Chenjiagou
The birthplace of Tai Chi (or Taijiquan)
Chenjiagou (or Chen Village)
Chen Jia Gou or Chen Village (Chinese: 陳家溝, Pinyi: Chén Jiā Gōu), is located at Zhaobao Town, Wen Country, in Henan province of central China. Chen Jia Gou is the birthplace of Chen Style Tai Chi (Taiji Quan).
The centre of Chenjiagou has two large gateways on either end, and this is the main aesthetic aspect to it. Mysterious doorways, reveal hidden worlds behind them and its really interesting to wander round. The Chenjiagou village is made up of houses from several eras. The old courtyard houses from far into the past are quite delightful in some ways.
The chen family have lived at Chen Jia Gou over 600 years. Chen family ancestor Chen Bu migrated Chenjiagou around 1369 in Ming Dynasty. Chen Bu was a Martial Art Master and his family inherited his martial arts generation by generation. The ninth generation ancestor of the Chen family Chen Wangting (1600-1680) created the oldest style of Tai Chi (or Taijiquan).
Today the Chen Family still practice and teach their art in the Chen Village. Chenjiagou Tai Chi School is the most famous and the original Taijiquan academy in whole China and nowadays also abroad. It is open for every one who is interested in learning this internal martial arts, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner.
You can stay in Chenjiagou Tai Chi School and join the regular Tai Chi classes with the descendant masters for a short term period like few weeks, months, but also for a longer period like 6 months or a year.
Chen-style Tai Chi
The Chen-style Tai Chi (Chinese: 陳氏太极拳; Pinyin: Chén Shì Tài Jí Quán) is a Northern Chinese martial art and the original form of Tai Chi. Chen-style Tai Chi is characterized by silk reeling, alternating fast and slow motions, and bursts of power.
Tai Chi was named because the boxing techniques are infinitely varied, so the ancient Chinese philosophical theories of “Yin Yang” and “Tai Chi” were used to explain the boxing theory. The Tai Chi passed down by the Chen family was divided into many branches in later generations. In order to distinguish it from other schools of Tai Chi, it is called “Chen Style Tai Chi”, sometimes also called “Chen”, “Chen School” or “Chen Style”.
At present, the boxing and weapon routines practiced in Chenjiagou include: Old Frame 1 and 2 (Pao Chui), New Frame 1 and 2 (Pao Chui), Small Frame 1 and 2, Tai Chi Push Hands, Single Sword, Double Sword, Single Sword, Double Sword, Double Mace, Pear Blossom Spear with White Ape Stick, Spring and Autumn Broadsword, Three Rods, Eight Rods, Thirteen Rods, etc. These routines, in terms of style and combat application, still basically maintain the original traditional style.
After a long period of circulation, Chen Style Tai Chi has evolved into many schools, each with its own unique style and characteristics.
In 2020, “Tai Chi” was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
In 2007, the Chinese Wushu Association named Wen County as the “Birthplace of Chinese Wushu Tai Chi”.
In 2007, the China Folk Artists Association named Wen County as the “Birthplace of Chinese Tai Chi” and established the “Chinese Tai Chi Cultural Research Base” in Wen County.
In 2006, the State Council announced Tai Chi as the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage.
In 1992, the State Sports Commission named Wen County as the first batch of national “Martial Arts Hometown”.
In 1982, due to the influence of Tai Chi, the State Council designated Wen County as a “Class A Open County”.
