Wu Yuxiang

Wu Yuxiang (Wu Yu-hsiang, 1812?–1880?) was a Chinese martial artist, teacher and the founder of Wu (Hao)-style tai chi. Wu was a scholar from a wealthy and influential family who became a senior student of Yang Luchan, the founder of Yang-style tai chi. Wu also studied for a brief time with Chen Qingping, a master of Chen-style and Zhaobao-style tai chi.

There is a relatively large body of writing attributed to Wu on the subject of tai chi theory, writings that are considered influential by other tai chi styles were the source of what are now known as the tai chi classics.

Wu developed his own style of tai chi and shared it with members of his family, who also wrote about the art. He trained with his two older brothers Wu Chengqing (武澄清, 1800-1884)) and Wu Ruqing (武汝清, 1803-1887), and took on two nephews as disciples. One of those nephews Li Yiyu (Li I-yu, 李亦畬, 1832–1892), authored several particularly important works on tai chi. The other nephew, Li Yiyu's younger brother Li Qixuan (Li Ch'i-hsuan, 李啟軒, 1835-1899), worked closely with Yiyu to further develop the art, and was also credited as an author of at least one work on the subject of tai chi.

The style of tai chi 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 tai chi. Hao Weizhen subsequently taught Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun-style tai chi.

Tai chi lineage tree with Wu (Hao)-style focus

References

Chinese tai chi practitioners
Martial arts school founders
1810s births
1880 deaths
Sportspeople from Handan
Martial artists from Hebei
19th-century philanthropists

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