九霄太極
EnergyCultivation
SelfRefinement
Meditation
Yangtaiji History
The Source
The further back in time we look the more obscure the history of Taiji becomes, yet studying this past, 2 things become clear.Taiji's inner essence flows down from genuine teachers to sincere pupils in unbroken chains.
Each teacher devises a personal system to express and pass on the impersonal inner teaching. The teaching must evolve outwardly or die inwardly.
More than two thousand years ago, the philosophical concept of Taiji was developed. It refers to the original manifestation – a differentiation of the unmanifest unity – from which all else arises.
The character Tai (太) can be translated as great, grand or supreme. The character Ji (極) means ultimate, infinite or extreme. Taiji, Supreme Ultimate, or the Beyond, as a concept preceded by a thousand years the founding of Taiji as a method of internal development based on martial arts.
The name "Taiji" was first given to the art of Yang Luchan, according to imperial records, by the famous Qing Dynasty scholar Weng Tonghe (翁同龢, 1830–1904), who wrote, "Hands Holding Taiji shakes the whole world, a chest containing ultimate skill defeats a gathering of heroes."
Thereafter, Yang Luchan's art, and the styles that later sprang from it, were referred to as Taijiquan.
Thereafter, Yang Luchan's art, and the styles that later sprang from it, were referred to as Taijiquan.
Previously Yang’s art had been referred to as Mian Quan (綿拳 Continuous Fist) or Hua Quan (化拳 Neutralising Fist). In his later years he was famous for never losing a match and never seriously injuring his opponents.
Taiji is often joined with the character Quan (拳) meaning ‘fist’ so that Taijiquan (太極拳) is used to differentiate the practical art from the philosophical concept.
Taiji is often joined with the character Quan (拳) meaning ‘fist’ so that Taijiquan (太極拳) is used to differentiate the practical art from the philosophical concept.
Yang Chengfu (杨澄甫, 1883–1936), son of Yang Jianhou, recalled that his grandfather Yang Luchan had handed down these words on the history of his art, ”Taijiquan began with Zhang Sanfeng (張三丰) at the end of the Song dynasty (960–1279).
He transmitted it to Wang Zongyue (王宗岳), Zhen Zhoutong (陳州同), Zhang Songxi (張松溪) and JiangFa (蒋发), who succeeded each other without interruption. My teacher Chen Changxing (陈长兴, 1771–1853) was the only disciple of Jiang Fa.
His art was based on the natural, and its form never departed from the Supreme Ultimate. It consisted of 13 postures with infinite applications. The movement is in the body, but the influence reaches the Spirit.”
He transmitted it to Wang Zongyue (王宗岳), Zhen Zhoutong (陳州同), Zhang Songxi (張松溪) and JiangFa (蒋发), who succeeded each other without interruption. My teacher Chen Changxing (陈长兴, 1771–1853) was the only disciple of Jiang Fa.
His art was based on the natural, and its form never departed from the Supreme Ultimate. It consisted of 13 postures with infinite applications. The movement is in the body, but the influence reaches the Spirit.”
Following the death of Yang Luchan, his 2 sons, Yang Banhou (杨班侯, 1837–1890) and Yang Jianhou (杨健侯, 1839–1917) along with other senior students continued to spread and enhance the fame of what was to become known as Yang Style Taiji.
In the early 1900s, with the passing of the older generations, Yang Luchan’s grandson Yang Chengfu was chosen as the figurehead for the Yang style and to strengthen the lineage all senior students were asked to bow before him.
Yang Chengfu formalised the 108 steps of the Long Yang Form which his student Zheng Manqing was later to shorten and spread widely in the Western world as the 37 step form.
In the early 1900s, with the passing of the older generations, Yang Luchan’s grandson Yang Chengfu was chosen as the figurehead for the Yang style and to strengthen the lineage all senior students were asked to bow before him.
Yang Chengfu formalised the 108 steps of the Long Yang Form which his student Zheng Manqing was later to shorten and spread widely in the Western world as the 37 step form.