Zhaobao taiji lineage tree
July 27th, 2006 at 8:10 am (
Taijiquan)
The following is a long post from Tom over at EF. You can read the original
here. I want to archive this in case I lose track of it. It’s solid info on the lineage of zhaobao and how it relates to the Chen family and huleijia.
Just to clarify: there are several taijiquan lineages with roots in Zhaobao village. The Zhaobao clips most commonly seen, including the one above with Wang Haizhou, represent the large frame practice coming from He Zhaoyuan (via Zheng Boying). There is also a Zhaobao Heshi small-frame practice descending from Zheng Wuqing.
Hu Lei Jia comes down from Li Jingyan. Li added some martial arts elements from the Huaqing (now Wen) county area to what he learned in Zhaobao to form the Hu Lei Jia style.
He Zhaoyuan (Zhaobao) and Li Jingyan (Hu Lei Jia) both trained taijiquan under Chen Qingping (who hosted Wu Yuxiang of Yang/Wu “Taiji Classics” fame for 40 days when Wu was not able to study with Yang Luchan’s teacher, Chen Changxing). So their styles do have a historical connection to the Chen family of Chenjiagou through Chen Qingping (CQP).
Jarek Szymanski has previously written (on this forum and one other) that: “CQP was neither born in Chenjiagou nor raised there. He did not move to Zhaobao because of marrying a local woman. Chen Xiluo, CQP’s father, was from Wang’gedang village, and later moved to Zhaobao. Chen family in Zhaobao was wealthy, which can be clearly seen from the Fen Dan (document in which CQP’s property is being divided among his descendants). If CQP moved to Zhaobao because of marrying a local woman, according to local custom he would have to change his surname. It is true however that CQP was a member Chen clan from Chenjiagou.
It was Chen Xin who in his ‘Chen Clan Chronicles’ wrote that CQP learnt from Chen Youben.” [note: Chen Youben, famous for his Chen Xiao Jia, was a contemporary of Chen Changxing, Yang Luchan’s teacher).
Tim Cartmell studied Hu Lei Jia in Taiwan. Tim’s lineage is Chen Qingping - Li Jingyan (Hulei Jia) - Yang Hu - Chen Yingde - Wang Jinrang - Xiong (Hsiung) Wei - Lin Ah Long - Tim Cartmell. According to Tim, when he trained under Lin, it was simply called “Zhaobao style of Chen Qingping.”
The 8 basic exercises (with deep squats and twisting) that Tim teaches as a pre-requisite to the Hu Lei Jia form work trace back to Xiong (Hsiung) Wei for sure . . . I don’t know about any earlier roots for these exercises.
For those whose attention has not yet wandered to more tempting pastures, here is a passage with a little more history on Zhaobao taijiquan. I have the passage in my notes, but will have to post the specific source later when I find it. It is part of a larger description of the history of some of the current branches of Zhaobao style.
“Zhaobao taijiquan was passed down to Zhang Yingchang and Chen Qingping, afterwards it split into different branches; some teachers added innovations and thus formed their own branches . . . Zhang Yingchang taught Zhang Wen, Zhang Wen taught Zhang Jinmei, Zhang Jinmei taught Zhang Jingzhi, Zhang Jingzhi taught Hou Chyungxiu, Chen Yingming and others. Hou Chunxiu taught in Xi’an for many decades and had many students, forming a big group of Zhaobao practitioners in Xi’an.
Chen Qingping taught his son Chen Jingyang, He Zhaoyuan, Niu Fahu, Li Jingyan, Li Zuozhi, Wu Yuxiang and others. After the above generation, the art divided into 3 branches. The first branch is that of Chen Jingyang; he taught Ren Changchu, who taught Du Yuanhua [ED. NOTE: THIS SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO TAIWAN PRACTITIONERS], who was a teacher in Henan Province Guoshuguan (martial arts academy). He also wrote “Taijiquan zhengzong,” which was the first book to document Zhaobao taijiquan.
