The history of Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
The practice
The practice of Taiji quan consists of several parts such as basic exercises, form, technical applications,
pushing hands, meditation, weapons.
The basic exercises, performed prior to any practice have a role in warming up, traning flexibility and rooting, helping to develop balance, coordination, breathing and internal force. They also procede in a form of ritual that allows practicioners to enter gradually in phase with the discipline.
The form is a sequence of movements performed slowly, in harmony with the breath, aiming to achieve control of the breath and harmonization of the entire body. Each movement has a martial meaning.
The technical applications - Yongfa - consist in putting into practice, with a partner, the movements of the form following precise principles and methods of transformation of the gesture.
Pushing hands - Tuishou - is a fine application of the principles of Taiji quan. About twenty exercises prepare for this pracice that uses listening, intention, internal energy, following the principles of yin and yang, empty and full.
Daoist meditation - Neigong - is an internal work using the mind «yi» to circulate the energy in the body, resulting in beneficial effects on health and mental faculties.
The Weapons are represented by the fan, the sword and the pole according to the teaching of Master Wang Yen-nien. The sabre, the stick and other weapons were introduced by some teachers to enrich the style. The practice of these weapons is in the spirit of Taiji quan, with circular movements, in harmony with the breath, focusing on the sensation of the «qi». The fundamental principles of Taijiquan are respected and valued in the practice with a partner.
The Yangjia Michuan
Organization and parentage
The major characteristic of the Yangjia Michuan style is the total freedom that its leader, Master Wang Yen-nien, has left everyone in the organization of educational structures such as associations, schools, colleges...
Organization
Throughout the world, many groups are called «Yangjia Michuan Taiji quan», name given to his style by Master Zhang Qinglin (3rd generation).
In France, most organizations that claim to this style are reported as «Law 1901 Associations»
In Europe, in addition to the many organizations whose objectives are primarily educational and are governed by the laws of each country, there are two structures, each one unique, independent of one another while maintaining excellent and productive relations.
Both residing in France have a European vocation. They are :
- The Amicale of Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan, born of a common desire to exchange and share and this in a spirit of freedom and independence. It consists mainly of associations of all European countries as well as independent individuals practicing Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan.
- The European College of Teachers (1); whose creation was inspired by Master Wang Yen-nien who appointed himself the first members. It operates under a charter giving it a total freedom of action. Its objectives are to maintain the heritage handed down by Master Wang Yen-nien.
In the rest of the world, groups, associations, federations exist on all continents.
In Taiwan, for example, we find a federation of all the associations and a College of Teachers.
In Africa, there is an association in South Africa and another one in Ivory Coast.
In the US, AYMTA includes associations of all the states.
We find associations in the other countries such Canada, Japan, Mexico.
Filiation
Disappeared in May 2008, Master Wang Yen-nien was then the indisputable leader of the style Yangjia michuan.
Number of teachers and persons in charge of associations was able to follow its teaching, whether it is during long stays in Taiwan or, more briefly, during diverse training courses in France and in the world. Today, following the example of the generations who succeeded one another since Master Yang Luchan, founder of the school Yang, their students relieve to transmit in turn the received teaching
Five generations succeeded one another of Master Yang Luchan in our days. The fifth generation being represented by all students directly trained in Taiwan by Master Wang.
from the 1st generation to the present day
Master Yang Luchan (1799-1872) 1st generation
Yang Luchan studied Taiji quan with Chen Changxing ( 1771-1853 ). From the trunk of the family Chen, he gave birth to a new branch which wears its name. This branch will give, with two of his sons, Banhou and Jianhou, two twigs which, in turn, will generate numerous ramifications representing the variety of the styles of the school Yang today.
Master Yang Jianhou (1839-1917) 2nd generation
The third son of Yang Luchan, Yang Jianhou, having undergone the hard law of his father, taught in his turn. He had three sons among whom two studied the art of the fight: Yang Shaohou ( 1862-1929 ) and Yang Chengfu ( 1882-1935 ) which developed the style certainly the most known at present in Occident.
Yang Jianhou welcomed a student outside the family clan, Zhang Qinlin.
