Origins and Schools of Tai Chi Chuan

by langrentoh1 on 2011-09-14 13:40:27

Tai Chi Chuan's Origins and Styles

Currently, Tai Chi Chuan has six major styles: Chen, Yang, Sun, Wu, Hao, and Zhao Bao. During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the old boxing master Chen Wangting from Chenjiagou Village in Wen County, Henan Province, initially created Tai Chi Chuan, which was passed down through generations. Yang Luchan from Yongnian County in Hebei Province learned Tai Chi from Chen Changxing in Chenjiagou and, together with his son Yang Jianhou and grandson Yang Chengfu, developed the Yang style of Tai Chi based on the Chen style. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Wu Yuxiang from Yongnian County in Hebei Province admired Yang Luchan's art after he returned from Chenjiagou and learned the old frame of Tai Chi from him. Later, he also studied Zhao Bao Tai Chi from Chen Qingping and, after modifications, created the Wu style of Tai Chi. Sun Lutang from Wuan County in Hebei Province first learned Xingyi Quan from Li Kuiyuan and then studied under Li's teacher, Guo Yunshen. He also learned Bagua Zhang from Cheng Tinghua and later studied Tai Chi from Hao Weizhen. Afterward, he combined the essence of Bagua, Xingyi, and Tai Chi into one system, creating the Sun style of Tai Chi.

As history evolved, martial arts gradually shifted from battlefield combat to sports and fitness, and Tai Chi followed this trend. Over a hundred years ago, Tai Chi practitioners mentioned in "Thirteen Postures Practice Song" the idea of prolonging life and maintaining youth. Through long-term transmission, Tai Chi has evolved into many styles, among which six are widely spread or have distinct characteristics.

Chen Style Tai Chi was founded by the renowned boxing master Chen Wangting during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He created five sets of old frames, which were passed down and evolved within the Chen family, adding two new sets. The movements' speed and intensity, as well as body mechanics, vary. The first set is simple, soft with less hardness, focusing on peng (ward-off), lu (roll-back), ji (press), an (push), cai (pluck), lie (split), and four main forces, with cai, lie, elbow, and shoulder as auxiliary. It embodies softness containing hardness, promoting qi movement mainly through coiling force while using explosive power as auxiliary. The entire body moves harmoniously, showing the characteristics of softness, slowness, and stability in coiling movements. The second set (cannon fist) has complex, fast-paced movements, more hardness than softness, focusing on cai, lie, elbow, and shoulder, with peng, lu, ji, and an as auxiliary. It emphasizes explosive power, leaping, dodging, and foot stomping, embodying hardness containing softness and showcasing the features of quickness and crispness.

Yang Style Tai Chi: Yang Luchan (1800-1873) from Yongnian County in Hebei Province worked as a laborer for the Chen family in Chenjiagou Village in Wen County, Henan Province, where he learned Tai Chi. In adulthood, he returned home to teach Tai Chi, earning it the name "adhesive silk boxing," "soft boxing," or "neutralizing boxing." Yang Luchan went to Beijing to teach Tai Chi, attracting many noble learners from the Qing Dynasty who sought his traditional Chen style. Renowned for his exceptional martial skills, he was called "Yang the Invincible." Later, Yang Luchan adapted the original explosive movements, leaps, stomps, and difficult actions to meet the needs of general practitioners. His son revised it into the medium frame, and his grandson Yang Chengfu further refined it into the large Yang frame, making it the most popular modern Yang style due to its simplicity. The three generations of the Yang family were famous in Beijing. After 1928, Yang Chengfu taught in Nanjing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Hankou, spreading his style across major cities nationwide. The large Yang frame is characterized by expansive, simple movements, harmonious actions, internal strength, and natural grace. Its practice progresses from relaxation to gentleness, accumulating softness into hardness, achieving harmony between hardness and softness. It showcases grandeur and elegance. The frame height can be adjusted according to the practitioner's age, gender, physical condition, and requirements. Therefore, it is suitable for both health maintenance and physical improvement and skill enhancement. In 1957, the Yang style Tai Chi was compiled into the "Tai Chi Movement" (88 forms), and in 1963, the book "Yang Style Tai Chi" was published. The small Yang frame Tai Chi and cannon fist are practiced by a few inheritors, primarily for combat purposes.

