Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi, A History by William Wong Chin

To appreciate fully the value of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi, students may acquaint themselves with its history. This article sketches out the heritage and development of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi. Future articles may focus on the individuals in more detail.

In considering lineage, it is useful to see tai chi as a tree and the different styles as branches. This article focuses on Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi as a distinguished branch on the tree of tai chi. Working from a branch towards the trunk, it will outline retrospectively the development of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi.

The roots of tai chi, indeed the rest of the tree and the forest as well, can be examined separately. The many styles of tai chi have a long and illustrious history spanning many generations. Full historical coverage of all the various styles is best left for more ambitious writings.

Today, Dr. Y.C. Chiang in El Cerrito, California is the recognized leader of the fifth generation of masters of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi. Dr. Y.C. Chiang is the definitive and primary source for the following information.

Traditionally tai chi skills are taught personally and directly from master to student. Working hard over many years, Dr. Chiang learned the traditional way. Before he was accepted as a student, he was required to achieve Chin-To-Toe in 100 days.

Chin-To-Toe is the hallmark exercise of Dr. Chiang's Wen Wu School in El Cerrito. Rather than a goal or destination, Chin-To-Toc is a launch point. All traditional masters of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi began with Chin-To-Toe.

Dr. Chiang received instruction from Two masters of the fourth generation, Kuo Lien Ying and Wang Chih-Ch'ien. Kuo was a renowned martial artist and introduced Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi to the United States.

A judge in Taiwan, Wang was a man of high culture. Wang Chiao-Yu was the third generation master. Wang taught Kuo Lien Ying and Wang Chih-Ch'ien. Wang Chiao-Yu was reported to be the first master required to achieve Chin-To-Toe in 100 days.

Yang Pan-Hou was the second generation master. His brother is Yang Chien-Hou, the founder of Court Style Yang, the most popular form of tai chi. They were sons of Yang Lu-Ch'an. It is widely, believed that Yang Pan-Hou transformed Guang Ping Yang Chi to protect its secrets from the encroaching Manchurian rulers who demanded that Yang teach them his art. This belief was corroborated by Pu Ru.

Pu Ru was the brother of Pu Yi, the last Ching Emperor. He was also a great Chinese artist and Dr. Y.C. Chiang's calligraphy instructor. In 1962, Dr. Chiang and Master Kuo visited Pu Ru who inscribed Master Kuo's book on martial arts to be published in Taiwan. Pu Ru confirmed that Wang Chiao Yu taught Pu Ru's uncle, Duan Fang. Duan Fang commanded the military during the Ching Dynasty.

The legendary Yang Lu-Ch'an was the first generation. Yang had learned other styles of tai chi, but could not win consistently enough in tournaments because his tai chi was too soft. Seeking to augment his skills, Yang Lu-Ch'an implored Ch'en Ch'ang Hsing to teach Yang the harder methods. Ch'en tradition required that their art remain within the family. Ch'en refused, undaunted. Yang posed as a beggar and a house servant in order to "learn by stealing" from Ch'en Ch'ang Hsing by secretly observing family members who were getting lessons and practicing. Impressed by Yang's desire and talent, Ch'en at last accepted Yang as a disciple. Ch'en Ch'ang-Hsing belongs to the Ch'en branch of tai chi.

Yang Lu Ch'an synthesized the softness and hardness to evolve into what is known today as Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi. This happened in Guang Ping, a city in Hebei province in China and the namesake of Guang Ping Yang Tai Chi. So what's the point of these stories and what do they mean to the modern student?

History communicates the legacy. Tai chi is a precious art. It cannot be bought. It cannot be borrowed. It cannot be stolen. Tai chi must be taught judiciously and practiced diligently. Practice polishes the treasure of good health.

by William Wong Chin
San Francisco, CA

[ Around the Country ] [ Cape Cod Seminar ] [ From our President ] [ GPY History ] [ My History & Guang Ping ] [ UP Meditation ] [ YC Chiang ] [ Year of the Ox ]