Tradition / Evolution Summary

This photo from the 1920's is representative of what is sometimes called, "The Golden Age of Tai Chi."

From this perspective, the big man in the middle is the famous Yang Cheng Fu. To the right is Fu Zhen Song (shaved head), and to the left is Fu Zhong Wen (no blood relation). In the back row is Master Fu's father, Fu Wing Fay (son of Fu Zhen Song).

These four men are still known throughout China as four of the highest-level Tai Chi practitioners. This photo was not a "hey, we're all finally here so let's snap a photo." This was a corp group, working, practicing and teaching together in Nanjing. Fu Zhong Wen recieved training from Fu Zhen Song, and Fu Wing Fay received training from Yang Cheng Fu. Although Fu Zhen Song first learned Chen Style Tai Chi, he assimilated much more of the Yang Style into his Fu Style Tai Chi after much time spent with Yang Cheng Fu.

According to Tchoung Ta-tchen, "T'ai-chi ch'uan should adapt and evolve with current technology and knowledge." He claims, "It is a living, evolving art form. Otherwise it is just stagnant and against the Tao (Dao)."

Though many would oppose it, there was an article printed in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts about the Fu Family story of Fu Zhen Song beating Yang Cheng Fu at push hands. Master Yang evidently exclaimed, "You only won because you switched to PaKuaZhang."