Master Zhang Qinlin (1888-1967?) 3rd generation
From its youngest age, Zhang Qinlin was received in the family Yang where he studied Taiji quan. He was introduced first of all by Yang Chengfu then by Yang Jianhou which transmitted him the secrets of the taiji of the family Yang.
He had several students among whom Zheng Manqing ( 1902-1975 ) for Tuishou and Wang Yen-nien.
Always without piece of news of his professor forty years having left China, Master Wang found again, in 1993, his daughter Zhang Zhirou, then 75-year-old.
Master Wang Yen-nien (1914-2008) 4th generation
Having studied from his early childhood Shaolin quan, Xingyi quan then Tantui, Master Wang was presented at the age of 18 to Wang Xinwu to learn Taiji quan. It is only at the age of 31 that he will follow the teaching of Zhang Qinlin to which he is presented by its Taoist master Zhang Maolin.
With Zheng Manqing, Master Wang Yen-nien was certainly one of the first Chinese to transmit Taiji quan to persons "foreign" to the Earth of the Middle.
Read the biography of Wang Yen - nien
5th generation
She is represented by all the students directly trained by Master Wang Yen-nien, in Taiwan.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
6th generation
She is represented by all the students of teachers directly trained by Master Wang Yen-nien.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
7th generation
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
She is represented by all the students of teachers who did not know Master Wang Yen-nien
Biography
The last Master of the Yangjia Michuan School
Master Wang Yen-nien
Master Wang Yen-nien was one of the great masters of the Yang school of Taiji, recognized and respected by all. He was student of Zhang Qinglin which transmitted the Yangjia Michuan style of Taiji quan.
Born in 1914 in Taiyuan (Shanxi), he started early on to study the martial arts, learning Xingyi Quan and Chang Quan (Long Boxing). His ability led him naturally to a military career. Graduated from the Military Academy of Shanxi, he transmitted his skills and his extensive knowledge in the use of arms as an instructor during the conflict between China and Japan.
It is after the Sino-Japanese war (1937-1945) that Master Wang met Zhang Qinglin who taught him from 1945 until 1949. He remained faithful to him for all his life.
"The responsibility of the transmission of the secrets of the school Yang falls to me. To avoid that this teaching gets lost in time and that we accuse me of being a heretic, I shall do everything I can to satisfy those who will come to see me to learn, whom is their origin."
In 1949, after the defeat of the nationalists with whom he fought against the communists, Wang Yen-nien followed Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek), chief of the Guomintang, to take refuge in Taiwan where he worked at the Ministry of Defense with the rank of colonel. He then lost contact with his master and never saw him again...
Master Wang got used to training every morning in the park of Yuanshan, next to the current Grand Hôtel. Very fast, persons asked him to teach them his art. Then, in 1950, at the request of his students who suggested him paying him if he left his job to dedicate itself to the teaching of Taiji quan, and to respect his commitment to Zhang Qinlin, he began to reorientate his career to transmit in the largest number the Yangjia Michuan Taijiquan.
From then on, Master Wang participated in the creation of numerous associations for the development of Taiji quan. At first vice-president of the National Tai Chuan Association, he became the president from 1986 till 1989. When he stopped his functions in 1989, he was named Honorary president and Head Instructor for life.
Of some students, who joined him daily in the memorial of the martyrs of Yuanshan, his students became more and more numerous. Others, coming all the continents were added to it to follow his teaching.
On April 16th, 2005, he realized one of his most expensive wishes by establishing in Taiwan (Republic of China), the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan Association of which he was the president till the end of his life.
On July 14th, 2006, Wang Yen - nien, 92 years, was decorated by French Minister of the Youth and Sports of the Golden medal of the Youth and Sports in recognition for its wide contribution to the distribution of Taiji quan in Occident.
Master Wang published two major works on the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan as well as a book on the shape of taiji with fan in 2008.
Master Wang Yen - nien Laoshi died in his house of Taipei at night from 3 till 4 May 2008 at 2:45 am (that is 8:45 am on May 3rd, Paris time).