SEVEN MOUNTAINS TAI CHI Wu-Tang Arts of Centre County

THE WUDANG WIKI

History of Taijiquan

Wudang Taijiquan is often considered the original Tai Chi, with roots tracing back to the legendary Daoist master Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century. Zhang Sanfeng, a prominent figure in the Wudang Mountains of China, is said to have created the art as a method of internal cultivation that harmonized the body, mind, and spirit. According to Daoist teachings, the universe is governed by the principles of yin and yang, the ever-moving forces of opposites. Zhang Sanfeng is credited with creating a martial art that reflects these principles, combining the fluid, soft movements of the body with the cultivation of qi (vital energy) and a deep philosophical connection to the natural world. Wudang Taijiquan, therefore, is not just a martial art; it is a way of living in harmony with the Dao.

The Influence of Chen Taijiquan on Wudang Taijiquan

While Wudang Taijiquan is often attributed to Zhang Sanfeng, the development of Taijiquan as a martial art evolved over centuries. In the 16th century, the famous martial artist Chen Wangting from the Chen village of Wenxian in Henan Province created the Chen Style Taijiquan by combining the principles of Daoist Zhaobao Taijiquan—a local form of Taiji practiced by Daoist monks—with traditional Chen family martial arts. The unique combination of Zhaobao Taijiquan's circular energy movements and the Chen family's explosive power (known as fajin) laid the foundation for the martial art as we know it today.

However, it was the Chen family that first began to popularize the practice of Taijiquan as a martial art, which eventually influenced the development of other styles. The Chen Style became the bedrock for all future forms of Taijiquan, including those created by subsequent masters. Master Yang Luchan, who learned the Chen family’s form, would go on to modify and spread the art across China, creating the Yang Style Taijiquan. Although Yang’s modifications were significant, it’s important to recognize that the essence of his form was still deeply rooted in the principles and movements he learned from the Chen family.

Yang Luchan and the Influence of Daoism

Yang Luchan’s contributions to Taijiquan cannot be overstated. As a young man, Yang traveled to Chen Village and studied with the renowned master Chen Changxing, learning the Chen Style in its traditional form. However, Yang felt that the Chen Style’s explosive power (fajin) did not fully align with the Daoist principles he was learning in his spiritual practices. The Daoist philosophy of softness overcoming hardness, yielding rather than resisting, was central to his understanding of martial arts, and he felt the Chen Style’s aggressive techniques did not reflect this deeper philosophy.

After leaving Chen Village, Yang began to adapt the Chen Style, incorporating Daoist principles into his own approach. Yang’s version of Taijiquan became more focused on internal energy and graceful, fluid movements, which is why today, Yang Style is often seen as one of the most popular and accessible forms of Taijiquan. However, Yang’s modifications were not purely focused on internal cultivation but were aimed at making the art more suited to the martial needs of his students.

Later in his life, Yang met a Daoist priest who helped correct his understanding of Taijiquan. The priest pointed out that Yang’s form, though effective in terms of power and structure, had lost touch with the internal cultivation of energy that made Taijiquan unique. This interaction sparked a deeper study of Daoist practices, and Yang’s subsequent teachings of Taijiquan were more closely aligned with the philosophies of Wudang.

The Wudang Influence on Yang Style

It is at this point that we see a greater connection between Wudang Taijiquan and Yang Style Taijiquan. When Yang Luchan began to correct his form through the guidance of the Daoist priest, he returned to the principles of softness and yielding that had originally been taught in Wudang Taijiquan. This is why the two forms—Wudang Taijiquan and Yang Taijiquan—share significant similarities, particularly in the long form. Both styles emphasize fluid movement, internal energy, and the harmonization of mind, body, and spirit with the natural world. The Wudang influence on Yang Style is especially noticeable in the way both styles handle the flow of energy through the body and the importance of mental focus in performing the movements.

The History of Taijiquan's Arrival in the West

Taijiquan, commonly known in the West as Tai Chi, began its journey to the Western world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though its spread was gradual and often marked by cultural and language barriers. The introduction of Taijiquan to the West was heavily influenced by both the martial arts culture in China and the curiosity of Westerners about Eastern philosophy and practices.

