Yang Lu chan

Yang Lu chan1 was born in 1799 in the village of Nan Guan, Yongnian County 2
Guangping Prefecture3, Hebei Province4 Northern China.

He was born into a family of poor peasant farmers. As a young boy, Yang Lu
chan helped his father in the fields but was also reported to have done many
odd jobs as a temporary worker.

A number of versions exist as to how Yang Lu chan was introduced to martial

arts and how specifically he came to learn from the Chen Family, at a time
when their doors were apparently closed to all but family members.

Yang Cheng Fu records the words of Yang Lu chan who explained that as a
youth he was always moved by the plight of his nation as the people had
become "weak", "gaunt" and "emaciated" in comparison to the emerging
Western developing nations "despite possessing the art of physical health" and
he wanted to help them.

Yang Lu chan observed that the nations that rose, did so by first "strengthening
their people". Yet he saw his own nation only recognise its own poverty and not
its weakness and that they were poor because they were weak. He saw his
leaders "anxiously formulate policies to alleviate poverty" but never addressing
the cause of the problem by formulating plans to "rouse the weak or raise up
the ailing". He concluded that "with a nation of sick people, who is equal to the
task?"

Yang Lu chan was a gentle and compassionate man even before he became a
master of Tai Chi Chuan, qualities that continued with him throughout his life,
alongside a great dignity and humility.

According to his grandson,Yang Cheng Fu, Yang Luchan once said that even in
his youth, he had always considered helping the weak as his "personal
responsibility"

Yang Lu chan himself described how he had heard of the Chen family in Ch'en-
Chia-Kou in Wen-Hsien, Honan Province, who were famous at internal boxing
and set off immediately to seek out the master Ch'en Ch'ang-Hsing 5 to learn
from him. According to Yang Lu Chan, he was not turned away from their door
but neither did he recieve any teaching, in fact he states that he laboured there
for ten years without any teaching of this internal art. It was only after this time
that Ch'en Ch'ang-Hsing, moved by young Yang's sincerity, began to teach him
at night, while all of the others were resting, revealing the secrets of his style to
him.

On closer examination of Yang Cheng Fu's account, it is highly likely that Yang
Lu chan may have learned the elementary Forms, perhaps due to a general
policy on the Chen family that may have included all of the household servants
in a daily routine of practice, however, it seems clear that no insight was given
into the advanced deeper aspects until this later period that Yang Lu chan tells
us.

Master Yang recalled that after completing his studies he went to the capital
with a personal oath to teach this art freely to all.

It is commonly agreed that after this time, Master Yang taught many people,
and that he was remarkably open in his transmission of the art. Everyone was
treated equally . Over a fifty year period there was no one that did Tai Chi
Chuan that had not, in some way, been helped by his influence.

It must be borne in mind that very little was written down of the History of Yang
Lu chan or of his Tai Chi Chuan - some accounts suggest that Yang Lu chan
was illiterate - most transmissions were oral and through personal contact within
the Yang Family circle.

There are many other stories that embellish this history beyond what is written
above, however the exact details may never be determined.

Yang Lu chan's reticence about his life and achievements was almost certainly
due as much to his humility, as to his unwillingness to reveal more than was
necessary for his students' development in Tai Chi Chuan - according to his
own description of himself, he was "always on his guard"

Using anecdotes and stories, captured comments and accounts from less close
and therefore less reliable sources, we can perhaps fill in some of the gaps.
However, we learn from the Chen family documents that it was Yang Lu chan
who first spread the art of Tai Chi Chuan through out China with "acclaim". It
was in Peking, after leaving the Chen family, that he "engaged in many martial
arts bouts with famous masters" and it was here that he earned the name "Yang
of no equal"6

Wu family documents state that Yang Lu chan was a bond servant in the Chen
Village for thirty years, residing in the Te-Hu pharmacy 7 rented out to the Chen
family by the Wu family (Who in time would go on to found the Wu style of Tai
Chi Chuan).

It was Wu Yu Hsiang, one of the three Wu brothers, already a senior student of

Yang Luchan, that encouraged Yang Lu chan, having departed from Ch'en
Ch'ang-Hsing, to go to Beijing.

