Grandmaster
Chen, Xiao Wang was borne in 1945, into one of the most important
families in the development of Chinese Culture. History tells us that
his family is the originator of Taijiquan beginning as far back as
the 1600’s. Chen, Xiao Wang began training when he was 7 years
old under his father, Chen, Zhaoxu and grandfather Chen, Fa Ke. (At
dinner one year I asked when he began to understand his importance
in his family tradition; Master Chen replied, “I was very young.”)
Master Chen continued to train at his family’s school in the
Chen Village (Chenjiaogo, Wen Xian, China) through his youth. Master
Chen became a carpenter and worked in this field for many years while
continuing to train. He inspires us with his stories of practicing
the Laojia (about a 15 minute form) at least 27 times each day, along
with his standing meditation practice and all the other forms he learned.
Since beginning to teach, Master Chen has cultivated a broad and talented
student population throughout the world. He served in the Chinese
National People’s Assembly as the sole deputy elected from
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Taijiquan
circles and was the winner of the gold medal in Taijiquan at the First
International Wushu
Championship in China in 1985. Master Chen and remained a multiple gold
medalist during his competition years. In 1988 he was recognized by the
Chinese Government with a special award for contribution to Taijiquan development.
In addition to his irrefutable martial prowess, Master Chen is also a talented
calligrapher (though he has never received a lesson, his work goes for as
much as several thousand dollars). Master Chen is also a distinguished author
having written several books on Taijiquan. He a committee member of the
Society of Chinese Calligraphy and Literature.
Master Chen Xiao Wang currently resides in Australia but travels over 300
days a year teaching his family’s Taiji to anyone who wants to learn
it. Master Chen additionally cultivates teachers on many continents to help
him spread high quality Taiji throughout the world - with the goal of health
and happiness for all. His brother Chen, Xiao Xing his many family members
and community in China continue to work tirelessly to both teach and to
renovate his family’s home village & temple so that the birthplace
of Taijiquan will remain as a Jewel, in tact for generations to come.
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Grandmaster
Chen, Xiao Wang and Embrace the Moon |
| Kim
Ivy met Grandmaster Chen, Xiao Wang in August of 2002 at a Laojia
(old frame, first set, “mother form”) workshop in
San Francisco. After experiencing his authentic and high level
of skill, his kindness and clarity of teaching, and the community
of students and teachers he has cultivated, she invited him
to Seattle, in hopes of taking a place in the long line of people
wanting to host him. About a month later Kim received a call
from Master Chen, Xiao Wang; stunningly he had created an opening
in his schedule that allowed him to come to Seattle before he
left the United States, in 3 weeks! She will never forget him
saying, when discussing the short time to promote the workshop,
“I can teach 6 or 60, it doesn’t matter.” |
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Three weeks later, Embrace The Moon hosted Master Chen’s first
Seattle workshop (a healthy 40 attendee Chan Si Gong weekend). Since
then, Master Chen returns to Seattle and to Embrace The Moon each
year to guide us and many of our friends generously through the Chen
Curriculum.
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Master
Chen gifted Embrace The Moon with a stunning Calligraphy (“Crouching
Dragon, Hidden Tiger”) as he said, “to make your
dojo strong.” |
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During the 2005 seminar, Master Chen invited 10 US Students
and 17 others from around the world to become disciples. On
March 9, 2006, Kim participated in this traditional ceremony
at the Taijiquan Temple in the Chen Village. The ceremony marked
the formalized direct student relationship with Master Chen
and family bond with her Taiji “brothers and sisters.”
Read
about it . . .
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The
History of Taijiquan
From
"Chen Style Taijiquan: The Source of Taiji Boxing" (Sim
and Gaffney, 2002) Used by permission - Bill
& Allsion Helm
Photos added by Kim Ivy and Allison Helm
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The birthplace of Taijiquan is commonly accepted to be Chenjiagou,
in Wenxian, Henan province of China. There are many accounts
of how Taijiquan came to be, some historical, some fictional,
but the most recent and credible findings point to the Chen
family.
Chen Bu was the patriarch of the Chen family and lived during
the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Chen Bu migrated from Shanxi Province
to Huaiqing, founding what would be named Chenjiagou in an area
north of the Yellow River. The area was prone to flooding from
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Yellow
River, and drainage ditches were created to help divert flood
waters. Chenjiagou means "Chen Family Ditch".
Some believe that Shaolin Boxing was practiced in the village
before the compilation of Taijiquan. The village was quite close
to the Shaolin Temple, giving credence to this theory. Historical
records did not start until the 7th generation, and detailed
records of people, marriages, and martial arts began with the
9th generation. |
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Chen
Wangting |
Chen
Wangting of the 9th generation was a martial artist and scholar.
