The origins of Yang, Wu and Sun are well known

 Chen style taiji quan is considered “the oldest style that was transmitted secretly within the family”. The descriptions of Chen style that I know of are of course not “secret” and are typically from later generations representatives like Chen Xiao Wang, 19th generation, who is teaching nowadays Chen style taiji quan in public.

The Yang, Wu and Sun style taiji quan on the other hand are described in books written by the originator or else by first or second generation representatives.

·         Sun Lutang (1861-1933) originator of the Sun style published in 1922 A study of Taijiquan, general available in English translation with annotations

·         Wu Ying-hua  and Ma Yueh-liang the daughter and sun in low of Wu Chian-chuan (1870-1942) originator of the Wu style and student of Yang Luchan, published in 19xx Wu style – taiji quan – forms, concepts and application of the Original style

·         Yang Chengfu, grandson of Yang Luchan originator of the Yang style, with the help of a recent literate pupil as ghost writer Zheng Manqing (Cheng Man-ch’ing) published The essence and Application of Taijiquan in 1934 for Yang style.

It is an expression of the aim of the originators to teach to a larger “target audience” where it is not always clear if it is intrinsic to the style or that it is a result of the time spirit in which the style emerged and was described. Indeed in this period between 1850 and 1950 China was subject to “humiliations” of European countries and also Japan and there was some interest to “strengthen the Chinese people and nation” with taiji quan.

Yang Luchan is reported to have said:

I practice taiji and teach others NOT for taking on enemies but for protecting one’s body, not for saving the world but for helping the nation. A proper path to saving the nation is to recognize the urgency to save ourselves from weakness.

Since I was young I have taken on saving the weak as my responsibility. I studied with the Chen family known for their boxing skills. After 10 years of study I was revealed the true inside secrets. After, I fulfilled my vow to teach people openly.

From the introduction of the book about Yang style: …this book is for all that want to maintain their health and develop their character. Not only to strengthen themselves but also the nation …

Sun Lutang (1861-1933), a skilled martial artist with a proven fighting record and a scholar able to write with elegance and style, published his books between 1916 and 1927.

He was the right man on the right place. With the new Republic of China the secret martial artist/family approach was (partially) replaced by the open door public teaching and Sun agreed and did this. In 1915 his first book Study of Form-Mind boxing (Xing Yi), was the first book in the history of Chinese martial arts with the intent as practitioners manual (versus theory or history). He was also the first to illustrate the form with the use of photos.

So our choice to look for the common principles of Yang, Wu and Sun style taiji quan aims to focus on those characteristics that are

·         Meaningful within the context of all of the three styles

·         Achievable  by the general public as was the aim of the originators, at the condition of adequate studying by  the practitioner

In the next chapters italic text is taken from the books and the eye catch texts are my personal conclusions in my own words.

Yang, Wu and Sun style taiji quan were immediately transmitted publicly as opposed to the older family secret transmission as used in Chen family.

Therefore, the “originals” of these styles are well documented by the originator or first or second generation representatives sometimes with the help of “ghost writers”

The change towards public martial arts may be related to the originators aim to strengthen China against foreign countries, which was relevant in the 1850 - 1950 period.

The chronological order of the styles Yang, Wu, Sun is not reflected in the order of publications and the closeness with the originator:  Sun (originator) before Wu (first generation) and Yang (second generation).

Health is the final purpose of Yang, Wu, Sun taiji quan

Sun Jian Jun, said about her father: The reason to practice martial arts was not to fight, but to improve the health of the body. The goal is to be healthy while you live and then die quickly.

Yang Chengfu: I wish that worthy individuals with the highest aspiration will use the book for the purpose of self-strengthening.

The Wu style final purpose is described as: longevity and eternal spring.

The purpose of Yang, Wu and Sun style taiji quan is focused on health and self strengthening of the individual and the nation.

Health and self strengthening are expressed in terms of longevity in good conditions

The martial art application is secondary but it may contribute to your health and it enables the knowledge of the other.

The way towards health involves spirit, mind, qi and body

Yang Chengfu:

I hope that later students will not merely chase after the external, but will instead pursue the internal. The important fine details of boxing postures can not be obtained in the appearance of form, but must be sought in the idea that unites the whole.

Results will be achieved in three years for people that want to protect their bodies and cultivate their nature.

Sun Lutang

Martial arts were created to make use of methods that involved both stillness and motion simultaneously. They sought to recover the pre natal qi.

