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Wu Yuxiang

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Wu Yuxiang
武禹襄
Drawing of Wu Yuxiang
Born1812?
Died1880?
StyleWu (Hao)-style tai chi
Notable studentsLi Yiyu (李亦畬)
Li Qixuan
Wu Yuxiang
Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǔ Yǔxiāng
Wade–GilesWu Yu-hsiang

Wu Yuxiang (Wu Yu-hsiang, 1812?–1880?) was a Chinese martial artist, teacher and the founder of Wu (Hao)-style tai chi.[1] Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student of Yang Luchan, the founder of Yang-style tai chi.[1] Wu also studied for a brief time with Chen Qingping, a master of Chen-style and Zhaobao-style tai chi.[1]

There is a relatively large body of writing attributed to Wu on the subject of tai chi theory, writings that are considered influential by other tai chi styles were the source of what are now known as the tai chi classics.[1][2]

Wu developed his own style of tai chi and shared it with members of his family, who also wrote about the art. He trained with his two older brothers Wu Chengqing (武澄清, 1800-1884)) and Wu Ruqing (武汝清, 1803-1887), and took on two nephews as disciples. One of those nephews Li Yiyu (Li I-yu, 李亦畬, 1832–1892), authored several particularly important works on tai chi. The other nephew, Li Yiyu's younger brother Li Qixuan (Li Ch'i-hsuan, 李啟軒, 1835-1899), worked closely with Yiyu to further develop the art, and was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of tai chi.[1][2]

The style of tai chi that Wu taught was eventually known, because of its later transmission by three generations of students of his nephew named Hao, as Wu (Hao)-style tai chi. Hao Weizhen subsequently taught Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun-style tai chi.[2]

Tai chi lineage tree with Wu (Hao)-style focus

[edit]
Wu (Hao)-style tai chi lineage tree
Key:NEIJIA
Solid linesDirect teacher-student.
Dot linesPartial influence
/taught informally
/limited time.
TAIJIQUAN
Dash linesIndividual(s) omitted.
Dash crossBranch continues.CHEN-STYLEZhaobao-style
(杨露禅)
Yang Luchan
1799–1872
YANG-STYLE
(陈清萍)
Chen Qingping
1795–1868
Chen Small Frame,
Zhaobao Frame
(武禹襄)
Wu Yuxiang
1812–1880
WU (HAO)-STYLE
Zhaobao He-style
(李啟軒)
Li Qixuan
1835-1899
2nd gen. Wu (Hao)
(李亦畬)
Li Yiyu
1832–1892
2nd gen. Wu (Hao)
Li-style(郝為真)
Hao Weizhen
1849–1920
3rd gen. Wu (Hao)
(李逊之)
Li Xunzhi
1882–1944
3rd gen. Wu (Hao)
WU-STYLE(孙禄堂)
Sun Lutang
1861–1932
SUN-STYLE
(郝月如)
Hao Yueru
1877-1935
4th gen. Wu (Hao)
李寶玉 (李香遠)
Li Baoyu (Li Xiangyuan)
1888-1961
4th gen. Wu (Hao)
李聖端
Li Shengduan
1888-1948
4th gen. Wu (Hao)
李錦藩
Li Jinfan
4th gen. Wu (Hao)
(董英傑)
Dong Yingjie
1897–1961
4th gen. Yang
(郝少如)
Hao Shaoru
1908-1983
5th gen. Wu (Hao)
Wudang-style(刘积顺)
Liu Jishun
1930-Present
6th gen. Wu (Hao)
(李伟明)
Li Weiming
1944-Present
6th gen. Wu (Hao)
浦公達
Pu Gongda
1905-1997
6th gen. Wu (Hao)
CHEN-STYLEYANG-STYLEWU-STYLESUN-STYLEWU (HAO)-STYLE
Note:
  • This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Wu (Hao)-style.
  • Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Wu (Hao) style & not necessarily that of the family.'

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Wile, Douglas (1995). Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty (Chinese Philosophy and Culture). State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-2654-8.
  2. ^ a b c Yip, Y. L. (Autumn 1998). "A Perspective on the Development of Taijiquan". Qi: The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness. 8 (3). Insight Graphics Publishers. ISSN 1056-4004.