History of Tai Chi Chuan and its Founders
Origin of the Name - Why Tai Chi is called Tai Chi
As one of the most famous Chinese Kung Fus, Taiji chuan was originally called "Chang chuan" and "Unbroken chuan" for its smooth movements. It was also called "Thirteen Forms" because it contains eight primary postures (including: warding off, rolling back, squeezing, pressing, splitting, pulling, elbowing—striking, and shoulder—striking) and five steps (including: advancing, retreating, leftward steps, rightward steps, and steps when body being erect). During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty, Wang Zongyue, a man from Shanxi province, tried to explain Tai Chi with classical Chinese philosophy of "yin" and "yang" (the two opposing principles in nature; yin as in the feminine-negative and yang as in the masculine-positive), Wang Zongyue later called this form of martial art Tai Chi chuan and since then the name has been widely used.
Legendary Founders of Tai Chi Chuan
There are many tales about the origin and founders of Tai Chi chuan. Some said it was founded by Han Gongyue in Liang Period of Nan Dynasty (6th century A.D.), and others claimed it was Xu Xuanping in Tang Dynasty. However, the most talked about legendary founder is Zhang Sanfeng. He was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.
Who was Zhang Sanfeng?
A legendary culture hero, Zhang Sanfeng is credited by modern practitioners as having originated the concepts of neijia (內家); soft, internal martial arts, specifically T'ai Chi Ch'uan, as a result of a Neo-Confucian syncretism of Chán Buddhist Shaolin martial arts with his mastery of Taoist Tao Yin (neigong) principles.It is said that on one occasion Zhang Sanfeng observed a bird attacking a snake on Wudang Mountain and was greatly inspired by the snake’s defensive tactics. It remained still and alert in face of the bird’s onslaughts until making a lunge and fatally biting its attacker. This battle inspired him to create a 72-movement T'ai Chi Ch'uan "set." He is also associated in legend with the Taoist monasteries at Wudang Mountains in Hubei province.
Stories from the 17th century onward give him credit for the internal martial arts. 19th century and later stories give him credit for T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
Zhang Sanfeng is also said to have been versed in Shaolin Gung Fu, an expert in the White Crane and Snake styles of Chinese martial arts, as well as in the use of the Chinese straight sword or jian. According to relatively late (19th century) documents preserved within the Yang and Wu family's archives, the name of Zhang Sanfeng's master was Xu Xuanping (許宣平), said to be a Tang dynasty hermit poet and Taoist Tao Yin expert.
The Tai Chi Chuan families who ascribe the foundation of their art to Zhang traditionally celebrate his birthdate as the 9th day of the 3rd Chinese lunar month.
Founder of Tai Chi chuan According to Styles
There are five major styles of tai chi chuan, each named after the Chinese family from which it originated:
Chen style (陳氏) (founded by Chen Wangting, 1580–1660) Yang style (楊氏) (founded by Yang Lu-ch'an, 1799-1872) Wu or Wu/Hao style of Wu Yu-hsiang (Wu Yuxiang) (武氏) Wu style of Wu Ch'uan-yu (Wu chuanyuo) and his son Wu Chien-ch'uan (Wu Jianchuan) (吳氏) Sun style (孫氏) (founded by Sun Lu-t'ang, 1861–1932)
The order of verifiable age is as listed above. The order of popularity (in terms of number of practitioners) is Yang, Wu, Chen, Sun, and Wu/Hao. The first five major family styles share much underlying theory, but differ in their approaches to training.
Related Articles
Not Just Physical Fitness, Tai Chi Chuan as a Martial Art
Five Major Schools of Tai Chi Chuan - Chen Style
Five Major Schools of Tai Chi Chuan - Yang Style
Five Major Schools of Tai Chi Chuan - Wu Style
Five Major Schools of Tai Chi Chuan - Wu (Hao) Style
Five Major Schools of Tai Chi Chuan - Sun Style
Basic Postures of Tai Chi Chuan
Tags:Tai Chi Chuan history founders
