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Yang Shaohou 楊少侯

Yang Shaohou 楊少侯 (1862-1930) along with Yang Chengfu 楊澄甫 (1883-1936) represent the third generation of Yang family Taijiquan 楊氏太極拳. Image File history File links Zhongwen. ... Japanese name Kanji: Kana: Korean name Hangul: Hanja: Vietnamese name Quoc Ngu: Hantu: A Chinese character (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) is a logogram used in writing Chinese, Japanese, sometimes Korean, and formerly Vietnamese. ... Yang Chengfu, 1933 Yang Chengfu (Hanyu Pinyin), or Yang Cheng-fu (Wade-Giles) ( 楊澄甫, 1883-1936) is historically considered the best known teacher of the soft style martial art of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan). ... Yang Cheng-fu in the Yang styles version of the form known as Single Whip 單鞭 Yang style (楊氏) Tai Chi Chuan in its many variations is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the primary five family...

Although Yang Shaohou studied Taijiquan from his father Yang Jianhou 楊健候 (1839–1917), it is said that he mainly learnt from his uncle Yang Banhou 楊班侯 (1837-1890). Likely influenced by his uncle's teaching style, Yang Shaohou was also known to have had a slightly eccentric and bellicose nature, and both of these masters are considered to have been very demanding teachers, only interested in teaching those that could stand their tough training regimes. Yang Shaohou's influence on modern Taijiquan is also represented in his instruction of many influential teachers of generations after his; among those (subsequently to become famous in their own right) who were referred to him for instruction were Wu Kung-i, Wu Kung-tsao and Tung Ying-chieh. Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan (from Chinese 太极拳 Tàijíquán, literally supreme ultimate fist), commonly known as Tai Chi or Taiji, is a nei chia (internal) Chinese martial art which is known for the claims of health and longevity benefits made by its... Yang Chien-hou Yang Chien-hou was the younger son of the founder of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Lu-chan, and a well known teacher of the soft style martial art of Tai Chi Chuan in late Qing dynasty China. ... Yang Pan-hou 楊班侯 Yang Pan-hou (Yang Banhou, 楊班侯, 1837-1890) was an influential teacher of Tai Chi Chuan in Ching dynasty China. ... Wu Kung-i 吳公儀 Wu Kung-i also known as Wu Kung-yi or Wu Gongyi (吳公儀 1900-1970), was a well known teacher of the soft style martial art known as Tai Chi Chuan in China, and, after 1949, in the British colony of Hong Kong. ... Wu Kung-tsao 吳公藻 Wu Kung-tsao 吳公藻 (1902-1983) whose name is also spelled Wu Gongzao, Wu Kung Cho or Wu Kung Jo, was a famous Chinese teacher of Tai Chi Chuan in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. ... Tung Ying-chieh (Dong Yingjie in Pinyin, 董英杰 8th November 1898-1961) was an influential teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. ...

According to the famous Taijiquan historian and disciple of Wu Jianquan, Wu Tunan 吳圖南 (1885-1989), who also studied under Yang Shaohou for four years, this master was famous for his "small circle" style. This form was known as the Small Frame 小架, Fast Frame 快架 or Applications Frame 用架 and was considered to require the highest level of skill to perform, being practiced at higher speed with fast jumps and kicks, actions that have generally been deleted from most of the modern styles of Taijiquan. Wu Jianquan 吳鑑泉 Wú Jiànquán or (Wade-Giles) Wu Chien-chüan, 吳鑑泉 (1870-1942), was a famous teacher of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) in late Imperial and early Republican China. ...

It is said that when Yang Shaohou demonstrated this style of Taijiquan the movements alternated between fast and slow, soft and hard, along with crisp Fa Jin 發勁 expressions supported by intimidating shouts. In application the most developed characteristic of his martial art style was the use of soft interception to overcome hard energy or Hua Jin 化勁, followed by the use of powerful Fa Jin pushes as a counter attack. Fa jing, fa jin, fa ching or fa chin (fā jìn, 發勁) is a term used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly the neijia internal martial arts, such as Xingyi, Tai Chi Chuan and Baguazhang . ...

During practice with his students, Yang Shaohou was not known for pulling his punches and subsequently few were able to complete the full course of training and become disciples.

Yang Shaohou's branch of the family isn't as well known internationally as his younger brother's, but his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still teaching in China, as well as descendants of his disciples.

Family tree

This family tree is not comprehensive.

 LEGENDARY FIGURES | Zhang Sanfeng* circa 12th century NEI CHIA | Wang Zongyue* T'AI CHI CH'ÜAN | THE 5 MAJOR CLASSICAL FAMILY STYLES | Chen Wangting 1600-1680 9th generation Chen CHEN STYLE | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | Chen Changxing Chen Youben 1771-1853 14th generation Chen circa 1800s 14th generation Chen Chen Old Frame Chen New Frame | | Yang Lu-ch'an Chen Qingping 1799-1872 1795-1868 YANG STYLE Chen Small Frame, Zhao Bao Frame | | +---------------------------------+-----------------------------+ | | | | | Yang Pan-hou Yang Chien-hou Wu Yu-hsiang 1837-1892 1839-1917 1812-1880 Yang Small Frame | WU/HAO STYLE | +-----------------+ | | | | | Wu Ch'uan-yü Yang Shao-hou Yang Ch'eng-fu Li I-yü 1834-1902 1862-1930 1883-1936 1832-1892 | Yang Small Frame Yang Big Frame | Wu Chien-ch'üan | Hao Wei-chen 1870-1942 Yang Shou-chung 1849-1920 WU STYLE 1910-1985 | 108 Form | | Sun Lu-t'ang Wu Kung-i 1861-1932 1900-1970 SUN STYLE | | Wu Ta-kuei Sun Hsing-i 1923-1972 1891-1929 

Note to Family tree table Zhang Sanfeng was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to date from either the late Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty or Ming dynasty. ... Nei chia (Chinese: 內家; pinyin: ; literally internal school) denotes the soft style group of Chinese martial arts, in distinction to the wai chia (Chinese: 外家; pinyin: ; literally external school) or hard style group, which is associated especially with Shaolin Quan (Shaolin Chüan) and its many derivatives. ... The Chen style (陈氏) is the oldest and parent form of the five main Tai Chi Chuan family styles. ... Chen Changxing 陳長興 (1771-1853) was a 14th generation descendant and 6th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of Taijiquan. ... Chen Youben 陳有本 ( circa 1800s) was a 14th generation descendant and 6th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of Taijiquan. ... Yang Lu-chan 楊露禪 Yang Lu-chan or Yang Luchan, 楊露禪, also known as Yang Fu-kui 楊福魁 (1799-1872), born in Kuang-ping (Guangping), was an influential teacher of the soft style martial art known Tai Chi Chuan in China during the second half of the... Chen Qingping or Chen Ching-ping (陳清苹 1795 - 1868) was a 15th generation descendant and 7th generation master of the famed Chen Family and considered to be an influential martial artist and teacher of Taijiquan. ... Yang Cheng-fu in the Yang styles version of the form known as Single Whip 單鞭 Yang family style (楊氏) Tai Chi Chuan in its many variations is the most popular and widely practised style in the world today and the second in terms of seniority among the... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Yang Chien-hou Yang Chien-hou was the younger son of the founder of Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Lu-chan, and a well known teacher of the soft style martial art of Tai Chi Chuan in late Qing dynasty China. ... Wu Yu-hsiang (武禹襄 Wu Yuxiang, 1812-1880) was a Chinese t’ai chi ch’uan teacher and government official active during the late Ching dynasty. ... The Wu or Wu/Hao style (武家 or 武/郝家) of Tai Chi Chüan is a separate family style from the more popular Wu style (吳家) of Wu Chien-chüan. ... Wu Chuan-yu or Wu Quanyou 吳全佑 (1834-1902) was an influential teacher of Tai Chi Chuan in late Imperial China. ... Yang Chengfu, 1933 Yang Chengfu (Hanyu Pinyin), or Yang Cheng-fu (Wade-Giles) ( 楊澄甫, 1883-1936) has been considered by many to be the best known teacher of Tai Chi Chuan (Taijiquan) to have ever lived. ... The solo form routine sequence, usually called the hand form or just the form in English and chüan in Mandarin: 拳 (in Wade-Giles romanization: chüan2, in the pinyin system: quán), is the best known manifestation of Tai Chi training for the general public. ... ... Hao Wei-chen (郝為真, 1842-1920) (may have been born in 1849) was a Tai Chi Chuan student of Master Li I-yu. ... Yang Shou-Chung, The eldest son of Yang Cheng-Fu (from his first marriage) began training in his familys style at age 8. ... Wu Chien-chuan in the Wu styles version of the posture Cloud Hands 雲手 The Wu style (吳氏) Tai Chi Chuan of Wu Chuan-yü (Wu Quanyou) and Wu Chien-chüan (Wu Jianquan) is the second most popular form of Tai Chi Chuan in... // Tai Chi forms Wu Chien-chuan in the Wu styles version of the posture known as Cloud Hands 雲手 The different slow motion solo form training sequences of Tai Chi Chuan are the best known manifestation of Tai Chi for the general public. ... Sun Lu-tang (Sun Lutang 孫祿堂, 1861-1932) created Sun style (孫家) Tai Chi Chüan. ... Wu Kung-i 吳公儀 Wu Kung-i also known as Wu Kung-yi or Wu Gongyi (吳公儀 1900-1970), was a well known teacher of the soft style martial art known as Tai Chi Chuan in China, and, after 1949, in the British colony of Hong Kong. ... Sun style (孫氏) Tai Chi Chüan was developed by Sun Lu-tang (孫祿堂, 1861-1932), who was considered expert in two other internal martial arts styles: Hsing-i Chuan (Xingyiquan) and Pa Kua Chang (Baguazhang) before he came to study Tai Chi. ... Wu Ta-kuei (Wu Dagui, 吳大揆, 1923-1970) was a teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. ...

Names denoted by an asterisk are legendary or semilegendary figures in the lineage, which means their involvement in the lineage, while accepted by most of the major schools, isn't independently verifiable from known historical records.

References

• Ma, Youqing. Tai Chi Chuan Research, Wu Tunan the Tai Chi Authority, The Commercial Press Hong Kong, 1983. ISBN 962-07-5024-1 (only available in Chinese)

External link

[1] Exhaustive Yang family tree with info on Yang Shaohou's descendants