Historical Series Notes
1. The Ten Important Points
of Chen Chang Xin were first
published by Chen Ji Pu also
known as Chen Zhao Pi in his
book in 1935. Chen Xin's book
which was published earlier
has no record of these ten discourses.
These Ten Discourses are not
present in the Yang writings
or the commonly accepted classic
writings. We are unable to ascertain
the authenticity of these writings.
2. Chang San
Feng was supposed to have studied
at the Shaolin Temple and was
proficient in Shaolin martial
arts. Later, he became interested
in Taoism and incorporated its
principles and Dao Yin practices
into his art, utilising very
different principles from the
Shaolin school. His art was
very different and was not as
demonstrative as the Shaolin
school but could be effective
against it. To differentiate
this new art from the existing
Shaolin school and other schools
of martial arts that utilised
similar principles, people started
calling Chang San Feng's art
Internal Boxing since it was
based on non-aggressive, non-vigorous
principles as opposed to the
aggressive and vigorous forms
of martial arts which were termed
External Boxing.
3. Chen Xin
did write a book on the art
of Tai Ch'i Chuan called `Chen
Shi Tai Ch'i Chuan' which does
not mention this story but attributes
the creation of the art to Chen
Pu, the patriarch of the Chen
family. We need to note, however,
that the book was published
four years after his death and
that he had three collaborators.
It was they that published the
book and in the four years after
Chen Xin's death, it is very
possible that substantial editing
took place. How much of the
book is Chen Xin's work and
how much of it was edited after
his death is uncertain. So there
may not be an actual contradiction
in Wu Tu Nan's material and
Chen Xin's book.
4. An examination
of Old Yang Form reveals similar
postures to Gan Feng Chi's boxing.
Gan was a noted Internal Boxing
expert. Postures like `Playing
the Lute', `Cross Hands', `Double
Fist To Ears' (including the
characteristic head to knee
smash) and `Carry Tiger Back
To Mountain' are present in
both forms. These postures are
absent from the current Chen
style of Tai Ch'i Chuan but
some are present in the Zhao
Bao form. Zhao Bao style Tai
Ch'i Chuan also traces their
art back to Jiang Fa.
5. This theory
was first published by Fu Zhong
Wen who did extensive research
into it. It has since been accepted
by the majority of Yang style
exponents.
6. This is
not to be confused with the
Southern Shaolin Hung Gar Boxing
which was created by Hung Xi
Guan. Shaolin Hung Quan is an
old form consisting of two routines,
the small Hung Quan and the
large Hung Quan. Shaolin Hung
Quan is still taught and practiced
at the Shaolin Temple to this
day. Because of the similar
phonetics, this should also
not be confused with the Shaolin
Red Fist which was one of the
types of boxing practiced in
the Chen Villiage and probably
had some influence on the Chen
style of Tai Ch'i Chuan.
7. The story
goes that Yang was invited to
the abode of a rich man in Beijing
called Chang who had heard of
Yang's great skills to demonstrate
his art. Yang Lu Chan was small
of build and did not look like
a boxer, when Chang saw him,
he thought little of his ability
and so served him a very simple
dinner. Yang Lu Chan was fully
aware of his host's thoughts
but continued to behave like
an honoured guest. Chang later
questioned if Yang's Tai Ch'i,
being so soft, could defeat
people. Given that he invited
Yang on the basis of his reputation
as a great fighter, this question
was clearly a veiled insult.
Yang replied that there were
only three kinds of people he
could not defeat: men of brass,
men of iron and men of wood.
Chang invited out his best bodyguard
by the name of Liu to test Yang's
skill. Liu entered aggressively
and attacked Yang. Yang used
only a simple yielding and threw
Liu across the yard. Chang was
very impressed and immediately
ordered a sumptuous dinner to
be prepared for Yang. He later
asked Yang to work for him,
offerring him a large sum of
money. Yang, knowing the character
of Chang, courteously refused
the offer.
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