Wu Style Tai Chi: Quan You, a Manchu from Daxing County in Hebei Province at the end of the Qing Dynasty, initially learned the large frame Tai Chi from Yang Luchan and later the small frame from Yang Luchan's second son, gaining fame for his soft neutralization skills. His son changed their surname to Wu and was named Wu Jianquan. Wu Jianquan inherited and taught the continuous, non-leaping Wu style Tai Chi, making it adaptable to various needs. Due to modifications made by the Wu family, it became known as the small Wu frame and is now one of the most widely spread modern Wu styles. Wu Jianquan taught extensively in Beijing and Shanghai. His movements were precise, smooth, and natural, with a compact frame but rooted in the large frame, transitioning from expansive to compact while maintaining expansiveness within compactness. His push hands techniques were upright, meticulous, and intimate. In 1958, the book "Wu Style Tai Chi" was published.

Hao Style Tai Chi: Wu Yuxiang from Yongnian County in Hebei Province at the end of the Qing Dynasty learned Tai Chi from Yang Luchan and gained basic understanding. Later, he studied the new frame Tai Chi and obtained the "Tai Chi Manual" in Wuyang County. Based on his practice experience, he summarized the key points of exercise as the "Ten Essentials of Body Methods." The Hao style Tai Chi is characterized by strict body methods, compact postures, slow movements, strict stepping, clear distinctions between real and false, and always maintaining central equilibrium in chest and abdomen movements. Internal qi flow controls external movements, and each hand manages half of the body, with hand movements not exceeding the toe tips. The Hao style Tai Chi was introduced to Beijing in the early Republic era and later spread to Nanjing and Shanghai. In 1963, the book "Hao Style Tai Chi" was published. The Wu family was a prominent clan in Yongnian, and their home was rented by the Chen family for business. Wu Yuxiang, passionate about martial arts, could not directly learn from the Chen family due to his social status, so he sent his friend Yang Luchan, who already had high martial skills, to study under Chen Changxing in Chenjiagou. Upon returning, Yang Luchan taught Wu Yuxiang, who financially supported Yang's family. After multiple trips to Chenjiagou, Yang Luchan taught all he learned to Wu Yuxiang, who eventually traveled to Chenjiagou himself. Introduced to Chen Qingping by the aged Chen Changxing, Wu Yuxiang achieved great success. His early disciples included Yang Banhou (Yang Luchan's son), who originally studied literature with Wu Yuxiang but excelled in martial arts beyond his literary abilities, and two nephews known as Mr. Li Da and Mr. Li Er. Mr. Li Da and Mr. Li Er passed their knowledge to Hao Weizhen and Ge Shuncheng, among others. Hao Weizhen had the highest martial skills, and his modified form was designated as the standard Hao style Tai Chi by the state. Ge Shuncheng and others preserved the original style.

Sun Style Tai Chi: Sun Lutang from Wuan County in Hebei Province at the end of the Qing Dynasty loved martial arts, first learning Xingyi Quan and later Bagua Zhang. After diligent practice, he gained deep skills and began studying Tai Chi in the early Republic era. Combining the strengths of various schools, he created the Sun style Tai Chi and authored "The Study of Tai Chi." The Sun style Tai Chi is characterized by coordinated forward and backward movements, flexible and circular actions, sensitivity, and direction changes connected by opening and closing, hence also known as "Open-Close Living Step Tai Chi." In 1957, the book "Sun Style Tai Chi" was published.

Zhao Bao Tai Chi: Formed in Zhao Bao Town, Wen County, Henan Province, it was passed down by Tai Chi inheritors like Chen Qingping over hundreds of years. Whether in terms of boxing frames or theories and writings, it has been transmitted orally and physically by teachers. Theories include Wang Zongyue's specialized works such as "Nine Important Discussions," "Tai Chi Practice Song," "Concise Important Discussion," "Heavenly Mechanism Wheel," "Five Word Decree," "Hand Release Method," "Push Hands Discussion," "Seize and Control Techniques," and "Bone Unbinding Techniques." In the garden of Tai Chi, Zhao Bao Tai Chi is a genuine Tai Chi skill passed down among the people, with unique combat characteristics and distinct features.

Although the six Tai Chi styles differ in style and posture, their routine structures and action sequences are basically consistent, and the purpose of practicing is for health and healing. Besides the boxing routines, each of the six Tai Chi styles also includes push hands and weapon routines, such as Tai Chi sword and Tai Chi broadsword.