Taiji was invented … each movement and stillness merely follows that which is natural…the intent is focused on practicing until the qi transforms into spirit … towards six harmonies (3 internal, 3 external)

Wu:

Practice with

1.stillness : concentrate on the exercise, use of the mind, not force

2.Lightness: it is relaxed, but it is not, the strength is not exposed

3.slowness: never a pause (so no fajin)

The way towards health is based on

·        Let the intent lead practice

·        use the mind, not force

·        move slow and  experience the movement

·        let the movement inspire the mind

·        relax, follow what is natural, go with the flow

·        let spirit, mind, qi and body become one

·        make the whole form one

Some hints that may help

·        smile

·        enjoy the good feelings

·        make the best come out of everybody

·        there is a Buddha in each of us

Taiji’s philosophical foundation

Yang Chengfu:

Taijiquan is based on the taiji, bagua and the book of changes. As the changes modeled on the transformation of heaven and earth, it never goes beyond them.

Sun Lutang:

Opening and closing is like the one qi moving through the cycles of yin and yang. Taiji is the one qi, the one qi is Taiji. When referring to the body it is called Taiji. When referring to the use, it is called the one qi. The Wu Ji posture is the root of the form. The Tai Ji posture is the body of the form. Tai Ji transforms in the thousands of things

Wu:

Taiji is in accord of the theory of the mutual complement of yin and yang, the interaction of softness and energetic.

Taiji quan is in accord with the nature of the world.
It is therefore founded by Yin yang, the 5 phases, the eight elements or ba gua trigrams, and the book of changes.

The taiji quan movements should express

·        Continuous transformation

·        Always cyclic like sun and moon

·        Involving all parts of the body as a whole, as if applicable to the myriad of things, almost like fractals

·        All is related to all in space and in time

Taiji is a mean to experience the Dao, the way
 as said in the dao de yin, chapter 1:

·        It is from the Being-without-form that the subtlety  of the Dao can be contemplated

·        It is from the Being-within-form that the subtlety  of the Dao can be perceived

Taiji’s martial application

Yang:

One could indeed say that the core of protecting the body and to cultivate our nature is to accord with and protect its weakness.

Wu:

1. Overcome hardness with softness

Force that does not resist or oppose the other is called “rou”, force against the other “gan”. When gan is confronted to rou, the gan force is often lead to emptiness and by utilizing adhesion strength you can get advantage by interacting with gan.

2. Meet the offensive with calmness

Be calm so you can listen with your skin (hands …)

Divert opponents force into the void, start late but reach first, and interact with rou and gan when he is in a disadvantage position

3. Win the opponent with lesser strength but greater skill

Sun:

The paired partnerwork is the entire use of the Art.

The purpose is to get the gungfu to knowing others

There are changes upon changes without end.

Taiji quan martial art application is not about winning,
neither about beating the other

·        Protect own body

·        Lead force to emptiness

·        Observe the other, listen to the other …
like in pipa, fist under elbow…

·        Push hands is about transformation between partners

·        Know the other

·         …

·        Little interest in competitions or accepting challenges

·        When active as private security agent, mostly preventing robbery by good contacts and respect for the others (like today’s security services) and not by fighting.

Taiji’s principles

Yang

13 points to be attentive and test and verify these in practice

1.      sink the shoulders and drop the elbows

2.      contain the chest and pull up the back

3.      the qi sinks to the dan tian

4.      an intangible energy lifts the crown of the head

5.      loosen the waist and the kua (rem author: everything hips, middle, taille …)

6.      distinguish empty and full

7.      upper and lower follow one another

8.      use mind intent not strength

9.      inner and outer are united

10.  intention and qi interact

11.  seek stillness in movement

12.  movement and stillness are united

13.  proceed evenly from posture to posture

Wu

1. Hui lin din jin : erect head and empty neck, as a consequence centre the tail bone and straighten the spine

2. Han shun ba bei : enlarge the chest downward and lift the upper back, also lower shoulders and drop elbows

3. Relax waist and drop buttocks, the waist is the dominant part for all movements, the source of sense and perception

4. Chi shen tan tian : sink the qi in the dan tian

Sun

Cultivate the way (Tao) : stabilize the root of your spirit and quiet your heart

Cultivate the root of your spirit and mobilize your heart (mind) is called the martial Art.

