Wu Yuxiang

Wu Yuxiang or Wu Yu-hsiang (1812–1880) was a t'ai chi ch'uan (taijiquan) teacher and government official active during the late Qing dynasty.[1] Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student (along with his two older brothers Wu Chengqing 武澄清 and Wu Ruqing 武汝清) of Yang Luchan.[1] Wu also studied for a brief time with a teacher from the Chen family, Chen Qingping, to whom he was introduced by Yang.[1]

武禹襄 Wu Yuxiang
Born	1812
Died	1880
Style	Wu (Hao)-style taijiquan
Notable students	Li Yiyu (李亦畬) Li Qinuan

Wu Yuxiang
Chinese	武禹襄
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wu Yuxiang Wade–Giles Wu Yu-hsiang

There is a relatively large body of writing attributed to Wu on the subject of t'ai chi ch'uan theory, writings that are considered influential by many other schools not directly associated with his style.[1][2]

His most famous student was his nephew, Li I-yu (李亦畬, 1832–1892), who also authored several important works on t'ai chi ch'uan. Li I-yu had a younger brother who was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of t'ai chi, Li Ch'i-hsuan.[1][2]

The style of t'ai chi ch'uan that Wu taught was eventually known, because of its later transmission by three generations of students of his nephew named Hao, as Wu (Hao)-style t'ai chi ch'uan. Hao Wei-chen subsequently taught Sun Lu-t'ang, the founder of Sun-style t'ai chi ch'uan.[2]

T'ai chi ch'uan lineage tree with Wu (Hao)-style focus

Wu (Hao)-style t'ai chi ch'uan lineage tree
Key: NEIJIA Solid lines Direct teacher-student. Dot lines Partial influence /taught informally /limited time. TAIJIQUAN Dash lines Individual(s) omitted. Dash cross Branch continues. CHEN-STYLE Zhaobao-style (杨露禅) Yang Luchan 1799–1872 YANG-STYLE (陈清萍) Chen Qingping 1795–1868 Chen Small Frame, Zhaobao Frame (武禹襄) Wu Yuxiang 1812–1880 WU (HAO)-STYLE Zhaobao He-style Li Qinuan 2nd gen. Wu (Hao) (李亦畬) Li Yiyu 1832–1892 2nd gen. Wu (Hao) Li-style (郝為真) Hao Weizhen 1849–1920 3rd gen. Wu (Hao) (李逊之) Li Xunzhi 1882–1944 3rd gen. Wu (Hao) WU-STYLE (孙禄堂) Sun Lutang 1861–1932 SUN-STYLE (郝月如) Hao Yueru 1877-1935 4th gen. Wu (Hao) Li Baoyu (Li Xiangyuan) 1888-1961 4th gen. Wu (Hao) Li Shengduan 1888-1948 4th gen. Wu (Hao) Li Jinfan 4th gen. Wu (Hao) (董英傑) Dong Yingjie 1897–1961 4th gen. Yang (郝少如) Hao Shaoru 1908-1983 5th gen. Wu (Hao) Wudang-style (刘积顺) Liu Jishun 1930-Present 6th gen. Wu (Hao) (李伟明) Li Weiming 6th gen. Wu (Hao) Pu Gongda 1905-1998 6th gen. Wu (Hao) CHEN-STYLE YANG-STYLE WU-STYLE SUN-STYLE WU (HAO)-STYLE
Note: This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Wu (Hao)-style. Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Wu (Hao) style & not necessarily that of the family.'

References

1. Wile, Douglas (1995). Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty (Chinese Philosophy and Culture). State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-2654-8.
2. Yip, Y. L. (Autumn 1998). "A Perspective on the Development of Taijiquan – Qi: The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness Vol. 8 No. 3". Insight Graphics Publishers. ISSN 1056-4004. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)