He had a reputation as a strong fighter and was able to defeat
over 1000 bandits, according to records. He was in the military
and retired soon after the fall of the Ming dynasty. After
his retirement, he began compiling a form of martial art called
"The First Method". This method included:
-
Yin Yang Theory
- Jingluo
(energy channel) Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- The
"Canon of Boxing" of Qi Jigyang (classic text
on strategy and martial arts by a famous general)
- Tui
Shou (pushing hands) training
- Creation
of a basic spear practice routine
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The original Taijiquan contained five sets of forms, one set of long
fist, and one set of cannon fist, for seven sets total. The emphasis
is on whole body relaxation, training the mind, softness progressing
to firmness then back to softness, and slow and fast actions. The
Chen family relied on their martial skills not only for survival but
for their livelihood, and worked as bodyguards and escorts. They kept
their secret skills in the family and the village for five generations.
Chen Changxing of the 14th generation is given credit for synthesizing
the forms created by his ancestors. The two resulting forms, Laojia
Yi Lu and Laojia Er Lu, mutually complement each other and preserve
many of the original postures and all of the principles of the original
forms of Chen Wangting. This was the biggest change in the complete
evolution of Taijiquan. All other forms of Taijiquan today were derived
from the original form of Laojia Yi Lu. |
Yang
Luchan |
Chen Changxing was the first of the family to teach the art
to an outsider. Yang Luchan went to Chenjiagou to study with
Chen Changxing, and through persistence and diligence he was
able to convince Chen Changxing to teach him the Chen family
style. Yang agreed not to teach the Chen style to the public,
and changed the form and gave it his own name to create Yang
Style Taijiquan. |
Yang
Luchan recieving Chen secrets from Chen Changxing |
Also of the 14th generation, Chen Youben created another routine
he called Xiaojia (small frame), and eliminated some of the
more difficult and explosive movements. This style is still
known today, but not widely practiced. |
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In the late 1800s, Chen Xin of the 16th generation began documenting
the Chen family's martial art. In his groundbreaking book, Illustrated
Explanations of Chen Family Taijiquan, he explained the principles
and theories of Taijiquan, and the application of postures and guidelines
for beginners. Many of the secrets of the Chen family were revealed
in this book. (Translations of passages from this book can be found
at Jarek's
Martial Arts Pages.)
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Chen
Fa-ke |
The
next major development occured in the 17th generation with Chen
Fa-Ke (1887-1957), the great grandson of Chen Changxing. Chen
Fa-Ke (Chen Xiaowang's grandfather) created the Xinjia (new
frame) which is widely practiced in the world today. Xinjia
combined the elements of Laojia Yi Lu and Er Lu, added moves,
and incorporated more complex silk reeling and explosive discharges
(fajing). Chen Fa-Ke wanted to enhance the fighting applications
and make the form more efficient in practical use. He applied
the same changes to the Er Lu. He taught Chen style Taijiquan
in Beijing for nearly 30 years, making more people aware of
the style.
The 18th generation included Chen Zhaopei and Chen Zhaokui (Chen
Xiao Wang's uncle). Chen Zhaopei is credited with initiating
a renaissance of Taijiquan in Chenjiagou and nurtured current
masters including Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Wang Xian and
Zhu Tiancai, known collectively as the Four Buddha's Warrior
Attendants or Four Tigers of Chen Taijiquan. Chen Zhaokui was
the youngest son of Chen Fa-Ke and brought the Xinjia back to
Chenjiagou in 1973. |
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Chen
Xiao Wang |
Chen Style Taijiquan is enjoying worldwide popularity today,
with students from all around the world traveling to Chenjiagou
to study with the Chen family. The art is still taught as it
was created by Chen Wangting, and the 20th and 21st generation
artists still live and teach in the village. |
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In March
2006 , twenty seven of Master Chen Xiao Wang’s students from
all over the world participated in a disciple ceremony in the Chen
Village Temple. This group joins the 20th Generation, insuring that
Chen Family Taijiquan will be passed on into the limitless future. |
US
Disciples |
Ceremony
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Altar
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World
Disciples with "Elder Brothers" |
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March China Trip Photo Album
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Related
Websites of Interest
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Chen
Xiao Wang World Taijiquan Association
Master Chen's website, managed and updated by fellow disciples Betty
Dong & Chris Forde (Arizona). Information here includes his world
tour dates & locations and resources to purchase study tapes,
logo clothing & calligraphy.
Taoist Sanctuary
of San Diego
Fellow disciples Bill & Allison Helm’s website (California).
This site includes great information about Chen Taijiquan, Taijiquan
in general and Chinese Bodywork. Updated weekly.
The Bristol School
of Tai Chi Fellow disciple Ben Milton (England)
Chinese
Boxing Institute International Fellow disciple James
Cravens (Tennesse, Florida)
Jarek's
Chinese Martial Arts Pages Jarek Szymanski (Poland) has
a treasure trove of collected and translated information on the Internal
Martial Arts.
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