Tai Ji Quan has its philosophical roots in Taoism and is considered an internal martial art, utilizing internal energy, or Qi, and following the simple principle of "subduing the vigorous by the soft". Taoism is the oldest philosophy in China which is represented by the famous symbol ofYin and Yangwhich expresses the continuous flow of Qi in a circular motion that generates two opposite forces, plus and minus, which interact and balance each other to bring existence to the physical and metaphysical world.

Ⅱ. Five Genres

The most famous genres of Tai Ji Quan practiced today are the Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu and Sun styles. All the five styles can be traced back to Chen style Tai Ji Quan. According to historical records, Tai Ji Quan was founded by Chen Wangting (1597-1664), who lived in Chen Village, in today's Henan Province in China. Based on the Chen style and created by Yang Luchan, a Hebei native of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Yang style is now the most popular style worldwide. The Wu Style is based on the Chen and Yang styles and created by Wu Yuxing, a student of Yang Luchan.

The Sun style is derived from Chen and Wu styles and was created by Sun Lutang. The Sun style is a combination of the more famous internal Chinese martial art forms of Ba Gua, Xing Yi and Tai Ji. The Wu style is based on Chen and Yang styles and was created by Wu Jianquan.

Nowadays, when most people talk about Tai Ji Quan, they are usually referring to the Yang style, which has already spread throughout the world and is practiced by millions of people.

1. Chen-style Tai Ji Quan

Declarer：Jiaozuo City, Henan Province

All the various styles of Tai Ji Quan can be traced back to a single man, Chen Wangting, a general in the late years of theMing Dynasty(1368-1644). Chen was a native of Chenjiagou Village, Wen County, Henan Province. After the fall of the Ming and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Chen Wangting returned to the Chen village and created his forms of boxing. Originally containing up to seven sets, only two sets of Chen Style Tai Ji Quan have survived to the present day.