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112-576: Many forms of tai chi are practiced, both traditional and modern. While the precise origins are not known, the earliest documented practice is from Chen Village and Zhabao Village in Henan , which are located a few hundred miles from the Shaolin Monastery on Song Mountain. Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: Chen , Yang , Wu (Hao) , Wu , and Sun . Practitioners such as Yang Chengfu and Sun Lutang in

224-635: A comprehensive conclusion. Tai chi has been promoted for treating various ailments, and is supported by the Parkinson's Foundation and Diabetes Australia , among others. However, medical evidence of effectiveness is lacking. A 2017 systematic review found that it decreased falls in older people. A 2011 comprehensive overview of systematic reviews of tai chi recommended tai chi to older people for its physical and psychological benefits. It found positive results for fall prevention and overall mental health . No conclusive evidence showed benefit for most of

336-536: A disciple of Yang Chengfu , was the first known proponent of tai chi to openly teach in the United States, beginning in 1939. His son and student Choy Kam Man emigrated to San Francisco from Hong Kong in 1949 to teach tai chi in Chinatown . Choy Kam Man taught until he died in 1994. Sophia Delza , a professional dancer and student of Ma Yueliang , performed the first known public demonstration of tai chi in

448-601: A hundred books and corresponded with dozens of other scholars. He acted as a teacher to groups of students, many of whom chose to study under him for years. He built upon the teachings of the Cheng brothers and others, further developing their metaphysical theories in regards to principle ( li ) and vital force ( qi ). His followers recorded thousands of his conversations in writing. Zhu Xi, whose family originated in Wuyuan County , Huizhou (in modern Jiangxi province),

560-578: A major style of martial art within China and around the world. A strong Chen tradition have developed in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, Austria, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. The story of Chen-style tai chi is rich and complex. The lineage tree is a concise summary and highlights some of the important personalities that contributed to its history. However, there are some missing details that can provide insight to

672-539: A new generation of Chen-style teachers. The start of the internationalisation of Chen-style can be traced to 1981. A tai chi association from Japan went on a promotional tour to the Chen village. The success of this trip created interest in Chen-style tai chi both nationally and internationally. Soon tai chi enthusiasts from other countries started their pilgrimage to Chen village. The increasing interest led all levels of

784-427: A new generation of practitioners, (e.g. the "Four Jingang," aka the "Four Tigers": Chen Xiaowang (陈小旺), Chen Zhenglei, Wang Xi'an (王西安), and Zhu Tiancai (朱天才)), he taught Chen Fake's practice methods that were unfamiliar to them. He made three separate visits, totaling under two years. Zhu Tian Cai, who was a young man at the time, claimed that they all started calling it "Xinjia" (New Frame) because it seemed adapted from

896-407: A ninth generation Chen Village leader, was credited with the creation of seven routines: The first five sets were a curriculum known as the five routines of tai chi (太極拳五路). The 108-form Long Fist (Boxing) (一百零八勢長拳, Yībǎi líng bā shì zhǎngquán) and a form known as Cannon Fist (Pounding) (炮捶, Pào chuí) were considered to be a separate curriculum. Most of these forms were not commonly practiced after

1008-459: A partner exercise, is commonly used to apply the principles learned in Yilu training. Push hands involves controlling an opponent through yielding, attaching, redirecting, manipulating, grappling, breaking structure, and other skills. Originally focused on refining the usage of tai chi, push hands has evolved over time into a competitive sport that is somewhat disconnected from its martial roots. Erlu,

1120-441: A period of Chen-style tai chi decline. Radical students led a campaign to suppress the " Four Olds ", which included the practice of martial arts. Training facilities were closed and practitioners were prosecuted. Many Chen masters were publicly denounced. For example, Chen Zhaopei was pushed to the point of attempting suicide, and Hong Junsheng was left malnourished. Training was continued in secret and at great personal risk ensuring

1232-533: A routine that would be much less difficult to learn than the classical 88 to 108 posture solo hand forms. Another 1950s form is the "97 movements combined tai chi form", which blends Yang, Wu, Sun, Chen, and Fu styles. In 1976, they developed a slightly longer demonstration form that would not require the traditional forms' memory, balance, and coordination. This became the "Combined 48 Forms" that were created by three wushu coaches, headed by Men Hui Feng. The combined forms simplified and combined classical forms from

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1344-596: A series of visits. Chen Zhaokui's teaching of the Xinjia was explicitly practiced with the purpose of developing tangible and effective martial arts methods based on spiral energy usage, fajin (energy release) and qinna (joint locking) movements. The stances in Xinjia tend to be more compact with the goal of training for better mobility in fighting applications, while they still remain quite low. This includes more dynamic, springing and jumping movements. This form tends to emphasize manipulation, seizing and grappling ( qin na ) and

1456-554: A small frame lineage. To simplify matters for new students, the Chen Family divided their tai chi into Large Frame, originating from Chen Fake, and Small Frame, associated with Chen Ziming. Large Frame may be further divided: Old Frame (老架, Lǎo jia) taught in the Chen Village by Chen Zhaopei and New Frame (新架, Xīn jià) taught in the Chen Village by Chen Zhaokui. Both teachers of Large Frame were students of Chen Fake. Although

1568-486: A straight spine, abdominal breathing and a natural range of motion. Tai chi relies on knowing the appropriate change in response to outside forces, as well as on yielding to and redirecting an attack, rather than meeting it with opposing force. Physical fitness is also seen as an important step towards effective self-defense . Tai chi movements were inspired by animals, especially birds and leopards. There are also numerous other supporting solo practices such as: There

