ChinaFromInside.com presents... TAIJIQUAN Family Boxing Manuals (original) (raw)

Xu Zhen believed that Chenjiagou's "Long-range Boxing" had been developed from "Taizu Long-range Boxing" (Taizu Chang Quan), while Tang Hao claimed it was based on "Qi Jiguang's Boxing Canon" (which was a compilation of sixteen styles, "Taizu Long-range Boxing" being one of them). Since twenty nine postures from Qi's manual can be found in Chen's Long-range Boxing, so if all of them came from "Taizu Long-range Boxing" (as Xu Zhen suggested), then would it be possible that remaining three postures in Qi's book are from other fifteen styles? Tang Hao found it difficult to accept.

Regarding "Thirteen Postures", there are five sets (actually six) recorded in Chen clan boxing manuals.

"Sanxing Version" in the chapter "Thirteen Postures" (Shi San Shi) lists: "First Set" (Tou Tao), "Second Set" (Er Tao), "Third Set - its name is Big Fourth Boxing Set " (San Tao - Ci Ming Da Si Tao Chui), "Fourth Set - its name is Red Fist" (Si Tao - Ci Ming Hong Quan; the last two sentences of its boxing formula say: "If you want to know where this martial art comes from, the answer is "Taizu Xia Nan Tang"); "Cannon Boxing Postures" (Pao Chui Jiazi; below the list of names set, a ten-character long note says: "Fifteen Fists (and) Fifteen Cannons, use heart (mind) in boxing practice").

"Wenxiu Version" lists: "First Set of Boxing" (Tou Tao Chui Quanjia), "Fourth Set of Boxing" (Si Tao Chui Shi), "Fifth Set of Boxing" (Wu Tao Chui Quanshi), "Cannon Fist Postures, Fifteen Red Fifteen Cannons, use heart in practice" (Pao Chui Jiazi Shiwu Hong Shiwu Pao Zou Quan Xin Yong); besides, there is a note saying that Second Set (Er Tao Chui) and Third Set (San Tao Chui) were both lost.

"Liangyi Version" contains following contents: "Boxing Song of First Set (in) Thirteen Postures" (Tou Tao Shi San Shi Quan Ge; its list of postures is almost identical with "First Set of Boxing" of "Wenxiu Version"), "Second Set Cannon Fist Fifteen Red Fifteen Cannons, practice boxing" (Er Tao Pao Chui Shiwu Hong Shiwu Pao Zou Quan); "Third Set" (San Tao), "Fourth Set, also called Red Set" (Si Tao Yi Ming Hong Tao), "Boxing Song of Fifth Set" (Wu Tao Quan Ge), "Taijiquan also called First Set or Thirteen Postures, that is Thirteen Folding (techniques) (Shi San Zhe) or Thirteen Twists (Shi San Zhe)". The list of postures of this last set (Taijiquan) is almost identical with the First Set.

According to "Liangyi Version" the Second Set is called "Cannon Boxing" - "Pao Chui", but "Wenxiu Version" and "Sanxing Version" do not mention this; besides, as already mentioned above, "Wenxiu Version" has a note saying that Second Set and Third Set were both lost. If we assume that "Cannon Boxing" does not belong to five sets of Thirteen Postures, than all texts miss these two sets and none of them can be considered complete.