The Origin
Master Wang Zhuang Hong, my esteemed teacher, was well-versed in cultural studies and a renowned expert in the authentication of ancient inscriptions and calligraphy. At the same time, he was also a truly deserving martial artist. From a young age, he had a deep passion for martial arts and studied under Master Chu Gui Ting (1892–1997), who was then known as one of the "Five Tiger Generals of Yang-Style Tai Chi. This laid a solid theoretical and practical foundation for his later research into martial arts.
In the 1960s, Master Wang began teaching in Shanghai, covering Xingyi, Bagua, and Tai Chi. He had sharp observational skills and a profound understanding of the inner workings of martial arts. He believed that Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Bagua should be integrated as one, like a fish swimming in water: The fish's tip of the head represents the sensitivity of Tai Chi, the tail represents the responsiveness of Bagua, and the body represents the power of Xingyi. The fish is adept in water, and the essence of internal martial arts lies in this very "water nature."
In 1985, the Shanghai Bookstore reprinted Chen Xin's work Illustrated Explanation of Chen Style Taijiquan and invited Master Wang to write the foreword. His writings reflect his early "water style" thinking, such as in the statement: "If one wishes not to fall, one must first eliminate the root within oneself, like an object floating in water, or a ball rolling on the ground." He also said that the power of Tai Chi Chuan mimics the nature of water, with the movements flowing like the waves of a river, continuously and unceasingly, like the great Yangtze River.
In 1987, Master Wang traveled abroad, visiting various places and delivering lectures. During this time, he participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament held in Los Angeles, winning the gold cup and gaining widespread fame, attracting many martial arts experts who came to spar and exchange ideas. In 1989, Master Wang settled in Hong Kong, where, despite a busy schedule involving the appraisal of antiques and calligraphy, he continued to teach martial arts to his students in his spare time.
Master Wang was very rigorous and serious in his theoretical research on Tai Chi Chuan. He often combined his broad cultural perspective with professional appraisal methods to examine traditional martial arts classics. His later works include research reports such as Qian Long Hand-Copied Taijiquan Manual (2003), which includes six poems, and Wang Zong Yue's Treatise of Tai Chi Chuan (2008). Today, when we reread these works, it is clear that the so-called "water nature" of Tai Chi had long been deeply embedded in traditional Chinese culture, and it was impossible for it to escape Master Wang's sharp insight.
