The world of 2lst century witnesses the development of new technologies and research of a higher value-added economy. It sees the speedy progress of human civilization. While some are seriously looking for means to keep the world as a whole in harmony and progressing, others are seeking ways to keep elderly people in a better state of health by diminishing illness, thus prolonging life. 

 

The main purpose of this book is to meet the needs of today's society by introducing the art of Taichi Chuan. This book does not intend to illustrate Taichi Chuan as a martial art. It intends to show the readers the benefits of practicing: Taichi Chuan in terms of health to mind and body. 

 

Taichi Chuan as practiced today has come down to us through a long tradition. The lineage of Taichi masters can be traced back to the founder, the itinerant Taoist Chang San Feng. Chang taught this art to Wang Zong Yue who passed it to Chen Chang Xing, where it became known as Chen Style Taichi. Chen later taught it to Yang Lu Chan who developed it to be known as the Yang Style. Yang taught his son Yan Ban Hou, who in turn taught Wu Chuan You, a Manchurian royal army official in the Qing Dynasty. Wu later developed it into the Wu Style. Wu taught his son Wu Chian Chuan, who passed it on to Cheng Wing Kwong, where the art developed further as the Cheng Style. Cheng taught his nephew Cheng Tin Hung, and from whom our members learned this art. 

 

Master Wang Zong Yue authored an essay "A Treatise on Taichi Chuan" which became a standard and classic guide for all who practice Taichi Chuan. The complete series of traditional Taichi Chuan consists of some 521 movements and 119 postures. It would take a long time to complete the entire series of such movements and postures. In the contemporary world, where time always seems in short supply, beginners often find it difficult to complete the whole series, and consequently with reluctance, give up half way. Many turned to Master Cheng Tin Hung for advice. After serious reflection and study, Cheng suggested that the whole series of Taichi Chuan could be modified and divided into three successive phases without sacrificing any of the traditional postures and forms passed down by the Masters. 

 

The fist phase comprises of 176 movements and 39 postures commencing with a "beginning form" up to the first "Wave Hands in Cloud" Posture and ends by adding the "Tai Chi at rest" and "Completion style" form posture. This first phase make up approximately one third of the complete series and the length of time taken to practice will also be shortened by the same proportion. If time and physical disposition permit, the practitioners may proceed further to practice the second phase and even to the third and final phase, to complete the whole series. 

 

Master Cheng Tin Hung proposed this new method to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Tai Chi Association at a meeting held on 13th January, 2002. All agreed that this proposal may be of interest and benefit to all who intend to practice Taichi Chuan. The proposal was approved and adopted unanimously at the same meeting. 

 

Hong Kong Tai Chi Association 

18th January, 2002. 

前言

 

今天歷史已步入二十一世紀，世界各國正在積極發展新科技，講究經濟效益，進一步推動人類文明，社會上也講究和諧進步，健體強身，減少老年人的疾病，益壽延年．所以本書之目的就在於順應社會需要，發展提倡太極拳健體運動，內容著重圍繞講述練太極拳對人體健康的益處，不言在技術上的運用，特於此向讀者作說明，我們所練的這套古傳太極拳，相傳是張三丰祖師傳下來的，張祖師傳王宗岳師祖，王師祖傳陳家溝陳長興宗師（陳家)，陳長興傳揚露蟬宗師(楊家)，楊露蟬傳子楊班侯宗師，楊班侯在清朝醇親王府傳蒙古侍衛吳全佑宗師(吳家)，吳全佑傳子吳鑑泉宗師，吳鑑泉傳鄭榮光宗師(鄭家)，鄭榮光傳侄鄭天熊宗師，鄭天熊又傳給我們大家．

 

王宗岳師祖所傳下來其自序的《太極拳經》理論精深，言人之所未言．凡練太極拳的人都奉為經典之作，而拳長五百二十一個動作，招式壹百壹十九式，需要練習的時間較長，現代人生活節奏忙碌緊張，不易找到更多時間學習，同仁等針對此點，請教於鄭天熊宗師，經鄭宗師深思熟慮後提出，在保存這套古存的太極拳的精妙之處的基礎上，改編為三套太極拳、第一套由太極起式演練至第一個雲手加上合太極拳收式共一百七十六個動作，三十九個招式，恰好達到整套古存太極拳三分之一長，方便沒有時間的人學習，如果學習後感到增進健康，精神舒暢，再想多練一點，可再續練第二套及第三套，如此便可得窺古太極拳之全豹．

 

為此，鄭天熊宗師遂於2001年1月13日在香港太極總會全體執行委員會及董事大會上提出，經在座各委員及董事研究討論後一致贊同這項措施，同意大力推行，方便社會大眾練習，令社會更多人士產生對太極拳的興趣，使大家身體更加強壯，減少疾病，健康長壽．

 

 

香港太極總會同仁啟

2002年1月18日

Photo Illustration:

 

1.    The portrait of Tai Chi Grandmaster Chang San Feng

2.    Grand Master Cheng Tin Hung, with honourable chairmen and the Tai chi masters

        of the Hong Kong Tai Chi Association.

3.    Ten thousand participants of Tai Chi Chuan Performance in Hong Kong 2001

4.    Tai Chi Seminar held by Master Cheng in England

5.     Newspaper script of "Zhong Shan daily"

 

　

 

Contents

 

1.    Prefix by Mr. Liu

2.    The practice of Tai chi Chuan and Tai Chi Kung --

       A real life experience on improving the control of diabetes

       by Master Cheng Tin Hung and recorded by student Lee Ching

3.    Foreword

4.    The Advantages of practicing Tai Chi Chuan

5.    How to practice Tai Chi Chuan

6.    Laozi: The importance of softness for keeping a healthy and long life

7.    Men and women, young and old, practicing Tai Chi Chuan

8.    Part 1 - The First Form

9.    Part 1 - Names of postures in order of performance

10.  Part 1 - Photo illustration of postures

11.  Part 2 - The Second Form

12. The philosophical principle of Tai Chi

13. The concept of Hard and Soft theories in I-ching by Taoist

14.  Part 2 - Names of postures in order of performance

15.  Part 2 - Photo illustration of postures

16.  Part 3 - The First Form

17.  Part 3 - Names of postures in order of performance

18.  Part 3 - Photo illustration of postures

19.  Excerpt Q & A of theories of health by Cheng Style Tai Chi Chuan Masters (Chinese)

20.  Answer to the questions raised by am American Lawyer

 

圖片說明：

 

張三豐祖師真像

 

鄭天熊宗師暨列位名譽會長及本會眾位師傳同攝

 

2001年香港舉辦太極拳萬人大匯演

 

鄭天熊宗師在英國講論太極拳圖片

 

轉載＜中山日報＞：烈士暮年　壯心不已

 

　

 

目錄

 

劉序

 

鄭天熊宗師自述－－門人李靜記錄

 

練太極拳不吃藥也能制止糖尿及併發症的經驗

 

前言

 

練習太極拳的好處

 

怎樣練好太極拳

 

老子提出：以柔為主健身長壽的重要

 

男女老少練太極拳圖

 

健身太極拳第一套

 

健身太極拳第一套招式名稱順序表

 

健身太極拳第一套招式圖片說明

 

健身太極拳第二套

 

易經太極的哲理簡說

 

道家對易經剛柔理論淺說

 

健身太極拳第二套招式名稱順序表

 

健身太極拳第二套招式圖片說明

 

健身太極拳第三套

 

健身太極拳第三套招式名稱順序表

 

健身太極拳第三套招式圖片說明

 

回答一位美國師提出的問題

 

摘錄鄭家太極多位師父對健身拳理的提問