| Part of a series on |
| Chinese martial arts (Wushu) |
|---|
 |
The tai chi classics (Chinese: 太极拳谱; pinyin: tàijíquán pǔ or 太極拳經; tàijíquán jīng) are a collection of over 100 articles on the Chinese martial art of tai chi written by the art's master practitioners over the centuries. They cover everything from the underlying taiji philosophical principles, to methods of practice and application. Previously passed down in secret from generation to generation[1] in whole or in parts through various lineages, they achieved classical status as they became public starting in the mid-1930s. Together they now serve as the single authoritative guide for the development and usage of tai chi skills. Written mostly in classical Chinese, they are used today mostly by the serious martial art practitioners of modern 6 Lineages that all trace their lineages to the ancient style taught by the Chen family and Yang family[2][3] starting in the mid-19th century.
While great antiquity is usually claimed for texts by legendary authors, modern scholarship has not been able to date any of them earlier than the late 19th century.[3]
- ^ "Tai Chi History and Lineage". American-Chinese Martial Arts Federation. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
For generations, the art of Chen Tai Chi was a secret heritage of just a small number of families. Almost exclusively, parents passed the knowledge on to their children.
- ^ Liao, Waysun (1990) [1977]. T'ai Chi Classics. Boston: Shambhala Publications. pp. VIII. ISBN 0-87773-531-X.
- ^ a b Wile, Douglas (1995). Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty (Chinese Philosophy and Culture). State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-2654-8.