Tai Chi Styles (Family) Trees Starfarm Tai Chi in CT

Starfarm Tai Chi in CT class fits under the Cheng, Man-Ching branch

These family trees are not comprehensive.  Starfarm Tai Chi in CT class fits under the Cheng, Man-Ching branch.  Names denoted by an asterisk are legendary or semi-legendary figures in the lineage; while their involvement in the lineage is accepted by most of the major schools, it is not independently verifiable from known historical records. The Cheng Man-ch’ing and Chinese Sports Commission short forms are derived from Yang family forms, but neither are recognized as Yang family tai chi chuan by standard-bearing Yang family teachers. The Chen, Yang and Wu families are now promoting their own shortened demonstration forms for competitive purposes.


Legendary figures

Zhang Sanfeng*
c. 12th century
NEIJIA
Wang Zongyue*
1733-1795


Five major classical family styles

Chen Wangting
1580–1660
9th generation Chen
CHEN STYLE
Chen Changxing
1771–1853
14th generation Chen
Chen Old Frame
Chen Youben
c. 1800s
14th generation Chen
Chen New Frame
Yang Lu-ch’an
1799–1872
YANG STYLE
Chen Qingping
1795–1868
Chen Small Frame, Zhaobao Frame
Yang Pan-hou
1837–1892
Yang Small Frame
Yang Chien-hou
1839–1917
Wu Yu-hsiang
1812–1880
WU/HAO STYLE
Wu Ch’uan-yu
1834–1902
Yang Shao-hou
1862–1930
Yang Small Frame
Yang Ch’eng-fu
1883–1936
Yang Big Frame
Li I-yü
1832–1892
Wu Chien-ch’üan
1870–1942
WU STYLE
108 Form
Yang Shou-chung
1910–85
Hao Wei-chen
1849–1920
Wu Kung-i
1900–1970
Sun Lu-t’ang
1861–1932
SUN STYLE
Wu Ta-k’uei
1923–1972
Sun Hsing-i
1891–1929


Modern forms

Yang Ch`eng-fu
Cheng Man-ch’ing
1901–1975
Short (37) Form
Chinese Sports Commission
1956
Beijing 24 Form
1989
42 Competition Form
(Wushu competition form combined from Sun, Wu, Chen, and Yang styles)