Taoism, Tai chi, Kung fu: Sun Lutang

Defining the Internal Martial Arts

Sun Lutang (1860-1933) was a master of Chinese internal (neijia) martial arts and the progenitor of the syncretic (blended) art of Sun-style tai chi [1].

He was also considered an accomplished Neo-Confucian and Taoist scholar (especially of the I Ching or Book of Changes) and was a distinguished contributor to the theory of internal martial arts through his many published works [2].

• Lives of Chinese Martial Artists (4): Sun Lutang and the invention of “traditional” Chinese martial arts, Pt. 1 (Kung Fu Tea)

Biography

Sun Lu Tang doing bagua

Sun Lutang was born in Hebei, named Sun Fuquan (孫福全) by his parents. Years later, his baguazhang teacher Cheng Tinghua gave him the name Sun Lu Tang.

It was common in old China for people to have multiple names during various phases of life. He continued to use his original name in some areas, including the publishing of his books.

He was well-versed in two other internal martial arts, xingyiquan and baguazhang, before he came to study tai chi. His expertise in these two martial arts was so high that many regarded him as a master without equal. More: Sun Lutang

• Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit