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Tai Chi Chuan
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In the year A.D.
960, the first emperor of the Sung dynasty, Chao Kuang Yin (also called Tai Tzu) founded a
system of personal health and combat exercises called tai tzu chang chuan (great
ancestor's long fist.) This system covered all aspects of tai chi, hsing-I, and bagua
(sometimes referred to as pa kua), the original internal systems of Northern China. Tai
tzu was perfected soon after and journals in the year 984 A.D. documented the style's
effectiveness. This system was further refined by the Chao family, making note of the
eight original movements derived from tai tzu - peng, ni, zhi, ahn, chai, nieh, cho and
kao. The famous Yang Cheng Fu learned this ancient style and forms of long fist and it
commonly became known as tai chi chuan. Contrary to popular belief, Chang San Feng was not the actual founder of tai chi chuan. History records the birth of Chang San Feng in 1247, almost 300 years after Chao Kuang Yin's presence in China. The term tai chi, thus, is a generic term coined well before the emperor created the long fist system known as tai tzu chang chuan. Chao Kuang Yin, having a keen interest in the martial arts, is credited in Chinese history with collecting and documenting all available manuscripts on the subject, including those from the Shaolin Temple. It is said he stored these manuscripts in his library in a tower behind the Shaolin Temple. When the temple was destroyed, most of the records were lost. Fortunately, the emperor passed on his knowledge of tai tzu chang chuan, and today we see the fruits of his labor in Chinese parks and martial arts schools. Most of the northern systems of martial arts, including all styles of tai chi chuan, have their origin in emperor's long fist. General Chen Wang Ting utilized the extensive information available on tai tzu chang chuan to create Chen style tai chi in 1618. In 1799, Yang Lew Shen created the Yang style from the Chen style and passed this art on to Yang Cheng Fu, who was famous for his tai chi prowess. This brings us to Chao Yuh Feng, the 35th-generation descendant and inheritor of the system. A friend of Yang Cheng Fu's, he has been entrusted with maintaining the integrity of the 1,000-year-old system. Born in 1911 in the small town of Wan Hsien near the San Chang River (the Szechwan province of Western China), Chao Yuh Feng (1911 - 1996) studied his family's style of martial arts and received his tutelage in Wu Tang Ti Pai from master Lee So Chien. Chao was appointed captain in the nationalist army under general Chiang Kai Shih and was bestowed the honor of hero after being captured by the Japanese during World War II. In 1949, he moved to Taiwan, Republic of China, and worked for a sugar company as well as teaching tai chi chuan at various community centers. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Republic of China's Tai Chi Chuan
Association appointed Chao director of Yun Lin County around 1979. This ministry of
education post only employs the highest-level masters practicing the original and
traditional tai chi systems. Masters must have more than 50 years experience in tai chi
chuan to qualify for the position. The association is primarily concerned the with public
health and the promotion of tai chi, including publishing books and journals, to which
Chao has contributed extensively. The Tai Chi Chuan Association sponsors culturally
enlightening tournaments annually where directors such as Chao Yuh Feng are honored
judges.
Chao demonstrated an uncanny breathing technique called nei gung, developed through two special exercises called tiao shi wan chi and kun yun chuang. A visiting student was told to place his hands on the master's head. Chao made a high-pitched humming sound and sent the student's hands flying off his head. He was showing how he could reverse his chi while controlling the energy. Even near the time of his death, Master Chao Yuh Feng displayed the flexibility and agility of a man much younger. While demonstrating gin ji tu Ii (golden rooster posture), he was at ease even though this posture is difficult for the most experienced master. His knowledge of practical application was astounding, and on numerous occasions he has related specific details to enhance a form's application and function. Master Chao was strict when it came to perfection of mind, movement and form; he insisted each move must be performed slowly and without error for the student to receive the total benefit of the life-giving energy known as chi. Chao Yuh-Feng taught original chi gung and nei gung exercises which dated back to his great ancestor, Emperor Chao. Performed with relaxed intention, they create a circuit of energy which produces first heat, then chi. When properly performed, one realizes the eight secret words or postures necessary for mastery. This system of tai tzu chang chuan is simple, with the preparatory exercises designed for internal strengthening and protection, The pure eight moves develop into eight characteristically different energies. Chao has taken these eight movements and developed a 64 move form called tai tzu chuang chuan, which connects all moves and utilizes the four directions and eight gates. Simple as this may seem, only through years of study can the practitioner hope to master the system's deep and profound secrets. The system contains a depth of knowledge and understanding of life through the forces of nature. And through it all one realizes just one pure move can replace a host of ineffective moves. Chao Yuh-Feng's message is simple yet profound: Walk on clouds, written by
Sifu David E. Kash Sifu Derek Prout |
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