Lineage of the Chen Family
1st generation, Chen Bu (陈卜 Chén Bǔ: 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 so that his descendants could develop and create Taijiquan based upon his theories. When Chen Bu was alive, he was given the name of “the almighty martial artist of the present generation” and defeated bandits of Qingfengling (Green-Wind mountain.)
9th generation, Chen Wangting (陈王廷 Chén Wángtíng: 1600-1680)
Chen Wangting invented Chen Taijiquan systems from his vast knowledge from past generations, and other Chinese gongfu and heritage. He is considered the founder of the oldest form of Taijiquan.
12th generation, Chen Jingbo (陈敬伯 Chén Jìngbó: 1707-1771)
A great grandson of Chen Wangting
13th generation, Chen Bing Wang (陈秉旺 Chén Bǐng Wàng)
Chen Bing Wang and his two brothers--Chen Bingren (陈秉仁 Chén Bǐngrén) and Chen Bingqi (陈秉奇 Chén Bǐngqí)- were called the „Three Heroes of the Chen Family‟.
14th generation, Chen Changxing (陈长兴 Chén Chángxīng: 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 into clear routines known as Laojia Yilu and Erlu (old frame first 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.
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14th generation, Chen Youben (陈有本 Chén Yǒuběn)
Chen Youben created small frame based upon his family‟s old frame practices in order to hide and make more subtle changes in combat.
15th generation, Chen Gengyun (陈耕耘 Chén Gēngyún)
Son of Chen Changxing and famous for his Taijiquan skills.
15th generation, Chen Qingping (陈淸萍 Chén Qīngpíng: 1795-1868)
Learned from Chen Youben and made his own small frame style. He was the person who went to teach in the Zhaobao (赵堡 Zhào Bǎo) area. Later, people in Zhaobao made their own small frame style.
16th generation, Chen Yanxi (陈延熙 Chén Yán Xī)
Son of Chen Gengyun. He was considered a great Taijiquan master along with his younger brother, Chen Yannian (陈 延年 Chén Yánnián).
16th generation, Chen Xin (陈鑫 Chén Xīn: 1849-1929)
To explain his family‟s knowledge to the world, Chen Xin spent 12 years writing “Explanatory Diagram of Chen Taijiquan”, which consists of 4 books. By this work, Chen Taijiquan‟s secret training experiences were shown clearly. Chen Xin explains Chen Taijiquan based on “Silk Reeling Energy” via meridian pathways and a paradox. This work became one of the most important materials of Chen Taijiquan theory. He also wrote “Chen Family Genealogy” and “Three-three-six Fist Arts”.
17th generation, Chen Fake (陈发科 Chén Fākē: 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 nephew, Chen Zhaopei‟s request. He taught Chen Taijiquan in Beijing during 1929-1957. His teaching was instrumental for 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. Chen Fake had two sons and one daughter: Chen [email protected] www.ChenBing.org 323 – 735 – 0672
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 are currently practices, including Laojia and Xinjia, were from Chen Fake.
18th generation, Chen Zhaopi (陈照丕 Chén Zhàopī: 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 in passing on the Chen family's tradition in Chenjiagou.
18th generation, Chen Zhaoxu (陈照旭 Chén Zhàoxù: 1911-1960)
Chen Zhaoxu was the eldest son of grandmaster Chen Fake. He was a father of Chen Yinghe, Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing. He was regarded as the most skillful person of his generation in Chenjiagou. He inherited Chen Fake‟s skills and taught people in the village. He really tried to keep the Chen tradition but, sadly, he was killed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
18th generation, Chen Zhaokui (陈照奎 Chén Zhàokuí: 1928-1981)
As the youngest son of Chen Fake, Chen Zhaokui inherited his father‟s skills, especially Xinjia. Chen Zhaokui devoted his life to teaching the Chen 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 (陈小旺 Chén Xiǎo wàng: 1945-present)
Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang is the second son of Chen Zhaoxu. He is the representative of Chen family and Honorary President of 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.
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19th generation, Chen Xiaoxing (陈小星 Chén Xiǎoxīng: 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 (陈瑜 Chén Yú: 1962-present)
Master Chen Yu is the only son of Chen Zhaokui. Master Chen inherited Chen Zhaokui's knowledge and traveled with him until his passing. He teaches the Chen family art in Beijing.
20th generation Chen Bing (陈炳 Chén Bǐng: 1971-present)
Master Chen Bing is known as the most skillful and knowledgeable 20th generation representative in the Chen family. He is the only son of Chen Yinghe (the eldest son of Chen Zhaoxu and the eldest brother of Chen Xiaowang and Chen Xiaoxing.) Chen Bing has three famous uncles of the Chen family: Chen Xiaowang, Chen Xiaoxing and Chen Yu. Chen Bing started to learn Chen Taijiquan from Chen Xiaowang at age 6. He is a vice mayor of Chenjiagou and vice president of Chenjiagou Taijiquan School. He travels to Korea, Japan and USA to teach Chen Taijiquan every year.
The Seven Dragons of the 20th generation of the Chen Family 1.First Dragon, Chen Bing (1971 – present) Eldest son of Chen Yonghe (big 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
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6. Sixth Dragon, Chen Pengfei (1988- Present) Youngest son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing 7.Seventh Dragon, Chen Shiwu (1994 – present) Eldest son of Master Chen Yu
From the left side, a chart of the direct descendants shows the 19th 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 show outstanding abilities for the future of Chen family Taijiquan.
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The 6 Dragons – the 7th dragon, Chen Shiwu is missing in this picture.
The 8 Kings in Chenjiagou In 2010, the Chen Village Committee announced the 8 Kings of Chen Family Taijiquan (陈家沟太极拳‟八大天王‟). They are Chen Bing, Chen Dahu, Chen Erhu, Wang Zhanjun, Chen Zhiqiang, Chen Ziqiang, Chen Chong and Zhang Fuwang. These eight kings of Chen Family Taijiquan in Chenjiagou are the most skillful and influential masters at empty handed forms, weapons, push-hands and applications.
Chen Bing (陈炳 Chén Bǐng) - He is an eldest son and a 20th representative of the Chen family.
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Chen Dahu (陈大虎 Chén dà Hǔ) - a member of the Chen family
Chen Erhu (陈二虎 Chén èrhǔ) - a member of the Chen family
Wang Zhanjun (王战军 Wáng Zhànjūn) - a second son of grandmaster Wang Xian who is one of the four diamonds in 19th generation of Chen Family Taijiquan
Chen Zhiqiang (陈志强 Chén Zhìqiáng) - a member of the Chen family
Chen Ziqiang (陈自强 Chén zìqiáng) – a son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing who is a president of Chenjiagou Taijiquan School and 19th generation of the Chen family
Chen Chong (陈冲 Chén Chōng) – a member of the Chen family
Zhang Fuwang (张福旺 Zhāng Fú Wàng) – a disciple of Grandmaster Wang Xian
From the left on the top - Chen Zhiqiang, Chen Bing, Zhang Fuwang, Chen Chong
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From the left on the bottom – Wang Zhanjun, Chen Ziqiang, Chen Dahu, Chen Erhu
Written by Bosco Baek of Chen Bing Taiji Academy
When sharing, please cite the origin of the source.
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