Wu Yu-hsiang
Encyclopedia
Wu Yu-hsiang (1812–1880) was a Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) teacher and government official active during the late Ch'ing dynasty
. Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student (along with his two older brothers Wu Ch'eng-ch'ing 武澄清 and Wu Ju-ch'ing 武汝清) of Yang Lu-ch'an
. Wu Yu-hsiang also studied for a brief time with a teacher from the Chen family, Chen Ch'ing-p'ing, to whom he was introduced by Yang.
There is a relatively large body of writing
attributed to Wu Yu-hsiang on the subject of t'ai chi ch'uan theory, writings that are considered influential by many other schools not directly associated with his style.
His most famous student was his nephew, Li I-yu (李亦畬, 1832–1892), who also authored several important works on t'ai chi ch'uan. Li I-yu had a younger brother who was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of t'ai chi, Li Ch'i-hsuan.
The style of t'ai chi ch'uan that Wu taught was eventually known, because of its later transmission by three generations of students of his nephew named Hao, as Wu/Hao style t'ai chi ch'uan. Hao Wei-chen
subsequently taught Sun Lu-t'ang
, the founder of Sun style t'ai chi ch'uan.
LEGENDARY FIGURES
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Zhang Sanfeng
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circa 12th century
NEIJIA
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Wang Zongyue
*
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THE 5 MAJOR CLASSICAL FAMILY STYLES
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Chen Wangting
1600-1680 9th generation Chen
CHEN STYLE
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Chen Changxing
Chen Youben
1771-1853 14th generation Chen circa 1800s 14th generation Chen
Chen Old Frame Chen New Frame (Small Frame)
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Yang Lu-ch'an
Chen Qingping
1799–1872 1795–1868
YANG STYLE Chen Small Frame, Zhaobao Frame
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Yang Pan-hou
Yang Chien-hou
Wu Yu-hsiang
1837–92 1839–1917 1812–80
Yang Small Frame | WU/HAO STYLE
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Wu Ch'uan-yu
Yang Shao-hou
Yang Ch'eng-fu Li I-yu ---------- Li xunzhi
1834–1902 1862–1930 1883–1936 1832–92
| Yang Small Frame Yang Big Frame
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Wu Chien-ch'uan
| Hao Wei-chen
1870–1942 Yang Shou-chung
1849–1920
WU STYLE
1910–85 |
108 Form
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| Sun Lu-t'ang
Wu Kung-i
1861–1932
1900–70 SUN STYLE
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Wu Ta-kuei Sun Hsing-i
1923–72 1891–1929
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student (along with his two older brothers Wu Ch'eng-ch'ing 武澄清 and Wu Ju-ch'ing 武汝清) of Yang Lu-ch'an
Yang Lu-ch'an
Yang Lu-ch'an or Yang Luchan, ; also known as Yang Fu-k'ui , born in Kuang-p'ing , was an influential teacher of the soft style martial art t'ai chi ch'uan in China during the second half of the 19th century...
. Wu Yu-hsiang also studied for a brief time with a teacher from the Chen family, Chen Ch'ing-p'ing, to whom he was introduced by Yang.
There is a relatively large body of writing
Tai chi classics
The Tai Chi Classics are classical texts used as guides for the practice of the Chinese martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan. These texts, which vary from school to school, are usually written in classical Chinese and are used by modern schools that trace their lineage from the Chen family or from them...
attributed to Wu Yu-hsiang on the subject of t'ai chi ch'uan theory, writings that are considered influential by many other schools not directly associated with his style.
His most famous student was his nephew, Li I-yu (李亦畬, 1832–1892), who also authored several important works on t'ai chi ch'uan. Li I-yu had a younger brother who was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of t'ai chi, Li Ch'i-hsuan.
The style of t'ai chi ch'uan that Wu taught was eventually known, because of its later transmission by three generations of students of his nephew named Hao, as Wu/Hao style t'ai chi ch'uan. Hao Wei-chen
Hao Wei-chen
Hao Wei-chen or was a Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan teacher. Hao became a well known and influential teacher of Wu Yu-hsiang style t'ai chi ch'uan, his teacher Li I-yu was Wu Yu-hsiang's nephew. Hao passed the art to his son and grandson, who became respected teachers in their turn, so that the style...
subsequently taught Sun Lu-t'ang
Sun Lu-t'ang
Sun Lu-t'ang was a renowned master of Chinese Neijia martial arts and was the progenitor of the syncretic art of Sun-style tai chi chuan...
, the founder of Sun style t'ai chi ch'uan.
Family tree
This family tree is not comprehensive.LEGENDARY FIGURES
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Zhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-legendary Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty or Ming Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao 張君寶 before he became a Taoist.Zhang's legend is that of...