1680-454: A student of Yang Luchan and the eventual founder of Wu (Hao)-style tai chi , was known to have briefly studied the Chen Family small frame system under Chen Qingping . This situation changed with the fall of the Qing empire when Chinese society sought to discover and improve their understanding of traditional philosophies and methods. The current availability and popularity of Chen-style tai chi

1792-530: A thousand brave people attended his funeral. After the death of Han Tuozhou, Zhu's successor Zhen Dexiu , together with Wei Liaoweng , made Zhu's branch of Neo-Confucianism the dominant philosophy at the Song Court. In 1208, eight years after his death, Emperor Ningzong of Song rehabilitated Zhu Xi and honored him with the posthumous name of Wen Gong ( 文公 ), meaning "Venerable gentleman of culture". Around 1228, Emperor Lizong of Song honored him with

1904-508: A tight method of spiral winding for both long and shorter range striking. Zhu Tian Cai has commented that the Xinjia emphasizes the silk reeling movements to help beginners more easily learn the internal principles in form and to make application more obvious in relation to the Old Frame forms. The New Frame Cannon Fist is generally performed faster than other empty hand forms. Chen Xiaoxing also emphasized that "the fundamental principles of

2016-458: Is a complete martial art system with a full range of bare-hand movement sets and weapon forms, such as the jian (straight sword), dao (curved sword), and qiang (spear), which are based on the dynamic relationship between yin and yang . While tai chi is typified by its slow movements, many styles (including the three most popular: Yang , Wu , and Chen ) have secondary, faster-paced forms. Some traditional schools teach martial applications of

2128-429: Is also a key focus. The Yilu form aims to teach practitioners how to synchronize their minds, bodies, and internal energy in accordance with tai chi principles. Chen-style practitioners describe the Yilu form as having large and stretching movements, brisk and steady footwork, a naturally straight body, and the integration of internal energy throughout the entire body. (拳架舒展大方，步法轻灵稳健，身法中正自然，内劲统领全身。) The Yilu form requires

2240-477: Is at least two and a half shoulder widths wide, and the hand techniques appear large and expansive. On the other hand, the Small Frame (小架, Xiǎo jià), the standard horse stance is two shoulders width wide and the hand techniques are perceived as generally shorter and more compact. The classification of all tai chi styles into "frames" based on the size of stance and other criteria was introduced by Tang Hao in

2352-812: Is categorized under the Wudang group of Chinese martial arts—that is, arts applied with internal power. Although the term Wudang suggests these arts originated in the Wudang Mountains , it is used only to distinguish the skills, theories, and applications of neijia from those of the Shaolin grouping, or waijia (hard/external styles). Tai chi also adopts the Taoist ideals of softness overcoming hardness, of wu wei (effortless action), and of yielding into its martial art technique while also retaining Taoist ideas of spiritual self-cultivation. Tai chi's path

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2464-423: Is connected with Henan's Thousand Year Temple and a nexus of nearby villages: Chen Village, Tang Village, Wangbao Village, and Zhaobao Town. These villages were closely connected, shared an interest in the martial arts and many went to study at Thousand Year Temple (which was a syncretic temple with elements from the three teachings ). New documents from these villages, mostly dating to the 17th century, are some of

2576-531: Is considered the foundation form. Because it is steady, fluid, and readily comprehended, it is always taught first. Near the end of the Cultural Revolution and later after Chen Zhaopei's death in 1972, tai chi practitioners in Chen Village petitioned Chen Zhaokui (陈照奎, 1928 – 1981), Chen Fake's only living son, to come and continue their education in the art. When Chen Zhaokui visited Chen Village to assist and later succeed Chen Zhaopei in training

2688-532: Is grounded in the same fundamental principles, transcending mere external appearances. Within the Chen-style tai chi umbrella, there are various teaching traditions, and their practices may often vary somewhat from one another - often due to differences in how they cultivated their skill throughout their decades of practice. Chen Ziming wrote, "In the beginning of the training, conform to patterns. At an intermediate level, you may change patterns. Then finally, patterns are driven by spirit.” Over time and distance within

2800-468: Is known as "Small Frame" (Chinese: 小架 ; pinyin: xiǎo jià ). Small Frame system of training eventually lead to the formation of two other styles of tai chi that show strong Chen family influences, Zhaobao tai chi and Hulei jia (Chinese: 忽雷架 ; lit. 'thunder frame'). However, these are not considered a part of the Chen family lineage. Some legends assert that a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng named Wang Zongyue taught Chen family

2912-487: Is no scientific evidence for the existence of qi, nor any demonstrating the effectiveness of acupressure or traditional Chinese medicine beyond that of placebo treatment. Further training entails learning tuishou (push hands drills) , sanshou (striking techniques), free sparring, grappling training, and weapons training. The fundamental training concepts of the art are detailed in a few dozen classical texts originally written in classical Chinese by tai chi masters,

3024-492: Is one of developing naturalness by relaxing, attending inward, and slowing mind, body, and breath. This allows the practitioner to become less tense, to drop conditioned habits, to let go of thoughts, to allow qi to flow smoothly, and thus to flow with the Tao . It is thus a kind of moving meditation that allows us to let go of the self and experience no-mind ( wuxin ) and spontaneity ( ziran ). A key aspect of tai chi philosophy

3136-472: Is practiced as a martial art but has expanded into other domains of practice such as health or performances. Some argue that Chen-style tai chi has preserved and emphasized the martial efficacy to a greater extent. It is not clear how the Chen family actually came to practise their unique martial style and contradictory "histories" abound. What is known is that the other four tai chi styles (Yang, Sun, Wu and Wu (Hao)) trace their teachings back to Chen village in

