Jianquan Taijiquan Association
Encyclopedia
The Jianquan Taijiquan Association (also spelled as Chien-ch'uan T'ai Chi Ch'uan Association, Chian Chuan Taichi Chuan Association and in Chinese: 鑑泉太極拳社) is a well known school teaching Wu style t'ai chi ch'uan.
It was founded in 1935 by Wu Chien-ch'üan
(Wu Jianquan, 吳鑑泉, 1870-1942) in Shanghai
, and in the beginning operating out of the Shanghai YMCA
. The Association went underground during the Second Sino-Japanese War
(1937-1945) due to the ban on Chinese martial arts
instituted by the Japanese. In 1942, when Wu Chien-ch'üan died, his oldest son Wu Kung-i
became head of the Association, eventually moving its headquarters to Hong Kong
where it has continued uninterrupted to this day. Wu Chien-ch'üan's daughter Wu Ying-hua
and his senior disciple Ma Yueh-liang
took over leadership in of the branch in Shanghai. The Shanghai school fell under the ban on "feudalistic practices" with the beginning of the Cultural Revolution
. Only in 1980 was the Shanghai branch officially reopened.
It was founded in 1935 by Wu Chien-ch'üan
Wu Chien-ch'uan
Wu Chien-ch'uan , was a famous teacher of the neijia martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Imperial and early Republican China....
(Wu Jianquan, 吳鑑泉, 1870-1942) in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and in the beginning operating out of the Shanghai YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. The Association went underground during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
(1937-1945) due to the ban on Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
instituted by the Japanese. In 1942, when Wu Chien-ch'üan died, his oldest son Wu Kung-i
Wu Kung-i
Wu Kung-i was a well-known teacher of the soft style martial art t'ai chi ch'uan in China, and, after 1949, in the British colony of Hong Kong. He was also the "gate-keeper" of the Wu family from 1942 until his death in 1970....
became head of the Association, eventually moving its headquarters to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
where it has continued uninterrupted to this day. Wu Chien-ch'üan's daughter Wu Ying-hua
Wu Ying-hua
Wu Ying-hua ) was a famous Chinese teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. She was born in Beijing and died in Shanghai. She was the eldest daughter of Wu Chien-ch'uan, the best known teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan...
and his senior disciple Ma Yueh-liang
Ma Yueh-liang
Ma Yueh-liang was a famous Manchu teacher of Taijiquan. He was the senior disciple of Wu Chien-ch'uan, the founder of Wu style Taijiquan, and married Wu's daughter Wu Ying-hua in 1930.- Biography :...
took over leadership in of the branch in Shanghai. The Shanghai school fell under the ban on "feudalistic practices" with the beginning of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. Only in 1980 was the Shanghai branch officially reopened.