By this time, Yang Lu chan had two sons, Yang Chien Hou and Yang Ban Hou.
In Beijing, Yang Lu chan was introduced to the Manchu Princes through
contacts of Wu Ju Ch'ing. He and his sons became instructors in the Manchu
Garrisons and by 1850, to the elite Palace Battalion of the Imperial Guards - a
position he held until his death in 1872.

Of the anecdotal accounts, one records that Yang Lu chan, had heard that the
Chen family had a reputation in martial arts and were renowned to have 'secret'
skills that were the key to their dominance at that time. Even though he knew
that they operated behind close doors only teaching members of the family and
therefore their training methods, were inaccessible, Yang Lu chan,
nevertheless, set out on his travels and headed for village of Chen Jiaou, Hui-
hsing in Hunan province. Here in at about the age of 20 he secured
employment as a servant in the household of Chen Chai-kou where the famous
teacher, Chen Chang-hsing could also be found.

A different version reports that among the many odd jobs Yang Lu chan
undertook as a temporary worker, one particular, somewhat fated employment
found Yang Lu chan working as an apprentice in the Tai He Tang Chinese
pharmacy in the west part of Yongnian. This pharmacy was owned by Chen De
Hu of the Chen Village in Henan Province, Huaiqing Prefecture, Wen County.

It is reported that one day whilst working at the pharmacy some villains entered
the pharmacy with the intent to make trouble. One of the bosses there,
overpowered them with a martial art that showed superiority and one of which
was unknown to Yang Lu chan.

Impressed and inspired, Yang Lu chan asked to study this martial art with the
owner of the pharmacy, Cheng De Hu. Moved by his keen interest and sincerity
to learn, Cheng De Hu sent Yang Lu Chan to the Chen Village to seek out Chen
Chang Xing, the 14th generation Master of the Chen Family, to see if he could
become his student.

A further anecdote of Yang's encounter with Chen Chang-hsing, whilst in his

service, records that there was a public display by the Chen family and Yang Lu
chan openly commented that the students were not performing a high quality of
boxing. This precipitated a challenge on him to prove it or be quiet. He went on
the beat them all and then confessed that he had been observing and learning
in private at night as the Chen family did.

For whatever reasons Chen Chang-hsing may have had, he allowed Yang Lu
chan to become a pupil where over a 20 year period he learned all the secrets
of the Chen Style of boxing and became known as "Yang the Unbeatable"
(Yang Wu Di)

As a footnote here, therefore, recognition of master Chen's ability in the martial

arts and his humility and wisdom to accept, teach and cultivate the genius of
Yang Lu chan cannot go unnoticed and should be held in the highest esteem
and respect. Without his openness and willingness to teach Yang Lu chan we
may never have seen the potential of Yang Lu chan come to fruition and the
face or martial arts today may well be totally different.

From these scattered more colourful stories, a common consistency emerges,

that after spending 20 years with his teacher, so great was Yang Lu chan's
mastery of the Form, that Chen Chang-hsing acknowledged this and with him
returning to Yung-nein to teach martial arts.

Another version worth noting begins where Yang Lu chan is at the Chen
household and Yang was included in the family training as a matter of course by
virtue of his position there, along with the other household employees. In this
version Yang Lu chan is dismissed from service and from the training when
Chen Te-hu passed away.

After his dismissal from service, it is recorded that Yang Lu chan returned to his
birthplace in Yongnian County, Henan, and took up residence in the Tai-he
Chinese herb store, which was owned by his former master, Chen Te-hu. Here
also, his student Wu Yu-xiang (Yu-hsiang) lived. From this location Yang Lu
chan began to teach his style 'boxing' for a living.

It appears that in this version the younger brother of Wu Yu-xiang

recommended to the Emperor that Yang Lu chan teach Wushu to the Imperial
Court. Later, it has also come to light that although Yang Lu chan taught the
Emperor and his Guard, he only taught the Forms and did not teach Qigong8,
and denied its very existence even when pressed by the Emperor.

