Traditional
Styles of Tai Chi Chuan
Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan
The
Chen-style Tai Chi Quan falls into two categories -
the old and new frames. The Old Frame of 83 moves, was believed to be propagated in the
Chen Jia village by Chen Wang Ting who was a student
of Jiang Fa in the 17th Century. Chen Wang Ting was a retired military
officer. The Old Frame was also known as
the Large Frame. It had five routines
which were also known as The 13 Move Chuan, and a Chang Chuan routine of 108 moves
and a Cannon Quan (Pao Zhui) routine. By
the time of Chen
Chang Xin, it
consisted of only 2 routines:- the Old
Frame and the Pao Zhui. Jiang Fa also
taught in his native village and surrounding region, and the Zhao Bao
Tai Chi Style developed independently.
The Zhao Bao Style later influenced the development
of the Wu Yu Xiang, Li and Hao, as well as the Sun styles. In the Chen Jia
village, further developments took place
under Chen You Heng (by speculation, perhaps influenced by the Wu Dang arts in
Chen Jia village,
or by Chen You Ben or Chen Qing
Ping), and the New Frame was
developed. Thus, traditional Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan
we know today consists of the Old Frame, New Frame, and Pao
Zhui.
Due to the fact that Yang Lu Chan learnt Tai Chi Chuan
from Chen Chang Xin in the Chen Jia
village, most
scholars superficially conclude that Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan is the oldest
form of Tai Chi Chuan. “It came
from there, so
the origin is there” syndrome.
Some more astute players realised that the real Chen art was more
Shaolin based, possibly deriving from
Tai Tzu Chuan, Tong Bi Chuan, and Hong Chuan.
It appears that the art of Chen Jia village is
more Pao Zhui, which in turn, appears to be descended from these 3
arts. It also appears that the Taoist or
Wu Dang arts have been propagated in Chen Jia village, and had influenced
the local boxers, thus influenced the
development of the Chen Style Old Frame.
It must be noted that the 6 or 7
routines propagated by Chen Wen Ting fell into
disuse, and only 2 routines
remain:- the Old Frame and Pao Zhui. All these happened within a short time. Such was the true evidence of martial arts
development in Chen Jia village - a fact we should not ignore, but have somehow foolishly chosen to
completely close our eyes to.
Please read Peter Lim Lim Thian Tek’s
Tai Chi webpages which show the most reasonable and
unbiased scholastic rendition of the history and origins of Tai Chi Chuan I
have ever come across.
It also appears that the great master Chen Chang Xin was not very popular in the Chen Jia village and was not “officially” allowed to teach the Chen art (Pao Zhui), most probably he taught the Wu Dang art (an outsider’s art) in its purity. This was considered a “traitorous” tendency. Thus, Yang Lu Chan actually learnt the Wu Dang art that came to Chen Jia village and descended to Chen Chang Xin -an art probably closer to the art of Jiang Fa, which developed in other nearby regions as Zhao Bao Tai Chi Chuan and later into Wu Yu Xiang Tai Chi Chuan.
It is noted, and there is evidence to prove that during the Tai Chi Chuan conference of all leading Tai Chi Chuan masters was held in China, the great undefeated Chen Style 19th Generation Gate Holder, Chen Fa Ke, was barred by the Yang Style representative, Yang Cheng Fu, on the basis that the Chen art is not Tai Chi Chuan, but is the Chen art, which is actually the Shaolin art of Pao Zhui synthesised with Tai Chi Chuan. The Tai Chi council agreed. Notable masters from the Sun, Fu, Wu Jian Quan, Wu Yu Xiang styles were allowed into the conference. It was reported that Chen Fa Ke conceded that his art was not true Tai Chi Chuan and was only allowed in as an observer, and not a participant.
This in now way degrades or insinuates the viability or effectiveness of the Chen Style. It is a disagreement of history. The effectiveness of the Chen Style is not diminished at all by the fact that it is actually Wu Dang mixed with Shaolin. All arts are good. Shaolin arts also us “borrowed strength” and make use of the opponent’s strength. All Shaolin arts also develop internal power and explosive Fa Jing. Shaolin arts have the “half hard, half soft” principle, which is unmistakably observable in Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan.
It is interest to note that Master Zhu Tian Cai, one of the “4 Tigers of Chen Village” commented that there is no difference between Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan and Shaolin. This brave and frank statement is the mark of a true martial artist - a Tai Chi practitioner who does not deride the Shaolin Fist system.
The Chen Style of Chen Chang Xin emphasises Chan Su Jing or the Silk Cocoon Reeling Energy.
