History of Tai Chi

A Taoist monk by the name of Chang Sang Feng developed what has come to be known as Tai Chi. Though Tai Chi can be traced back in time to  the second millennium B.C. with the practice of yoga in ancient India. Tai Chi came to be associated with different families in China. These family names came to designate the  different styles of Tai Chi which are know to this day. The two common forms known today are the Chen and Yang. The Tai Chi that ws first developed was by the Chen family which all other forms were based on. It was later on that a man by the name of Yang, who studied with the Chen family and changed the Chen style, to develope the Yang style which we know today. The Yang style of Tai Chi would be  the most common style of Tai Chi that is  practiced today. The most widespread story of the beginning of Tai Chi Chuan is that of Chang San-Feng (1279-1368 AD). The legend states that Chang San-Feng one day heard a noise outside his home, so going to his window to see what was going on, he saw a snake with it's head raised , and it was hissing at a crane that was perched in a tree above. The crane flew down and tried attacking the snake with his beak. The snake turned away and started attacking the crane's neck with his tail. The crane started stabbing again and again at the snake, but the crane was unable to land a solid blow. But with the snake twisting and dodging he was always out of reach from the crane. From this Chang San-Feng learned the value of over coming obsticles.So with this in mind Chang San Feng started studying the movements of the snake and crane, as well as other wild animals in his surrounding, and taking what he learned, Chang San-Feng devised Tai Chi Chuan. Movements such as Wave Hands Like Cloud , Snake Creeps Down The Mountian, and White Crane Flaps It's Wings are prime  examples of natures' lessons. It is obvious that for many years of observation, meditation were spent by Master Chang San-Feng in creating Tai Chi Chuan.