3248-821: Is reflective of the radical changes that occurred within Chinese society during the 20th century. In the decline of the Qing dynasty , the creation of the Republic of China and subsequently the Chinese Communist Revolution , Chen-style tai chi underwent a period of re-discovery, popularization, and finally internationalization. In 1928, Chen Zhaopei  [ zh ] (1893–1972) and later his uncle, Chen Fake moved from Chen village to teach in Beiping (now known as Beijing). Their Chen-style practice

3360-428: Is sometimes referred to as " shadowboxing ". The etymology of tai chi's Chinese name is somewhat uncertain because of the lack of a record of spoken usage. Before the mid-nineteenth century, it appears that outsiders generically described the art as zhanquan ( 沾拳 , "touch boxing"), "Long Boxing"( 長拳 ), mianquan ("Soft/Cotton/Neutralizing Boxing"; 軟/棉/化拳 ) or shisan shi ( 十三式 , "the thirteen techniques"). In

3472-481: Is to work with the flow of yin (softness) and yang (hardness) elements. When two forces push each other with equal force, neither side moves. Motion cannot occur until one side yields. Therefore, a key principle in tai chi is to avoid using force directly against force (hardness against hardness). Laozi provided the archetype for this in the Tao Te Ching when he wrote, "The soft and the pliable will defeat

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3584-469: Is worth noting that while the Cannon Fist form is widely taught in various traditions, very few teach the self-defense skills associated with Erlu due to their inherent dangers. Even when taught, Erlu self-defense techniques are typically reserved for a select few trusted students. In some training traditions today, both forms may be employed to train practitioners in each path of the curriculum. Within

3696-684: The Internal martial arts . These included the principles of Yin Yang , the techniques of Daoyin , Tui na , Qigong , and the theory of meridians . Those theories are encountered in Classical Chinese Medicine and described in such texts as the Huangdi Neijing . In addition, Wangting incorporated the boxing theories from sixteen different martial art styles as described in the classic text Jixiao Xinshu , written by

3808-610: The Ming dynasty General Qi Jiguang . Chen Changxing , a 14th-generation Chen Village martial artist, synthesized Chen Wangting's open fist training corpus into two routines that came to be known as "Old Frame" (老架; lao jia). Those two routines are named individually as the First Form (Yilu; 一路) and the Second Form (Erlu; 二路, more commonly known as the Cannon Fist 炮捶). Chen Changxing, contrary to Chen family tradition, also took

3920-521: The Song Dynasty (960–1279), and there is no mention in the Ming (1368–1644) histories or hagiographies of Zhang Sanfeng of any connection between the immortal and the martial arts." Another common theory for the origin of tai chi is that it was created by Chen Wangting (1580–1660) while living in Chen Village (陳家溝), Henan. The other four contemporary traditional tai chi styles (Yang, Sun, Wu and Wu/Hao) trace their teachings back to Chen village in

4032-506: The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists in 2020 for China. The five major styles of tai chi are named for the Chinese families who originated them: The most popular is Yang, followed by Wu, Chen, Sun, and Wu/Hao. The styles share underlying theory, but their training differs. Dozens of new styles, hybrid styles, and offshoots followed, although the family schools are accepted as standard by

4144-445: The " tai chi classics ". In these texts, it is noted that the physiological and kinesiological aspects of the body's movements are characterized by the circular motion and rotation of the pelvis, based on the metaphors of the pelvis as the hub and the arms and feet as the spokes of a wheel. Furthermore, the respiration of breath is coordinated with the physical movements in a state of deep relaxation, rather than muscular tension. Tai chi

4256-453: The "Chen-style national competition form" is the "56 Forms". The combined forms are "The 42-Form" or simply the "Competition Form". In the 11th Asian Games of 1990, wushu was included as an item for competition for the first time with the 42-Form representing tai chi. The International Wushu Federation (IWUF) applied for wushu to be part of the Olympic games . Tai chi was added to

4368-741: The 15th regular session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage included tai chi in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Traditionally, the foundational tai chi practice consists of learning and practicing a specific solo forms or routines ( taolu ) . This entails learning a routine sequence of movements that emphasize

4480-419: The 66-movement Thirteen Postures (十三势) form as it was passed to him in his book, Chen Family Taijiquan Illustrated and Explained (陳氏太極拳圖說, Chén shì tàijí quán túshuō). Push hands as a means of training was not mentioned in the Chen historical manuals, rather it was described as a form of pair training. From a military perspective, empty-hand training was a foundation for weapons training and push hands training

4592-607: The Chen Family martial art to gain international recognition. It closely resembles both the 66-movement form described in Chen Xin's (陈鑫, 1849-1929) book Chen Family Taijiquan Illustrated and Explained (陳氏太極拳圖說, Chén shì tàijí quán túshuō) published posthumously in 1933 and the photographed form of his student, Chen Ziming (陳子明, d.:1951), in his book Inherited Chen Family Taiji Boxing Art’ ’ (1932) . Zhu Xi Zhu Xi ( [ʈʂú ɕí] ; October 18, 1130 – April 23, 1200), formerly romanized Chu Hsi ,

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4704-470: The Chen Family, there are currently three main variants, or frames, of Chen-style forms that are practiced today. Each frame represents a distinct perspective within the Chen-style tai chi tradition. The concept of frames (架, jià, frame, rack, framework) refers to the general width of stances and range of motion employed in the forms. For example, in the Large Frame (大架, Dà jià ), the standard horse stance

4816-406: The Chen style practitioner upholds a more stringent requirement, focusing on the underlying principles rather than external appearances. As practitioners delve into the different frames and forms within Chen-style tai chi, they strive to honor and embody the profound principles handed down through the Chen Family's tai chi legacy. While uncertainties may exist due to the lack of written sources and

