Chen Changxing

陈长兴 Chen Changxing
Born	1771 Chenjiagou, Henan, China
Died	1853 (aged 81–82)
Nationality	Chinese
Style	Chen-style taijiquan (6th gen. Chen)
Other information
Notable relatives	Chen Youben, Chen Wangting
Notable students	Yang Luchan, Chen Gengyun (陈耕耘)

Chen Changxing
Traditional Chinese	陳長興
Simplified Chinese	陈长兴
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chén Chángxīng Wade–Giles Ch'en Chang-hsing

Chen Changxing or Ch'en Chang-hsing (1771–1853) was a 14th generation descendant and 6th generation master of the Chen Family and was an influential martial artist and teacher of taijiquan (t'ai chi ch'uan).

Chen Changxing is a slightly mysterious character and much controversy surrounds him. He is most known as the teacher of the great taijiquan master Yang Luchan, but there is much disagreement over which style of martial art Chen Changxing actually taught to the family outsider.

Some schools of thought suggest that Chen Changxing was a maverick who practiced and taught a style of martial art that was not part of the Chen Family martial arts tradition, and that was passed to him either directly or indirectly from a taijiquan master known as Jiang Fa. Other schools of thought suggest that Chen Changxing re-worked two or more of the traditional Chen Family routines into his own style and then taught it to Yang Luchan and others. Both schools successfully explain why the taijiquan that Yang Luchan's descendants now practice is substantially different from the modern Chen routines, but neither theory can be completely substantiated and thus much controversy remains.

Chen Changxing is said to have been of an irreverent character and was given the nickname "Mr Ancestral Tablet" due to the directness of his posture. In the "The Genealogy of the Chen Family" he is noted as a martial arts instructor, but the detail of the style he taught is not present.

T'ai chi ch'uan lineage tree with Chen-style focus

Note:

• This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Chen-style.
• Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Chen style & not necessarily that of the family.
• Names denoted by an asterisk are legendary or semi-legendary figures in the lineage; while their involvement in the lineage is accepted by most of the major schools, it is not independently verifiable from known historical records.

Key:

NEIJIA

Solid lines

Direct teacher-student.

Dash lines

Individual(s) ommited.

(王宗岳) Wang Zongyue* 1733-1795 TAIJIQUAN

Dash cross

Branch continues.

Dot lines

Partial influence /taught informally /limited time.

(陈王庭) Chen Wangting 1580–1660 CHEN-STYLE

(蒋法) Jiang Fa Zhaobao-style

(陈汝信) Chen Ruxin 2nd gen. Chen

(陈所乐) Chen Suole 2nd gen. Chen

(陈大鹍) Chen Dakun 3rd gen. Chen

(陈大鹏) Chen Dapeng 3rd gen. Chen

(陈光印) Chen Guangyin 3rd gen. Chen

(陈申如) Chen Shenru 3rd gen. Chen

(陈恂如) Chen Xunru 3rd gen. Chen

(陈正如) Chen Zhengru 3rd gen. Chen

(张楚臣) Zhang Chuchen 3rd gen. Zhaobao

(陈善通) Chen Shantong 4th gen. Chen

(陈善志) Chen Shanzhi 4th gen. Chen

(陈继夏) Chen Jixia 4th gen. Chen

(陈节) Chen Jie 4th gen. Chen

(陈敬伯) Chen Jingbo 4th gen. Chen 4th gen. Zhaobao

(陈秉奇) Chen Binqi 5th gen. Chen

(陈秉壬) Chen Bingren 5th gen. Chen

(陈秉旺) Chen Bingwang 1748–? 5th gen. Chen

(陈公兆) Chen Gongzhao 1715– after1795 5th gen. Chen

(张宗禹) Zhang Zongyu 5th gen. Zhaobao

(陈长兴) Chen Changxing 1771–1853 6th gen. Chen Chen Old Frame

(陈有恒) Chen Youheng 6th gen. Chen

(陈有本) Chen Youben c. 19th century 6th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame

(张彦) Zhang Yan 6th gen. Zhaobao

(陈耕耘) Chen Gengyun 7th gen. Chen

(杨露禅) Yang Luchan 1799–1872 YANG-STYLE

(陈清萍) Chen Qingping 1795–1868 7th gen. Chen 7th gen. Zhaobao

(陈延熙) Chen Yanxi 8th gen. Chen

(武禹襄) Wu Yuxiang 1812–1880 WU (HAO)-STYLE

(他招远) He Zhaoyuan 1810–1890 8th gen. Zhaobao Zhaobao He-style

Li-style

(陈发科) Chen Fake 1887–1957 9th gen. Chen Chen New Frame

WU-STYLE

SUN-STYLE

(冯志强) Feng Zhiqiang 1928-2012 10th gen. Chen

(田秀臣) Tian Xiuchen 1917–1984 10th gen. Chen

(洪均生) Hong Junsheng 1906–1996 10th gen. Chen

(陈照奎) Chen Zhaokui 1928–1981 10th gen. Chen focused on Chen New Frame

(陈照旭) Chen Zhaoxu 1911–1960 10th gen. Chen

(陈照丕) Chen Zhaopi 1893–1972 10th gen. Chen focused on Chen Old Frame

Wudang-style

"4 Tigers"

(陈瑜) Chen Yu 1962–Present 11th gen. Chen

(陈小旺) Chen Xiaowang 1945–Present 11th gen. Chen

(陈正雷) Chen Zhenglei 1949–Present 11th gen. Chen

(陈小星) Chen Xiaoxing 1952–Present 11th gen. Chen

(王西安) Wang Xian 1944–Present 11th gen. Chen

(朱天才) Zhu Tiancai 1944–Present 11th gen. Chen

CHEN-STYLE

YANG-STYLE

WU-STYLE

SUN-STYLE

WU (HAO)-STYLE

External links

• Chenstyle.com
• Chen Changxing Restoration Project