Tripti Joshi (Editor)

Wu Ta hsin

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Died
  
2005 (aged 71–72)

Nationality
  
Chinese


Style
  
Wu-style taijiquan

Name
  
Wu Ta-hsin

Wu Ta-hsin

Born
  
1933 (
1933
)

Wu Ta-hsin or Wu Daxin (1933–2005) was a Chinese t'ai chi ch'uan teacher who lived most of his life in Hong Kong. He was the great-grandson Wu-style t'ai chi ch'uan founder Wu Ch'uan-yu and the grandson of the well-known teacher Wu Chien-ch'uan. He directed the Wu family's lineage for four years from the Wu family headquarters in Hong Kong after the death of his cousin Wu Yen-hsia.

Contents

Biography

Born into a Manchu military family known for their contributions towards preserving knowledge of the traditional Chinese martial arts, Wu Ta-hsin endured strict training from his grandfather Wu Chien-ch'uan, uncle Wu Kung-i and father Wu Kung-tsao. He eventually became known as a teacher and for his expertise with the t'ai chi sabre and sword as well as for his qigong and pushing hands skills.

When Wu Kung-i moved with his family to Hong Kong in the 1940s, Wu Ta-hsin assisted him in the promotion and teaching of t'ai chi ch'uan. During the 1950s, at the direction of Wu Kung-i, Wu Ta-hsin and his cousins Wu Ta-kuei and Wu Ta-ch'i often travelled to Malaysia and Singapore to start and manage several Wu style academies. Later in his life, he also travelled extensively to North America, teaching t'ai chi ch'uan in Toronto, Detroit and Vancouver.

Generational senior instructors of the Wu family

1st Generation

  • Wu Ch'uan-yü (Wu Quanyou, 吳全佑, 1834–1902), who learned from Yang Luchan and Yang Pan-hou, was senior instructor of the family from 1870-1902.

    • 2nd generation

  • His oldest son, Wu Chien-ch'üan (Wu Jianquan, 吳鑑泉, 1870–1942), was senior from 1902-1942.

    • 3rd Generation

  • His oldest son, Wu Kung-i (Wu Gongyi, 吳公儀, 1900–1970) was senior from 1942-1970.
  • Wu Kung-i's younger brother, Wu Kung-tsao (Wu Gongzao, 吳公藻, 1903–1983), was senior from 1970-1983.
  • Wu Kung-i's younger sister, Wu Ying-hua (Wu Yinghua, 吳英華, 1907–1997), was senior from 1983-1997.

    • 4th Generation

  • Wu Kung-i's daughter, Wu Yen-hsia (Wu Yanxia, 吳雁霞, 1930–2001) was senior from 1997-2001.
  • Wu Kung-tsao's son, Wu Ta-hsin (Wu Daxin, 吳大新, 1933–2005), was senior from 2001-2005.

    • 5th Generation

  • The current senior instructor of the Wu family is Wu Ta-k'uei's son Wu Kuang-yu (Wu Guangyu, Eddie Wu, 吳光宇, born 1946).

    • T'ai chi ch'uan lineage tree with Wu-style focus

    Note:

  • This lineage tree is not comprehensive, but depicts those considered the 'gate-keepers' & most recognised individuals in each generation of Wu-style.
  • Although many styles were passed down to respective descendants of the same family, the lineage focused on is that of the Wu style & not necessarily that of the family.

    • References

    Wu Ta-hsin Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA