# Chen Wangting

Chen Wangting (1580–1660), courtesy name Chen Zouting, was a Ming dynasty military officer who may have founded Chen-style tai chi, one of the five major styles of the popular Chinese martial art. He reputedly devised his style of tai chi after his retirement following the fall of the Ming dynasty.

## Military career

During the Ming dynasty, Chen served as Commander of the Wen County garrison, and was distinguished for his protection of merchant caravans in Henan and Shandong. After the Ming dynasty ended and the reign of the Qing dynasty began, Chen's military career was effectively over, and he retired to the family settlement.

## Influence on tai chi

Whether or not Chen invented the earliest form of tai chi is in dispute. Traditional folklore and many lineages name the semi-mythical figure of Zhang Sanfeng, a Taoist monk, as the progenitor of the art.
Two widely documented theories of Chen's martial arts work exist: the first is that he learnt his arts from Wang Zongyue and the Wudang tradition developed by Zhang Sanfeng. The second theory — the one accepted by the Chen family, and supported by historical evidence — is that he combined his previous military experience and the theories of meridians and Daoyin with the popular teachings of Qi Jiguang. His complete work contained five smaller sets of forms, a 108-move Long Fist routine, and a Cannon Fist routine. Chen is also credited with the invention of the first push hands exercises. Chen also practiced a few Shaolin forms, and some historians postulate that Shaolin arts also had a significant influence on his tai chi, though none of the Taoist influences on Chen family tai chi exist in the Shaolin tradition.
Chen Wangting's next well-known successor was the 14th generation Chen Changxing (1771–1853), who was the direct teacher of the founder of Yang-style tai chi: Yang Luchan.

## Tai chi lineage tree with Chen-style focus

vteChen-style tai chi lineage tree :
Key:NEIJIA
Solid linesDirect teacher-student.
Dash linesIndividual(s) omitted. Wang Zongyue* TAI CHI
Dash crossBranch continues.
Dot linesPartial influence /taught informally /limited time.Chen Wangting 1580–1660 CHEN-STYLE(蒋法) Jiang Fa 1574-1655 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. ChenZhang 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– after 1795 5th gen. ChenZhang Zongyu 5th gen. Zhaobao
Chen Changxing 1771–1853 6th gen. Chen Chen Old Frame(陈有恒) Chen Youheng 6th gen. ChenChen Youben 1780–1858 c. 19th century 6th gen. Chen Chen Small Frame(张彦) Zhang Yan 6th gen. Zhaobao
(陈耕耘) Chen Gengyun 7th gen. ChenYang Luchan 1799–1872 YANG-STYLEChen Qingping 1795–1868 7th gen. Chen 7th gen. Zhaobao
Chen Yanxi 8th gen. ChenWu Yuxiang 1812–1880 WU (HAO)-STYLE(他招远) He Zhaoyuan 1810–1890 8th gen. Zhaobao Zhaobao He-style
Li-style
Chen Fake 1887–1957 9th gen. Chen and 1st gen. Chen of Beijing Chen New FrameWU-STYLESUN-STYLE
(冯志强) Feng Zhiqiang 1928-2012 10th gen. Chen(田秀臣) Tian Xiuchen 1917–1984 10th gen. Chen and 2nd gen. Chen of BeijingHong 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 FrameWudang-style
"4 Tigers"
(陈瑜) Chen Yu b. 1962 11th gen. ChenChen Xiaowang b. 1945 11th gen. ChenChen Zhenglei b. 1949 11th gen. Chen
Chen Xiaoxing b. 1952 11th gen. Chen(王西安) Wang Xi'an b. 1944 11th gen. Chen(朱天才) Zhu Tiancai b. 1944 11th gen. Chen
CHEN-STYLEYANG-STYLEWU-STYLESUN-STYLEWU (HAO)-STYLE :
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. :