History The False Connection Between Zhang Sanfeng and Taijiquan There is a common myth that connects Zhang Sanfeng to Taijiquan and Internal martial arts in general. This can be debunked for the following reasons: Prior to 1669, mentioning of Zhang Sanfeng only refer to him as a Daoist immortal. There was no mentioning of his involvement in martial arts. The Epitaph of Wang Zhengnan (1669) links Zhang Sanfeng to an “Internal” school of boxing while classifying Shaolin as an “External” school of boxing. However, this epitaph is a political commentary that has little to do with martial arts. Furthermore, there is no mentioning of Taijiquan, Xingiyquan, or Baguazhang whatsoever as these three martial arts were classified together much later by Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun Style Taijiquan. The manual called "Nei Jia Quan" in 1676, written by the son of Huang Zongxi (compose of the epitaph)and student of Wang Zhangnan, also has little in common with today's three "Internal" martial arts. While the Chen Family does not claim to originate from Zhang Sanfeng , a subgroup of Yang and Wu style practitioners have made this association in the 20th century. This resulted in Wudang Style Taijiquan which claims to be the oldest form of Taijiquan created by Zhang Sanfeng. But this can be proven to be an intentional lie for political gain of status when analyzing a list of named sequences of Zhang Sanfeng’s 72 movements which are essentially the same as Yang Style Taijiquan. Several dozens of named sequences that Yang style never inherited from the Chen family is also not present in Wudang Style Taijiquan. And, the named sequences in Yang Style that are not in Chen Style happens to be present in Wudang Style Taijiquan. Therefore, Wudang Style Taijiquan is a false lineage, created by deliberate lie to gain status. Wudang Mountain, where Zhang Sanfeng is said to have come from, has no verifiable history of any martial arts in general. As a result, Tai Chi, amongst scholars, is accredited to Chen Wangting, the founder of Chen Style Taijiquan . Modern research points out that a 17th-century piece called Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan (1669), composed by Huang Zongxi (1610–1695), is the earliest reference indicating a connection between Zhang Sanfeng and martial arts. Claims of connections between tai chi and Zhang Sanfeng appeared no earlier than the 19th century.
History Tai chi's formative influences came from Taoist and Buddhist monasteries, as recounted in legend. Nevertheless, some schools claim that tai chi sprang from the theories of Song dynasty Neo-Confucianism (synthesis of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions, especially the teachings of Mencius). These schools believe that tai chi theory and practice were formulated by Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century, at about the same time that the principles of the Neo-Confucian school were rising . However, modern research doubts those claims, pointing out that a 17th-century piece called Epitaph for Wang Zhengnan (1669), composed by Huang Zongxi (1610–1695), is the earliest reference indicating a connection between Zhang Sanfeng and martial arts. Claims of connections between tai chi and Zhang Sanfeng appeared no earlier than the 19th century.
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The False Connection Between Zhang Sanfeng and Taijiquan There is a common myth that connects Zhang Sanfeng to Taijiquan and Internal martial arts in general. This can be debunked for the following reasons: Prior to 1669, mentioning of Zhang Sanfeng only refer to him as a Daoist immortal. There was no mentioning of his involvement in martial arts. The Epitaph of Wang Zhengnan (1669) links Zhang Sanfeng to an “Internal” school of boxing while classifying Shaolin as an “External” school of boxing. However, this epitaph is a political commentary that has little to do with martial arts. Furthermore, there is no mentioning of Taijiquan, Xingiyquan, or Baguazhang whatsoever as these three martial arts were classified together much later by Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun Style Taijiquan. The manual called "Nei Jia Quan"
Tai chi's formative influences came from Taoist and Buddhist monasteries, as recounted in legend. Nevertheless, some schools claim that tai chi sprang from the theories of Song dynasty Neo-Confucianism (synthesis of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions, especially the teachings of Mencius). These schools believe that tai chi theory and practice were formulated by Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng
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1676, written by the son of Huang Zongxi (compose of the epitaph)and student of Wang Zhangnan, also has little in common with today's three "Internal" martial arts. While the Chen Family does not claim to originate from Zhang Sanfeng , a subgroup of Yang and Wu style practitioners have made this association in the 20th century. This resulted in Wudang Style Taijiquan which claims to be the oldest form of Taijiquan created by Zhang Sanfeng. But this can be proven to be an intentional lie for political gain of status when analyzing a list of named sequences of Zhang Sanfeng’s 72 movements which are essentially the same as Yang Style Taijiquan. Several dozens of named sequences that Yang style never inherited from the Chen family is also not present in Wudang Style Taijiquan. And, the named sequences in Yang Style that are not in Chen Style happens to be present in Wudang Style Taijiquan. Therefore, Wudang Style Taijiquan is a false lineage, created by deliberate lie to gain status. Wudang Mountain, where Zhang Sanfeng is said to have come from, has no verifiable history of any martial arts in general.
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As a result, Tai Chi, amongst scholars, is accredited to Chen Wangting, the founder of Chen Style Taijiquan
the 12th century, at about the same time that the principles of the Neo-Confucian school were rising
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Modern research points
However, modern research doubts those claims, pointing