Tai Ji Quan: History of the Chinese Martial Art
Erik van Mechelen
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The origins of Tai ji, both widespread and diverse, came together to form the philosophical and physical system of movements that is today known as Tai ji Quan. A physician named Hua-tu'o, who lived during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220 to 265 AD) taught a system of movements resembling the m 
otions of tigers, deer, bears, apes, and birds. He called his system Wu-Chi chih hsi (xi). The system went along with his belief that the human body required regular exercise to aid digestive and circulatory systems. In this way, one could lead a long and healthy life. This system, which imitated the movements of these animals as a method to exercising each joint in the body is one of the earliest forms of Tai ji.
A man named Bodihdharma (Ta Mo in Chinese) came to the Shao-Line Monastery in the 500's and decided that the monks were not in very good physical condition. He reasoned this was because of too much meditation and not enough exercise. He then developed the Eighteen Form Lohan Exercise to remedy the situation. This form of movement was a precursor to the Wei Chia school of exercise which includes kung-fu and other martial art forms which take an external approach to exercise and mediation. Tai ji is actually part of the Nei Chia school of exercise, which is much more internally based. Then, in the 700's during the Tang dynasty certain philosophers such as Hsu Hsuan-ping developed a style of Long Kung-fu in thirty-seven forms. Some of these forms, such as play the pipa, single whip, step up to seven stars, jade lady works the shuttles, high pat on horse, and white crane cools wing, still exist in the modern day form of Tai ji.
A man named Chang San-feng is often accredited with the development of Tai ji as it is known today. He was a monk of the Wu Tang Monastery. He is generally viewed to have lived from about 1391 to 1459, according to Ming dynasty records, although the exact dates are unknown. To some scholars, though, Chang San-feng's existence is even questionable - they believe him to be a literary construct from the writings of Lao Tzu.
A man named Bodihdharma (Ta Mo in Chinese) came to the Shao-Line Monastery in the 500's and decided that the monks were not in very good physical condition. He reasoned this was because of too much meditation and not enough exercise. He then developed the Eighteen Form Lohan Exercise to remedy the situation. This form of movement was a precursor to the Wei Chia school of exercise which includes kung-fu and other martial art forms which take an external approach to exercise and mediation. Tai ji is actually part of the Nei Chia school of exercise, which is much more internally based. Then, in the 700's during the Tang dynasty certain philosophers such as Hsu Hsuan-ping developed a style of Long Kung-fu in thirty-seven forms. Some of these forms, such as play the pipa, single whip, step up to seven stars, jade lady works the shuttles, high pat on horse, and white crane cools wing, still exist in the modern day form of Tai ji.
A man named Chang San-feng is often accredited with the development of Tai ji as it is known today. He was a monk of the Wu Tang Monastery. He is generally viewed to have lived from about 1391 to 1459, according to Ming dynasty records, although the exact dates are unknown. To some scholars, though, Chang San-feng's existence is even questionable - they believe him to be a literary construct from the writings of Lao Tzu.