An evolving tai chi

But in more recent times, it has been suggested that Chen Wangting, a kung fu master from the Chen family in the Chenjiagou village, Wen county, Central China’s Henan province in mid-17th century, was the chief exponent of tai chi.

Now recognized as the creator of Chen-style tai chi, the retired army officer was believed to have systemized tai chi for the first time in history, borrowing knowledge and experiences from earlier generations of masters of tai chi and other kung fu genres, according to studies by early 20th century scholars such as Tang Hao and Gu Liuxin.

Although the exact source of tai chi remains open for debate, there exist well documented facts about its modern history.