A Brief History of our San Shou - Magic Tortoise

(From Jou, The Dao of Taijiquan; Olson, Cultivating the Ch’i 2nd ed., and Kurland, History of a Rare T’ai-Chi Form San Shou)

Sometime during 1929-30, Chen Yen-lin (1906- ), a student of Yang Cheng-fu, asked to borrow the family notes for an evening. Unknown to his teacher, he “had hired 7 transcribers to work through the night to copy the entire work.” In 1932 he published a book undoubtedly based extensively on these notes, and using Yang Cheng-fu as a model for the drawings. The book included the drawings-from-photographs that we distribute in our San Shou Intensives and refer to as “the cartoons.” Olson (p. 15-16) said: “Before anyone accuses Chen of any wrong doing, it is clear that the T’ai Chi Ch’uan world owes him a great debt, whatever the ethics or politics... involved.”

Kurland says [edited]: "One of the older forms of Yang Style Taijiquan is called San Shou, roughly translated as "fighting form," "dividing hands," [or] "separating hands." Most USA teachers who teach San Shou can trace their form back to Xiong Yanghe (1886-1984). Xiong was a disciple of Yang Shaohou (1862-1930) the eldest son of Yang Jianhou (1839-1917), third son of the founder of the Yang style, Yang Luchan (1799-1872). Some authorities state that Xiong also studied with Yang Jianhou. Shaohou was the older brother of Yang Cheng-fu (1883-1936) and also trained with his uncle Yang Banhou also called Yangyu, (1837-1892), the eldest son of Yang Lu-chan. Xiong was a very famous martial artist and Taiji master in Taiwan—a real tough guy. He was very selective in whom he taught and if he did not like you, he wouldn't teach you. Many teachers were rejected from attending his classes. Xiong had only a few students, including Tchoung Ta-tchen (Zhong Dazhen, 1911-2000), and Liang Tsung-tsai (T.T. Liang 1900-2002).” A third was Jou Tsung Hwa (1917-1998). Master Jou learned both San Shou and Taiji Jian (straight sword) from Xiong Yanghe.

Before moving to NC, Kathleen studied San Shou with Greg Mucci, whose teacher was Robert Cheng (Chicago), in the early 1980’s. Dr. Jay’s teacher from 1978 until his death was Jou Tsung Hwa, who was our primary San Shou teacher. He sponsored our first San Shou Intensive in 1991 at Tai Chi Farm. Since then, we have offered 70 San Shou Intensives, ranging from one to two weekends and from two to five days in duration.