Tai chi
Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) is an internal Chinese Martial Art which is also practiced for its reputed health and longevity benifits. Tai Chi Chuan is known as an art of slow motion moving meditation based on a series of fluid, non-impact series on exercises.
Tai Chi Chuan loosely translates as "Supreme Ultimate Boxing" or "Grand Ultimate Fist". It is closely associated with the practice of Taoism, and incorporates many Taoist principles into its practice.
The following quotes were taken from one of the first writings published on the internal arts written in the late 1800s by Li I-Yu, translated by Douglas Wile in lost Tai-Chi classics of the late Ching Dynasty.
- How wonderful is T'ai Chi Chuan whose movements follow nature.
- The whole body filled with one unbroken chi.
- Use the mind and not strength.
- The body feels relaxed and the chi lively.
- For everywhere chi goes there is a manifestation in the body.
- All this is a function of the mind and has nothing to do with brute force.
- Movement arises from stillness, But even in movement there is stillness.
- The spirit leads the chi in its movement. . ..
- Let the strongest aggressor attack us,
- While four ounces deflect a thousand pounds.
There are several styles of Tai Chi Chuan:
Wudang (武當) - Wudang style Tai Chi Chuan concentrates on the spiritual or even transcendental level of Tai Chi Chuan, as a result it is not practised by many today.
It is reputed to have been invented by the Taoist priest Zhang San Feng in the 13th century. Wudang kungfu was first taught to Taoist priests in the Purple Summit Temple on Wudang Mountain, where Zhang San Feng developed it. However, it was a secular disciple, Wang Zong Yue, who first called the art Tai Chi Chuan.
Chen style (陳氏) - Of the several Tai Chi Chuan styles that exist today the Chen style is best known for its martial art aspects.
Historically documented from the 1700's. It originates in the Chen clan village in Wen County, Henan Province (河南溫縣陳家溝). The first documented teacher was Chen Chang-xing (陳長興 Chen Shing Xing) (1771-1853). One legends says Chen learned tai chi from Jiang3 Fa1 (蔣發).
Some martial art historians claim that Wang Zong Yue taught Wudang to the Chen family, but this cannot be confirmed. On the other hand the the Chen family claims that it was Wang Zong Yue who learned Tai Chi Chuan from them.
Yang style (楊家) - The most popular and widespread style, concentrating primarily on health-improvement.
It was developed in the early 1800's. The founder of Yang style was Yang Lu Chan (楊露禪 aka Yang Fu-Kui 楊福魁 1799-1872), who studied under Chen Chang-xing (1771-1853) and later modified Chen style tai chi to produce Yang style.
Yang Lu Chan passed his art to
- his son Yang Jian Hou (1839-1917), who passed it to his son Yang Cheng-Fu (楊澄甫 Yang Shao-Ching) (1883-1936). Yang Cheng-Fu removed the vigorous "Fa-jing" (release of power), energetic jumping, heavy stepping, and other difficult movements to create "Dai Jia" (large frame style). Dai Jia has slow, steady, and soft movements suitable for general practitioners. Thus, Yang Cheng-Fu is largely responsible for systemizing and popularizing the Yang style tai chi practiced today.
- his son Yang Ban Hou (1837-1890) who taught Wu Chuan You who founded his own Wu style.
- Wu You Xiang who also developed his own Wu style (earliar than Wu Chuan You).
Wu style of Wu Yu Xiang (武家) - founded by Wu Yu Xiang (武禹襄) (1813-1880).
Wu style of Wu Chuan You (吳家) - founded by Wu Chuan You (吳全佑) (1834-1902).
Sun style (孫家) - It was developed by Sun Lu Tang (孫祿堂) (1861-1932), who was expert in all three internal kungfu styles. He absorbed the best of the Chen, Yang and Wu (Wu Yu Xiang) styles to develop his own style, which is characterized by small circular movements and high stances.