Yang Lu-Ch'an, Founder of the Yang style of Tai Chi

History

Tai Chi emerged as a distinct form during the Ming Dynasty in the area of Chen Village in central China. It arose within a martial arts tradition traced back to the reign of the legendary "Yellow Emperor" 2500 years  BCE. What became known as the Yang style was developed in the early 19th century by Yan Lu-ch'an, who first trained at Chen Village. In 1850 Yang was hired by the Emperor to train the Forbidden City's elite Palace Guard, a post he retained until his death in 1872. He passed his art down to his sons and grandsons -- most notably Yang Ch'eng-fu -- whose work and writing resulted in the Yang style becoming the most widely practiced form of Tai Chi in the world today.