Our Branch
(The black branch of the time line) The black branch of Chen Style Time Line is our branch. There are three important people we need to know. Two of the Chen family and one outside of the family but who is also named Chen. Chen You Ben that we learned in my last article had a brother named Chen You Heng. Chen you Heng had a grandson named Chen Xin. Chen Xin was born in 1849 and died in 1929. Although he started Tai Chi training when he was very young like all the kids in the village at his time, his father wanted him to be a scholar. He did become a “Gong Sheng.” student of “Guo Zi Jian”.
Guo Zi Jian was the highest learning institution in ancient China. Its students were reserves of high level government officials and were empowered to impeach government officials and criticize government policies.
This fact aside his true passion was in Tai Chi. Using his academic ability he wrote many books on Tai Chi. In 1908, he started writing the book entitled 太极拳图说, (Google: “Illustrated Explanation of Chen Family Tai Ji Quan”) He finished it in 1919. This four volume book is considered the culmination of Chen Family Tai Chi study. This book was first published in 1933 but it was almost lost in time to war and natural disasters. Chen Xin hand scribed four copies of the book and tried to have the book published. Not only could he not find a willing publisher, eventually all four copies were all lost in chaos caused by warlords (eavily present at the time). He was so disappointed that in 1927 he gave the original to his adopted son (and his only son) telling him-
“Pass it on if you could find somebody worth teaching or burn it if you cannot”. Later, when one of his fellow village men volunteered to help publish the book in what was then the capitol city of Nanking, he made another copy for him. This man later wrote to him saying the copy was lost in a flood during his trip there. Seeing the last of his efforts to publish the book fail, he fell ill and soon died. He and his family were so poor that there wasn’t any money for his burial. Eventually his son and grand children traveled with the book to every publisher they could find. Finally, with great help from fellow martial artists it was published in 1933. It was highly received in the martial art community and with the wealth his family was finally able to bury him as royalty. The book has four parts: The first part is focused on introducing all moves of the forms and how they should be practiced. This is the main content of the first three volumes of the book. The second is focused on basic theories of Tai Chi and the principles of the moves. The third is on the cultural foundation of Tai Chi, including Yi Jing and the meridians, collaterals and pressure points. The last is brief history of Chen Family Tai Chi. My opinion on the book is this: Like all books by ancient grand masters, it doesn’t have the very basics which makes everything the book talks about useful. Although this book is one of the best on Tai Chi it has not been as popular as other books written by people who knew much less about iti. The reason I think is that there is a point that many modern and contemporary Tai Chi masters don’t understand. That point is when you practice, do not focus on Qi or there will be stagnation. If you just randomly pick up a book on Tai Chi written by modern or contemporary Tai Chi masters you will very likely come to the conclusion that the ultimate goal of practicing Tai Chi is to develop Qi. The book will also tell you that you need to direct Qi by your will and let Qi move your body. These modern and contemporary masters have not practiced to the a level where they understand that Qi is only a by-product of body loosening so consequently cannot explain why you should not focus on Qi or there will be stagnation. In this sense, many of you know much more about Tai Chi than these "masters". |
