Zhang Qinlin
Encyclopedia
Zhang Qinlin was an influential martial artist, teacher
, and lineage holder of the Yangjia Michuan
(Yang Family Hidden Tradition) style of t’ai chi ch’uan. In 1929, Zhang won the All China Fighting Championship in the unarmed division.
County, Hebei
province, China
in 1888, the son of a poor family. After his parents died while he was still young, Zhang ventured out at the age of 14 to find a martial arts
teacher. He eventually sought out the nearby Yang family household to learn Yang-style taijiquan. There he began his martial arts studies with Yang Chengfu
under the supervision of his father, Yang Jianhou
. During the initial years of Zhang’s training with Chengfu, he was only taught the publicly known elements of the Yang style disseminated to students outside the Yang family. After Zhang successful fought a challenge match against a famous martial artist from southern China
, Wan Mou, the elder Yang decided the young student had earned the right to learn the Yangjia Michuan
teachings. Thereafter, Jianhou had Zhang report to his personal quarters every night between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. while the rest of the compound slept. It was then that Jianhou taught Zhang the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
system in addition to his regular daily training.
, the then capitol of China
, to compete. Zhang, whose occupation as a fur merchant had required that he move to Shanxi
in 1925, entered and won the regional competition for that province. He went on to win the national championship in the unarmed division later that year.
After Zhang moved to Shanxi
, he began search for a student to whom he could pass on the Yang family teachings. In all, Zhang is known to have taught ten students, although only a subset of those was taught anything beyond the publicly known Yang style. Wang Yen-nien, who moved to Taipei
, Taiwan
in 1949 where he lived until his death in May 2008, was the second and last student of Zhang’s to receive the entirety of the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
system.
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and lineage holder of the Yangjia Michuan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan, the Yang Family Secret Tradition is a t'ai chi ch'uan style created by Yang Lu-ch'an, founder of the Yang style. He passed this special style to his son Yang Chien-hou who transmitted it to his student Zhang Qinlin...
(Yang Family Hidden Tradition) style of t’ai chi ch’uan. In 1929, Zhang won the All China Fighting Championship in the unarmed division.
Early Life and Training
Zhang was born in XingtaiXingtai
Xingtai is a city in southern Hebei province, North China. The prefecture-level city of Xingtai, with a total area of , administers 2 districts, 2 county-level cities and 15 counties. In 2004 it had an urban population of 561,400 and a total population of 6.73 million...
County, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1888, the son of a poor family. After his parents died while he was still young, Zhang ventured out at the age of 14 to find a martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
teacher. He eventually sought out the nearby Yang family household to learn Yang-style taijiquan. There he began his martial arts studies with Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu
Yang Chengfu or Yang Ch'eng-fu is historically considered the best known teacher of the soft style martial art of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan .-Biography:...
under the supervision of his father, Yang Jianhou
Yang Chien-hou
Yang Chien-hou , was the younger son of the founder of Yang-style t'ai chi ch'uan, Yang Lu-ch'an, and a well known teacher of the soft style martial art of t'ai chi ch'uan in late Qing dynasty China. Yang Chien-hou's older brother, Yang Pan-hou, was the senior of Chien-hou's generation, and also...
. During the initial years of Zhang’s training with Chengfu, he was only taught the publicly known elements of the Yang style disseminated to students outside the Yang family. After Zhang successful fought a challenge match against a famous martial artist from southern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Wan Mou, the elder Yang decided the young student had earned the right to learn the Yangjia Michuan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan, the Yang Family Secret Tradition is a t'ai chi ch'uan style created by Yang Lu-ch'an, founder of the Yang style. He passed this special style to his son Yang Chien-hou who transmitted it to his student Zhang Qinlin...
teachings. Thereafter, Jianhou had Zhang report to his personal quarters every night between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. while the rest of the compound slept. It was then that Jianhou taught Zhang the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan, the Yang Family Secret Tradition is a t'ai chi ch'uan style created by Yang Lu-ch'an, founder of the Yang style. He passed this special style to his son Yang Chien-hou who transmitted it to his student Zhang Qinlin...
system in addition to his regular daily training.
Competition and Teaching
In 1929, the central Chinese government sponsored the All China Fighting Championship, a general competition in Chinese boxing. Each province was to send two participants – one for the armed division, one for the unarmed division -- to NanjingNanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, the then capitol of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, to compete. Zhang, whose occupation as a fur merchant had required that he move to Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
in 1925, entered and won the regional competition for that province. He went on to win the national championship in the unarmed division later that year.
After Zhang moved to Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, he began search for a student to whom he could pass on the Yang family teachings. In all, Zhang is known to have taught ten students, although only a subset of those was taught anything beyond the publicly known Yang style. Wang Yen-nien, who moved to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in 1949 where he lived until his death in May 2008, was the second and last student of Zhang’s to receive the entirety of the Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan
Yangjia Michuan Taiji Quan, the Yang Family Secret Tradition is a t'ai chi ch'uan style created by Yang Lu-ch'an, founder of the Yang style. He passed this special style to his son Yang Chien-hou who transmitted it to his student Zhang Qinlin...
system.