The Chen-style tai chi () is a Northern Chinese martial art and the oldest known style of tai chi. Chen-style is characterized by silk reeling, alternating fast and slow motions, and bursts of power (fa jin).
Traditionally, tai chi is practiced as a martial art but has expanded into other domains of practice such as health or performances. Some argue that Chen-style tai chi has preserved and emphasized the martial efficacy to a greater extent.
History
Origin theories It is not clear how the Chen family actually came to practise their unique martial style and contradictory "histories" abound. What is known is that the other four tai chi styles (Yang, Sun, Wu and Wu (Hao)) trace their teachings back to Chen village in the early 1800s.
The Chen family were originally from Hongtong County in Shanxi. In the 13th or 14th century, later documents claim that the head of the Chen family, Chen Bu (), migrated to Wen County, Henan. The new area was originally known as Changyang Cun () and grew to include a large number of Chen descendants. Because of the three deep ravines beside the village it came to be known as Chen Jia Gou (). According to Chen Village family history, Chen Bu was a skilled martial artist who started the martial arts tradition within Chen Village. For generations onwards, the Chen Village was known for their martial arts.
The special nature of tai chi practice was attributed to the ninth generation Chen Village leader, Chen Wangting. He codified pre-existing Chen training practice into a corpus of seven routines. This included five routines of 108 form Long Fist () and a more rigorous routine known as Cannon Fist (). Chen Wangting integrated different elements of Chinese philosophy into the martial arts training to create a new approach that we now recognize as the Internal martial arts. These included the principles of Yin Yang, the techniques of Daoyin, Tui na, Qigong, and the theory of meridians. Those theories are encountered in Classical Chinese Medicine and described in such texts as the Huangdi Neijing. In addition, Wangting incorporated the boxing theories from sixteen different martial art styles as described in the classic text Jixiao Xinshu, written by the Ming dynasty General Qi Jiguang.
Chen Changxing, a 14th-generation Chen Village martial artist, synthesized Chen Wangting's open fist training corpus into two routines that came to be known as "Old Frame" (; lao jia). Those two routines are named individually as the First Form (Yilu; ) and the Second Form (Erlu; , more commonly known as the Cannon Fist ). Chen Changxing, contrary to Chen family tradition, also took the first recorded non-family member as a disciple, Yang Luchan, who went on to popularize the art throughout China, but as his own family tradition known as Yang-style tai chi. The Chen family system was only taught within the Chen village region until 1928.
Chen Youben, also of the 14th Chen generation, is credited with starting another Chen training tradition. This system also based on two routines is known as "Small Frame" (). Small Frame system of training eventually lead to the formation of two other styles of tai chi that show strong Chen family influences, Zhaobao tai chi and Hulei jia (). However, these are not considered a part of the Chen family lineage.
Other origin stories Some legends assert that a disciple of Zhang Sanfeng named Wang Zongyue taught Chen family the martial art later to be known as tai chi.
Other legends speak of , reputedly a monk from Wudang mountain who came to Chen village. He is said to have helped transform the Chen family art with Chen Wangting by emphasizing internal fighting practices. However, there are significant difficulties with this explanation, as it is no longer clear if their relationship was that of teacher/student or even who taught whom.
Recent history During the second half of the 19th century, Yang Luchan and his family established a reputation of Yang-style tai chi throughout the Qing empire. Few people knew that Yang Luchan first learned his martial arts from Chen Changxing in the Chen Village. Fewer people still visited the Chen village to improve their understanding of tai chi. Only Wu Yuxiang, a student of Yang Luchan and the eventual founder of Wu (Hao)-style tai chi, was known to have briefly studied the Chen Family small frame system under Chen Qingping. This situation changed with the fall of the Qing empire when Chinese society sought to discover and improve their understanding of traditional philosophies and methods.
The current availability and popularity of Chen-style tai chi is reflective of the radical changes that occurred within Chinese society during the 20th century. In the decline of the Qing dynasty, the creation of the Republic of China and subsequently the Chinese Communist Revolution, Chen-style tai chi underwent a period of re-discovery, popularization, and finally internationalization.
In 1928, (1893–1972) and later his uncle, Chen Fake moved from Chen village to teach in Beiping (now known as Beijing). Their Chen-style practice was initially perceived as radically different from other prevalent martial art schools (including established tai chi traditions) of the time. Chen Fake proved the effectiveness of Chen-style tai chi through various private challenges and even a series of lei tai matches. Within a short time, the Beijing martial arts community was convinced of the effectiveness of Chen-style tai chi and a large group of martial enthusiasts started to train and publicly promote it.
The increased interest in Chen-style tai chi led Tang Hao, one of the first modern Chinese martial art historians, to visit and document the martial lineage in Chen Village in 1930 with Chen Ziming. During the course of his research, he consulted with a manuscript written by 16th generation family member Chen Xin (; Ch'en Hsin; 1849–1929) detailing Chen Xin's understanding of the Chen Village heritage. Chen Xin's nephew, Chen Chunyuan, together with Chen Panling (, then president of Henan Province Martial Arts Academy), Han Zibu (president of Henan Archives Bureau), Wang Zemin, Bai Yusheng of Kaiming Publishing House, Guan Baiyi (director of Henan Provincial Museum) and Zhang Jiamou helped publish Chen Xin's work posthumously. The book entitled Chen Style Taijiquan Illustrated and Explained ( see tai chi classics) was published in 1933 with the first print run of thousand copies.
