Shifu Lin – The Essence of Tai Chi Motion – The Old Six Roads Yang Tai Chi

The Name: Yang Jianhou (1839-1917) created an 89-posture medium-frame Tai Chi form organized into six distinct sections. This form became known as the “Old Six Roads” to differentiate it from the large-frame version later taught by his son, Yang Chengfu.Jianhou’s Patrons: As an instructor to the Divine Machine Brigade—the military unit tasked with guarding the Forbidden City—Yang Jianhou also taught this form to the house stewards and security chiefs serving Prince Duan and Prince Pu Lun Bei Zi.

The Form: The form exists in two versions: the complete 89-posture sequence and a condensed 37-posture version that eliminates repetitions for shorter practice sessions. Both versions emphasize the cultivation of Universal Qi (Ling Qi), which naturally manifests in medium-frame movements. This contrasts with the large-frame style later popularized by Yang Chengfu. The form’s focus on Ling Qi makes it particularly effective for developing and maintaining spiritual, energetic, and physical wellbeing.

The Lineage: The transmission of the Old Six Roads remained limited, with all known current lineages tracing back to Wang Youngquan (1897-1976), son of Wang Chonglu, who served as house steward to Prince Pu Lun Bei Zi. The lineage flows from Yang Luchan (1799-1872), the founder of Yang-style Tai Chi, through Yang Jianhou to the Wang family. The Wangs studied under three generations of Yang family teachers—Yang Jianhou and his sons Yang Shaohao (1862-1930) and Yang Chengfu (1883-1936)—for approximately 25 years, from 1903 until Yang Chengfu’s relocation to Shanghai in 1928.

Wang Yongquan’s Tai Chi Legacy: In the 1950s, at the urging of Beijing’s martial arts community, Wang Youngquan began accepting disciples. This decision led to the establishment of a thriving Old Six Roads practice community in Beijing that continues to preserve and transmit this distinctive martial art.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​