4928-418: The Chen style, these interpretations have given rise to subdivisions. Each variation is influenced by its own history and the training insights of master teachers. The current subdivisions include historical training methods from Chen Village, forms derived from the lineage of Chen Fake (commonly known as Big or Large Frame, including Old Frame and New Frame), Chen family Small Frame attributed to teachings within

5040-541: The Chen style. Chen Xin's legacy is his book and his student, Chen Ziming (陈子明). Chen Ziming, went on to promote Chen style small frame throughout China and wrote books promoting the art. Chen Ziming was in the same generation as Chen Fake. Forms , also called Taolu (Chinese: 套路, tàolù: routine, pattern, standard method), play a fundamental role in Chen-style tai chi as choreographed sequences of movements that serve as repositories for various methods, techniques, stances, and types of energy and force production. Within

5152-418: The Chen village, training methods from Chen Fake's students, and closely related traditions like Zhaobao tai chi . In the past, the effectiveness of training methods was determined through actual combat, but such tests of skill are less common in the modern era. With no recognized central authorities for tai chi, authenticity is often determined through anecdotal stories or appeals to historical lineage. However,

5264-470: The Chen-style tai chi tradition, there are at least two forms: Yi Lu (First Form) and Er Lu (Second Form). These forms represent the embodiment of the intricate theories unique to the Chen style. In the words of Chen Fake, the last great proponent of the Chen style in the modern era, 'This set of Taijiquan does not have one technique which is useless. Everything was carefully designed for a purpose' ('这套拳没有一个动作是空的, 都是有用的'). A correct Chen-style tai chi form

5376-767: The Chinese governments to improve the infrastructure and support of the village including the establishment of martial art schools, hotels and tourist associations. In 1983, martial artists from the Chen village received full government support to promote Chen-style tai chi abroad. Some of the best Chen stylists became international "roaming ambassadors" known as the "Four Buddha Warrior Attendants". Those four Chen stylists including Chen Xiaowang , Chen Zhenglei , Wang Xian (王西安) and Zhu Tiancai (朱天才) traveled relentlessly giving global workshops and creating an international group of Chen-style practitioners. Other well known Chen teachers active in China or overseas include: In recent decades Chen-style tai chi has come to be recognized as

5488-539: The Grand Historian , and Zhuangzi , as well as from famous Chinese thinkers like Zhu Xi , Zhou Dunyi , and Mencius . Early tai chi sources are grounded in Taiji cosmology. Taiji cosmology appears in both Taoist and Confucian philosophy , where it represents the single source or mother of yin and yang (represented by the taijitu symbol [REDACTED] ). Tai chi also draws on Chinese theories of

5600-505: The Large Frame. However, Chen Zhaopei also studied theory with Chen Xin, who is now recognized as a Small Frame practitioner. In 1958, Chen Zhaopei (陈照丕, 1893-1972), nephew of Chen Fake, returned to visit Chen Village. There, he found that war, hardship, and migration had reduced Chen Style practitioners still teaching in the Village to a couple of aging teachers with a handful of students. He immediately took early retirement and returned to

5712-512: The Second Path, typically comes after a student has achieved proficiency in Yilu. Erlu training concentrates on expressing the internal skills cultivated during Yilu practice. The applications in Erlu incorporate more striking, jumping, lunging, and athletically demanding movements. While Yilu emphasized using the body to guide the hands (以身领手, yǐ shēn lǐng shǒu), Erlu shifts the emphasis to using

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5824-861: The Song dynasty, Zhu Xi's teachings were considered to be unorthodox . Rather than focusing on the I Ching like other Neo-Confucians, he chose to emphasize the Four Books : the Great Learning , the Doctrine of the Mean , the Analects of Confucius , and the Mencius as the core curriculum for aspiring scholar officials. For all these classics he wrote extensive commentaries that were not widely recognized in his time; however, they later became accepted as

5936-680: The United States at the New York City Museum of Modern Art in 1954. She wrote the first English language book on tai chi, T'ai-chi Ch'üan: Body and Mind in Harmony , in 1961. She taught regular classes at Carnegie Hall , the Actors Studio , and the United Nations . Cheng Man-ch'ing opened his school Shr Jung tai chi after he moved to New York from Taiwan in 1964. Unlike the older generation of practitioners, Cheng

6048-888: The United States) while living in Hong Kong in the late 1950s. More traditional practitioners hold that the two aspects of health and martial arts make up the art's yin and yang . The "family" schools present their teachings in a martial art context, whatever the intention of their students. Tai chi's health training concentrates on relieving stress on the body and mind. In the 21st century, tai chi classes that purely emphasize health are popular in hospitals, clinics, community centers and senior centers. Tai chi's low-stress training method for seniors has become better known. Clinical studies exploring tai chi's effect on specific diseases and health conditions exist, though there are insufficient studies with consistent approaches to generate

6160-484: The Wu (Hao) founders had no financial need to promote their art, their contributions to the "tai chi classics" were not distributed widely for many years. The first public association between taiji and the art was a poem by Imperial Court scholar Weng Tonghe describing a tai chi performance by Yang Luchan . It is not clear whether Weng was making a new connection or whether the new name was already in use. Written evidence for

6272-403: The Yang family's adoption of the name taiji first appeared in a later text, possibly completed in 1875 by Yang Luchan's son, Yang Banhou , or no later than the first decade of the twentieth century by one or more of Yang Banhou's disciples. By the second decade of the twentieth century, Yang Chengfu 's disciples and Sun Lutang were using the term taijiquan in their publications, including in