For nearly thirty years, until his death in 1958, Chen Fake diligently taught the art of Chen-style tai chi to a select group of students. As a result, a strong Beijing Chen-style tradition centered around his "New Frame" variant of Chen Village "Old Frame" survived after his death. His legacy was spread throughout China by the efforts of his senior students.
The Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) resulted in a period of Chen-style tai chi decline. Radical students led a campaign to suppress the "Four Olds", which included the practice of martial arts. Training facilities were closed and practitioners were prosecuted. Many Chen masters were publicly denounced. For example, Chen Zhaopei was pushed to the point of attempting suicide, and Hong Junsheng was left malnourished. Training was continued in secret and at great personal risk ensuring the continuation of the tradition.
During the Era of Reconstruction (1976–1989), the policy of repression of traditional Chinese culture was reversed. Under this new climate, Chen-style tai chi was once again allowed to be practiced openly. Through a series of government-sponsored meetings and various provincial and national tournaments, Chen-style tai chi regained its reputation as an important branch of Chinese martial arts. In addition, those meetings created a new generation of Chen-style teachers.
The start of the internationalisation of Chen-style can be traced to 1981. A tai chi association from Japan went on a promotional tour to the Chen village. The success of this trip created interest in Chen-style tai chi both nationally and internationally. Soon tai chi enthusiasts from other countries started their pilgrimage to Chen village. The increasing interest led all levels of the Chinese governments to improve the infrastructure and support of the village including the establishment of martial art schools, hotels and tourist associations.
In 1983, martial artists from the Chen village received full government support to promote Chen-style tai chi abroad. Four top Chen stylists: Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Wang Xian () and Zhu Tiancai () traveled relentlessly giving global workshops and created an international group of Chen-style practitioners; they became known as the "Four Buddha Warrior Attendants".
Other well known Chen teachers active in China or overseas include: Chen Yu (; grandson of Chen Fake) Chen Bing (; Chen Village) Wang Haijun (; student of Chen Zhenglei), born in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. One of the last “outsiders” to be traditionally trained in Chen Village, Grandmaster Wang was adopted as a student into Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei’s family at the age of 9 and became a 12th generation lineage holder of Chen Style. Since 2001 he lives Manchester, England where he continues to teach. He also receives many invitations to travel abroad, including yearly teaching commitments at Chen village. Chen Boxiang (; Chen Village) Chen Xiaoxing (; Chen Village) Chen Peishan () and Chen Peiju () have been influential in promoting the less-known Chen Village Small Frame tradition Chen Jianqiang (; 20th generation lineage successor, founder of Hangzhou Chenjiagou Taijiquan School Tian Jianhua (; the last living student of Chen Fake, younger brother of Tian Xiuchen, teaching in Beijing) Zhang Xuexin (; 1928–2023 disciple of Feng Zhiqiang; teaching in the US), Han Kuiyuan (; born 1948), disciple of both Tian Xiuchen and Feng Zhiqiang. He is teaching in Hungary. Cheng Jincai (; disciple of Chen Zhaokui; The founder of International Chen Style Tai Chi Development Center, Houston, Texas), Li Enjiu (; disciple of Hong Junsheng) Joseph Chen Zhonghua (disciple of Hong Junsheng and Feng Zhiqiang; teaching throughout North America), Wu (Peter) Shi-zeng (; a student of Hong Junsheng in Australia) Chen Huixian (; Disciple of Chen Zhenglei teaching in the US) Chou Wenpei (; Berkeley, California): Student of , has promoted and documented Chen-style tai chi since 1996. Gil Rodrigues, Disciple of Master Chen Ziqiang. He is teaching in Brazil.
In recent decades Chen-style tai chi has come to be recognized as a major style of martial art within China and around the world. A strong Chen tradition has developed in countries such as the US, Canada, Britain, Austria, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Japan, Singapore, Spain, France and Malaysia.
Tai chi lineage tree with Chen-style focus
The story of Chen-style tai chi is rich and complex. The lineage tree is a concise summary and highlights some of the important personalities that contributed to its history. However, there are some missing details that can provide insight to the current understanding of this art.
Chen Xin (1849–1929), 8th generation Chen family member, provided one of the most important written descriptions of the Chen style. He was the grandson of Chen Youshen (), 6th generation Chen family member. Chen Youshen was the brother of Chen Youben (), the creator of Small Frame. Chen Xin's father was Chen Zhongshen and Chen Xin's uncle, Chen Jishen were twins. In that 7th generation Chen family, Chen Zhongshen, Chen Jishen, Chen Gengyun (, the son of Chen Chanxing), Yang Luchan (, founder of Yang Style) and Chen Qingping (, promoter of Zhaobao style tai chi) were all martial artists with exceptional abilities.