The traditional theory is that the art was developed by Chen Wang Ting (1600-1680. He was of the ninth generation from Chen Bu).

However, historical records of the Chen family do not, in their listing of Chen Wang Ting, mention him as the creator of Taiji. The only mention of him in relation to the founding of Taijiquan was apparently added to the records generations later by the writer Chen Xin.

Critics of the theory that Chen Wang Ting created Taijiquan are quick to point out this discrepancy. Surely such a monumental feat would be mentioned in his epitaph, they argue. It is claimed by these critics that the connection between Chen Wang Ting and Taiji was forged by the historian Tang Hao (1897-1959: he also refuted the claim that Chen Bu founded the art), who, examining writings about martial arts attributed to Chen Wang Ting, noted strong similarities between them and the writings of the Ming general Qi Jiguang, which both contained material relating to the Chen style of Taiji. The theory was later given further exposure by the writer/master Gu Liu Xin.

The Tang Hao/Gu Liu Xin theory states that Chen Wang Ting developed and left an art with a corpus of seven sets. The sets were the following:

Chenshi Toutao (13 movements), with 57 postures

Set Number Two, with 27 postures

Da Si Tao Chui (Large four point set) with 24 postures

Hong Quan, or Xiao Si Tao Chui (Small four point Set) with 23 postures

Set Number Five, with 29 postures

Paochui (Cannon Fist)

Changquan (Long Boxing) with 108 postures.

In addition, the art contained the techniques of Tui Shou (pushing hands), the weapons forms of the broad sword, spear (which was derived from the Yang family spear of the Song dynasty), sword, stick, mace, and the two person sticky spear set.

There is also controversy as to the contributions to the art of Wang Tsung Yueh, a boxer who, one theory states, visited Chenjiagou and modified the existing boxing art during the Ch'ien Lung period (1736-1795). It seems that it is not possible to ascertain the curriculum and techniques of the Chen family art at the time he visited the village: therefore, the extent of his contribution cannot be known. Indeed, there are those who question if he had any influence on the art at all.


Chen Chang Xin and Lao Jia
Chen Chang Xin (1771-1853) a fourteenth generation descendant of Chen Bu, (noted as the instructor of the founder of the Yang family style of Taiji), has been traditionally credited with synthesizing the empty hand routines attributed to Chen Wang Ting into two forms: Yi Lu and Erh Lu (Pao Chui, or Cannon Fist). These routines, along with the weapons sets (including the spear and staff sets) came to be known as Lao Jia (or Old Frame). Critics of this theory note that "The Genealogy of the Chen Family" makes no mention of Chen Chang Xin's efforts in this area. He was noted as a teacher of boxing, but his method is unnamed.

Chen You Pen and Xiao Jia
In the 14th generation, another Chen family member, Chen You Pen, is credited with the creation of a synthesis, Xin Jia, or "new" frame. (to those subscribing to the traditional theory , it was so named to differentiate it from the "old" frame of Chen Chang Xin). It is now known in Chen village as Xiao Jia (small frame). Chen You Pen was said to have eliminated some difficult movements, such as leaping and fa-jing, and retained the "scale" of the original boxing forms.

Zhaobao Jia
A disciple of Chen You Pen, Chen Qing Ping, modified the Xiao Jia form further. He had married and moved to the nearby village of Zhaobaozhen. Chen Xin notes that he there taught boxing. (Chen Qing Ping is noted as having studied under other teachers than those in Chenjiagou, among them a teacher from Zhaobao. Zhaobao lineage records trace this teacher back to Jiang Fa, a contemporary of Chen Wang Ting, as well as to Wang Tsung Yeuh.) The boxing practiced in this village became known as Zhaobao style. Currently there is an effort on the part of its' practitioners to disassociate this form from the mainstream of Chen style. However, the postures of the styles are so similar to other Chen family routines as to render this claim highly suspect. Among the existing lineages of Zhaobao Taiji on the mainland are : He Zhaoyuan, Li Jing Yuan, Zhang Han Li, Zhuo Zuo Niu, Fa Hu Ren, Chang Chun Chen, Jun Zhang Wen, Zhang Chin Mei, and Wu Yu Hsiang

Hu Lei Jia
From this sub style came the variant known in the US as Hu Lei Jia (also known as Hu Long Jia), or "Thunder" style. The style was formulated by Chen Qing Ping's student Li Jing Yan, at Zhao Kuo Chun in Bo Ai prefecture, in Henan, who fused it with an art called "Yun Qi Chui". Adam Hsu, a US practitioner of the style, notes that there are many practitioners of the style today in the village of Wanggedun, near Chenjiakou. Interestingly enough, Wanggedun was the original home of Chen Qing Ping.


Chen Fake and Xin Jia
The famous 17th generation Grand master of the Lao Jia tradition, Chen Fa ke, developed a variant of the "old frame" which is referred to as Xin Jia, or new style. For it, he added actions such as winding the wrists and shoulders folding the waist and chest, springing and leaping, and emphasizing Chan Ssu Jing. These changes make Xin Jia appear more dynamic and explosive than Lao Jia. It is said that in Lao Jia, the Chan Ssu Jing is internal, and not shown externally. In Xin Jia, it is obviously manifested.

Modern Forms and Developments
From these five major groups, one can trace other existing variations existing today. Currently there are also a number of PRC sanctioned shortened performance forms (56 and 36 postures) derived from Chen Fake's Xin Jia, as well as "simplified" forms developed by individual teachers, such as Chen Zhenglei's 18 Essence posture form, Chen Xiao Wang's 19 and 38 posture forms , and the new composite style of Feng Zhi Qiang, Chen Shi Xin Yi Hun Yuan Taijiquan (influenced by Fengs' study of Liu He Xingyiquan and Tongbeiquan).

For a more in-depth examination of the various lineages of Chen Style Taijiquan, visit the Genealogy page featuring a "family tree" of the style's noted masters as well as hypertext links to biographical information and photographs.