Chang San-Feng - the Legendary Founder
Chang San-Feng was also known as Chang Tung and Chang Chun-pao.
His ancestors lived on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, in Kiang-Hsi Povince in the southeast of China, but his grandfather took the family to Yi Hsien in Liao-Lin, a north eastern province. His father, Chang Chun-Jen, passed the examinations for a high ranking position in the governmant of Emperor Tai-Chung, but turned down the position preferring to live in the mountains.
Chang San-Feng was born at midnight on 9 April 1247
In ancient China, one's physical appearance was thought to reflect one's intelligence and character. It is said that Chang San-Feng was born a wise man as he had the arched back of a tortoise and the figure of a crane; his large round eyes were thought a symbol of intelligence and longevity.
He initially worked for the government, but on the death of his parents, he resigned his position, gave away his property to relatives and set off on a thirty year journey in search of enlightenment, travelling through the mountains and visiting temples on his way. He finally settled in mid-western China in the Pao-Gi mountains - the mountains' three peaks or 'San-Feng' in Chinese gave him his name.
During his travels, he is thought to have stayed in the famous Shaolin Buddhist Temple in Ho-Nan, in North China, and after ten years had mastered their Shaolin kungfu, a system invented by Da-Mo, a Buddhist monk who arrived in China from India in 527 AD.
In 1314, at the age of 67, he met a Taoist, Ho-Lung, whose name means "fire dragon", who taught him the secrets of immortality. Chang San-Feng then journied to the Wu-Tang Mountain, where he practised Ho-Lung's methods for nine or more years.
According to legend, he lived for more than 200 years, surviving during difficult political times by pretending to be mad (hence the nick-name, "the sloppy Taoist").
His ancestors lived on Dragon-Tiger Mountain, in Kiang-Hsi Povince in the southeast of China, but his grandfather took the family to Yi Hsien in Liao-Lin, a north eastern province. His father, Chang Chun-Jen, passed the examinations for a high ranking position in the governmant of Emperor Tai-Chung, but turned down the position preferring to live in the mountains.
Chang San-Feng was born at midnight on 9 April 1247
In ancient China, one's physical appearance was thought to reflect one's intelligence and character. It is said that Chang San-Feng was born a wise man as he had the arched back of a tortoise and the figure of a crane; his large round eyes were thought a symbol of intelligence and longevity.
He initially worked for the government, but on the death of his parents, he resigned his position, gave away his property to relatives and set off on a thirty year journey in search of enlightenment, travelling through the mountains and visiting temples on his way. He finally settled in mid-western China in the Pao-Gi mountains - the mountains' three peaks or 'San-Feng' in Chinese gave him his name.
During his travels, he is thought to have stayed in the famous Shaolin Buddhist Temple in Ho-Nan, in North China, and after ten years had mastered their Shaolin kungfu, a system invented by Da-Mo, a Buddhist monk who arrived in China from India in 527 AD.
In 1314, at the age of 67, he met a Taoist, Ho-Lung, whose name means "fire dragon", who taught him the secrets of immortality. Chang San-Feng then journied to the Wu-Tang Mountain, where he practised Ho-Lung's methods for nine or more years.
According to legend, he lived for more than 200 years, surviving during difficult political times by pretending to be mad (hence the nick-name, "the sloppy Taoist").
Creation of Tai Chi Chuan
According to legend, whilst he was living in the Wu-Tang Mountain, Chang heard a commotion outside. Following the noise, he discovered a crane attacking a snake. Each time the crane attacked, the snake would move gently in a circular fashion to avoid the crane's beak, but counter-attacking, the snake's bite was gently deflected by the crane's circular wing movements. The contest continued, up and down, left and right, back and forth for a considerable time with neither the snake nor the crane gaining the ascendency.
Observing this, Chang San-Feng understood how softness could overcome hardness and adopted these principles to create Tai Chi chuan.
Taoist Influences
It is said that Chang San-Feng added the theory of the I Ching and Taoist breathing techniques to the Shaolin techniques he had learnt to create Tai Chi Chuan.
Lineage
After Chang San-Feng, it is said that Tai Chi chuan passed down through Wang Tsung, Chen Tun-Chow, Chang Sung-Hsi, Yeh Chi-Ma, and Wang Tsung-Yueh to Chiang Fah, who taught the art to the Chen family.
Lineage
After Chang San-Feng, it is said that Tai Chi chuan passed down through Wang Tsung, Chen Tun-Chow, Chang Sung-Hsi, Yeh Chi-Ma, and Wang Tsung-Yueh to Chiang Fah, who taught the art to the Chen family.
