History of Tai Chi

History of Tai Chi

Some trace the origins of tai chi to Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, also called Laozi or Lao Tse. Loa Tzu may or may not have been just one person, may or may not have lived in the the 6th or 4th century BC and may or may not have written the Tao Te Ching, or Daodehing. These writings are the basis of the philosophical approach and foundations of Tai Chi.

Skip forward to somewhere between 1279 and1459 AD. Chang San-feng, another historically disputed figure, may have been a Shaolin monk and is credited with developing Tai Chi's movements. Chang San-feng is also called Zhang Sanfeng. The story goes that one day, he either saw or had a vision about a crane attacking a snake. Every time the bird stabbed at the snake with its beak, the snake would circle and twist away. The snake would then strike the crane's neck with its tail. The crane should have been able to kill the snake easily, but the snake continued to evade the bird's attack. In other versions, the bird was a hawk or a magpie. From this vision, Chang learned that brute force could be countered with movements, which on the surface, seem yielding. Chang is said to have developed the 13 classic tai chi postures.

During the Ming Dynasty, from 1368 to 1644 AD, Wang Tsung-yueh or Wang Zongyue, may have been the next person who had an impact on the history of tai chi. Again, historians are uncertain as to whether Wang actually lived. Wang is said to have been the first person to call the art "tai chi chuan" and to have developed the choreography between the original 13 postures.