Xiaojia (small frame) Masters
This page represents the Small Frame (X iaojia ) Lineage of Chen Taijiquan. For a larger listing, see the Geneology page
Chen Wang Ting (1600-1680), also known as Chen Zou-Ting, of the 9th generation from the founding ancestor Chen Bu. He is traditionally held to be the originator of Chen style Taijiquan. It is said that he was a successful candidate of the imperial military examinations at the provincial level in the late Ming dynasty. In 1644, he was appointed Commander of the Garrison Force of Wen county. He engaged in military expeditions against rebel forces commanded by Li Zi-Cheng in Shandong. Upon the fall of the Ming Dynasty, his opportunities for advancement were ruined by the change. He retired to Chenjiagou. It is said, that while in retirement, he fused techniques from the teachings of the Ming general Qi Ji-Kuang, with traditional medical theory and Taoist breathing techniques to form a unique martial art.. .
Chen Shuo-Le and Chen Ru-XIn were brothers and sons of Chen Wang-Ting. They were kung fu brothers of Jiang Fa. The two brothers were trained as body guards.
Chen Xun-Ru and Chen Zhen-Ru were twin brothers. They had become very famous in Wen County because of their high level of martial arts. There is a famous story about them. They were nicknamed Big Sky God and Second Sky God.
Chen Jing-Bo was a bodyguard in Shandong Province. His kung fu skill was very good and and was nicknamed "Gai Shandong" which means he beat everyone in Shandong. There is a story of him in Chenjiagou.
When CJB was middle aged, he came across a street performer doing martial arts and practicing broadsword. His name was Wan Ding-Duo . He went by the nickname " Gai Gai Shandong ". Which means the one who beat the one who beats everyone in Shandong. While WDD was performing broadsword outside the village, he made the statement that no one can touch him while he had his broadsword. CJB heard this and pushed his way through the crowd. He was carrying a basket and walked right up to WDD and put the basket on WDD's head. Everyone laughed so he was humiliated. WDD admitted he found someone better than himself and would return one day when he had improved. Many years later, when CJB was over 80 years old, WDD returned and challenged the older Chen. CJB didnt want to fight him and tried to back out of the fight. WDD said he would return the next morning and they would fight. Later that night, CJB and his servant snuck out of the village, wanting to give WDD time to cool down from his anger. WDD had followed them to General Guan's Temple in Luoyang. The servant sat outside resting while CJB whent inside. WDD saw this and snuck in and locked the door from the inside, cornering CJB. WDD attacked and CJB got out of the way of the punch and WDD hit his hand on a stone tablet. Immediately, CJB applied an elbow attack to the ribs of WDD and he fell with blood flowing from his mouth and later died. This fight tired old Chen very much, and the servant helped him back to the village. He died a few days later. Chen Jing-Bo was also the teacher of Chen Xing-Wan.
Chen Gong-Zhao was known for his high level of martial arts and a high moral reputation. The Emporer Qian Long wanted to have a banquet in his palace to honor older people for their good moral standards. There were more than 1,000 old men invited from all over the country. Chen Gong-Zhao was one of those invited. When he returned to Chenjiagou, the governor of Henan Province also gave a banquet to honor those from the Province who attended the Emporers banquet. There was a big fireworks celebration which scared a nearby bull. This bull started to run through the banquet area and was heading right for the governor. Everyone started to scream and run but the governor froze. CGZ saw this and leaped over a table and stopped the bull dead in his tracks before he could reach the governor. Everyone was amazed as CGZ was over 80 years old. This is another famous story in Wenxian. He was the teacher of Chen You-Ben and Chen You-Heng, who were twin brothers.
14 th Generation Chen you-Ben Chen You-Heng
Chen You-Ben and Chen You-Heng were famous as they developed the Xiaojia method of Taijiquan. Chen You-Heng drowned in a lake when he was in his 30's. Chen You-Ben was the teacher of Chen Qing-Ping, Chen Ji-Xing, and Chen Zhong-Xing.
Chen Ji-Xing & Chen Zhong-Xing were twin brothers and sons of Chen You-Ben. The 14th generation founder of the Xiaojia method of Chen Shi Taijiquan.
