Tai Chi Chuan Classical Yang Style. Jwing-Ming Yang

is truly clear and calm, the spiritual side of things starts to open up. You start to see more deeply into things. Skilled practitioners can sense a person’s intentions before they are expressed, and they often develop the ability to look more deeply into people and events in non-martial ways too. Many martial arts masters came to be considered wise men and were consulted for their insight into the meaning of human life, this world, and the universe. They learned to live in this world without confusion or doubt and to find peace and happiness. All of this comes through meditation and continuous pondering.

      There is a song passed down since ancient times about the real meaning of taijiquan. It says:

      1 “No shape, no shadow”. This means that when you have approached the higher levels of taiji meditation, you find your physical body seems not to exist—you feel that you are a ball of energy, part of the natural world and inseparable from it. Your actions and self are part of the natural order of things, fitting in smoothly and unobtrusively, seeming to have no independent shape of their own, casting no shadow.

      2 “Entire body transparent and empty”. When you feel you are only a ball of energy, there is nothing in your mind, no desire or intention. Since your mind and ego are not there to interfere, you can see clearly and respond correctly.

      3 “Forget your surroundings and be natural”. Once you are transparent you will easily forget your surroundings and your energy flow will be smooth and natural.

      4 “Like a stone chime suspended from West Mountain”. This implies that your mind is wide-open, free, and unrestricted. Like a stone chime suspended from the mountain, all things are clear under you, while your mind is still controlled by you just as the thread suspends the stone chime.

      5 “Tigers roaring, monkeys screeching”. When you move the energy you have cultivated, it can be as strong as a tiger’s roar and reach as far as a monkey’s screech.

      6 “Clear fountain, peaceful water”. Even when your energy is strong, your mind is clear, still, and peaceful.

      7 “Turbulent river, stormy ocean”. In taiji, if you have to use your energy it can be strong and continuous like a turbulent river or the stormy ocean.

      8 “With your whole being, develop your life”. During all your practice and meditation, you must concentrate your whole attention in order to develop the highest level of the art. This dedication and concentration will carry over to the rest of your life, and the striving for perfection becomes the real inner meaning of taiji.

1-3. General History of Taijiquan

       LECTURE

      Taijiquan Lecture

      Many people have learned Yang Style Taijiquan, but few really understand the history, background, and variations of the style. Often a person who has learned Yang Style Taijiquan will see forms that claim to be Yang style, but which look different from what he has learned. This sometimes causes consternation and doubt about which form, if any, is the correct ‘Yang style.’ A knowledge of the history can help to explain this discrepancy.

      Historically, the most important aspect of taijiquan is its creation from the theory of yin and yang, including the way yin and yang are derived from wuji, defined as “no extremity”.

      The concept of yin and yang was first detailed in the Book of Changes (Yi Jing) around 1122 B.C. This means that the theory behind taijiquan actually has historical roots going back more than three thousand years.

      The manner in which the concept of yin and yang gave birth to taijiquan is unknown. However, since the theory of yin and yang has been such an all-pervading influence on Chinese culture and thinking since the Yi Jing, it is possible to piece together the history of taijiquan’s origin from the remnants of historical documentation that still exist.

      It is said that Taijiquan was created by Zhang, San-feng in the Song Hui Zong era ca. A.D. 1101. It is also said that techniques and forms with the same basic principles as taijiquan were already in existence during the Liang dynasty (A.D. 502-557), and were being taught by Han, Gong-yue, Cheng, Ling-xi, and Cheng, Bi. Later, in the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), it was found that Xu, Xuan-oing, Li, Dao-zi, and Yin, Li-peng were teaching similar martial techniques. They were called thirty-seven postures (san shi qi shi), post-heaven techniques (hou tian fa), and small nine heaven (xiao jiu tian) that had seventeen postures. The accuracy of these accounts is somewhat questionable, so it is not really known when and by whom taijiquan was created. Because there is more formal history recorded about Zhang, San-feng, he has received most of the credit.⁴

      According to the historical record Nan Lei Ji Wang Zheng Nan Mu Zhi Ming, “Zhang San-feng, in the Song dynasty, was a Wudang Daoist. Hui Zong (a Song Emperor) summoned him, but the road was blocked and he couldn’t come. At night, (Hui Zong) dreamed Emperor Yuan (the first Jin emperor) taught him martial techniques. At dawn, he killed a hundred enemies by himself.”¹² Also recorded in the Ming history Ming Shi Fang Ji Zhuan is the following:

       Zhang, San-feng, from Liao Dong Yi county. Named Quan-yi. Also named Jun-bao. San-feng was his nickname. Because he did not keep himself neat and clean, Zhang, La-ta (Sloppy Zhang). He was tall and big, shaped like a turtle, and had a crane’s back. Large ears and round eyes. Beard long like a spear tassel. Wears only a priest’s robe winter or summer. Will eat a bushel of food, or won’t eat for several days or a few months. Can travel a thousand miles. Likes to have fun with people. Behaves as if nobody is around. Used to travel to Wudang (mountain) with his disciples. Built a simple cottage and lived inside. In the 24th year of Hong Wuaround A.D. 1392, Ming Tai Zu (the first Ming emperor) heard of his name, and sent a messenger to look for him but he couldn’t be found. ¹³

      The following was also recorded in the Ming dynasty in Ming Lang Ying Qi Xiu Lei Gao:

       Zhang the Immortal, named Jun-bao, also named Quan-yi, nicknamed Xuan-xuan, also called Zhang, La-ta. In the third year of Tian Shun A.D. 1460 he visited Emperor Ming Ying Zong. A picture was drawn. The beard and mustache were straight, the back of the head had a tuft. Purple face and big stomach, with a bamboo hat in his hand. On the top of the picture was an inscription from the emperor honoring Zhang as ‘Tong Wei Xian Hua Zhen Ren’, a genuine Daoist who finely discriminates and clearly understands much. (Figure 1-6). ¹⁴

      This record is suspect, because if it were true, Zhang, San-feng would have been at least 500 years old at that time. Other records state that Zhang, San-feng’s techniques were learned from the Daoist Feng, Yi-yuan. Another story tells that Zhang, San-feng was an ancient hermit meditator. He saw a magpie fighting against a snake, had a sudden understanding, and created taijiquan,

      Figure 1-6. Zhang, San-Feng

      After Zhang, San-feng, there were Wang Zong in Shanxi province, Chen, Tong-zhou in Wen County, Zhang, Song-xi in Hai Yan, Ye, Ji-mei in Si Ming, Wang, Zong-yue in Shan You, and Jiang, Fa in Hebei. The taijiquan techniques were passed down and divided into two major styles, southern and northern. Later, Jiang, Fa passed his art to the Chen family at Chen Jia Gou in Huai Qing County, Henan. Taijiquan was then passed down for fourteen generations and divided into old and new styles. The old style was carried on by Chen, Chang-xing and the new style was created by Chen, You-ben.

      The old style successor Chen, Chang-xing then passed the art down to his son, Geng-yun, and his Chen relatives, Chen, Huai-yuan and Chen, Hua-mei. He also passed his taijiquan outside of his family to Yang, Lu-chan and Li, Bo-kui, both of Hebei province. This old style is called thirteen postures old form (shi san shi lao jia). Later, Yang, Lu-chan passed it down to his two sons, Yang, Ban-hou and Yang, Jian-hou. Then, Jian-hou passed the art to his two sons, Yang, Shao-hou and Yang, Cheng-fu. This branch of taijiquan is popularly called Yang Style. Also, Wu, Quan-you learned from Yang, Ban-hou and started a well known Wu Style.

      Also,