by Gichen Funakoshi, so many people would argue that it is a Okinawan style...... However the Karate that Funakoshi learned and taught in Okinawa is far different from how Shotokan appears now. In Funakoshi's books fro the early 1900's he is always shown standing in a high stance with his feet close together. But Shotokan as practiced by the Japanese uses mainly lower deeper stances. Shorin-Ryu is not really just one version/style. There are several different versions of the style. for instance the three most practiced are: Shobayashi-Shorin-Ryu, Kobayashi-Shorin-Ryu, and Matsubayashi-Shorin-Ryu. There are also other lesser know styles of Shorin-Ryu. Although these all share some things they are all different in some ways. It would take a bit of research to look up all the styles that have influenced them. The same can be said for Shito-Ryu. Like Shorin-Ryu, it also has several versions. One of the best books that gives the lineage of Okinawan styles is called Okinawan Karate, teachers, styles and secret techniques. The book was written by Mark bishop. It has been one of the most useful books in tracing down things about Okinawa Karate and from what it developed. ...
White Crane, Whooping Crane*, Hsing/Xing Yi, Shaolin Monk Fist*, are all 'known' influences of Okinawan martial arts. However it should be noted that there are over 1,000 years of contact between the Ryukyu islands and China starting in the late 600's*. So there are many, many possible influences of Okinawan martial arts. Goju Ryu was heavily influenced by White Crane, namely because of Xie Zhongxiang (Ryuru Ko) who taught Higaonna Sensei his altered system of Whooping Crane Kung Fu. Goju Ryu was also influenced by Shaolin Monk Fist, and Baguazhang, when Miyagi Sensei spent his time in China in the Fuzho Province (also Fujian). The linear style that you are looking for comes from the Shaolin influence. There's a great person to ask any questions on Goju Ryu on here. His sn is nwohioguy, and he is quite knowledgeable. EDIT - To satisfy your hunger for the Tiger Style and it's involvement in Karate's development, I will offer this. Tiger was a style taught at the Shaolin Temple so it may have some influence. Even though many different styles have had influence throughout the years, the most notable are the White Crane of Shaolin and Hsing Yi. Shotokan is of similar origins as Goju Ryu with Sokon/Bushi Matsumura studying White Crane as well in China, and Ankoh Itosu studying under him. Those two trained Gichin Funakoshi who formulated Shotokan from that while in Japan. EDIT - Yup, I'd have to second Shihan J about Okinawan Karate being influenced by more than just China. (I left it only in the China realm because that was your focus, but there was a lot going on to influence the growth of that area.)