The Chen Style remained very much within the Chen Jia village until Chen Fa Ke (1987 – 1957) taught it publicly in
Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan
The originator of the Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan was Yang Lu
Chan (1800-1873) from Yong Nian county in
It is noted that there are differences
in the names as well as the postures between the Yang Style and the Old Frame
of the Chen style. While most scholars
superficially concluded that it was because Yang Lu Chan made some changes, and
dropped some difficult moves, such as explosive Fa Jing, jumps and foot stomping in order to suit the comfort
of his students, they simply could have
missed investigating whether Yang Lu Chan’s art was actually a purer form
of the Taoist art than the Chen art which developed into what we now know as
the Old Frame. It was superficially
assumed that the Old Frame, as we know
it today, was exactly what Yang Lu Chan
learnt, and had remained static (which
was not plausible, because martial arts
in Chen Jia village was also evolving).
Yang Lu Chan’s sons each evolved
their own art of Tai Chi Chuan, and his
grandsons further evolved the art.
(proving the point that the art,
whether yang, Chen, Wu etc. was
evolving rapidly within the past 200 years).
The Yang Style we know today is mainly based on the art of his
grandson, Yang Cheng Fu, which has wide, graceful, natural, and
comfortable postures.
This art is based on the Large Frame of the Yang Style.
Of all the style of Tai Chi Chuan, in
approach and flavour, it is perhaps the
Yang Style that appears to adhere to the old Tai Chi Chuan classics. Its softness and yielding and empty qualities
approach the ideals of the classics. It
the criteria for judging what genuine Tai Chi Chuan is how close the art
approach the classics, then Yang Style
Tai Chi Chuan, especially of the Chen
Man Ching lineage (from Taiwan) is a hot
contender.
Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan
Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan was created by Quan
You (1834-1902) who lived at Daxing in Hebei Pro-vince (now under
Beijing Municipality). Quan You was of the Manchu
nationality of
Wu Yuxiang
Style Tai Chi Chuan
Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880) was the
creator of another Style of Tai Chi Quan. A Yongnian resident in Hebi, Wu Yuxiang learned the ABC's of Tai Chi from fellow provincial
Yang Luchan. In 1852, Wu Yuxiang
went to work for his brother at Wuyang. On his way to
Wuyang, he learned the new routine ,of Tai Chi Quan from Chen Qingping and
mastered it. At his brother's home, Wu Yuxiang got
hold of a transcript of Wang Zongyue's On Tai Chi Quan. So upon returning home, Wu Yuxiang
delved into the book and practised the principles stipulated in it. Wu
eventually wrote Ten Essential Points of Martial Artists and Four-Word Poetic
Secrets of Tai Chi: Apply, Cover, Combat and Swallow, which have become the
classics of Chinese Wushu writing.
The Wu Yuxiang style of Tai Chi
features compactness, slow movement, strict footwork and distinguishes between
substantialness and insubstantialness. The chest and
abdomen are kept upright while the body is moving around. The outside movement
of the body is initiated by the circulation of air flows inside the body and by
inner adjustments of substantialness and insubstantialness.
The two hands are in charge of their respective halves of the body-one does not
infringe upon the other. The hand never goes farther than the foot. Li Yishe (1832-1892), son of Wu Yuxiang's
sister, inherited the Wu Yuxiang style of Tai Chi. He
wrote about his experience of practising Five-Word Essentials, The Secret to
Relaxation: Lift, Guide, Loosen and Release and Essentials for Tai Chi
Movements and Actions. In the first year of the Republic (1911), Hao Weizhen (1849-1920) from
Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan
The initiator of the Sun-style Tai Chi Chuan was Sun
Lutang (1861-1932) from
Besides the above-mentioned five style of Tai Chi Chuan,
there is another style called Five-Star Tai Chi. This style was initiated by
Wang Lanting, butler of Prince Duan
of Yang Luchan who served as Wushu
master to Prince Duan. After mastering the Chuan art,
Wang Lanting passed it onto Li Ruidong
and Si Xingsan. Li Ruidong
then absorbed the cream of other styles of Tai Chi to form the Five-Star Tai
Chi.
The Chanmen Tai Chi Quan or Buddhist Tai Chi Quan
which is popular in the area of Pingdingshan in
To further popularize Tai Chi Quan
among the people after the establishment of the People's Republic of
You are invited to visit our related sites:-
Tao of Tai Chi Chuan Institute – traditional & authentic Tai Chi Chuan
Kalis Ilustrisimo (Australia) -
Filipino martial art of arnis / eskrima
Chi Kung – various Qi Gong methods
Meditation – various meditation methods
Yellow Bamboo – Balinese mysticism, healing, physical and psychic protection
Healing - various healing methods
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Spiritual Realms –articles on spiritual matters