Lineage of Chen Family Taijiquan

Lineage of Chen Family Taijiquan

The Seven Dragons of the 20^th generation of the Chen Family

1.   First Dragon, Chen Bing (1971 – present)

Only son of Chen Yonghe (older brother of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing)

2.    Second Dragon, Chen Jun (1972 – present)

Eldest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang

3.    Third Dragon, Chen Yingjun (1976 – present)

Second son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang

4.    Fourth Dragon, Chen Ziqiang (1977 – present)

Eldest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

5.    Fifth Dragon, Chen Zijun (1980 – present)

Youngest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

6.    Sixth Dragon, Chen Pengfei (1988 - present)

Youngest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing

7.    Seventh Dragon, Chen Shiwu (1994 – present)

Only son of Master Chen Yu

From the left side, a chart of the direct descendants shows the 19rh generation master Chen Yu, 20th generation master Chen Bing, Chen Jun, Chen Yinjun, Chen Ziqiang, Chen Zijun, Chen Pengfei and Chen Shiwu. They are direct descendants of the lineage of “Chen Fake – Chen Zhaoxu” and showing outstanding abilities for the future of Chen family Taijiquan.

1^st generation, Chen Bu (1368 – N/A)

Chen Bu who lived in the beginning of Ming Dynasty (Hongwu Emperor) was considered the first progenitor of Chen family as a great martial artist. After he migrated from Shanxi to Henan province, he left “Usage and control of Yin and Yang in the body” and “Digestion of food” to his sons, which his descendants could develop and create Taijiquan based upon his theories. When he was alive, he was given the name of “the almighty martial artist of the present generation” and defeated banditti of Qingfengling (Green-Wind mountain).

9th generation, Chen Wangting (1600-1680)

Chen Wangting invented Chen Taijiquan systems from his vast knowledge of past generations, other Chinese gongfu and heritage. He is considered the founder of Taijiquan that is the oldest form.

14th generation, Chen Changxing (1771-1853)

Chen Changxing who wrote three books of Taijiquan- “Ten Disciplines of Taijiquan”, “Usage and Poems of Taijiquan”, “Taijiquan Fighting”- is considered a founder of modern Taijiquan because he recreated his ancestors’ knowledge. He modified Chen Wang Ting’s curriculums in clear routines as known as Laojia Yilu and Erlu(old frame frist road and second road.) Chen Changxing is the first Chen master who taught an outsider, Yang Luchan. Yang Luchan is the founder of Yang Taijiquan.

16th generation, Chen Xin (1849-1929)

To explain his family’s knowledge to the world, Chen Xin spent 12 years to write “Explanatory Diagram of Chen Taijiquan” which consists of 4 books. By this work, Chen Taijiquan’s secret and training experiences were shown clearly. In this work, Chen Xin explains Chen Taijiquan based on “Silk Reeling Energy” by meridian pathways and a paradox. This work became one of the most important materials of Chen Taijiquan theory and he also wrote “Chen Family Genealogy” and “Three-three-six fist arts.”

17th generation, Chen Fake (1887-1957)

Chen Fake was the official representative of the 17th generation. He is called a “Quan Shen (Martial Saint).” He went to Beijing to teach Chen Taijiquan because of his newphew, Chen Zhaopei’s request. He taught Chen Taijiquan in Beijing during 1929-1957. His teaching rendered great service to Chen Taijiquan's development and spread. He had famous disciples such as Gu Liuxin, Liu Ruizhan, Tang Hao, Li Jinwu, Li Mumin, Hong Junsheng, Feng Zhiqiang, Chen Zhaokui and Tian Xiuchen. He had two sons and one daughter- Chen Zhaoxu, Chen Zhaokui and Chen Yuxia. In his old age, he changed some elements and taught 83 forms as known as Xinjia Yilu and Erlu (new frame first road and second road.) All Chen Taijiquan forms that now we practice were from him including Laojia and Xinjia. 

18th generation, Chen Zaopei (1893-1972)

Chen Zhaopei learned Laojia from Chen Fake and devoted his life to teaching and preserving the Chen’s art. He taught Laojia and Chen’s weapons to the Four Buddha’s warriors : Chen Xiaowang, Wang Xian, Zhu Tiancai and Chen Zhenglei. He wrote “Origin of Chen Taijiquan.” He is considered the most devoted master who could continue the Chen family's tradition in Chenjiagou.

18th generation Chen Zhaoxu, (1911-1960)

Chen Zhaoxu was the eldest son of grandmaster Chen Fake. He was a father of Chen Yonghe, Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. He was known the most skillful person of his generation in Chenjiagou. He inherited Chen Fake’s all skills and taught people in the village. Although he really tried to keep the Chen’s tradition, he was killed when the Chinese Cultural Revolution occurred.

18th generation, Chen Zhaokui (1928-1981)

As the youngest son of Chen Fake, he inherited his father’s skills, especially Xinjia. Chen Zhaokui devoted his life to teaching the Chen’s art in Beijing, Shanghai, ZhengZhou, JiaoZuo, ShijiaZhuang, and ChenJiaGou. He taught his gongfu to Chen Xiaowang, Wang Xian, Zhu Tiancai, Chen Zhenglei, Ma Hong, Chen Lizhou, Zhang Maozhen and Zhang Qilin. His son, Chen Yu, teaches his gongfu in Beijing.

19th generation, Chen Xiaowang (1945-present)

Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang is the second son of Chen Zhaoxu. He is the representative of Chen family and Honorary Presidentof Chenjiagou Taijiquan School. He is also a president of Chen Xiaowang World Chen Taijiquan Association. He learned his family art from Chen Fake, Chen Zhaopei and Chen Zhaokui. Now he travels all over the world to teach the classical Taijiquan.

19th generation, Chen Xiaoxing (1952-present)

Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing is the youngest son of Chen Zhaoxu and a younger brother of Chen Xiaowang. He is a president of Chenjiagou Taijiquan School. He keeps the family tradition and teaches in Chenjiagou. Recently, he visited S. Korea and USA to teach Chen Taijiquan.

19th generation, Chen Yu (1962-present)

 Master Chen Yu is the only son of Chen Zhaokui. Master Chen inherited Chen Zhaokui's all knowledge and traveled with him until he died. He teaches the Chen family art in Beijing.

20th generation Chen Bing (1971-present)

Master Chen Bing is known as the most skillful and knowledgable of a 20th generation in the Chen family. He is the only son of Chen Yinghe who was the eldest son of Chen Zhaoxu and who was the eldest brother of Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. He has three famous uncles of the Chen family- Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing and Chen Yu. He started to learn Chen Taijiquan from Chen Xiaowang at age 6. He is a vice mayor of Chenjiagou and vice president of Chen jiagou Taijiquan School. He travels Korea, Japan and USA to teach Chen Taijiquan every year.