A History Question

[davidmitchel]

Hi,

I hope this is the right forum for this question. I am reading about the history of T'ai Chi. I am getting two diffferent versions on the origin of T'ai Chi. The one that a General developed T'ai Chi, but I cannot get much information on this one. The other is that a monk took the breathing techniques learnt from his own masters , the fighting techniques from the Shaolin and combined these to develop the first form of T'ai Chi.

Does anyone have more information on the General and / or the Monk?

Thanks
David

[Yang Wei Xin]

The General is Chen Wangting, founder of Chen tai chi, and if you do a google search you will get more than enough info.

The Monk is Qi Jiguang, he created the 32 forms boxing.

Chen Wangting combined Qi Jiguangs 32 forms with the Chen Family Fist, and Huang Ting Jings Guiding Method to create Chen Tai Chi in the mid to late 1600's.

I would consider Chen Wangting to be the founder of tai chi as we know it. Altho some of the info was available prior to Chen Wangting, he is the one that combined the knowledge and codified the system.

[davidmitchel]

I appreciate the help. Having the names will make finding additional information much easier.

Dave

[Yang Wei Xin]

Sorry, slightly misinformed you, qi jiguang was also a general.

[davidmitchel]

Thank you.

[ggg214]

a monk? maybe a Taoist named Zhang sanfeng who is in Wu dang mountain?