Chen Qingping
7th-generation master of the Chen style and 7th successor of the Zhaobao lineage, author of a small-frame form with 76 postures and teacher of Wu Yuxiang and He Zhaoyuan.
Quick Facts
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According to the main biographical source, Chen Qingping was born in 1795 in Chenjiagou, Henan province, and died in 1868 at the age of 72–73; another source on the Zhaobao style gives the years 1812–1880. He belonged to the 15th generation of the Chen clan and was a 7th-generation master of Chen taijiquan; he was also the 7th successor in the lineage of the Zhaobao style.
He was taught the martial art by Chen Youben in the Chen style and by Zhang Yan in the Zhaobao style. He married into the village of Zhaobao, thereby linking the two traditions.
He created his own small-frame style (xiaojia), also called the Zhaobao style. His form has 76 postures, requires a low stance, and is marked by the spiraling force of chansijing, body rotation and explosive movements. He adapted the original Chen style sequences into a progressive system from simple to complex.
His students included Wu Yuxiang, who first trained in Chen village and, on the recommendation of Chen Changxing, moved to Chen Qingping; Wu Yuxiang later created the Wu (Hao) style. Another student was He Zhaoyuan, whose lineage led to the emergence of the He style. He also taught Li Zuozhi and Li Jingyan, who created derived styles. His students formed new taiji styles by combining his art with the martial arts of the regions where they lived.