The TaiPing Rebellion began in Guandong Province. The military leader of the TaiPing was Yang Fu-Qing. His nickname was "Big Head King". He was very good at martial arts. The rebellion had taken over Nanjing and spread northward to the Yellow River valley. The Qing Government gave up trying to fight the rebellion so the villages had to protect themselves. YFQ and his army crossed the Yellow River into Wenxian, Henan Province, where Chenjiagou is located.
As the army drew nearer, the Chen clan new they had to fight to protect their crops and village. The night before, CZX made an offering by burning yellow paper and rolling his staff threw the smoke to ward off any demons.
Chen Ji-Xing and Chen Zhong-Xing were expert horseman, as was Yang Fu-Qing. When meeting on the battlefield, CZX and YFQ fought one another. CZX knocked "Big Head King" from his horse using sticking staff techniques and held him to the ground. Others saw what had happened and rushed to help CZX and used their broadswords to chop off YFQ's head.
Once the military leader of the rebellion was killed, the rebels fled south and the rebellion was over. This was a huge event for the Qing Dynasty. The Emporer awarded Chen Zhong-Xing with a position of 4th level government official. He had no interest in government affairs and he was only protecting his village. The Emporer sent a large stone tablet to Chenjiagou in remeberance and appreciation for his deeds that day. This is why his picture is depicted in Qing Empire robes....
Chen Qing-Ping had married and moved to a local village nearby Chenjiagou. This village was known as Zhoabao. CQP was a businessman selling rice and did very well financially. Most people in Chenjiagou, at that time, practiced Taijiquan for employment as professional bodyguards. CQP practiced for the love of the art and taught others outside of the Chen family. One person was He Zhou-Yen, the founder of "Zhaobao Style". Chen also taught Li Dun who developed "Thunder Style". Many in Chenjiagou say LD didnt really invent thunder style, just that he was old and didnt want to do low movements or fa-jing. Another person was Wu Yu-Xiang the founder of "Hao Style". The village next to Chenjiagou, called Wanggudao, is where Li Ji-Yu lived. He studied Zhaobao style and later developed the "Li Style". Chen Qing-Ping had a large influence on other masters who developed their own styles of Taijiquan.
Chen Xin (1849-1929) was the son of Chen Zhong-Xin .His father didn't want him to practice martial arts because his father saw that he was very intelligent and wanted him to aspire academically. He still practiced anyhow as he had a love for Taijiquan. In his middle age, he saw Taijiquan becoming very popular. Since he was adept at writing, he began his work on organizing as much information as he could on the theory of Taijiquan. He wrote four books. They were on Yi-Lu called "Explanations of Chen Family Taijiquan", ( Chen Shi Taijiquan Tushuo), " Geneology of the Chen Family', ( Chen Shi Jiacheng) , "Taijiquan Guide for Beginners", ( Taijiquan Yinmeng Rulu) , and the " 336 Boxing Manual", ( San San Liu Quanpu) . These books are very detailed and even difficult to understand for Chinese readers. Although, coming from a wealthy family, Chen Xin died poor due to his family succumbing to Opium addiction.
Chen Yao was brother to Chen Xin . He is noted in the Chen family as being the highest level Taijiquan practitioner ever. He had reached levels beyond most peoples imagination. Chen Fa-Ke had studied with him. At this time in history, Chenjiagou was small and everyone learned from everyone else. There was no division between Small frame or Big frame. If someone was good in particular techniques, you went and studied with that person.
One day, Chen Yao was having tea in front of the police station. He had gotten into a disagreement with a large group of people. They attacked him and Chen Yao had thrown them all to the floor. It is said, his level of listening energy was so high that he could move his skin from the slightest touch to re-direct his opponent.
17 th Generation Chen Zhi-Ming 17 th Generation Chen Ke-Zhong
Chen Ke-Zhong was a student of Chen Xin and followed him the longest of any other student. He had a hard time with the Red Guard during the Cultural Revolution. As a result, his health deteriorated and died of a heart attack. He was the teacher of Chen Bo-Xiang . Chen Zhi-Ming also was also a student of Chen Xin . He wrote a book on Chen Taijiquan called, " Chen shi shi Quan Taijiquan Shu " in 1932. He traveled into Mongolia for business and met many martial arts masters and was never defeated.
18 th Generation Chen Hong-Lie
Information coming soon!!
18 th Generation Chen Bo-Xiang
19 th Generation Chen Li-Qing