… brute force will naturally dissipate …… one must practice often and pay attention to net letting go and not resisting …Your hands will become very sensitive …

Thousands of potential variations in technique come from the changes of ward off, roll back, press and push. The skills that result cannot be described in words.

What you feel by practicing Taiji quan is beyond words … but those that practice share it …

Some principles that help
to get the feeling … to follow the flow …

·        Listen to the body:
feel and unite Internal/external, open/close, up/down, empty/full, inhale/exhale …

·        Practice

·        Intent leads and follows

·        Relax relax relax

·        Between heaven and earth, attached to the head

·        The waist is key

·        Qi in dan tian

·        Flow like water/wind … no force

·        It is just simple

·        Smile

·        Be modest …

Recognizing the differences

Above we discussed what is common between the styles, here we discuss the differences and how you can recognize the styles.

Chen style

The most physical one, one posture contains multiple composed cyclic movements in a low stance.

E.g. the waist turns while shoulder and arm turns differently while hand fingers turn also different etc.

Probably the most complex style, but there exist also modern short, standardized and simplified forms, like the Chen Xiao Wang 19 form.

Yang style created by Yang Luchan

As student of the Chen family, Yang Luchan created his own style.

Less complex as the cyclic movements are coming from the waist and impact the whole body, still in a large and low stance. Is the basis for the standard 24 form.

In this sense probably the most practiced in the world today.

I understand that Yang Luchan wanted to create a form more apt for a general public including “the weak”.

The characteristic large and ample movements are a mean to let the qi flow.

Wu style created by Wu Chian Chuan

As student of Yang Luchan, Wu Chian-chuan (1870-1942), founder of wu style, revised old forms to make taiji more structured, smooth, even and continuous in accord of the theory of the mutual complement of yin and yang, the interaction of softness and energetic.

The characteristic ox bow stand, straight back and legs in an oblique line, is a mean to optimize the qi stream by limiting any obstacle in the body.

Sun style created by Sun Lutang

As a student of the wu style… after practicing morning and night for several years, I feel I have come to  understand the general principle of the Art. I have deeply contemplated the Art and have combined the Xing Yi and Ba Gua Quan that I studied previously with the Tai Ji Quan, forming one Art … Although the postures of the three arts are different, the principles are the same.

The characteristic open/close movement is the mean to regenerate qi.

An image can tell more than 1000 words

So picture tropical swimming pools

·        The wild river with water turning in all directions: Chen

·        The huge toboggan, with big curves: Yang

·        The large water ramp: Wu

·        The pool with the waves: Sun

It is not exact but you may want to find your own image

It is different but it is also always water, all going with the flow, all enjoyable, all open to the public, all in accord with nature.

And you may replace water, by wind, thunder … by sounds … colours … everything that touches the senses …

You may also change taiji in tea drinking, calligraphy or Chinese painting …. Different but similar ways to express the same in another way …

The way is common to all, all choose a different way.

The journey is more important than the destination.

Enjoy the journey.

And what about the standard Taiji as created since 1959, 24 form

Standard taiji books have always a historical reference to four or five families Chen, Yang, Wu, Sun and another Wu (one of the Wu is also referred as Hao).

Chen is the oldest. Yang is the most popular.

The oldest and most practiced standard form, the standard 24 form, is based on Yang.

The two standard competition forms 42 and 48 are mixed forms, I recognize at least Yang, Chen, Sun style elements in it. It did search for references that indicate which posture is considered which style but did not succeed up to now.

There exist competition forms for each of the families.

Official standard taiji books have always an introduction which is not in contradiction with the above:

-          so health is the main purpose

-          the reference to philosophy is present and expressed in the principles such as yin yang, full/empty, inhale/exhale

-          the reference to martial arts is present as taiji as one of three internal martial arts (the other being bagua zhang and xing yi which are in the Sun style synthesis)

-          the principles like relax waist, be attached at the head … are similar as the ones of the families

The main part of official standard taiji books is the “physical” description in detail of the postures. They are far more detailed than the descriptions in the three books, they have more photos and pictures and they are accompanied with video. As a result the modern reader who goes immediately to the form description/video will emphasize more the movement.

In standard taiji the competition aspect is “new” and more emphasized. In my opinion it is also a kind of alternative way of practicing.

Aspects common to the original family styles like purpose, philosophical foundation and martial arts application enable a more profound practice of all styles of taiji including the modern standard forms.
It will make you feel well and it will bring harmony.

…    Listen    ….  Practice   … Enjoy …