One of the first significant introductions of Taijiquan to the West occurred in the late 19th century, when Yang Chengfu, a renowned master of Yang Style Taijiquan, traveled abroad to demonstrate his art. He was a prominent figure in the Taijiquan community, known for his work in standardizing and popularizing Yang-style forms. During this period, several Chinese martial artists, including Wu Jianquan, also made their way to Western countries, teaching various Chinese martial arts. These early introductions, however, remained mostly confined to Chinese expatriate communities and small circles of martial arts enthusiasts.

In the 1930s and 1940s, more systematic efforts were made to introduce Taijiquan to a broader audience. Chen Weiming, a master from the Chen Village in China, made a significant impact when he began teaching Taijiquan to foreigners, including many Westerners who had become interested in Chinese martial arts and Daoist philosophy. During this time, a growing number of Westerners began to travel to China to learn about traditional martial arts, including Taijiquan, as part of a broader interest in Eastern practices.

The major shift in the spread of Taijiquan to the West occurred during the 1950s to 1970s, as Tai Chi began to be marketed more as a health practice rather than a martial art. The Chinese Cultural Revolution in the 1960s brought an emphasis on physical fitness and health in China, and Taijiquan began to gain attention as a method for improving physical well-being, reducing stress, and increasing flexibility and balance. At the same time, a growing number of Chinese masters who had studied in both China and the West, such as Chen Man-ch'ing, began teaching Taijiquan to Western audiences, particularly in the United States and Europe.

This period marked the transformation of Taijiquan from a martial art into a widely practiced health exercise, where slow, meditative movements became associated with mental clarity and stress relief; also known at Tai Chi.

Wudang Taijiquan's Return to the Mountains After the Cultural Revolution

During China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), many traditional arts, including Wudang Taijiquan, were severely suppressed. Temples in the Wudang Mountains, once home to Daoist monks and martial artists, were destroyed, and the practice of Taijiquan was banned along with other forms of Daoist culture. This period of political upheaval and cultural erasure nearly wiped out many ancient practices, including martial arts.

Following the end of the Cultural Revolution in the late 1970s, China began to restore many of its traditional practices. The government’s shift towards economic reforms also encouraged the recovery of cultural heritage. Wudang Taijiquan was one of the first martial arts to experience a revival as the government began to restore the Wudang temples and promote traditional Chinese arts. This period marked a significant recovery for Wudang Taijiquan, which had nearly disappeared from public practice during the Cultural Revolution.

The post-revolutionary revival was facilitated by martial arts masters such as Li Guangfu, who returned to the Wudang Mountains after the suppression had ended. These masters worked to preserve traditional techniques and teachings of Wudang Taijiquan, focusing on internal cultivation, qi (vital energy) management, and Daoist philosophy. Unlike other more simplified or health-focused forms of Taijiquan that became popular in China, Wudang Taijiquan was preserved as a complete martial art with a strong connection to Daoist spiritual practice.

In the 1980s and 1990s, as China began to open up to the world, Wudang Taijiquan regained its reputation and started attracting international students. Foreign martial artists visited the Wudang Mountains to study the art in its birthplace, restoring its authenticity and reconnecting it with its traditional martial roots. The practice of Wudang Taijiquan was revived in its original form, emphasizing its martial applications, internal energy cultivation, and deep connection to Daoist teachings.

Today, the Wudang Mountains have become a center for martial arts and Daoist spirituality. The temples have been restored, and Wudang Taijiquan is now practiced by people from all over the world. The art has become not only a respected martial discipline but also a symbol of the resilience of Chinese culture, showcasing a holistic approach to martial arts that balances physical, mental, and spiritual development.

The revival of Wudang Taijiquan highlights the enduring importance of Daoist philosophy and internal martial arts in Chinese culture. While the Cultural Revolution temporarily suppressed Wudang Taijiquan, its return to the mountains and the global stage marks a successful recovery of an ancient tradition that continues to inspire martial artists and spiritual seekers alike.