In case you have not figured out by now, Chen’s first name is pronounced Fay Key. I just do not wish that if you ever bring his name up in conversation, well that you sounded as if you knew what you were talking about.
As Fake is responsible for bringing the Chen style T’ai Chi Ch’uan to the masses, I felt we should end the postings about his legacy with a look at who has, and is, carrying on this style and tradition.
If you will recall, in my last posting I wrote about Chen Fake’s sons’ and daughter, however there is one other close relative of Chen Fake, a distant nephew, named Chen Zhao Pi, (1893 – 1972), who’s father, Chen Dengke also taught Martial Arts. When Zhao Pi’s father was away on business, he sent his son to the Chen Village to study under Master Chen Fake. Like his master, and being but a few years younger, he also suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution and World War II. When he turned 21, he left the Chen Village to go to the city of Gansu to teach “boxing”. In 1928, he left Gansu and went to Beijing to teach and it was there that the Mayor of nearby Nanjing watched Zhao Pi teach and he invited Chen to come to his city, on behalf of the cities government, to teach his boxing style. Zhao Pi however did not wish to leave Beijing and as such, suggested that the mayor instead invite his Master, Chen Fake, to go in his stead. So, in actuality, it was a distant relative that brought fate into his Masters life.
Chen Zhao Pi retired at the age of 65, in 1958, and with his free time he authored four books on the Chen Style.
“Cases of Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Beginner’s Guide to T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Illustrated Guide to Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Thirteen Theories of Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
In addition, four of todays top proponents of the Chen Style form, Grand Master Chen Zheng Lei, Grand Master Chen Xaio Wang, Grand Master Zhu Tian Cai, and Grand Master Wang Xi An are students who studied directly under Master Chen Zhao Pi. (As a side note, all of those I mentioned above, Master Chen Zhao Pi’s students, can be found online and even on Facebook.)
Following is simply a list of some of Master Chen Fakes’ most notable students for you to research on your own;
Jaizhen Shen, (1891 -1972)
Tang Hao, (1897 -1959)
Yang Yichen, (1904 – 1959)
Zhang Xuan, 1905 – 1984)
Pan Yong-Zhou, (1906 -1996)
Hong Junsheng, (1907 – 1996)
Gu Liuxin, (1908 – 1991)
Lei Muni, (1911 – 1986)
Zhong Minggao, (1911 – 1998)
Li Jingwu, (1912 – 1997)
Chen Yunting, (1912- )
Wang He-Lin, (1915 - ?)
Tian Xiuchen, 1917 – 1984)
Feng Zhiqiang, (1928 – 2012)
The list is endless…,
So, in conclusion, Chen Fake left the world a legacy of his Martial Arts Style of T’ai Chi, (boxing), which will carry on for centuries. He was an inspiration to all who studied under him and thankfully, his teachings and style will be left for many, many more who wish to envelope his thinking of what was , at the time, a practice meant to bring harmony and balance into peoples lives using nature as a
As Fake is responsible for bringing the Chen style T’ai Chi Ch’uan to the masses, I felt we should end the postings about his legacy with a look at who has, and is, carrying on this style and tradition.
If you will recall, in my last posting I wrote about Chen Fake’s sons’ and daughter, however there is one other close relative of Chen Fake, a distant nephew, named Chen Zhao Pi, (1893 – 1972), who’s father, Chen Dengke also taught Martial Arts. When Zhao Pi’s father was away on business, he sent his son to the Chen Village to study under Master Chen Fake. Like his master, and being but a few years younger, he also suffered greatly during the Cultural Revolution and World War II. When he turned 21, he left the Chen Village to go to the city of Gansu to teach “boxing”. In 1928, he left Gansu and went to Beijing to teach and it was there that the Mayor of nearby Nanjing watched Zhao Pi teach and he invited Chen to come to his city, on behalf of the cities government, to teach his boxing style. Zhao Pi however did not wish to leave Beijing and as such, suggested that the mayor instead invite his Master, Chen Fake, to go in his stead. So, in actuality, it was a distant relative that brought fate into his Masters life.
Chen Zhao Pi retired at the age of 65, in 1958, and with his free time he authored four books on the Chen Style.
“Cases of Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Beginner’s Guide to T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Illustrated Guide to Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
“Thirteen Theories of Chen Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
In addition, four of todays top proponents of the Chen Style form, Grand Master Chen Zheng Lei, Grand Master Chen Xaio Wang, Grand Master Zhu Tian Cai, and Grand Master Wang Xi An are students who studied directly under Master Chen Zhao Pi. (As a side note, all of those I mentioned above, Master Chen Zhao Pi’s students, can be found online and even on Facebook.)
Following is simply a list of some of Master Chen Fakes’ most notable students for you to research on your own;
Jaizhen Shen, (1891 -1972)
Tang Hao, (1897 -1959)
Yang Yichen, (1904 – 1959)
Zhang Xuan, 1905 – 1984)
Pan Yong-Zhou, (1906 -1996)
Hong Junsheng, (1907 – 1996)
Gu Liuxin, (1908 – 1991)
Lei Muni, (1911 – 1986)
Zhong Minggao, (1911 – 1998)
Li Jingwu, (1912 – 1997)
Chen Yunting, (1912- )
Wang He-Lin, (1915 - ?)
Tian Xiuchen, 1917 – 1984)
Feng Zhiqiang, (1928 – 2012)
The list is endless…,
So, in conclusion, Chen Fake left the world a legacy of his Martial Arts Style of T’ai Chi, (boxing), which will carry on for centuries. He was an inspiration to all who studied under him and thankfully, his teachings and style will be left for many, many more who wish to envelope his thinking of what was , at the time, a practice meant to bring harmony and balance into peoples lives using nature as a