Wu Ying-hua

Wu Ying-hua 吳英華 was born in Peking in 1907 and died in Shanghai in 1996. She was the eldest daughter of Wu Chien-ch'uan, the best known teacher of Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. Her older brothers were Wu Kung-i and Wu Kung-tsao. She began studying Tai Chi Chuan at age nine, by age seventeen, Wu Ying-hua was recognized as a teacher in Peking. In 1921, she was invited to teach Tai Chi Chuan in Shanghai. In 1928, her father followed her to Shanghai and Wu Ying-hua became his teaching assistant. In 1930, she married Ma Yueh-liang who was Wu Chien-ch'uan's senior disciple. In 1935, Wu Chien-ch'uan founded the Chien-ch'uan Tai Chi Chuan Association (鑑泉太極拳社) in Shanghai. Wu Chien-ch'uan died in 1942.

After about 1980 and the Cultural Revolution, it became possible to teach Taijiquan publicly in China. About this time her brother Wu Kung-tsao was released from prison and moved to Hong Kong, Wu Ying-hua and Ma Yueh-liang were the senior Wu family members remaining in mainland China. Wu Ying-hua and Ma Yueh-liang created a Simplified Wu Tai Chi Chuan Form and were again able to have public meetings of the Chien-ch'uan Tai Chi Chuan Association. They taught a large number of students in Shanghai and in their travels to New Zealand, Germany and elsewhere. Together with Ma Yueh-liang, Wu Ying-hua published several books on Wu style Tai Chi Chuan. “Wu style Tai Chi Chuan: Forms, Concepts and Applications of the Original Style,” “Wu Simplified Tai Chi Chuan,” and “Wu style Tai Chi K'uai (Fast) Chuan or Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form” have been collected in a single volume in China. They also co-authored a Wu style weapons/sword book. Wu Ying-hua was recognised as the senior instructor of the Wu family from 1983 until she died in 1996.

Ma Yueh-liang and Wu Ying-hua are survived by several children and grandchildren, including: Ma Jiangchun (b. 1931), Dr. Ma Hailong (b. 1935), Ma Jiang-bao (b. 1941), and Ma Jiangling (b. 1947). Ma Jiang-bao lives in the Netherlands and teaches traditional Tai Chi Chuan in Europe. Their adopted daughter Shi Mei Lin now lives and teaches in New Zealand. She also has students in France and in the United States (Tucson, Arizona).

Generational senior instructors of the Wu family

"1st Generation"

Wu Ch'uan-yü (Wu Quanyou, 吳全佑, 1834-1902), who learned from Yang Lu-ch'an and Yang Pan-hou, was senior instructor of the family from 1870-1902.

"2nd generation"

His oldest son, Wu Chien-ch'üan (Wu Jianquan, 吳鑑泉, 1870-1942), was senior from 1902-1942.

"3rd Generation"

His oldest son, Wu Kung-i (Wu Gongyi, 吳公儀, 1900-1970) was senior from 1942-1970.

"3rd Generation"

Wu Kung-i's younger brother, Wu Kung-tsao (Wu Gongzao, 吳公藻, 1903-1983), was senior from 1970-1983.

"3rd Generation"

Wu Kung-i's younger sister, Wu Ying-hua (Wu Yinghua, 吳英華, 1907-1997), was senior from 1983-1997.

"4th Generation"

Wu Kung-i's daughter , Wu Yen-hsia (Wu Yanxia, 吳雁霞, 1930-2001) was senior from 1997-2001.

"4th Generation"

Wu Kung-tsao's son, Wu Ta-hsin (Wu Daxin, 吳大新, 1933-2005), was senior from 2001-2005.

"5th Generation"

The current senior instructor of the Wu family is Wu Ta-k'uei's son Wu Kuang-yu (Wu Guangyu, "Eddie Wu", 吳光宇, born 1946).

References

*Wu Kung-tsao. "Wu Family T'ai Chi Ch'uan" (吳家太極拳), Hong Kong, 1980, Toronto 2006, ISBN 0-9780499-0-X
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1987). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Henan Science Skills Ltd. Henan (only available in Chinese) ISBN 7-5349-0121-9/G122.
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang, Shi Mei Lin (1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Fast Form. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong (only available in Chinese) . ISBN 962-2391060.
* Wu Ying Hua, Ma Yueh Liang(1991). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Forms, Concepts and Application of the Original Style. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 962-2391036.
* Ma Yueh Liang & Zee Wen(1986, 1990, 1995). Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Push Hands. Shanghai Book Co Ltd, Hong Kong. ISBN 962-2391001.
* Dr Wen Zee (2002) Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan, Ancient Chinese way to health. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1-55642-389-1.

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y18sTuexaTo Youtube video: Wu Ying Hua performs Wu Style Long Form]
* [http://www.wu-taichi.com/ Ma Jiang-bao's Traditional Wu style Taijiquan website]
* [http://www.wutaichi.org.nz/ Wu Style Tai Chi New Zealand website]
* [http://www.wutaichi.com/ Wu style Taijiquan website: Shanghai]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehiWgpxrwQM Wu Ying Hua and Ma Yueh Liang]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlimAL14ksM Wu Ying Hua and Ma Yueh Liang interview in New Zealand 1990]
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9622391036 Wu style Taichichuan: Forms, Concepts and Applications of the Original Style]

Persondata
NAME=Wu, Ying-hua
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Wu Yinghua
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Wu Taijiquan Senior Instructor
DATE OF BIRTH=1907
PLACE OF BIRTH=Beijing, China
DATE OF DEATH=1996
PLACE OF DEATH=Shanghai, China