A Synopsis on Taijiquan (Part 1 of 3)

By Mak Tinghei 

[Editor's note:  For consistency, the following convention will be 
adopted for this article:
1. the last name(surname) of a person is placed first, followed by first 
and middle names, bounded together as in Chinese usage. 
2. Individual Chinese characters, when appropriate, is bounded together 
for a specific meaning.  Thus, 'Taijiquan' is used instead of 'Tai 
Chi Quan']

      Taijiquan' is a popular form of Wushu' or Martial Arts in China. 
Its unique methodology and movements make it stand out among the rest. Its 
philosophy teaches us a sound approach to problems often encountered in 
life.  It is also a good exercise for the young and old, and an 
appropriate therapy for recovering patients.  There are many styles of
Taijiquan today.  The most popular form is the 
Yang style, which was widely promulgated by [Yang Luchan]'(1799-1872). The 
others are Wu', Chen', and the rest.  Almost all styles of Taijiquan came 
from a kind of Wushu practiced by the Chen clan in the Chenchiagou' 
village, [Wen County]', Henan' Province.  According to [Tang Hao], the Chen-wushu can be traced back to their ancestor, [Chen 
Wangting]'(1597-1664), a retired general of the late Ming Dynasty.  He 
collected the popular Wushu style of his time, consulted Wushu writings of 
another Ming general [Qi Jikwang]'(1528-1587), edited those styles, made 
some contributions and formed several styles of Wushu, including the 32 
postures Long Boxing, five different 13-postures, and the Cannon Fist. 

	These styles of Wushu were orally transmitted down and practiced by later 
generations.  By the time of [Chen Changxin]'(1771-1853), only two styles 
remained: the Cannon Fist and the First 13-posture.  Chen Changxin did 
not leave behind any writings on Chen-wushu.  When Yang Luchan came to 
the Chen village as a child servant at the age of 10, he learned 
Chen-Wushu from Chen Changxin, and went back in 1839 to his home village, 
[Yuen Nien]', Hebei' Province, where he taught his style of Wushu to [Wu 
Yuxiang]'(1812-1880).  Wu also learned Chen-wushu briefly in 1852 from 
one member of the Chen clan.  Up to this time, 'Chen-wushu' was not called 
'Taijiquan'. 

      The name, Taijiquan, was first mentioned by [Wang Tsungyueh]' who 
was a contemporary of Chen Wangting in the 1600s.  One of Wu's brother 
discovered, sometime in 1852-54, several Wang's manuscripts; one of them 
is called 'Taijiquan Treatise'.  Wu's student, also his nephew, [Li 
Iyu]'(1832-1892) composed in 1860 and revised in 1880, a collection of 
writings by himself, Wu, and Wang.  In it, he attached the name 
'Taijiquan' to 'Chen-wushu'.  There is no evidence to show whether it was 
his idea or his uncle Wu's.  Wu and Yang were close friends.  So Yang 
certainly would know about the Taijiquan Treatise.  About 1860, or 
shortly thereafter, Yang was introduced by one of Wu's brother to teach 
Wushu in the Ching' Imperial Court.  Since then, Taijiquan has spread far 
and wide.

	The most popular one is the legendary Taoist monk [Chang 
Sanfeng]'.  But this assertion can not be verified and validated.  At 
present, the single originator of Taijiquan has not been found, and it 
appears that Taijiquan is a collection of combined contributions from many 
Wushu masters over along period of time.