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circa 12th century
NEIJIA
Neijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
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Wang Zongyue
Wang Zongyue
Wang Zongyue was a legendary figure in the history of t'ai chi ch'uan . In some writings, Wang was a famous student of the legendary Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist monk credited with devising neijia in general and t'ai chi ch'uan in particular.Wang is also said to have resided in Tai-Gu...
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THE 5 MAJOR CLASSICAL FAMILY STYLES
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Chen Wangting
1600-1680 9th generation Chen
CHEN STYLE
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+--------------------------------------------------------------+
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Chen Changxing
Chen Changxing
Chen Changxing also spelled Ch'en Chang-hsing was a 14th generation descendant and 6th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of taijiquan ....
Chen Youben
Chen Youben
Chen Youben 陳有本 was a 14th generation descendant and 6th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of taijiquan ....
1771-1853 14th generation Chen circa 1800s 14th generation Chen
Chen Old Frame Chen New Frame (Small Frame)
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Yang Lu-ch'an
Yang Lu-ch'an
Yang Lu-ch'an or Yang Luchan, ; also known as Yang Fu-k'ui , born in Kuang-p'ing , was an influential teacher of the soft style martial art t'ai chi ch'uan in China during the second half of the 19th century...
Chen Qingping
Chen Qingping
Chen Qingping or Ch'en Ch'ing-p'ing was a 15th generation descendant and 7th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of taijiquan ....
1799–1872 1795–1868
YANG STYLE Chen Small Frame, Zhaobao Frame
Zhaobao Taijiquan
Zhaobao Taijiquan is a style of taijiquan that is often considered to be a modern style, but actually has a strong documented lineage that confirms its authenticity as an ancient style of taijiquan and as a true transmission from Jiang Fa....
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Yang Pan-hou
Yang Pan-hou
Yang Banhou was an influential teacher of t'ai chi ch'uan in Ch'ing dynasty China, known for his bellicose temperament.-Biography:...
Yang Chien-hou
Yang Chien-hou
Yang Chien-hou , was the younger son of the founder of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan, Yang Lu-ch'an, and a well known teacher of the soft style martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Qing dynasty China. Yang Chien-hou's older brother, Yang Pan-hou, was the senior of Chien-hou's generation, and also...
Wu Yu-hsiang
1837–92 1839–1917 1812–80
Yang Small Frame | WU/HAO STYLE
| +-----------------+ |
| | | |
Wu Ch'uan-yu
Wu Ch'uan-yu
Wu Ch'uan-yu or Wu Quanyou was an influential teacher of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Imperial China. He is credited as the founder of the Wu style t'ai chi ch'uan...
Yang Shao-hou
Yang Shao-hou
Yang Shaohou along with Yang Chengfu 楊澄甫 represent the third generation of Yang family taijiquan 楊氏太極拳.At birth he was named Yang Zhaoxiong and was later named Mengxiang, and then Shaohou, commonly known as "Mr...
Yang Ch'eng-fu Li I-yu ---------- Li xunzhi
1834–1902 1862–1930 1883–1936 1832–92
| Yang Small Frame Yang Big Frame
103 form Yang family T'ai Chi Ch'uan
103-form Yang family t'ai chi ch'uan, also called the Traditional Form , is a prescribed sequence of moves used to practice Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan.-T'ai chi forms:...
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Wu Chien-ch'uan
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....
| Hao Wei-chen
Hao Wei-chen
Hao Wei-chen or was a Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan teacher. Hao became a well known and influential teacher of Wu Yu-hsiang style t'ai chi ch'uan, his teacher Li I-yu was Wu Yu-hsiang's nephew. Hao passed the art to his son and grandson, who became respected teachers in their turn, so that the style...
1870–1942 Yang Shou-chung
Yang Shou-chung
Yang Shou-chung , birth name Yang Zhenming , was the eldest son of Yang Chengfu.-Biography:Yang Shou-chung began training in his family's style of t'ai chi ch'uan at age 8. By age 14 he had begun to work with his father as a teaching assistant and at age 19 he was already teaching government...
1849–1920
WU STYLE
Wu style tai chi chuan
The Wu family-style t'ai chi ch'uan of Wu Ch'uan-yu and Wu Chien-ch'uan is the second most popular form of t'ai chi ch'uan in the world today, after the Yang style, and fourth in terms of family seniority. This style is different from the Wu style of t'ai chi ch'uan founded by Wu Yu-hsiang...
1910–85 |
108 Form
108 form Wu family T'ai Chi Ch'uan
The different slow motion solo form training sequences of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are the best known manifestation of T'ai Chi for the general public. In English, they are usually called the hand form or just the form; in Mandarin it is usually called ch'uan: 拳...
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| Sun Lu-t'ang
Sun Lu-t'ang
Sun Lu-t'ang was a renowned master of Chinese Neijia martial arts and was the progenitor of the syncretic art of Sun-style tai chi chuan...
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....
1861–1932
1900–70 SUN STYLE
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Wu Ta-kuei Sun Hsing-i
1923–72 1891–1929