Yang also began to teach his style of boxing, now known as Tai Chi Chuan, to
the public, both as a martial art and as a healing art, although only charged to
teach his art to the Emperor's Court, he nevertheless did this under a veil of
secrecy.

There is some speculation and debate as to what Form was actually taught to
Yang Lu chan by the Chen family. However, although of interest, this is
somewhat academic, since he beat the best the Chen family could put forward
at that time, eventually becoming their teacher, demonstrating not only his
superior martial skills but also more advanced grasp of the underlying
fundamental principles of this art.

It should be recognised that what the Chen family were in fact practising at that
time, was their own family's style of Long-Boxing (Chang Chuan) which was
based on 'The Thirteen Postures' - The 'Eight Diagrams' (Pa Kua) and the 'Five
Directions' and were no doubt the secrets which were believed to be behind the
success of the Chen family at that time and the secrets to which Yang Lu chan
aspired and caused him to travel such a distance and work so hard towards
learning.

The Thirteen Postures was the system that was believed to be handed down
by Chang San-feng, the legendary hermit and mystic warrior of Wu-Tang
Mountain which he developed so that "heroes and worth men everywhere can
lengthen their lives and attain longevity" and also as a martial system.

It was only later that the Chen family began to integrate some of Yang Lu
chan's teaching to form their own style of Tai Chi Chuan.

Somewhere in his studies though, Yang must have discovered something of

great importance. Other higher points - the core principles that were at the basis
of all movements their relationships with each other, which he eventually
integrated into his art to become the supreme martial artist that he did.
A transformation which changed the face of the 'soft' martial arts. It was from
this time that Tai Chi Chuan9 can be said to have been born.

From his background of discovery, Yang Lu chan developed his own distinctive
Form that eliminated some parts of the Chen Style practised at that time.
Sequences and postures that he recognised as blocking and wasting the Chi
which he must clearly have discovered, as these refinements manifest in the
main line of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan today.

At that time Yang Lu chan referred to his style as 'Soft Fist' or 'Soft Boxing'
(Ruan Quan)10, because all of the movements were soft and supple.

It should be noted that until Yang Lu chan's dominant influence on the martial
scene, there was no Tai Chi Chuan as we know it and that all Tai Chi Chuan
originates from Yang Lu chan.

His grandson Yang Cheng Fu gives us some insight through his comment: "Taiji
is all one.". There are binding and unifying factors among all Tai Chi Chuan
styles. These are the same deep insights and contributions to this art that Yang
Lu chan revealed as the Principles of Tai Chi Chuan and if all of these
Principles are applied, it will be Tai Chi Chuan.

Yang Lu chan, therefore should be credited as being the originator and father of
Tai Chi Chuan not just the Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan.

Yang Lu chan went on to have many students who learned this system
including the Wu brothers who featured so much in his life up to that point.

From the various accounts of Yang Lu Chan, including these stories and
anecdotes, we see a legend of epic proportions. A poor farmers son reached
out to learn the greatest martial art known at his time and went on to refine it to
an even greater system, to become the very best martial artist, not only of his
generation but in his lifetime. To be called "unbeatable" yet being barely 5 feet
tall and of slight build and to go on to hold a position in the emperors bodyguard
second to none.

Yang Lu Chan was a man who possessed a joyful sense of humour - many of
his peers openly expressed this and it was said of him that after he learned the
secret transmission of the Chen family, he was "tranquil, loyal and generous"

For his influence to spread throughout the world, the words genius and prodigy
come to mind, but so too does master craftsman, and heroic figure, for there are
very few people in history who have made such a significant impact and
contribution to the well-being and consciousness to his fellow man.

For a man who was a contemporary of Charles Darwin, and Karl Marx I do not
see his innovative and far reaching discoveries or his impact on society any less
significant to the ordinary person than these two historic figures.
There are many stories of Master Yang's encounters with challengers which I
have not included in this short profile, each one contributing to his reputation as
unbeatable as one by one they failed to beat him and attributed the highest
respect towards him.

