Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi Chuan history and styles
The word Tai Chi first appeared in Book of Changes of the Zhou Dynasty. The essay says: "Where there is Tai Chi, there is peace and harmony between the positive and the negative." Tai Chi means supremacy, absoluteness, extremity and uniqueness. Tai Chi Chuan takes its name for the implication of superiority. Tai Chi Chuan got its name when Shanxi secular Wushu master Wang Zongyue used the philosophy of the positive and negative from the Book of Changes to explain the principles of the Chuan.

There are different opinions on the origin of Tai Chi Chuan. Some think it was created by Zhang Sanfeng of the Song Dynasty (961-1279) while others believe it was created by Han Gongyue and Cheng Lingxi in the Liang Dynasty (502-557). Still others say that it was created by either Xu Xuanping or Li Daozi of the Tang Dynasty(618-907)Yet all propositions cannot be proved from authenticate historical records. According to the research of Wushu historian Tang Hao, Tai Chi Chuan was first exercised and practised among the Chen family members at the Chenjia Valley which is located in Wenxian County in Henan Province. The earliest choreographer of the Tai Chi Chuan was Chen Wangling who was both a scholar and a martial artist. Chen combined his knowledge of ancient psychological exercises; the positive and negative philosophy describe in the Book of Ch-anges and Chinese medical theory of passages and channels of blood, air flow and energy inside the human body with the exercises and practices of Wushu. He absorbed the strong points from various schools and styles of martial arts of the Ming Dynasty, especially the 32-move Qi Jiguang style of Chuan (long-style Chuan), to form the school of Tai Chi Chuan.

After years of dissemination, many styles of Tai Chi Chuan were created. The most popular and wide-spread are the following five styles:Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan, Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan, Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan, Wu Yuxiang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Sun-style Tai Chi Chuan.

Although different in style and form, all Tai Chi Chuan routines require their practitioners to be tranquil, calm, relaxed but concentrative. In Tai Chi Chuan the spine is the pivot around which the body moves. Forces and energy should be generated from the spine and waist before reaching the arms and legs. The movements are executed slowly, continuously and softly, but hardness is implied in softness. Substantialness should be distinguished from insubstantialness. Practitioners are required to breathe regularly and smoothly. The inner strengths and energy should be exuded through external movements and actions.

The theory of Tai Chi Chuan was developed when Wang Zongyue wrote his On Tai Chi Chuan. Tai Chi Chuan theories matured with later writings of the Thirteen-form Frame, Thirteen Postures, Secrets of Thirteen Stances, The Essentials of Martial Artists, Martial Artists' Ballad, Tai Chi Combats and Five-Word Essentials.

As mentioned earlier, the Tai Chi Chuan has health enhancing and disease curing functions. This is largely due to its effect on brain function. Practising Tai Chi enables part of the cerebral cortex to enter a protective inhibition so that partial rest is possible while other parts are excited. As a result brain function can im protracted exercises and practices of Tai Chi Chuan. Various chronic diseases resulting from the malfunction of the nerve system can thus be cured or ameliorated.

Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi Chuan is also called "philosophical Chuan," meaning that its principles and techniques all contain the idea of Tai Chi in Chinese classical philosophy. To learn Tai Chi Chuan calls, first of all, for under-standing this philosophical thought. This helps to know the techniques of Tai Chi Chuan.

The idea of Tai Chi is, in fact, a systematic thought of balance.

Tai Chi refers to a primitive state in Chinese philosophy. It is a natural existence. The life of man was a state of Tai Chi in the earliest stage, just like the baby in the body of a mother. Lao Zi, the repre-sentative of Taoism, spoke very highly of this state when he wrote that people formed much tension in their daily lives which led to illnesses. Therefore, people should relax their bodies and minds through exercise to return to the infant state.