6384-477: The body, particularly Taoist neidan (internal alchemy) teachings on qi (vital energy) and on the three dantian . Cheng Man-ch'ing emphasizes the Taoist background of tai chi and states that it "enables us to reach the stage of undifferentiated pure yang, which is exactly the same as Laozi 's 'concentrating the qi and developing softness'". As such, tai chi considers itself an "internal" ( neijia ) martial art focused on developing qi . In China, tai chi

6496-426: The chest and waist. Xiongyao zhedie (chest and waist layered folding) is the coordinated opening and closing of back and chest along with a type of rippling wave (folding) running vertically up and down the dantian/waist area, connected to twisting of the waist/torso. Rotations of the waist and dantian become more apparent in Xinjia. Chen Zhaopei also added tuishou (push hands) and martial application methods over

6608-520: The conditions researched, including Parkinson's disease , diabetes , cancer and arthritis . A 2015 systematic review found that tai chi could be performed by those with chronic medical conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , heart failure , and osteoarthritis without negative effects, and found favorable effects on functional exercise capacity. In 2015 the Australian Government's Department of Health published

6720-518: The continuation of the tradition. During the Era of Reconstruction (1976–1989) , the policy of repression of traditional Chinese culture was reversed. Under this new climate, Chen-style tai chi was once again allowed to be practiced openly. Through a series of government-sponsored meetings and various provincial and national tournaments, Chen-style tai chi regained its reputation as an important branch of Chinese martial arts. In addition, those meetings created

6832-496: The current understanding of this art. Chen Xin (1849-1929), 8th generation Chen family member, provided one of the most important written description of the Chen style. He was the grandson of Chen Youshen (陈有恒), 6th generation Chen family member. Chen Youshen was the brother of Chen Youben (陈有本), the creator of Small Frame. Chen Xin's father was Chen Zhongshen and Chen Xin's uncle, Chen Jishen were twins. In that 7th generation Chen family, Chen Zhongshen, Chen Jishen, Chen Gengyun (陈耕耘,

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6944-412: The earliest reference indicating a connection between Zhang Sanfeng and martial arts is actually a 17th-century piece called Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan (1669), composed by Huang Zongxi (1610–1695). Aside from this single source, the other claims of connections between tai chi and Zhang Sanfeng appeared no earlier than the 19th century. According to Douglas Wile, "there is no record of a Zhang Sanfeng in

7056-430: The earliest sources for the practice of tai chi. Some traditionalists claim that tai chi is a purely Chinese art that comes from ancient Taoism and Confucianism . These schools believe that tai chi theory and practice were formulated by Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century. These stories are often filled with legendary and hagiographical content and lack historical support. Modern historians point out that

7168-457: The early 1800s. The Chen family were originally from Hongtong County in Shanxi . In the 13th or 14th century, later documents claim that the head of the Chen family, Chen Bu (陳仆; 陈卜), migrated to Wen County , Henan . The new area was originally known as Changyang Cun (Chinese: 常陽村 ; lit. 'Sunshine village') and grew to include a large number of Chen descendants. Because of

7280-605: The early 1800s. Yang Luchan (1799–1872), the founder of the popular Yang style , trained with the Chen family for 18 years before he started to teach in Beijing , which strongly suggests that his work was heavily influenced by the Chen family art . Martial arts historian Xu Zhen claimed that the tai chi of Chen Village was influenced by the Taizu changquan style practiced at nearby Shaolin Monastery , while Tang Hao thought it

7392-459: The early 20th century promoted the art for its health benefits. Tai chi was included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. The name "tai chi", the most common English spelling, is not a standard romanization of the Chinese name for the art (simplified Chinese: 太极拳 ; traditional Chinese: 太極拳 ; lit. ' Taiji boxing'). The Chinese name

7504-745: The eastern United States until other teachers immigrated in larger numbers in the 1990s. He taught until his death in 1975. Moy Lin-shin arrived in Toronto, Canada , from China in 1970, where he started teaching tai chi and related internal arts. Norwegian Pytt Geddes was the first European to teach tai chi in Britain, holding classes at The Place in London in the early 1960s. She had first encountered tai chi in Shanghai in 1948, and studied with Choy Hok Pang and his son Choy Kam Man (who both also taught in

7616-410: The evolution of Chen-style tai chi continues. The Small Frame gaining international recognition, shares similarities with teachings by Chen Xin and Chen Ziming. Despite their differences, these frames share common origins and principles, making them integral to the Chen-style tai chi system. Today, the two-path curriculum, originally developed by Chen Changxing, a master of the 14th generation, serves as

7728-770: The first modern Chinese martial art historians, to visit and document the martial lineage in Chen Village in 1930 with Chen Ziming. During the course of his research, he consulted with a manuscript written by 16th generation family member Chen Xin (陳鑫; Ch'en Hsin; 1849–1929) detailing Chen Xin's understanding of the Chen Village heritage. Chen Xin's nephew, Chen Chunyuan , together with Chen Panling (president of Henan Province Martial Arts Academy ), Han Zibu (president of Henan Archives Bureau), Wang Zemin, Bai Yusheng of Kaiming Publishing House, Guan Baiyi (director of Henan Provincial Museum) and Zhang Jiamou helped publish Chen Xin's work posthumously. The book entitled Chen Style Taijiquan Illustrated and Explained (太極拳圖說 see tai chi classics )

7840-412: The first recorded non-family member as a disciple, Yang Luchan , who went on to popularize the art throughout China, but as his own family tradition known as Yang-style tai chi . The Chen family system was only taught within the Chen village region until 1928. Chen Youben , also of the 14th Chen generation, is credited with starting another Chen training tradition. This system also based on two routines

