Zhang Sanfeng
Based on unsubstantiated legends, the fighting system of T'ai chi ch'uan was created by Zhang Sanfeng in approximately 1270 AD. Legend has it that Zhang Sanfeng was inspired by watching combat between a snake and a crane, observing the grace and flow of these creatures. When the snake would strike, the crane would gracefully retreat. When the crane attacked, the snake would recoil. In this contest the principles of yin and yang, where the soft overcomes the hard, became evident.