CHEN STYLE TAI CHI
The “verifiable” history of tai chi begins in the 17th century when Chen Wangting (1600-1680) organised a martial system including seven routines. While some suspect the existence of Chen family style prior to Wangting, any references to it are apocryphal. It is written in official PRC history of Wen County that Chen Wangting practised martial arts when he was young. But what style he practised in not known. It is known that Wangting’s maternal lineage (the Li Family) exerted a Daoist influence and that the Li family hired a school teacher named Wang Zhongyue who penned “Taijiquan Lun.” The Li family practise a martial art called Wujiquan named for the primordial state of non-duality or “emptiness.”
Chen Wangting became a military officer during the Ming Dynasty, and after retiring to a private life of a farmer (essentially hiding from the Qing) developed a new martial art which he taught to his relatives. This new style incorporated elements from the “Martial Classic Thirty-two Forms” (拳經三二式) created by General Qi Jiguang (戚继光), and the “Daoist Yellow Court Classic” (黃庭經)
The Yellow Court Classic is a guide to advanced qigong and meditation and should not be confused with “Huang Di Nei Jing” 黄帝内经 《黃帝內經》 (Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Chinese Medicine). A close friend and training partner of Wangting was Jiang Fa (蔣發) a fugitive rebel who is believed to have contributed greatly to the early development of Chen tai chi.
There are several branches of Chen Style tai chi, and it can be very confusing, since the terms can be generically applied to describe different aspects of other styles.
Let’s try to keep it simple for starters.
The main branches of Chen Style are Laojia (old big frame) and Xiaojia (small frame). Newer variations on these are called Xinjia. Xinjia is not a different type, but rather a new way of doing Laojia or Xiaojia. (Many of the early teachers of Xinjia were Xiaojia stylists. This has led many to confuse the two. In modern times some people have mistakenly used “Xinjia” to refer to “Xiaojia.”
Laojia “old frame” (also known as Dajia “big frame” )
The most famous Chen family master was Chen Changxing (陈长兴 1771-1853). Changxing compressed the forms into two routines that came to be known as “laojia” (老架) (old frame). Changxing, is also famous for teaching Yang Luchan (the founder of Yang Style tai chi).
When learning Laojia, the student first learns large, simple movements and gradually refines the form and internal alignment. Chen Fa Ke, the famous master who brought Chen Style to Beijing in the middle of the twentieth century, was a student of this “Old” and “Large” Frame.
Demonstration of Chen style Laojia (Dajia) Yilu Changquan (“First routine longfist”) by Master Chen Sitong
Demonstration of Chen style Laojia (Dajia) Erlu Paotui (“second routine cannon fist”) by Master Chen Bing
Chen Youben (陈有本), was the 19th century master who created the branch of Chen Style tai chi originally know as xinjia (新架) (New Frame). It gradually became to be known as xiao jia (小架) or small frame. Famous master of Small Frame included Chen Xin (authour of “Illustrated Chen tai chi”) and Chen Qingping (陳清苹 1795 – 1868). One of Qingping’s students was Wu Yuxiang (the founder of Wu Yuxiang Style tai chi. When Qingping married, he moved to his wife’s hometown, Zhaobao. There his students developed Zhaobao Style tai chi, and Huleijia (thunder) Style tai chi, neither of which are considered a part of the Chen family lineage.
Xiaojia postures are every bit as large as Laojia postures. The term “small frame” is in reference to the attention to intricate detail that is paid by the practitioners. Many of the early masters of xiaojia were scholars thought to have more time on their hands to refine small details. They were no slouches when it came to combat, however. While the Laojia masters were more likely to be professional martial artists, the xiaojia masters received more than their fair share of recognition.
Chen style xiaojia perfromed by Chen PeiJu
In 1928, Laojia master Chen Fake (陳發科) (1887-1957) began teaching in Beijing. This started an important lineage based his “Xinjia” (New Frame) variation of Laojia. His most famous students included Gu Liuxin, Feng Zhiqiang, Chen Zhaokui , Hong Junsheng, Tian Xiuchen, Xu Rusheng, and Li Jianhua.
Feng Zhiqiang Has travelled the world extensively and created a style of tai chi called Xinyi Hunyuan Taijiquan.
Since the 1980s several masters, such as Chen Xiao Wang (grandson of Chen Fa Ke), Chen Zhenglei, Zhu Tiancai, and Wang Xian have been teaching seminars and working to spread Chen Taijiquan around the world.
- Chen Wangting’s created seven routines and other training methods including weapon skills and tuishou.
- Old Frame and Small Frame – In the 19th century, Chen Changxing developed Laojia (“old frame”) (a.k.a. “Large Frame”) and the two concise routines we know today as Yilu Changquan (first routine long fist) and Erlu Paotui (second routine cannon fist.) Shortly thereafter, Chen Youben developed Xiaojia (“small frame”) versions of the same two routines. (His variation was once called Xinjia “new frame.”) Both Laojia and Xiaojia developed at approximately the same time. In fact, there may still be some debate as to which came first. They may have developed concurrently with one being taught publicly before the other.
- Chen Taijiquan was kept fairly secret until 1928 when Chen Fa Ke and his nephew began teaching Laojia and his own new version (“Xinjia”) in Beijing. Other types of “Xinjia” followed in subsequent decades, especially after 1977.
- Yang Luchan learned Laojia from Chen Changxing and developed Yang Style Taijiquan, which he taught in Beijing in the late nineteenth century.
- Wu Yuxiang, learned from Yang Luchan before learning Xiaojia from Chen Qingping. Wu Yuxiang developed his own style of taijiquan which is often called Wu/Hao Style by non-Chinese speakers, in order to distinguish it from the style of Wu Jianquan.
- Chen Qingping moved from Chen Jiagou[]Map location 34.946143, 113.141153 to nearby Zhaobao Village where his students developed Zhaobao Style Taijiquan and Hulei Style (Thunder Style) Taijiquan.
- Feng Zhiqiang learned from Chen Fa Ke and later developed a new style called Chenshi Xinyi Hunyuan Taijiquan.
- Modern Chen forms – Several modern routines have been developed for a variety of purposes. Most are short routines aimed at certain audiences. Some are developed for international competition, and others are more suitable for demonstrations.
- Simplified routines and exercises are often used to aid in teaching seminars, or for teaching beginners or seniors.
- The 56 Chen Posture International Standard Competition Routine was developed to fit within the framework of wushu competition. It was developed by the Chinese National Wushu Association and based on the first and second lao jia routines. This form is designed to be completed in 5 – 6 minutes.
Chen Tai Chi has several unique weapons forms. The most common ones are:
- the 49 posture Straight Sword (Jian) form
- the 13 posture Broadsword (Dao) form
- Spear (Qiang) solo and partner forms
- 3, 8, and 13 posture Gun (staff) forms
- 30 posture Halberd (Da Dao/Kwan Dao) form
- several double weapons forms utilizing the above-mentioned items
Other training methods
- zhan zhuang (Standing meditation)
- Chansijin (silk reeling skill)
- pole or spear shaking
- Tuishou (“pushing hands”),
- Martial applications
References [ + ]
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