Wu Yinghua (1907–1996) was a famous Chinese teacher of Wu-style tai chi. She was born in Beijing and died in Shanghai. She was the eldest daughter of Wu Jianquan, the best known teacher of Wu-style tai chi. Her older brothers were Wu Gongyi and Wu Gongzao, also well-known tai chi practitioners.
| 吴英华 Wu Yinghua | |
|---|---|
 Wu Yinghua on the left, Ma Yueliang on the right | |
| Born | 1907 Beijing, China |
| Died | 1996 (aged 88–89) Shanghai, China |
| Style | Wu-style tai chi |
| Notable students | Ma Jiangbao (马江豹), Shi Meilin |
| Wu Yinghua | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 吳英華 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 吴英华 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Biography edit
Wu Yinghua began studying tai chi at age nine, and by age seventeen, she was a full-time teacher in her father's school. In 1921, she was invited to teach tai chi in Shanghai. In 1928, her father followed her to Shanghai and she became his teaching assistant. In 1930, she married Ma Yueliang who was Wu Jianquan's senior disciple. In 1935, Wu Jianquan founded the Jianquan Taijiquan Association (鑑泉太極拳社) in Shanghai. Wu Jianquan died in 1942.
After the Cultural Revolution, at about 1980, it became possible to teach tai chi publicly in China again. About this time her brother Wu Gongzao was released from prison and moved to Hong Kong. Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang, remaining in mainland China, created a simplified Wu tai chi form, and were again able to have public meetings of the Jianquan Taijiquan Association. They taught a large number of students in Shanghai and in their travels to New Zealand, Germany and elsewhere. Together with Ma Yueliang, Wu Yinghua published several books on Wu-style tai chi. The books "Wu style Taijiquan: Forms, Concepts and Applications of the Original Style" (commonly known as the "Orange Book"), "Wu Simplified Taijiquan", and "Wu style Taiji Kuaiquan" (Wu-style tai chi fast form) have been collected in a single volume in China. They also co-authored a Wu-style sword book. Wu Yinghua was the senior instructor of the Wu family from 1983 until she died in 1996.
Ma Yueliang and Wu Yinghua are survived by several children and grandchildren, including: Ma Jiangchun (b. 1931), Dr. Ma Hailong (b. 1935), Ma Jiangbao (b. 1941), and Ma Jiangling (b. 1947). Ma Jiangbao lived in the Netherlands and taught traditional tai chi in Europe. He died in 2016. Their adopted daughter Shi Meilin now lives and teaches in New Zealand. She also has students in France and in the United States (Tucson, Arizona).
Generational senior instructors of the Wu family edit
1st Generation
Wu Quanyou (吳全佑, 1834–1902), who learned from Yang Luchan and Yang Banhou, was senior instructor of the family from 1870-1902.
2nd generation
His oldest son, Wu Jianquan (1870–1942), was senior from 1902-1942.
3rd Generation
His oldest son, Wu Gongyi (1900–1970) was senior from 1942-1970.
3rd Generation
Wu Gongyi's younger brother, Wu Gongzao (1903–1983), was senior from 1970-1983.
3rd Generation
Wu Gongyi's younger sister, Wu Yinghua, was senior from 1983-1997.
4th Generation
Wu Gongyi's daughter, Wu Yanxia (1930–2001) was senior from 1997-2001.
4th Generation
Wu Gongzao's son, Wu Daxin (1933–2005), was senior from 2001-2005.
5th Generation
The current senior instructor of the Wu family is Wu Daokui's son Wu Kuang-yu.
Tai chi lineage tree with Wu-style focus edit
Note:
- This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognized individuals in each generation of Wu-style.
- Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Wu style & not necessarily that of the family.
| Key: | NEIJIA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Solid lines | Direct teacher-student. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dot lines | Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. | TAI CHI | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dash lines | Individual(s) omitted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dash cross | Branch continues. | CHEN-STYLE | Zhaobao-style | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| YANG-STYLE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (王蘭亭) Wang Lanting 1840–? 2nd gen. Yang | Yang Jianhou 1839–1917 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Yangjia Michuan | Yang Banhou 1837–1892 2nd gen. Yang 2nd gen. Guang Ping Yang Yang Small Frame | WU (HAO)-STYLE | Zhaobao He-style | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Li-style | Yang Shao-hou 1862–1930 3rd gen. Yang Yang Small Frame | Wu Quanyou 1834–1902 1st gen. Wu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (齊閣臣) Qi Gechen 2nd gen. Wu | (夏公甫) Xia Gongfu 2nd gen. Wu | Wu Jianquan 1870–1942 2nd gen. Wu WU-STYLE 108 Form | (常遠亭) Chang Yuanting 1860–1918 2nd gen. Wu | (郭松亭) Guo Songting 2nd gen. Wu | Wang Maozhai 1862–1940 2nd gen. Wu | SUN-STYLE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dong Yingjie 1891–1960 4th gen. Yang | (齊敏軒) Qi Minxuan 3rd gen. Wu | Cheng Wing Kwong 1903–1967 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Yinghua 1907–1997 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Gongyi 1900–1970 3rd gen. Wu | Wu Kung-tsao 1903–1983 3rd gen. Wu | Ma Yueliang 1901–1998 3rd gen. Wu | Yang Yuting 1887–1982 3rd gen. Wu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (鄭天熊) Cheng Tin Hung 1930–2005 Wudang-style | Wu Ta-k'uei 1923–1972 4th gen. Wu | Wu Yanxia 1930–2001 4th gen. Wu | Wu Daxin 1933–2005 4th gen. Wu | (立群) Li Liqun 1924–2013 4th gen. Wu | Wang Peisheng 1919–2004 4th gen. Wu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wu Kuang-yu 1946–Present 5th gen. Wu | (骆舒焕) Luo Shuhuan 1935–1987 5th gen. Wu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CHEN-STYLE | YANG-STYLE | WU-STYLE | SUN-STYLE | WU (HAO)-STYLE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bibliography edit
- Wu Kung-tsao. Wu Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan (吳家太極拳), Hong Kong, 1980, Toronto 2006, ISBN 978-0-9780499-0-4.
- Wu Yinghua, Ma Yueliang, Shi Meilin (1987). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Henan Science Skills Ltd. Henan (only available in Chinese) ISBN 978-7-5349-0121-8.
- Wu Yinghua, Ma Yueliang, Shi Meilin (1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong (only available in Chinese) . ISBN 978-962-239-106-2.
- Wu Yinghua, Ma Yueliang(1993). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Forms, Concepts and Application of the Original Style. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 978-962-239-103-1.
- Ma Yueliang & Zee Wen(1986, 1990, 1995). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 978-962-239-100-0.
- Dr. Wen Zee (2002) Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, Ancient Chinese way to health. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-1-55643-389-4.
External links edit
- Video: Wu Yinghua performs Wu Style Long Form on YouTube
- Ma Jiangbao's Traditional Wu-style tai chi website
- Wu-style tai chi New Zealand website
- Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang on YouTube
- Wu Yinghua and Ma Yueliang interview in New Zealand 1990 on YouTube
- A Tribute to Wu Yinghua on YouTube
- Wu style Taichichuan: Forms, Concepts and Applications of the Original Style