Chen style evolved from Wudang Style Taijiquan. Chen Wang Ting was its First Patriarch (patriarch, not founder). He was a great scholar-general at the end of the Ming Dynasty (c1600-1680).
Legends alternately credit one of two masters, Jiangfa and/or Wangzongyue, with having taught the military family of Chenwangting the art of taijiquan. Likewise there are conflicting stories of who in the family received the training first, used it to transform the Chen family’s gongfu into taiji, and then taught the rest of the family.
Chen style is often distinguished by its equal expression of yin and yang, sometimes referred to as 50% hard, 50% soft. It is also known among the classical families as the style that most outwardly expresses the uses of chang si jing (silk reeling energy, or cocoon spinning force) and fa jing (explosive energy, or issuing power).
This style tends to be more vigorous as exercise and emphasizes martial application.
Chen Style Taijiquan Resources ∞
- The Chen Style Taijiquan Web Resource
- International Chen Style Taijiquan Association
- http://chansigong.quizk.com
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https://web.archive.org/web/20200924085103/http://www.chenvillage.com/
- Pensylvania Chen Taijiquan Association
- Rochester Chen Style Taijiquan
- Peninsula Chen Style TaijiChuan
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https://web.archive.org/web/20070303193550/http://www.qimagazine.co.uk:80/chen.htm
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