in order to develop the highest level of the art. This dedication and concentration will carry over to the rest of your life, and the striving for perfection becomes the real inner meaning of taiji.
1-3. General History of Taijiquan
LECTURE
Taijiquan Lecture
Many people have learned Yang Style Taijiquan, but few really understand the history, background, and variations of the style. Often a person who has learned Yang Style Taijiquan will see forms that claim to be Yang style, but which look different from what he has learned. This sometimes causes consternation and doubt about which form, if any, is the correct ‘Yang style.’ A knowledge of the history can help to explain this discrepancy.
Historically, the most important aspect of taijiquan is its creation from the theory of yin and yang, including the way yin and yang are derived from wuji, defined as “no extremity”.
The concept of yin and yang was first detailed in the Book of Changes (Yi Jing) around 1122 B.C. This means that the theory behind taijiquan actually has historical roots going back more than three thousand years.
The manner in which the concept of yin and yang gave birth to taijiquan is unknown. However, since the theory of yin and yang has been such an all-pervading influence on Chinese culture and thinking since the Yi Jing, it is possible to piece together the history of taijiquan’s origin from the remnants of historical documentation that still exist.
It is said that Taijiquan was created by Zhang, San-feng in the Song Hui Zong era ca. A.D. 1101. It is also said that techniques and forms with the same basic principles as taijiquan were already in existence during the Liang dynasty (A.D. 502-557), and were being taught by Han, Gong-yue, Cheng, Ling-xi, and Cheng, Bi. Later, in the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), it was found that Xu, Xuan-oing, Li, Dao-zi, and Yin, Li-peng were teaching similar martial techniques. They were called thirty-seven postures (san shi qi shi), post-heaven techniques (hou tian fa), and small nine heaven (xiao jiu tian) that had seventeen postures. The accuracy of these accounts is somewhat questionable, so it is not really known when and by whom taijiquan was created. Because there is more formal history recorded about Zhang, San-feng, he has received most of the credit.4
According to the historical record Nan Lei Ji Wang Zheng Nan Mu Zhi Ming, “Zhang San-feng, in the Song dynasty, was a Wudang Daoist. Hui Zong (a Song Emperor) summoned him, but the road was blocked and he couldn’t come. At night, (Hui Zong) dreamed Emperor Yuan (the first Jin emperor) taught him martial techniques. At dawn, he killed a hundred enemies by himself.”12 Also recorded in the Ming history Ming Shi Fang Ji Zhuan is the following:
Zhang, San-feng, from Liao Dong Yi county. Named Quan-yi. Also named Jun-bao. San-feng was his nickname. Because he did not keep himself neat and clean, Zhang, La-ta (Sloppy Zhang). He was tall and big, shaped like a turtle, and had a crane’s back. Large ears and round eyes. Beard long like a spear tassel. Wears only a priest’s robe winter or summer. Will eat a bushel of food, or won’t eat for several days or a few months. Can travel a thousand miles. Likes to have fun with people. Behaves as if nobody is around. Used to travel to Wudang (mountain) with his disciples. Built a simple cottage and lived inside. In the 24th year of Hong Wuaround A.D. 1392, Ming Tai Zu (the first Ming emperor) heard of his name, and sent a messenger to look for him but he couldn’t be found. 13
The following was also recorded in the Ming dynasty in Ming Lang Ying Qi Xiu Lei Gao:
Zhang the Immortal, named Jun-bao, also named Quan-yi, nicknamed Xuan-xuan, also called Zhang, La-ta. In the third year of Tian Shun A.D. 1460 he visited Emperor Ming Ying Zong. A picture was drawn. The beard and mustache were straight, the back of the head had a tuft. Purple face and big stomach, with a bamboo hat in his hand. On the top of the picture was an inscription from the emperor honoring Zhang as ‘Tong Wei Xian Hua Zhen Ren’, a genuine Daoist who finely discriminates and clearly understands much. (Figure 1-6). 14
This record is suspect, because if it were true, Zhang, San-feng would have been at least 500 years old at that time. Other records state that Zhang, San-feng’s techniques were learned from the Daoist Feng, Yi-yuan. Another story tells that Zhang, San-feng was an ancient hermit meditator. He saw a magpie fighting against a snake, had a sudden understanding, and created taijiquan,
Figure 1-6. Zhang, San-Feng
After Zhang, San-feng, there were Wang Zong in Shanxi province, Chen, Tong-zhou in Wen County, Zhang, Song-xi in Hai Yan, Ye, Ji-mei in Si Ming, Wang, Zong-yue in Shan You, and Jiang, Fa in Hebei. The taijiquan techniques were passed down and divided into two major styles, southern and northern. Later, Jiang, Fa passed his art to the Chen family at Chen Jia Gou in Huai Qing County, Henan. Taijiquan was then passed down for fourteen generations and divided into old and new styles. The old style was carried on by Chen, Chang-xing and the new style was created by Chen, You-ben.
The old style successor Chen, Chang-xing then passed the art down to his son, Geng-yun, and his Chen relatives, Chen, Huai-yuan and Chen, Hua-mei. He also passed his taijiquan outside of his family to Yang, Lu-chan and Li, Bo-kui, both of Hebei province. This old style is called thirteen postures old form (shi san shi lao jia). Later, Yang, Lu-chan passed it down to his two sons, Yang, Ban-hou and Yang, Jian-hou. Then, Jian-hou passed the art to his two sons, Yang, Shao-hou and Yang, Cheng-fu. This branch of taijiquan is popularly called Yang Style. Also, Wu, Quan-you learned from Yang, Ban-hou and started a well known Wu Style.
Also, Chen, You-ben passed his new style to Chen, Qing-ping who created Zhao Bao Style Taijiquan. Wuu, Yu-rang learned the old style from Yang, Lu-chan and new style from Chen, Qing-ping and created Wuu Style Taijiquan. Li, Yi-yu learned the Wuu Style and created Li Style Taijiquan. Hao, Wei-zhen obtained his art from Li Style and created Hao Style Taijiquan. Sun, Lu-tang learned from Hao Style and created Sun Style.
All the above-mentioned styles are popular in China and Southeast Asia. Among them, Yang Style has become the most popular. In the next section we will discuss the history of the Yang Style.
1-4. History of Yang Style Taijiquan
LECTURE
Taijiquan Lecture
Yang Style history starts with Yang, Lu-chan (A.D. 1799-1872), also known as Fu-kuai or Lu-chan. He was born at Yong Nian Xian, Guang Ping County, Hebei Province. When he was young he went to Chen Jia Gou in Henan province to learn taijiquan from Chen, Chang-xing. When Chen, Chang-xing stood he was centered and upright with no leaning or tilting, like a wooden signpost, and so people called him Mr. Tablet. At that time, there were very few students outside of the Chen family who learned from Chen, Chang-xing. Because Yang was an outside student, he was treated unfairly, but still he stayed and persevered in his practice.
One night, he was awakened by the sounds of “Hen” and “Ha” in the distance. He got up and traced the sound to an old building. Peeking through the broken wall, he saw his master Chen, Chang-xing teaching the techniques of grasp, control, and emitting jin in coordination with the sounds “Hen” and “Ha.” He was amazed by the techniques and from that time on, unknown to master Chen, he continued to watch this secret practice session every night. He would then return to his room to ponder and study. Because of this, his martial ability