Chinese classical philosophy holds that all things are born of Tai Chi. The whole process is stated in detail in the Book of Changes written in the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221 B.C.): "Tai Chi causes the two opposites, the two opposites cause the four seasons, and the four seasons cause the eight natural phenomena (denoting heaven, earth, thunder, wind, water, fire, mountains and lakes)." The eight phenomena cause all things. The two opposites mentioned here are the yin (negative) and yang (positive), which exist in all system. The picture shows the famous "Tai Chi Chart," in which the black represents yin and the white yang. They are supplementary to each other, transform themselves into each other and depend on each other. The harmony and balance between yin and yang constitute the "Tai Chi state." The human body is also composed of yin and yang. When yin and yang are balanced, both the body and mind are in a good state; however, their imbalance leads to illness. Therefore, to improve the physical qualities and prevent illness begins with the adjustment of yin and yang. Offence and defence also form a contradiction of yin and yang; if the relationship between offence and defence is handled well, the key point of combat is grasped. Therefore, to grasp the rules of the changes between yin and yang of the human body is an important way to improve the ability of combat. The ideas described above form the basic train of thought for Tai Chi Chuan.

The Tai Chi philosophical thought is embodied in the play of every exercise of the Tai Chi Chuan.

Yin and yang are divided in every movement: the relationship of yin and yang is involved in every motion of the Tai Chi Chuan, whether in a fixed form or in a process.

There is a clear distinction between the empty and the solid, and between the above and the below in every movement. In the Single Whip exercise, the left hand in front is the open palm and belongs to yang, and the right hand in the rear is the hook and belongs to yin. When the head is up slightly, it is yang, and when the crotch is relaxed and down, it is yin. When the weight is on the left leg, it is solid and belongs to yang; then the right leg is empty and belongs to yin. At the same time, every yin and yang element implies the tendency to transform itself into the opposite. This is why the play of the Tai Chi Quart changes constantly and continuously like the moving clouds and flowing water.

There are curves everywhere: The Tai Chi Chart is round in shape. Between yin and yang are harm-onious coexistence and soft transformation. The curved movements conform best to the natural state of the structure of the human body, making it easy to transform and adjust the yin and yang relationship smoothly.

Motion and stillness exist together. The movements of the Tai Chi Chuan are relaxed and slow. They call for stillness in motion to achieve the relaxation of the mind and body. At the same time, while in the fixed form, there must be motion in stillness so that the movements do not discontinue and the mind and energy flow do not stop. Motion and stillness are the two opposites of a contradiction-the yin and yang. The coexistence of motion and stillness is the embodiment of the Tai Chi Chuan idea: "There is yin in yang, and yang in yin."

Hardness and softness are combined: if too hard, it is easy to break; if too soft, it is easy to damage. The Tai Chi Chuan stresses softness to achieve hardness. In the light and soft movements is an im-posing manner, assisted by the mind at the same time. Where there is the body form, there is the mind. What is tempered is the changeable and flexible "hardness." While executing the movements, softness is implied while hardness is shown in form. So exists the integral whole, whether in ad-vance or retreat, in rise or fall, or in closing or opening. When one part moves, all parts of the body move. This effectively helps to temper the integrity and harmony of the human body and in-crease the harmony between yin and yang.

The Tai Chi thought is a strict system and it is embodied in the Tai Chi Chuan in many ways. I have given only a few examples to illustrate the points. The readers have to carefully understand the more pro-found intentions of the Tai Chi Chuan through their own practice.

Tai Chi Chuan Styles
Cheng Style Tai Chi Chuan
The Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan falls into two categories - the old and new frames. The old frame was created by Chen Wangling himself. It had five routines which were also known as ihe 13 move Chuan. Chen Wangling also developed a long-style Chuan routine of 108 moves and a cannon Chuan rouline. Il was then handed down to Chen Changxing and Chen Youben, boxers in the Chenjia Valley who were all proficient at ihe old frame. The preseni-day Chen-style Cshuan boasts of the old routine, the cannon routine and the new routine.

The Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan is the oldest form, all the other styles of Tai Chi Chuan having derived from it either directly or indirectly. With jumps, leaps and explosions of strength, the performance followed a circular path. The Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name "Lao Jia" ("old frame").

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan
The originator of the Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan was Yang Luchan (1800-1873) from Yongnian in Hebei Province. Yang went to learn Tai Chi Chuan from Chen Changxing in the Chenjia Valley as a boy. When grown up, he returned to his native town to teach the art. To suit the need of common people, Yang Luchan made some changes, and dropped some highly difficult moves, such as force irritating, broad jumps and foot thumping. His son shortened the routine which was further simplified by his grandson. The grandson's form of the Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan was later taken as the protocol of the Yang-style Chuan. Because of its comfortable postures, simplicity and practicability, this form has become the most popular routine for exercise and practice.

The Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan features agreeable movements and actions combining hardness, softness and naturalness. When practising, practitioners should relax to form softness which transforms into hardness thus combining the hard and the soft. The Yang-styk Tai Chi Chuan is divided into three sub routines, namely high-posture, middle-posture and low-posture routines all with comfortable and agreeable movements and actions. The Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name "Da Jia" ("big frame").

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 China. He learned Tai Chi Chuan from Yang Luchan and later followed Yang's second son Yang Banhou to study the short program. Quan You was known for his ability to soften his movements. Quan's son Jianquan changed his family name to Wu as he was brought up as a Han national. Wu Jianquan (1870-1942) inherited and disseminated a style of Tai Chi which is comfortable and upright. His style is continuous and ingenious and because his routine does not require jumps and leaps, it spread far and wide among common people. Since this style of Tai Chi Chuan was disseminated by the Wu family, it became known as the Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan. The Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name "Zhong Jia" ("medium frame").

Wu Yuxiang Style Tai Chi Chuan
Wu Yuxiang (1812-1880) was the creator of another Style of Tai Chi Chuan. 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 Chuan 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 Chuan. 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 Yongnian County taught the Wu Yuxiang style of Tai Chi in Beijing, and later in Nanjing and Shanghai. The Wu Yuxiang Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name "Xiao Jia" ("small frame").

Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan
The initiator of the Sun-style Tai Chi Chuan was Sun Lutang (1861-1932) from Dingxian County in Hebei Province. Sun was a master of Xingyi Quan (free-mind animal-imitating Chuan) and Bagua Zhang (Eight-diagram Palm). In 1911, he followed Hao Weizhen to learn the Wu Yuxiang style of Tai Chi. He later created the Sun style of Tai Chi Chuan by blending the cream of the Wu Yuxiang style of Tai Chi, Xingyi Quan and Bagua Zhang. The feature of the Sun-style Tai Chi is that practitioners advance or retreat freely with quick and dexterous movements, which are connected with each other either in closing or opening stances when the direction is changed.

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 Chuan or Buddhist Tai Chi Chuan which is popular in the area of Pingdingshan in Henan Province was developed by monks in the Shaolin Temple according to the Infinitely Merciful Dharani Scripture. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, it had also absorbed the best of the martial arts practised by followers of Taoism and Confucianism. As it was first created by Buddhist monks, it was called Chanmen or Buddhist Tai Chi Chuan.

To further popularize Tai Chi Chuan among the people after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, a simplified set of the Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan was compiled in 1956, by dropping the repeated and difficult movements. The simplified set consists of 24 forms. In 1979, the Chinese State Physical Fxiucation and Sports Commission absorbed the strongest points from the Chen-style, Yang-style and Wu-style Tai Chi, as well as Tai Chi Wushu, to form a popular, 48-form Tai Chi Chuan. The Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan was known by the name "Huobao Jia" ("lively pace frame").

Interested in China travel? Have you planned what is your next destination? Consider start a fantastic travel soon? Customize your China travel, here we go! Show me your ideas; let us guide your travel now.

Our TripsBooking ConditionsTravel FAQHow to Book

Our Trips: