Compiled by Zhang Yaozhong (张耀忠) Translated by Joshua Hehr
- Main Schools of Taijiquan
Taiji divides into five schools as follows:
- Tang Dynasty's Xu Xuanping, whose transmission is called the Thirty-Seven Form, passed down to Song Yuanqiao.
- Yu family's transmission, called Xiantian Quan (Prenatal Fist), received from Tang Dynasty's Li Daozi, passed down to Yu Qinghui.
- Liang Dynasty's Han Gongyue, transmitted to Cheng Lingxi. Passed down to Cheng family descendants, named Cheng Bigai, called Small Nine Heavens Fourteen Hands.
- Yin Liheng's transmission, called Houtian Fa (Postnatal Method), passed to Hu Jingzi, then transmitted to Song Zhongshu, totaling seventeen forms (sixteen types of elbow techniques).
- Zhang Sanfeng's transmission, called Wudang School (because Zhang resided on Wudang Mountain), also called Internal Family Boxing. Its boxing method takes the Eight Gates and Five Steps as its essential principles, thus named the Thirteen Forms, meaning the thirteen methods.
- Introduction to Some Taijiquan Schools
(1) Han Gongyue's Transmitted School
Cheng-style Taiji methods, Master Cheng Shao, Small Nine Heavens preface:
During the Liang Yuan Emperor's time, Cheng Lingxi, courtesy name Yuandi, a native of Xiuning in Weizhou, Jiangnan, received instruction from Han Gongyue. The skill of Taiji achieved great utility. He transmitted it to his son Cheng Yin Yubi, who named the Taiji methods Small Nine Heavens.
The Small Nine Heavens form names are listed as follows:
Seven Stars Eight Steps, Opening Heaven's Gate, Brocade, Raise Hand, Crouching Tiger Leaping Over Ravine, Single Whip, Shoot Wild Goose, Shuttle, White Crane Soars to Sky, Strike Bore Awl, Flower Beneath Leaf, Cloud Over Head, Grasp Sparrow's Tail, Phoenix Shakes Parasol Tree. Totaling fourteen forms. Cheng Yuan's Small Nine Heavens Eight Direction Palms, contemplating the classics to comprehend the method's theory.
To master Taijiquan's pure skill and be proficient in the Book of Changes, one cannot simply obtain the nine seals from the Book of Changes alone; one must practice day and night, comprehend in the heart, embody in the body, transcend the symbolic appearances to grasp the essence within. There are wonders that others cannot know but oneself alone knows. Without receiving the teacher's single point of heart-method transmission, how can one cause my hands to dance, my feet to tread, with endless joy.
(2) Yin Liheng's Transmitted School
Song Zhongshu's Postnatal Method. Song family's Postnatal Method catalog is listed as follows:
Yang Elbow, Yin Elbow, Covering Yin Elbow, Airing Yang Elbow, Elbow Bag (Bottom) Spear, Flowering Elbow, Eight Direction Awl, Yin Five Palms, Yang Five Palms, Single Whip Elbow, Double Whip Elbow, Crouching Tiger Elbow, Cloud Flying Elbow, Grinding Elbow, Mountain Through Elbow, Knee Elbow, Two Knee Elbow.
The above seventeen methods, except for Eight Direction Awl, Yin Five Palms, and Yang Five Palms—three methods—all belong to elbow techniques, with endless variations. Using elbow methods greatly helps with hand methods and footwork.
(3) Zhang Sanfeng's Transmitted School
Sanfeng's art, at the end of Ming and beginning of Qing, was transmitted to Wang Zongyue of Guanzhong, then transmitted to Wenzhou, named Chen Zhoutong.
Sanfeng personally transmitted to: Zhang Songxi, Zhang Cuishan, and others, called the Wentai School. Zhang Songxi transmitted to Ye Jinquan of Siming. Jinquan personally transmitted to Wu Kunshan, Zhou Yunshan, Shan Sinan, Chen Zhenshi, and Sun Jicha. Wu Kunshan transmitted to Li Tianmu and Xu Daiyue. Then transmitted to Yu Zhongbo, Wu Qilang, Chen Maohong, and others. Zhou Yunshan transmitted to Lu Shaoqi alone. Chen Zhenshi transmitted to Xiao Fuyu and Xia Zhixi. Sun Jicha transmitted to Monk Er, Monk Wei, Yao Shimen, and Chai Yuanming. Shan Sinan transmitted to Wang Zhengnan, then transmitted to Gan Fengchi. Up until early Qing, transmitted to Wang Zongyue of Shanxi. After several transmissions to Jiang Fa of Henan, then transmitted to Chen Changxing. Chen Changxing transmitted to Yang Luchan and Li Bokui of Yongnian County, Guangping Prefecture. Yang Luchan transmitted to his sons Ban Hou and Jian Hou, and to Wang Lanting, Liu Wanchun, Quan You, and Ling Shan (these three later became disciples under Ban Hou). Yang Jian Hou transmitted to his sons Zhao Xiong and Zhao Qing. Zhao Xiong, also called Shao Hou, transmitted to Zhao Lin, You Zhixue, and others. Yang Zhao Qing, courtesy name Chengfu, transmitted to Chen Weiming, Wu Huichuan, and Chu Defu. Commonly called the Yang School. Ren Quan You, courtesy name Baoting, transmitted to his son and students: Ai Gai Wu Jianquan. Wang Youlin, courtesy name Maozhai, Guo Fen, courtesy name Songting. Wang Maozhai transmitted to his son Wang Ziying and to Zhao Tie'an, Yang Ruilin courtesy name Yuting, then transmitted to Zhao Anxiang, Wu Lianzhen, Wang Liquan (Wang Peisheng), and others. Commonly called the Wu School.
In addition, Chen Qingping obtained the transmission of the new frame and created the Zhaobao School. Wu Yuxiang obtained the transmission from both Yang Luchan and Chen Qingping and created the Wu School. Li also obtained the Wu School transmission and created the Li School; Hao Weizhen obtained the Yang School transmission and created a school; Sun Lutang obtained the Hao School transmission and created the Sun School. Continuing to the present, those commonly well-known are: Hebei Hao family school; Henan Chenjiagou became the Chen family school; Hebei Guangping is the Yang family school; there is also Hebei Wuqing, where Li Shuxun courtesy name Ruidong and Wang Lanting formed a sworn brotherhood and obtained his transmission, changing the boxing name to Taiji Five Star Awl, also called the Wuqing School. Each school has its own specialties.