The second branch is that of He Zhaoyuan, who taught He Jingzhi (his son), He Qingxi (his grandson). He Qingxi taught He Xuexin (his son), Zheng Xijue (a.k.a. Zheng Boying), Zhen Wuzing and others. Zheng Xijue (Boying) and Zheng Wuqing taught in Xi’an for many decades, and had many students. Zheng Xijue taught the dajia (large frame), whilst Zheng Wuqing taught xiaojia (small frame); together with Hou Chunxiu (who taught zhongjia, the medium frame), they formed three very important groups of Zhaobao taijiquan in Xi’an, making Xi’an the second headquarters of Zhaobao taijiquan. The “2 Zhengs of the Northwest” (as they were called), because they both considreed He Zhaoyuan as their “shicheng” (grandteacher?), so their branch is also called Zhaobao Heshi (He style) taijiquan.
The third branch is that of Wu Yuxiang.”
Introduction Zhaobao Tai Chi Chuan
Zhaobao Xiaojia
Zhaobao Tai Chi Chuan is a very old form of boxing. It is an excellent exercise method which promotes good health and longevity. The consistent and faithful practice of this style is reported to have strengthening effects on people suffering with poor health or chronic illnesses. The characteristic upright headline of Zhabao Style with its prolonged deep breathing clears the mind, harmonizes blood and qi (ch’i) circulation thus helping to establish a general state of well being.
Jiang Fa, who studied with Wang Zhong Yue (whose Treatise on Tai Chi Chuan is a classic), was the last survivor of the seventh generation of Zhaobao Tai chi Chuan. According to a manuscript copy of Zhaobao Tai chi Chuan, Jiang Fa taught the Zhaobao style to Xing Xi (Hsing Hsi) Huai in the final years of Wan Li in the Ming Dynasty (around A.D.1620). Xing passed this style onto Zhang Cu (Ts’u) Chen, Zhang onto Chen Jiang Buo, Chen onto Zhang Zhong Yu, Zhang onto his son Zhang Yian, and Zhang onto Chen Qing (Ch ing) Ping. Chen Qing Ping onto He Zhao Yuan, He Zhao Yuan onto He Qing Xi.He Qing Xi had many students, of whom his nephew He Xue Xing, Cheng Wu Qing, Cheng Buo Ying, Hao Yu Qiao and Guo Yun are the best known. Master Zhengwuqing also had many outstanding student , Master Liu Rui , Master Li Suicheng , Master Song yunhua , they are also eleventh generation from Zhaobao.
The basic framework of Zhaobao tai chi chuan consists of 75 postures. Each has a collection of large and small, and flowing and reversed circular movements; even the qi inside the dantian is traveling in circles. Every circle is intertwined, thus inside and outside circles become one. Framework exercises can be divided into large, medium and small frames. Each pose in each frame is light, agile, circular, brisk and open. In order to meet the requirements of proper body postures such as “three points facing”, “steps following body movement”, “movement without moving and “conformity with the bends and the shape of the body,” one must step as if reeling silk, move like flowing water (with each move remaining connected like a lotus root breaking with the fibers still holding together), and follow one form closely after another.
Throughout the whole fist form, the body frame maintains a posture that is central, upright, level, even, light, agile, rounded, and lively, with hard and soft movements complementing one another. During the entire exercise, thoughts are linked together to unite body applications. The exercise can make one healthy, as well as provide self-defense.
One should not expect to be successful in this style in haste. The first step to success is to learn the form. The second step requires accuracy. The third step requires internal energy to lead external movements. The fourth step is to inquire into the truth of applications. A piece of ice that is three feet thick is not formed in one cold day. Those who have patience will be successful in learning the style, and those lacking patience will fail. If one can devote oneself to study this style, learn diligently and practice hard, one can get better and better, attaining lightness, agility, smoothness, vitality, and a state of well being.