| Tai chi chuan is one of the famous branches of | | | | developed. It is generally accepted that this 'new' |
| Chinese martial arts.It is well-known and widely | | | | style of martial art was developed from the |
| practiced in the world today; however its origin is | | | | popular existing arts at the time. |
| confused. There are many conflicting accounts as | | | | Originally, the Chen tai chi chuan was only taught |
| to its origin. | | | | family members of the Chen clan until a promising |
| The most common of these accounts is that the | | | | young named Yang Luchan wished desperately to |
| founder was the Taoist monk Chan San Feng, | | | | learn the art of the Chens'. Knowing that he would |
| who lived in the Sung Dynasty (AD 960-1279). | | | | be refused if he asked to study with them, he |
| The legend states that Chan San Feng watched a | | | | became a servant in the household. He watched |
| battle between a snake and a crane ten times its | | | | secretly as they trained at night, and during his |
| size. As the crane lunged at its prey, the wily | | | | free periods be would imitate the techniques be |
| reptile dodged and weaved, lashing back at its | | | | had seen. Later, he was caught spying on the |
| tormentor with relaxed lightning speed. Eventually | | | | Chens. When be was ordered to vie against the |
| the exhausted crane flew off for easier prey. In | | | | family members, he managed to throw his |
| that instant the art of tai chi was said to have | | | | adversaries to the ground. Chen Chansheng was |
| been born. Chan San Feng, a master of the bard | | | | so impressed that he immediately offered to |
| Shaolin martial arts, applied the principles he had | | | | teach Yang as if he were a family member. After |
| witnessed in the actions of the snake to his | | | | mastering the Chen tai chi chuan, Yang Luchan |
| martial arts expertise. The snake's actions | | | | modified the original Chen style and created the |
| exemplified the Taoist principles of softness, | | | | Yang style of tai chi chuan, the most popular |
| relaxation, flexibility and naturalness, allied to the | | | | form practiced in the world today. |
| ancient breathing exercises to stimulate chi | | | | Wu Yuxiang leaned from Yang Luchan and a |
| development. However, no one knows whether | | | | variation of the original Chen form from Chen |
| he actually existed because there is no historical | | | | Chingping and created the Wu style. A man |
| evidence to support the claim that he had | | | | named Hao Weizhen, learned the Wu style from |
| anything to do with the creation or practice of tai | | | | Wu Yuxiang's nephew and taught the style to Sun |
| chi chuan. Some experts claim him as just being a | | | | Lutang, who in turn created the Sun style. Yang |
| myth, while others argue he did exist and there | | | | Luchan had another student, a Manchu named |
| are monuments to him in China. | | | | Quan You, who in turned taught the art to his |
| It is not until seventeenth century that tai chi can | | | | son, Wu Jianquan. Wu Jianquan popularized his |
| be verified historically. All of the various styles of | | | | variation of the Yang style, which is commonly |
| tai chi chuan which are in existence today can be | | | | referred to as the Wu Jian Quan style. In recent |
| traced back to a single man, Chen Wangting, a | | | | times there have been many other variations and |
| general of the latter years of the Ming Dynasty. | | | | modifications of the art, but all may be traced |
| After the fall of the Ming and the establishment | | | | back through the above masters to the original |
| of the Qing Dynasty (1644), Chen Wangting | | | | Chen family forms. |
| returned to the Chen village in Henan Province and | | | | The various forms of tai chi chuan, despite having |
| created his forms of boxing, and then Henan | | | | different characteristics and style, have the same |
| Province became home to the Chen family of tai | | | | training principle: execution of relaxed actions to |
| chi chuan. This family has been credited with | | | | create a state of softness, which is accumulated |
| developing the Chen style, from which all the | | | | to produce firmness, forming a state of firmness |
| major schools, directly or indirectly, have | | | | and softness complementing each other. |