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Origins
Breathing and inner energy, known as chi, have been mentioned in Chinese texts and history ever since 800 BC. It is said that as early as 190 A.D., Hau T'o, the founder of Chinese surgery, wrote about a system of exercises using deep breathing methods and circular movements that would extend one's longevity over one hundred years. The exercises were based on the movements of five animals: the tiger, deer, ape, bear, and bird.

Then, around 540 AD, the founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, taught the monks at Shaolin temple breathing techniques to strengthen and condition their bodies and build inner energy, or "chi." (link to Chinese martial arts history). These were later turned into the 18 fists of Luohan, which was a forerunner for martial arts styles that took an "external" approach, instead of the "internal" approach characteristic of Tai Chi.

Around 960 AD, the Taoist priests at Mt. Wudang, a sacred place of Taoism, are believed to have created Tai Chi Chuan as a form of exercise for cultivating chi and soft boxing style with emphasis on breathing.

Modern Tai Chi
The Tai Chi Chuan practiced in modern times is said to have different roots. Most sources say that the founder was Chang Sanfeng of the late Ming Dynasty, who combined a mysterious art of controlled breathing with a variety of established combat techniques based around the principle of yin/ yang to create 13 fundamental Tai Chi movements, such as pressing, pushing, elbowing, shouldering, and stepping back. These were adapted and elaborated by his students, who later taught the styles to villagers in the Chen village in Hunan Province. And thus the first family (Chen) style of Tai Chi was begun.

Other sources claim that the Chen villagers had already been practicing the art before Sanfeng's students arrived. It is said that General Chen Wong-ding, one of the Chen villagers, founded Tai Chi in the early seventeenth century. A master of boxing and weaponry, Chen originally developed Chen-style Tai Chi Chuan as a form of combat training, so there was more emphasis on self-defense, instead of meditation. The art of Tai Chi was passed down through the Chen family for 200 years, until the 19th century, when it was passed out of the family to form its other leading styles.

Whether the first or second theory is true, it is accepted fact that in the mid-19th century, emphasis in Tai Chi was shifted from more martial aspects to health and body-mind harmony. From then on, Tai Chi has primarily evolved into a health-oriented exercise, and is popularly practiced by people of all ages for its health benefits. Although greater emphasis is placed on the Tai Chi form, or set of movements, some students also study combat aspects of Tai Chi and practice it as a competition sport and system of self-defense.

Many different styles of Tai Chi have developed since its emergence. They are arranged into sets of forms with different speeds, intensities, and amount of physical power used. All contain similar sequences of movements that can be used for attack, defense, and health improvement. The following are the four major styles practiced nowadays.

Chen
This is the oldest, original style of Tai Chi. Its forms emphasize graceful, powerful, and explosive movements, as well as foot and fist actions. Many of the movements involve spinning and turning, and some sets include jumps and dodges. Present-day Chen-style Tai Chi has refined these into two main sets, one with 83 forms and the other with 71 forms.

Chen style Tai Chi

Yang
Yang Luchan founded this style in the late 1800s. Luchan learned Tai Chi from a Chen family member and modified it according to his previous martial arts training while retaining its quick, explosive movements. Over time, the Yang style has been revised and softened, de-emphasizing the more forceful and difficult movements (e.g. jumps). Presently, it is characterized by light, natural, and fully extended movements. It is the most widely practiced style of Tai Chi and contains sets of 16, 24, and 40 forms.

Yang style Tai Chi

Sun
A scholar and martial artist named Sun Lu-tang created this style by combining elements from the martial arts he had studied: Xing Yi Chuan, Baguazhang, and Tai Chi. The Sun-style is a smooth style that incorporates follow-up footwork, twisting and circular movements, and builds flexibility and agility. It is one of the less popular styles.

Sun style Tai Chi

Wu
This subtle style was founded by Wu Jian Chuan, whose father learned Yang style Tai Chi from originator Yang Luchan and son Yang Banhou. Wu Jian Chuan modified Banhou's form, retaining its small, round movements. The current Wu style has slow and fast forms. The slow forms do not include jumps or leaps, but rather emphasize circular movements of the wrist and body. The fast form includes more flexible and swift movements.

Wu style Tai Chi

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