Tàizǔquán (太祖拳, eng. ''Boxing of Tàizǔ o''r ''Great-Ancestor Fist'') is a style of

Chinese martial arts Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...

whose name refers to Emperor Tàizǔ of Sòng, the founder of the

Sòng dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

. There are two distinct variations of Tàizǔquán, the Northern Style: Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán (''Eng. Taizu Changquan''), and the Southern Style: Nán Tàizǔquán. Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán styles are taught in Guǎngdōng. Nán Tàizǔquán is taught in Táiwān. Both styles are found in Fújiàn.

Traditional Aphorisms

The essence of the style is to use the enemy's offense as means to control the enemy itself. The routine moves are rigorous, the footwork is flexible, both firm and supple. The practitioner is like a cat; shaking like a tiger, walking like a dragon, and moving like lightning. It requires one courage, two strengths, three exercises, four breaths, five tricks, six changes, seven evils, and eight cruelties. When attacking, check the situation and observe carefully; rush through the middle opening whenever weak, and step around when encountering a strong front. The hands are connected with each other, up and down, attacking where there is a gap, and coming back together when there is a leak. Focus on actual offense and defense. Like the wind, the shock is like electricity, the front hand is led, the back hand chases, and the two hands are exchanged. The technique is either offensive or defensive, with the style's philosophy indicating that two are interchangeable.

Tàizǔquán Zhǎngquán

According to Wu Bing and Liu Xiangyun, the Tàizǔ boxing method is the quintessential Shaolin ''(''少林寺; ''Young Forest Temple)''

martial art Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preserv ...

(武艺 ; ''Wǔyì'') of the

northern school East Mountain Teaching () denotes the teachings of the Fourth Ancestor Dayi Daoxin, his student and heir the Fifth Ancestor Daman Hongren, and their students and lineage of Chan Buddhism. ''East Mountain Teaching'' gets its name from the East ...

, and is also called Taiziquan (太子拳). Tàizǔquán has been associated with Zhǎngquán since the time of the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last orthodox dynasty of China ruled by the Han peo ...

because Ming general Qī Jìguāng (戚繼光) wrote "of the ancient and current families of boxing, the peaceful Taizu had thirty-six figures of Long Boxing".Jixiao Xinshu: 古今拳家，宁太祖有三十二式长拳 Practitioners of this style are found in mainly in Láizhōu, Shāndōng.

Tàizǔquán Zhǎngquán Routines

This style of Zhǎngquán has the famous Sānshí'èr shì (三十二势 ; ''32 Techniques'') mentioned in General Qī Jìguāng's ''Jìxiào xīnshū'' (紀效新書; ''Eng. New Treatise on Military Efficiency''). Tàizǔ Zhǎngquán has 4 routines: * Yīlù xiǎo zhàn quán (一路小战拳); ''1st Road, Small Battle Fist'' * Èrlù tài zhàn quán (二路太战拳); ''2nd Road, Great Battle Fist'' * Sānlù sàn zhàn quán (三路散战拳); ''3rd Road, Three Battle Fist'' * Sìlù hé zhàn quán (四路合战拳); ''4th Road, Joined Battle Fist''

Tàizǔquán in Cāngzhōu

During the reign of the Kāngxī Emperor (1654-1722), Tàizǔquán was spread in the Cāngzhōu area of Héběi province. The bare-hand routines: *Yīlù tàizǔ quán (一路太祖拳) ''1st Road, Great-Ancestor Fist'' *Èrlù tàizǔ quán (二路太祖拳) ''2nd Road, Great-Ancestor Fist'' *Shí tàng bā luóhàn quán (十趟八罗汉拳) ''10 lines of 8 Arhats Fist'' *Liú tuǐ jià (遛腿架) ''Walking Leg Frame'' *Liú jiǎo shì (遛脚式) ''Walking Kick Technique'' *Bā dǎ, èrshí shì (八打二十式) ''8 Strikes of 20 Techniques'' *Tàizǔ zhǎng quán (太祖长拳) ''Great Ancestor Long Fist'' *Xíng bù quán (行步拳) ''Line Walking Fist'' *Shí'èr tàng dàntuǐ (十二趟弹腿) ''12 Lines of Spring Legs'' The routines with long weapons: *Tàizǔ gùn (太祖棍) ''Great-Ancestor Staff'' *Sānjié gùn (三节棍) ''3-Section Staff'' *Shàolín gùn (少林棍) ''Young Forest Staff'' *Shí'èr lián qiāng (十二连枪) ''12 Linked Spear'' *Méihuā qiāng (梅花枪) ''Plum Blossom Spear'' *Sìmén dàdāo (四门大刀) ''4 Gate Cleaver'' *Fāngbiàn chǎn (方便铲) ''Convenient Shovel'' *Shuāngshǒu dài (双手带) ''Two Handed Sash'' The routines with short weapons: *Méihuā dāo (梅花刀) ''Plum Flower Saber'' *Wàn shèng dāo (万胜刀) ''10,000 Victories Saber'' *Yìngzhàn dāo (应战刀) ''Answering Battle Saber'' *Qīnglóng jiàn (青龙剑) ''Blue Dragon Sword'' *Èr lǎng jiàn (二朗剑) ''Two Light Sword'' *Shuāng yuè (双钺) ''Double Axe'' *Méihuā shuānggōu (梅花双钩) ''Plum Flower Double Hook'' The partner routines: *Duìlián (对连) ''Linked Pair'' *Duìdǎ tàizǔ gùn (对打太祖棍) ''Paired Strike Great-Ancestor Staff'' *Sānjié gùn jìn qiāng (三节棍进枪) ''3-Section Staff Entering Spear'' *Dāndāo jìn qiāng (单刀进枪) ''Single Saber Entering Spear'' *Dàdāo jìn qiāng (大刀进枪) ''Cleaver Entering Spear'' *Zǐmǔ chuí duìdǎ (子母锤对打) ''Mother & Son Hammers Paired Strike''