In terms of his abilities It is reported that Master Yang Lu chan was so supple
that he could pick up a gold coin in his mouth whilst doing the posture 'Snake
Creeps Down' and maintaining good Form structure. Stories of his speed and
strength defy imagination.

The speed that he could move his Chi to any specific area of his body,
concentrate it and release it as Jing is unsurpassed.

His abilities and skill of 'flexible' attack and defence enabled him to overcome
the very strong impressed all at the palace. It was there that he was first
referred to as "Yang the Unsurpassed" and "Yang the Invincible", while his fame
spread for his boxing skills. Yet in all his bouts he harmed no one.

Master Yang could also demonstrate the advanced skill of sticking energy and
could make it impossible for a bird, once caught, to leave his hand when placed
on his palm. His degree of sensitivity was so fine that he could respond to the
tiniest of movements of the bird as it tried to alight. He became, by his own
description, so light and responsive - a state to which he attributed to the correct
practice of Tai Chi Chuan over time. He said that "one becomes so light that not
even the weight of a feather can be added without setting the whole body in
motion"

Behind Master Yang's supreme success and outstanding abilities was his use
of Yee (Yi) the mind-intent, which he used to direct the Chi and affect his
opponent's Chi directly. He was able to defeat his opponents with barely a
movement or bodily contact with his opponent. He described the Yee to be
persistently joined to the opponent after any contact was broken - like the lotus
root although broken the fibres remain intact.

Yang Lu chan had three sons: The first born, Yang Feng Hou aka Yang Ch'i
died in early youth. His other two sons, Yang Pan-hou (1837-1892) and Yang
Chien-hou (1842-1917) both learned with great diligence under their father. It is
recorded that Yang Lu chan was very strict, sometimes harsh and
uncompromising as a teacher, who pushed his two sons hard in his upbringing
of them. However, they both earned fame and recognition in their own right
through reaching a very high standard of Tai Chi Chuan. They both carried on
the Yang family school of Tai Chi Chuan after Yang Lu Chan passed away.

Master Yang was born in the fourth year of Emperor Chia Ch'ing of the Ch'ing
Dynasty and died in the eleventh year of Emperor T'ung Chih of the same
dynasty.

Copyright © Richard Hamlin 2007

Notes

Translation

There must always be placed some doubt on translations from the early
Chinese characters since, like all languages, early Chinese has changed over
time according to the evolution of the social environments. Chinese characters
in particular often have different meanings for the same character which can
further obscure the the real meanings in translation.

Greatest weight has therefore been given to Yang family records where they
exist in the English language, with the greatest importance attached to the
earliest of these records, in an attempt to reach the closest picture of these
early times.

Many stories have been passed down from master to student as part of the oral
tradition of The Yang style of Tai Chi Chuan, with anecdotes existing within
schools that are accepted over time to be true. Weight also has been placed on
these transmissions.

(1) Yang Lu chan is also known as (aka): Yang lu-chan; Yang luchan; Yang Lu
Ch'an; Yang Lushan; Yeung Lou Sim; Yang Fu-k'ui; Yeung Fu-k'ui.
(2) Yongnian County is also known as: Yung-nein; Yung Nien; Yungnien.
(3) Guangping Prefecture is also known as: Guang Ping; Kuang-p'ing.
(4) Hebei Province is also known as: Hopeh; Hopei; Ho-Pei.
(5) Ch'en Ch'ang-hsing (aka) Ch'en Ch'ang-hsien; Ch'en Chang-hsing.
(6) 'Yang of no equal' (aka) 'Yang the Invincible'; 'Yang the Unsurpassed'.
(7) Te-Hu pharmacy (aka) T'ai-ho. Probably also the Tai He Tang Chinese
pharmacy.
(8) Qigong (aka) Qi Gong; Chi Kung.
(9) Tai Chi Chuan (aka) Taijiquan; Taiji Quan; Taiji; Tai Chi, T'ai Chi.
(10) Also 'Cotton-Boxing' (Zhan Mian Quan ); 'Transformation boxing' (Hua
Quan);'Neutralization boxing' (Hua Ch'uan); 'Flexible boxing' (Mien Ch'uan) and
'solvent boxing'.