![<span class='p-name'>[Video] T.T. Liang presenting the Yang style Tai Chi (Taiji) Sword Form. #taichi #taiji</span>](https://brush-and-tale.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TheWanderer-Sumie-Painting-13.png)
This Video series on YouTube highlights Taiji and other Internal Martial Arts Masters particularly of the old days. Please note that especially those videos of the early 20th century might be of fairly bad quality. However they are valuable sources of history and skill. In this video:
Niu Chun Ming (1881-1961) was a Chinese martial artist who lived during the late Qing dynasty and Republican era. He is best known for learning Yang-style taijiquan from the famous master Yang Chengfu.
The story goes that Niu worked in a medical clinic and first met Yang Chengfu when Yang came there seeking treatment for a foot condition.
After observing Yang’s skill in taijiquan, Niu became one of his students and diligently learned the Yang family art from him.
Niu went on to become an accomplished instructor of Yang-style taijiquan in his own right. He taught the art for many decades in Beijing until his death in 1961 at the age of 80.
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The early development of Taiji, also known as Tai Chi Chuan, is deeply rooted in the martial arts traditions of the Chen family from Chenjiagou (Chen Village) in Henan Province, China.
The evolution of Taiji can be traced back to Chen Wangting, a 17th-century martial artist who is credited with creating several Taiji routines after his retirement from military service. He incorporated various martial arts techniques with Daoist philosophy, laying the foundational framework for what would later become known as Taiji.
Chen Changxing, a 14th generation descendant of the Chen family, played a pivotal role in the evolution of Taiji during the early 19th century. He synthesized earlier Chen routines into two routines known as the Old Frame (Laojia), which includes the First Form (Yilu) and the Second Form (Erlu or Cannon Fist).
Breaking with tradition, Chen Changxing taught these forms to Yang Luchan, a non-family member, who later popularized the style throughout China as Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan.
Chen Fake, a direct descendant of Chen Changxing, significantly influenced Taiji’s 20th century development. Born in 1887, he moved to Beijing in 1928 where he demonstrated Chen-style’s effectiveness through challenges, establishing its reputation. Chen Fake created the New Frame routines by adding movements to the Old Frame, emphasizing smaller circular motions, more obvious spiraling of the waist/dantian, explosive fajin (energy release) techniques, jumping footwork, and greater emphasis on martial applications like qinna (joint locks). The New Frame showcased a more dynamic and overtly powerful expression tailored to the “temperament of the young and fit city people” he taught in Beijing, while still adhering to Chen principles of continuous flowing movement.
Chen Qingping, another key figure, was a contemporary of Chen Fake and a 7th generation master of Chen-style Taiji. He is also associated with the development of the Zhaobao style of Taiji, having moved to Zhaobao Village and married into a local family. Chen Qingping’s teachings influenced the Zhaobao style, which shares similarities with the Chen style but also features distinct elements like the emphasis on spiral movements and uprooting techniques.
In summary, the development of Taiji from Chen Wangting through Chen Changxing to Chen Fake and Yang Luchan illustrates a rich history of innovation and adaptation within the martial arts.
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(work in progress, more articles will be added shortly)
Wu Wei (simplified Chinese: 无为; traditional Chinese: 無為; pinyin: wúwéi) is a central concept in ancient Chinese philosophy, particularly in Taoism (Daoism). It literally translates to “non-action”, “effortless action”, or “inexertion”, and refers to a state of being in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, acting without forcing or striving against the current. The origins of Wu Wei can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn period (770-476 BCE) in ancient China. It emerged as an important philosophical ideal, expounded upon in seminal Taoist texts like the Tao Te Ching and the writings of Zhuangzi.
In Taoism (Daoism), Wu Wei is about aligning oneself with the Tao (Dao), or the natural way of the universe, rather than going against the flow or trying to force things. It involves letting go of expectations, desires, and the need to control, and instead allowing things to unfold spontaneously and effortlessly. The Tao Te Ching states: “The Way does nothing, and yet nothing remains undone.” This encapsulates the idea of Wu Wei – acting in accordance with the natural order, without excessive effort or interference. Zhuangzi, another influential Taoist philosopher, emphasized the importance of embracing one’s innate nature and not imposing artificial constructs or striving against the natural current of life. Wu Wei is about trusting the inherent wisdom of the universe and acting with a sense of effortlessness and spontaneity.
Wu Wei is often contrasted with the more Confucian ideals of imposed order, artifice, and excessive human effort or striving. While Confucianism emphasized the importance of social hierarchy, rituals, and moral cultivation through conscious effort, Taoism advocated a more natural, spontaneous approach to life. The Taoist concept of Wu Wei advocates aligning oneself with the inherent patterns and rhythms of nature, rather than trying to force or control things through human will and effort alone.
In modern times, Wu Wei has been interpreted as a kind of “not forcing” or “not trying too hard”. It is about letting go of overthinking and excessive striving, and instead trusting one’s instincts and going with the flow of life. As Bruce Lee famously said, “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.” This idea of effortless action, embracing the natural course of events, and not forcing things unnecessarily, is at the heart of the Wu Wei philosophy. In essence, Wu Wei is a profound concept that encourages us to align ourselves with the natural rhythms of the universe, act with spontaneity and effortlessness, and let go of the need to control or force outcomes. It is a central tenet of Taoist thought that has influenced various aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy.
Watch this video by Paul Cavel to learn more about the concept of Wu Wei from a Taoist point of view.
This Video series on YouTube highlights Taiji and other Internal Martial Arts Masters particularly of the old days. Please note that especially those videos of the early 20th century might be of fairly bad quality. However they are valuable sources of history and skill. In this video:
Witness the graceful mastery of Cheng Man Ching as he executes the Taijiquan sword form with precision and elegance. Cheng, a renowned polymath and Taijiquan master, seamlessly blends the art of swordsmanship with the principles of internal cultivation and self-awareness.
In this captivating display, Cheng’s movements flow with the fluidity of water, demonstrating the hallmarks of his unique approach to Taijiquan – a harmonious integration of the external and the internal, the physical and the mental.
As he guides the sword through a series of intricate patterns, Cheng embodies the essence of Taijiquan – a martial art that transcends mere physical technique, becoming a meditation in motion, a dance of self-discovery, and a testament to the depth of traditional Chinese culture.
Observe the power and control, the grace and tranquility, that Cheng Man Ching brings to the sword form, and witness the timeless wisdom he imparts through his mastery of this ancient art.
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I am the Wanderer, a humble journeyer on the winding road of life, embarking on a timeless quest for wisdom and harmony.
Brush & Tale