Nán Tàizǔquán

Southern tàizǔquán is particularly common in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

. The taolu or characteristic forms: * Xiǎo sìmén (小四門) ''Small 4 Gates'' * Dà sìmén (大四門) ''Large 4 Gates'' * Wǔ bù (五步) ''5 Steps'' * Fēi bāguà (飛八卦) ''Flying 8 Hexagrams'' * Luóhàn quán (羅漢拳) ''Arhat Fist'' The forms with weapons: *Tàizǔ gùn (太祖棍) ''Great-Ancestor Staff'' *Sìmén dàdāo (四门大刀) ''4 Gate Saber'' *Méihuā dāo (梅花刀) ''Plum Blossom Saber'' *Wànshèng dāo (万胜刀) ''10,000 Victories Saber'' *Shuāng dāo (双刀) ''Double Saber'' *Méihuā shuānggōu (梅花双钩) ''Plum Flower Double Hooks'' *Shí'èr lián qiāng (十二连枪) ''12 Linked Spear'' *Méihuā qiāng (梅花枪) ''Plum Blossom Spear'' *Máodùn (矛盾) ''Spear & Shield'' *Hǔchā (虎叉) ''Tiger Fork'' *Liúxíng chuí (遛行锤) ''Walking Hammers'' *Fāngbiàn chǎn (方便铲) ''Convenient Shovel'' *Jiujié biān (九节鞭) ''9-Section Whip'' *Shuāngshǒu dài (双手带) ''Two Handed Sash'' The partner routines: *Duìdǎ (對打) ''Paired Strike'' *Gùn duìdǎ (棍對打) ''Paired Staff'' *Quán duì dāo (拳對刀) ''Fist vs Saber'' *Hǔchā duì dāo (虎叉對刀 ) ''Tiger Fork vs Saber'' *Sānjiégùn jìn qiāng (三节棍进枪) ''3-Section Staff Entering Spear'' *Dāndāo jìn qiāng (单刀进枪) ''Single Saber Entering Spear'' *Dàdāo jìn qiāng (大刀进枪) ''Cleaver Entering Spear'' *Zǐmǔ chuí duìdǎ (子母锤对打) ''Mother & Son Hammers Paired Strike''

References

External links

* Duan Ping 段平, Zheng Shouzhi 郑守志 and others, Wushu Cidian 武术词典 Wushu Dictionary, Renmin Tiyu Chubanshe, 2007, * Carmona José, De Shaolin à Wudang, les arts martiaux chinois, Gui Trenadiel editeur, * Liu Lianyang 刘连洋, Shandong Laizhou Taizuquan 山东莱州太祖拳, article appeared in the magazine "Jingwu 精武" at issue 8 of 2006 * Liu Lianyang 刘连洋, Shandong Taizuquan Xinggong Xinjie 山东太祖拳行功心解, article appeared in the magazine "Jingwu 精 rivista" at issue 8 of 2006 * Zhang Liuqing 张浏青, Shaolinsi Taizu Changquan 少林寺太祖长拳, Chaohua chubanshe, 1999, * Wu Bing 武兵 and Liu Xiangyun 刘向芸, Taizuquan zhu Shanxi de chuancheng 太祖拳住山西的传承, article originally appeared in Jingwu magazine in issue 2 of 2008 {{Martial arts Chinese martial arts