Wu Yu-hsiang

武禹襄
Wu Yu-hsiang
Born 1812
Died 1880
Style Wu (Hao)-style t'ai chi ch'uan
Notable students Li I-yu
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Wu Yu-hsiang (Chinese: 武禹襄; pinyin: Wu Yuxiang) (1812–1880) was a Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) teacher and government official active during the late Ch'ing dynasty.[1] Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student (along with his two older brothers Wu Ch'eng-ch'ing 武澄清 and Wu Ju-ch'ing 武汝清) of Yang Lu-ch'an.[1] Wu Yu-hsiang also studied for a brief time with a teacher from the Chen family, Chen Ch'ing-p'ing, to whom he was introduced by Yang.[1]

There is a relatively large body of writing attributed to Wu Yu-hsiang on the subject of t'ai chi ch'uan theory, writings that are considered influential by many other schools not directly associated with his style.[1][2]

His most famous student was his nephew, Li I-yu (李亦畬, 1832–1892), who also authored several important works on t'ai chi ch'uan. Li I-yu had a younger brother who was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of t'ai chi, Li Ch'i-hsuan.[1][2]

The style of t'ai chi ch'uan 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 t'ai chi ch'uan. Hao Wei-chen subsequently taught Sun Lu-t'ang, the founder of Sun style t'ai chi ch'uan.[2]

Family tree

This family tree is not comprehensive.

LEGENDARY FIGURES
   |
Zhang Sanfeng*
circa 12th century
NEIJIA
   |
Wang Zongyue*
   |
   |
THE 5 MAJOR CLASSICAL FAMILY STYLES
   |
Chen Wangting
1600-1680 9th generation Chen
CHEN STYLE
   |
   +--------------------------------------------------------------+
   |                                                              |
Chen Changxing                                                Chen Youben
1771-1853 14th generation Chen                                circa 1800s 14th generation Chen
Chen Old Frame                                                Chen New Frame (Small Frame)
   |                                                              |
Yang Lu-ch'an                                                 Chen Qingping
1799–1872                                                     1795–1868
YANG STYLE                                                    Chen Small Frame, Zhaobao Frame
   |                                                              |
   +----------------------------+-----------------------------+   |
   |                            |                             |   |
Yang Pan-hou                 Yang Chien-hou                   Wu Yu-hsiang
1837–92                      1839–1917                        1812–80
Yang Small Frame                |                             WU/HAO STYLE
   |                      +-----------------+                      |
   |                      |                 |                      |
Wu Ch'uan-yu            Yang Shao-hou     Yang Ch'eng-fu          Li I-yu ---------- Li xunzhi
1834–1902               1862–1930         1883–1936               1832–92
   |                    Yang Small Frame  Yang Big Frame            |
Wu Chien-ch'uan                              |                    Hao Wei-chen
1870–1942                                 Yang Shou-chung         1849–1920
WU STYLE                                  1910–85                   |
108 Form                                                            |
   |                                                              Sun Lu-t'ang
Wu Kung-i                                                         1861–1932
1900–70                                                           SUN STYLE
   |                                                                |
Wu Ta-kuei                                                        Sun Hsing-i
1923–72                                                           1891–1929

References

  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 978-0791426548. 
  2. ^ a b c Yip, Y. L. (Autumn 1998). A Perspective on the Development of Taijiquan – Qi, The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 8 No. 3. Insight Graphics Publishers. ISSN 1056-4004.