7952-683: The foundation for training in all branches of Chen-style tai chi. Each path is typically associated with a specific form: the First Form ( Yi Lu ), also known as the Thirteen Movements (十三势, Shísān shì), and the Second Form ( Er Lu ), sometimes referred to as Cannon Fist (炮捶, Pào Chuí). These paths follow distinct approaches to training. The Yilu form initiates students into the fundamental principles of tai chi. It emphasizes essential aspects such as footwork, stances, and overall movement. Internal development, including silk reeling training,

8064-427: The frames share more similarities than differences, the variations provide valuable insights. Despite the existence of clear lineage charts, many students are known to have trained with multiple teachers, often without strict adherence to a single lineage. For instance, Chen Zhaopei studied with his father Chen Dengke, his father's uncle Chen Yanxi, and Yanxi's son Chen Fake, all of whom are now considered practitioners of

8176-413: The hands to lead the body (以手领身, yǐ shǒu lǐng shēn). In terms of appearance, the Erlu form is often executed at a faster pace and is characterized by more explosive movements compared to Yilu. The intent of Erlu is focused on self-defense, with each posture training the practitioner for strikes or breaks rather than grappling. The techniques in Erlu employ smaller and tighter circles to generate power. It

8288-446: The hard and strong." Conversely, when in possession of leverage, one may want to use hardness to force the opponent to become soft. Traditionally, tai chi uses both soft and hard. Yin is said to be the mother of Yang, using soft power to create hard power. Traditional schools also emphasize that one is expected to show wude ("martial virtue/heroism"), to protect the defenseless, and to show mercy to one's opponents. In December 2020,

8400-450: The hardships of village life in order to ensure the survival of his family martial art. His teachings are known today as Laojia (Old Frame). In Laojia , there are 74 moves in the First Form and 44 moves in the Second Form. Chen Zhaopei recorded photographs of his First Form with instructions in a book, General Explanations of Taiji Boxing Fundamentals (太極拳學入門總解, Tàijí quán xué rùmén zǒng jiě ) published in 1930. In Chen Village, Laojia

8512-531: The incompetency and corruption of some influential officials. There were several instances of receiving an appointment and subsequently being demoted. Upon dismissal from his last appointment, he was accused of numerous crimes and a petition was made for his execution. Much of this opposition was headed by Han Tuozhou , the Prime Minister, who was a political rival of Zhu's. Even though his teachings had been severely attacked by establishment figures, almost

8624-525: The international community. Other important styles are Zhaobao tai chi , a close cousin of Chen style, which is recognized by Western practitioners; Fu style, created by Fu Zhensong , which evolved from Chen, Sun and Yang styles, and incorporates movements from baguazhang ; and Cheng Man-ch'ing style, which simplifies Yang style. Around the world in the 20th and 21st centuries, some Chinese emigrants who had learned tai chi in China continued to practice it together in their new communities. Choy Hok Pang ,

8736-510: The late 1930s and became common practice by the 1950s. Chen Fake's Chen-style tai chi was classified as Large Frame, while Wu Yuxiang's Wu (Hao)-style tai chi was classified as Small Frame at the time, based on research into the Hao family branch . Chen Qingping, Wu Yuxiang's Chen-style teacher, is associated with the Zhaobao style which includes large and small frame training, and this also suggested

8848-405: The martial art later to be known as tai chi. Other legends speak of Jiang Fa  [ zh ] , reputedly a monk from Wudang mountain who came to Chen village. He is said to have helped transform the Chen family art with Chen Wangting by emphasizing internal fighting practices. However, there are significant difficulties with this explanation, as it is no longer clear if their relationship

8960-531: The martial sequences implied by the forms. Usually performed standing, solo forms have also been adapted for seated practice. Tai chi practices involving weapons also exist. Weapons training and fencing applications often employ: More exotic weapons include: Tai chi's formative influences came from practices undertaken in Taoist and Buddhist monasteries, such as Wudang , Shaolin , and The Thousand Year Temple in Henan . The early development of tai chi proper

9072-415: The mid-nineteenth century, the art began to be associated with the philosophy of taiji (see Conceptual background ). This association may have originated in the writings of the founders of Wu (Hao)-style tai chi , perhaps inspired by a tai chi classic attributed to the semi-mythical Wang Zongyue that begins with the words " Taiji is born from Wuji ; it is the mother of Yin and Yang ". However, as

9184-407: The original Chen, Yang, Wu, and Sun styles. Other competitive forms were designed to be completed within a six-minute time limit. In the late 1980s, CSC standardized more competition forms for the four major styles as well as combined forms. These five sets of forms were created by different teams, and later approved by a committee of wushu coaches in China. These forms were named after their style:

9296-1291: The posthumous noble title Duke of (State) Hui ( 徽國公 ). In 1241, a memorial tablet to Zhu Xi was placed in the Confucian Temple at Qufu , thereby elevating him to Confucian sainthood . Today, Zhu Xi is venerated as one of the " Twelve Philosophers " of Confucianism . Modern Sinologists and Chinese often refer to him as Zhu Wen Gong ( 朱文公 ) in lieu of his name. Confucianism Persons Topics Neo Confucianism New Confucianism Daoism Persons Topics Legalism Mohism Military and Strategy Han Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism Maoism General topics Vedic philosophy Mimamsa Vedanta Samkhya Yoga Nyaya Navya-Nyāya Vaisheshika Nāstika (heterodox) Tamil Other General topics Jainism Buddhism Traditions Topics Japanese Buddhism Japanese Confucianism Kokugaku Modern Thought Statism Kyoto School Korean Buddhism Korean Confucianism Persons Topics Donghak Modern Thought Persons Topics During

