More Detail Of Various Styles of Tai Chi

Introduction to Various Styles of Tai Chi

1. Chen-Style Tai Chi

Chen-style Tai Chi is divided into Old Frame (Laojia) and New Frame (Xinjia).

The Old Frame was created by Chen Wangting from Chenjiagou village in Wen County, Henan Province during the early Qing Dynasty. The original Chen-style had seven routines, but now only the First Routine and Second Routine (Pao Chui) are commonly practiced.

During the Daoguang and Xianfeng reigns, Chen Youben (a fifth-generation descendant of Chen Wangting) simplified some difficult movements from the Old Frame and created the New Frame. His student, Chen Qingping, later developed a new form known as the Zhaobao Frame. While the Old and New Frames are fundamentally similar, the Old Frame uses larger spiraling movements ("big circles") and the New Frame uses smaller, more compact circles ("small circles").

Despite differences in expression, both share core principles. Chen-style Tai Chi combines internal intent and breathing with external spiraling and coiling movements. Movements alternate between slow and fast, soft and hard, with explosive power (fajin) typically expressed during transitions. It emphasizes integration of mind and body, full-body coordination, and continuous, flowing energy.

2. Yang-Style Tai Chi

Yang Luchan (1799–1871), a native of Yongnian County, Hebei, learned Tai Chi in Chenjiagou under Chen Changxing after initially working as a servant in a Chinese medicine shop.

Yang trained tirelessly, sometimes dozing on a narrow bench only to fall off and continue practicing. After years of dedication, he returned to his hometown and later moved to Beijing to teach Tai Chi. To accommodate royal family members and nobles who had weaker constitutions, he simplified and softened the more explosive movements of Chen-style Tai Chi, removing jumps and fast spirals. His third son Yang Jianhou further modified it into the "middle frame," and his grandson Yang Chengfu later developed the widely-practiced large frame we know today.

Yang-style Tai Chi is characterized by broad, graceful movements, softness, and smooth transitions. It promotes the idea of “hiding strength in softness” and aims to improve health and cultivate inner strength.

3. Wu-Style Tai Chi

While Yang Luchan was teaching in the royal court, a Manchu student named Quan You became his disciple. Quan You later studied under Yang’s son, Yang Banhou, and passed his knowledge to his own son, Wu Jianquan.

Wu Jianquan renamed the style after his surname "Wu" and established a Tai Chi school in Shanghai. Wu-style Tai Chi is known for softness and compactness, with medium-sized movements and subtle, controlled power. It focuses on calm yet responsive push-hands techniques.

4. Wu (Hao)-Style Tai Chi

Wu Yuxiang (1812–1880) of Yongnian first learned Yang-style large frame and then studied with Chen Qingping, who taught a compact variation of Chen-style. Wu Yuxiang synthesized these teachings into what became known as Wu (Hao)-style Tai Chi.

His system was further developed by his nephew Li Yiyu, and passed on to Hao Weizhen, who taught his son Hao Yue-Ru, making this style publicly accessible. Wu (Hao)-style is known for its light, agile movements, compact postures, and precise spiraling energy.

5. Sun-Style Tai Chi

Sun Lutang (1860–1930), a native of Hebei, was first a master of Xingyi and Bagua, and later studied Tai Chi with Hao Weizhen. He combined the three internal martial arts—Xingyi, Bagua, and Tai Chi—into what became Sun-style Tai Chi.

This style is distinguished by open-close dynamics, high stances, agile steps, and a smooth, flowing quality. It emphasizes internal energy and harmony, and has a unique aesthetic and internal method.

6. He-Style Tai Chi (Zhaobao Tai Chi)

He-style Tai Chi originated in Zhaobao Town, Wen County, Henan, during the late Qing dynasty. Its founder, He Zhaoyuan (1810–1890), was a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who learned from Chen Qingping.

He-style Tai Chi is grounded in the principles of the Book of Changes (I Ching) and features circular, natural movements, emphasizing softness, smooth flow, and a harmonious unity of body and mind. Its movements are guided by yin-yang, the five elements, and Daoist principles. Traditional He-style contains 72 movements and is practiced to enhance internal balance, physical health, and longevity.

7. Simplified Tai Chi

To promote public health, China’s National Sports Commission developed simplified routines based mainly on Yang-style Tai Chi, incorporating elements from other styles. The most popular routines include the 24-Form, 48-Form, and 88-Form.

Additionally, simplified forms such as the 36-Form Chen-style Tai Chi (by Kan Guixiang) and 38-Form Chen-style (by Chen Xiaowang) were created to make traditional Chen routines more accessible to beginners.

8. Wudang Tai Chi

Wudang Tai Chi refers to the internal martial arts tradition attributed to the legendary Daoist sage Zhang Sanfeng. It is often described as the origin of Tai Chi and is rooted in Daoist philosophy, focusing primarily on health cultivation with self-defense as a secondary goal.

Wudang Tai Chi includes the Thirteen Postures, combining spiraling silk-reeling movements with principles from the Bagua and Nine Palaces. It values internal stillness, external softness, and movement in a small space (“fighting in the size of a cow’s lying space”).

The style emphasizes harmony with nature, the unity of body and spirit, and the Daoist qigong principles of "refining essence into energy, energy into spirit, and spirit into the Dao." Wudang Tai Chi is both a martial art and a holistic health practice.

In recent years, with the rise of tourism and government promotion of traditional culture, Wudang Tai Chi has gained popularity worldwide.