Cao Ji Wu (), (1662-1722), was a Chinese master of the

internal Internal may refer to: *Internality as a concept in behavioural economics *Neijia, internal styles of Chinese martial arts *Neigong or "internal skills", a type of exercise in meditation associated with Daoism * ''Internal'' (album) by Safia, 2016 ...

martial art of Xinyi (Heart and Intention Boxing), precursor of Xingyi (Form and Intention Boxing). According to accepted theory, he is probably the second lineage holder of the art. Other, less credible, theories consider

Bodhidharma Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese Lineage (Buddhism), patriarch. ...

Yue Fei Yue Fei (; March 24, 1103 – January 28, 1142), courtesy name Pengju (), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic folk hero, national hero, known for leading its forces in Jin–Song Wars, the wars ...

as the originators of the style. Cao Ji Wu is said to have studied with

Ji Jike Ji Jike (; 1588–1662) was a highly accomplished martial artist from Yongji, Shanxi Province. He was also known as Ji Longfeng (). According to accepted theory, he is widely considered to be the originator of the internal martial art of Xi ...

for twelve years, gaining great martial prowess. In 1693, during the reign of the

Kangxi Emperor The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 165420 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, personal name Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign of 61 ...

, of the

Manchu The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic peoples, Tungusic East Asian people, East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized Ethnic minorities in China, ethnic minority in China and the people from wh ...

-led

Qing Dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

, Cao Ji Wu passed the highest level military examinations, gaining the highest score of all the candidates, and was personally appointed by the emperor as head superintendent of one of the counties in

Shaanxi Shaanxi is a Provinces of China, province in north Northwestern China. It borders the province-level divisions of Inner Mongolia to the north; Shanxi and Henan to the east; Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan to the south; and Gansu and Ningxia to t ...

Province. He is said to have died of hypothermia at the age of 36, while directing troops in the relief effort after the flooding of the Han River in

. While other versions mentioned of him returning later in life to continue teaching. It is said that he taught the Dai brothers Dai Long Bang and Dai Linbang, who became the first generation of the Shanxi branch of Xingyi practitioners.

had another outstanding disciple called

Ma Xueli Ma, MA, or mA may refer to: Academia * Master of Arts, a degree award * Marin Academy, a high school in San Rafael, California * Menlo-Atherton High School, a public high school in Atherton, California * Minnehaha Academy, a private high schoo ...

. But the latest historical research showed evidences that Dai longbang hasn't been taught by Cao himself, neither that he had a brother named Dai lingbang who was versed in the martial art study. Dai family xinyiquan (Daishi xinyiquan) was probably created on the basis of Li zheng's teaching, who inherited himself his boxing from Cao jiwu and Ma xueli through Zhang zhicheng. In 1750, Dai Long Bang, wrote “The Six Harmonies Fist preface” in which it is said that “Ji Jike, also known as Ji Long Feng, born at the end of the

Ming Dynasty The Ming dynasty, officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming was the last imperial dynasty of ...

, discovered the text of Yue Fei, and taught Cao Ji Wu in Qiu Pu”.].

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cao, Jiwu Chinese xingyiquan practitioners Chinese martial arts terminology Neijia Qing dynasty Taoists Qing dynasty generals People from Chizhou Generals from Anhui 1662 births 1722 deaths Zhuangyuan Qing dynasty zhuangyuan