9408-496: The postures of different forms ( taolu ). Taolu (solo "forms") are choreographed sets of movements practiced alone or in unison as a group. Tai chi is often characterized by slow movements in Taolu practice, and one of the reasons is to develop body awareness. Accurate, repeated practice of the solo routine is said to retrain posture, encourage circulation throughout students' bodies, maintain flexibility, and familiarize students with

9520-431: The practitioner to closely coordinate their mind, intent, internal energy, and body. Externally, the form's movements follow an arc, while internally, the energy flows in a spiral pattern. This interplay between soft external actions and corresponding hard internal actions is a hallmark of the Yilu form. (练习时，要求意、气、身密切配合，外形走弧线，内劲走螺旋，缠绕圆转，外柔内刚。) Training application on this path is through the method of push hands. Push hands,

9632-437: The process of the 'investigation of things' ( 格物 ; géwù ), and his development of meditation as a method for self-cultivation. Zhu was a scholar with a wide learning in the classics, commentaries, histories and other writings of his predecessors. In his lifetime, he was able to serve multiple times as a government official, although he avoided public office for most of his adult life. He also wrote, compiled and edited almost

9744-477: The quality of life and depressive symptoms of older adults with chronic conditions who lived in community settings. Chen-style tai chi#Chen Village (Chenjiagou) The Chen -style tai chi ( Chinese : 陳氏太极拳 ; pinyin : Chén shì tàijíquán ) is a Northern Chinese martial art and the original form of tai chi . Chen-style is characterized by silk reeling , alternating fast and slow motions, and bursts of power ( fa jin ). Traditionally, tai chi

9856-402: The reliance on oral traditions, practitioners endeavor to interpret each subdivision. The Chen Family's tai chi legacy continues to captivate practitioners, as they aspire to unlock the essence of Chen-style tai chi and integrate its profound principles into their dedicated practice. The fundamental principles of Chen-style tai chi find their roots in various poems, stories from Chen Village, and

9968-448: The results of a review of alternative therapies that sought to identify any that were suitable for coverage by health insurance . Tai chi was one of 17 therapies evaluated. The study concluded that low-quality evidence suggests that tai chi may have some beneficial health effects when compared to control in a limited number of populations for a limited number of outcomes. A 2020 review of 13 studies found that tai chi had positive effect on

10080-532: The significance of the Classic of Filiality ( Xiaojing ). As a youth, he was inspired by Mencius' proposition that anyone could become a sage. Upon his father's death in 1143, he studied with his father's friends Hu Xian, Liu Zihui, and Liu Mianzhi. In 1148, at the age of 19, Zhu Xi passed the Imperial Examination and became a presented scholar ( jinshi ). Zhu Xi's first official dispatch position

10192-559: The son of Chen Chanxing), Yang Luchan (杨露禅, founder of Yang Style) and Chen Qingping (陈清萍, promoter of Zhaobao style tai chi) were all martial artists with exceptional abilities. Chen Xin initially trained with his father but his father ordered him to study literature rather than the martial arts. It was only later that he decided to use his literature skills to describe his understanding of the secrets of Chen style. In Chen Xin's generation, his older brother, Chen Yao and his cousin, Chen Yanxi (陈延熙, father of Chen Fake) were considered masters of

10304-656: The standard commentaries. The Four Books served as the basis of civil service examinations up until 1905, and education in the classics often began with Zhu Xi's commentaries as the cornerstone for understanding them. The sources of Zhu Xi's new approach to the Confucian curriculum have been found in several works of the Cheng brothers. Zhu Xi "codified the Cheng brothers' teachings and reworked them into his own philosophical program," moving "from philology to philosophy." Zhu Xi maintained that all things are brought into being by

10416-412: The superficial differences, the Old Frame and New Frame are the same style, sharing the same origin and guiding principles. In Chen Village, people have the advantage of knowing both the first routines." However, because of common fundamentals and training methods, either frame, Laojia or Xinjia, can each be trained as a complete curriculum. The Small Frame (小架, Xiǎo jià) is the most recent subdivision of

10528-444: The teachings of Chen Fake. These principles, which encapsulate the essence of the art, can be summarized as follows: The term 'historical forms' refers to training methods described in traditional boxing manuals from Chen Village, as well as through oral recollections and verbal histories. Although efforts have been made to find and recover them, most of these forms are considered lost and are no longer practiced. Chen Wangting ,

10640-413: The teachings they had previously learned from Chen Zhaopei, which they called “Laojia” (Old Frame). In Xinjia, there are 83 moves counted in the First Form and 71 moves in Second Form. Chen Xiaoxing, Chen Xiaowang’s brother and a student of Chen Zhaokui, said the primary differences between the Xinjia and Laojia are the small circles, which highlight the turning of the wrists and make visible the folding of

10752-399: The three deep ravines beside the village it came to be known as Chen Jia Gou (Chinese: 陳家溝 ; lit. 'Chen Family Creek'). According to Chen Village family history, Chen Bu was a skilled martial artist who started the martial arts tradition within Chen Village. For generations onwards, the Chen Village was known for their martial arts. The special nature of tai chi practice

10864-493: The time of Chen Changxing (陳長興, 1771–1853) and Chen Youben (陳有本, 1780–1858) of the 14th generation. Around that time, the curriculum was streamlined into two forms representing the two paths of curricula, the Yilu, the First Path, or Road, trained by the Thirteen Movements (十三势, Shísān shì) form, and the Erlu, the Second Path, trained by the Cannon Fist (炮捶, Pào chuí) form. In order to preserve it, Chen Xin (1849-1929) recorded

