Wu (Hao) Style Tai Chi
武式太極拳A family branch of taijiquan of Wu Yuxiang and Hao Weizhen from Yongnian, with a small, compact frame. On China's national list since 2008.
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About Wu (Hao) Style Tai Chi
The Wu (Hao) style is a family branch of taijiquan, founded, according to China's national list of intangible cultural heritage, by Wu Yuxiang of Yongnian County in Hebei Province under the Xianfeng and Tongzhi emperors. Wu was from an official family, in 1852 learned the small frame from Chen Qingping in Zhaobao, taught rarely and practised mainly for himself, so the style spread little. It was passed on by his nephew Li Yiyu and his student Hao Weizhen, hence the name Hao. Sources differ on Wu's dates. The list describes the style as a combination of Chen-style elements and Yang Luchan's large movements, stressing posture, alternating opening and closing and mind-led breathing. The movements are concise, firm and calm, but not cramped. A small frame with high, compact stances is characteristic, though according to the style institute practice usually begins with the medium frame. A manuscript of classical taijiquan texts is attributed to Wu Yuxiang, but its authorship is disputed. Since 2008 the Wu (Hao) style has been on China's national list of intangible cultural heritage. It is confused with Wu Jianquan's Wu style, which is written the same in Latin letters but with a different Chinese character.
History
According to China's national list of intangible cultural heritage, the Wu (Hao) style arose under the Xianfeng and Tongzhi emperors, founded by Wu Yuxiang of Yongnian County. From an official family, he did not live from martial arts, taught rarely, practised mostly for himself, so it spread little. In 1852, according to China's national intangible cultural heritage portal, he studied the small frame for forty days with Chen Qingping in Zhaobao. Sources differ on his dates: the lineage site gives 1812–1880, the national portal 1825–1893. His nephew Li Yiyu and student Hao Weizhen passed the style on, Hao teaching it publicly according to Wu Wenhan, hence the name Wu (Hao). A manuscript of classical texts attributed to Wu Yuxiang was, by legend, found by his brother in a salt warehouse. Its alleged author, Wang Zongyue, is historically unattested. The historian Douglas Wile published in 1996 a translation and study of 19th-century manuscripts, including Wu and Li family texts from Yongnian.
How it differs
The Wu (Hao) style is confused with Wu Jianquan's Wu style, which is written the same in Latin letters but with a different Chinese character (武 as opposed to 吴) and derives from Quan You, a student of Yang Banhou. The list gives them separately. Compared with the expansive Yang style with its 108 forms, Wu (Hao) appears compact and modest according to the list. Unlike the Chen style, from which the others derive, it combines Chen and Yang elements. The Sun style, which Sun Lutang combined in 1918 with xingyiquan and baguazhang, derives from Wu (Hao) through Hao Weizhen.
Technique
The national list describes the Wu (Hao) style as a combination of old and new Chen-style routines and Yang Luchan's large movements with the Chen style's small ones. It stresses posture, alternating opening and closing and full and empty, with breath and energy led by the mind, and the movements are concise, firm and calm, but not cramped. Main principles include containing the chest, straightening the back, lifting the crown, sinking the elbows and centring the spine. The list likens its look to an old dry plum branch. According to the style institute in Yongnian, a small frame with relatively high, compact stances is characteristic. According to the lineage, the palms should protect the front of the body and not extend beyond the feet.
Training
According to the style institute in Yongnian, practice usually begins with the medium frame, and the small frame is deemed advanced. According to the national list, routines rest on the principle that moving back and forth requires folding, advancing and retreating transitions. The lineage lists preparatory pushing-hands exercises with steps, the three-and-a-half-step exercise, 32 fast strikes, free tuishou and Wu Yuxiang's principle of using the mind, not the muscles. According to one symposium's organisers, high stances suit people whose knees suffer in low ones.
Ranks and progression
We have found no ranking system of the Wu (Hao) style itself. The nationwide duanwei system, introduced in 1998 by the PRC's General Administration of Sport, has nine duan in three levels, according to an expert article. Basic wushu organisations examine for the 1st to 3rd duan, provincial associations for the 4th to 6th and the Wushu Administrative Centre for the 7th to 9th. One fist routine suffices for admission, and the 6th duan needs three. The lineage website gives first routines of 8, 13, 24, 32 and 36 steps and a long one of 108 steps.
Today
Since 2008 the Wu (Hao) style has been on China's national list of intangible cultural heritage as an extension item of taijiquan for Yongnian County in Hebei Province. The bearer is Zhai Weichuan, president of the style institute based in Guangfu, and protection is provided by the cultural centre of Yongnian County. The list states that the style spread little and needs protection. Taijiquan as a whole was inscribed by UNESCO in 2020. According to an ethnographic survey by the University of Geneva, Guangfu has roughly 25 taijiquan schools of both local lineages, Yang and Wu (Hao).
Did you know
Guangfu in Yongnian County is the birthplace of Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang, locally called Taiji Township, and the Wu family house is now a museum. The Wang Qihe style also derives from Wu (Hao) and the Yang style, its founder having studied with Hao Weizhen and Yang Chengfu. Historian Douglas Wile suggests that the name Wang Zongyue may be a veiled reference to General Yue Fei, but this is a hypothesis. According to the lineage, Wu Yuxiang compared concentrating force to drawing a bow, its release to an arrow.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wu (Hao) style the same as Wu Jianquan's style?
No. Wu (Hao) was founded by Wu Yuxiang of Yongnian, Wu Jianquan's style derives from Quan You, a student of Yang Banhou. In Latin letters they are spelled alike, in Chinese with a different character.
Is Wu (Hao) a recognised style of taijiquan?
Yes. China's national list of intangible cultural heritage inscribed it in 2008 with its founder Wu Yuxiang of Yongnian.
Is Wu (Hao) suitable for beginners?
According to the style institute in Yongnian, people usually start with the medium frame, and the small frame is regarded as advanced.
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.