10976-407: The titles of some of the tai chi classics. It then appeared in a book by a Chen family member, Chen Xin, published after he died in 1929. Chinese philosophy , particularly Taoist and Confucian thought , forms the conceptual background to tai chi. Early tai chi texts include embedded quotations from early Chinese classics like the I Ching , Great Learning , Book of Documents , Records of

11088-435: The two frames, (Laojia and Xinjia), are the same with regards to postural requirements and movement principles. Both require the practitioner to exhibit movements that are continuous, round and pliant, connecting all movements section by section and closely synchronising the actions of the upper and lower body....The Old and New Frames should not be viewed as different entities because both are foundation forms. If you look beyond

11200-523: The two main forms used in any Chen-style tai chi training. The main variants in training with direct connection to Chen Village are: Large Frame (Old Frame and New Frame) and Small Frame. These frames developed and passed down by key figures such as Chen Zhaopei, Chen Zhaokui and others, embody distinct lineages and training approaches. From the dedication of Chen Zhaopei in preserving the art to Chen Zhaokui's introduction of innovative practices in New Frame,

11312-496: The union of two universal aspects of reality: qi ( 氣 , sometimes translated as vital – or physical, material – force); and li ( 理 , sometimes translated as rational principle or law). The source and sum of li is the taiji , meaning the Supreme Ultimate. The source of qi is not so clearly stated by Zhu Xi, leading some authorities to maintain that he was a metaphysical monist and others to maintain that he

11424-510: Was a Chinese calligrapher, historian, philosopher, poet, and politician of the Southern Song dynasty . Zhu was influential in the development of Neo-Confucianism . He contributed greatly to Chinese philosophy and fundamentally reshaped the Chinese worldview. His works include his editing of and commentaries to the Four Books (which later formed the curriculum of the imperial examinations in China between 1313 and 1905), his writings on

11536-402: Was a method to prevail in the bind (two weapons locked or pressed against each other). In terms of weapons, the Chen clan writings described a variety of weapons training including: spear, staff, swords, halberd, mace, and sickles, but the manuals specifically described training for spear (枪, qiāng), staff (棍, gùn), broadsword (saber)(刀, dāo), and straight sword (剑, jiàn). The two paths represent

11648-535: Was as Subprefectural Registrar of Tong'an ( 同安縣主簿 ), which he served from 1153 - 1156. From 1153 he began to study under Li Tong, who followed the Neo-Confucian tradition of Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi , and formally became his student in 1160. In 1179, after not serving in an official capacity since 1156, Zhu Xi was appointed Prefect of Nankang Military District ( 南康軍 ), where he revived White Deer Grotto Academy . and got demoted three years later for attacking

11760-422: Was attributed to the ninth generation Chen Village leader, Chen Wangting . He codified pre-existing Chen training practice into a corpus of seven routines. This included five routines of 108 form Long Fist (一百零八勢長拳) and a more rigorous routine known as Cannon Fist (炮捶一路). Chen Wangting integrated different elements of Chinese philosophy into the martial arts training to create a new approach that we now recognize as

11872-529: Was born in Fujian , where his father worked as the subprefectural sheriff. After his father was forced from office due to his opposition to the government appeasement policy towards the Jurchen in 1140, Zhu Xi received instruction from his father at home. Many anecdotes attest that he was a highly precocious child. It was recorded that at age five he ventured to ask what lay beyond Heaven, and by eight he understood

11984-464: Was cultured and educated in American ways, and thus was able to transcribe Yang's dictation into a written manuscript that became the de facto manual for Yang style. Cheng felt Yang's traditional 108-movement form was unnecessarily long and repetitive, which makes it difficult to learn. He thus created a shortened 37-movement version that he taught in his schools. Cheng's form became the dominant form in

12096-551: Was derived from a treatise by Ming dynasty general Qi Jiguang , Jixiao Xinshu ("New Treatise on Military Efficiency"), which discussed several martial arts styles including Taizu changquan . In 1956, the Chinese government sponsored the Chinese Sports Committee (CSC), which brought together four wushu teachers to truncate the Yang family hand form to 24 postures . This was an attempt to standardize tai chi for wushu tournaments as they wanted to create

12208-538: Was first commonly written in English using the Wade–Giles system as " tʻai chi chʻüan ". But English speakers abbreviated it to " tʻai chi " and dropped the mark of aspiration. Since the late twentieth century, pinyin has been officially adopted in China and replaced Wade–Giles as the most popular system for romanizing Chinese. In pinyin, tai chi is spelled taijiquan ( tàijíquán ). In English, tai chi

12320-599: Was initially perceived as radically different from other prevalent martial art schools (including established tai chi traditions) of the time. Chen Fake proved the effectiveness of Chen-style tai chi through various private challenges and even a series of lei tai matches. Within a short time, the Beijing martial arts community was convinced of the effectiveness of Chen-style tai chi and a large group of martial enthusiasts started to train and publicly promote it. The increased interest in Chen-style tai chi led Tang Hao , one of

12432-485: Was published in 1933 with the first print run of thousand copies. For nearly thirty years, until his death in 1958, Chen Fake diligently taught the art of Chen-style tai chi to a select group of students. As a result, a strong Beijing Chen-style tradition centered around his "New Frame" variant of Chen Village "Old Frame" survived after his death. His legacy was spread throughout China by the efforts of his senior students . The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) resulted in

12544-416: Was that of teacher/student or even who taught whom. During the second half of the 19th century, Yang Luchan and his family established a reputation of Yang-style tai chi throughout the Qing empire. Few people knew that Yang Luchan first learned his martial arts from Chen Changxing in the Chen Village. Fewer people still visited the Chen village to improve their understanding of tai chi. Only Wu Yuxiang ,

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