Shaolin, Tai Chi and the Song Family    

Hur Sun Pyung

Hur Sun Pyung was a famous Shaolin master.  The Shaolin at this time was referred to as “Jang Gwon” and was developed from the Yeuk Geun Kyong exercises taught by Dal Ma. During this time, the Song family in China had a great reputation as a moral and well educated family.  This family reputation lead to the decision of  Hur Sun Pyung to pass all his knowledge exclusively the Song family.  These teaching were passed on from generation to generation. 

Song, Won Kyo (1288A.D. – 1370A.D.)

Over the centuries, the teachings of Hur Sun Pyung continued to be maintained within the Song family.  Song, Wong Kyo continued to preserve these family teachings and later became the disciple of another master.  This master’s name was Chang, Sam Bong (Chang, San-Feng), the founder of the art form known as Tai Chi. Chang, Sam Bong was living in Wudang (Moo Dang San in Korean) Mountain during the development of this art.  There are two main theories regarding the creation of the art:

1.      Chang, Sam Bong developed the art by observing a fight between a crane and a snake.

2.      Chang, Sam Bong met a Taoist hermit named Hwa Lyong Jin In in Hwa San Mountain.  It was from these teachings of Taoism, and Chang’s own efforts that later led to the development of Tai Chi in Wu Dang.    

During the development of Tai Chi, Chang Sam Bong accepted seven disciples:

·        Song, Won Kyo

·        Yu, Yung Joo

·        Yu, Dae Am

·        Jang, Song Jae

·        Jang, Chi San

·        Eun, Yi Hyung

·        Mak, Gook Sung

The Moon Joo Nim is a name given to the founder of the art.  The founder chooses one disciple to pass down the art; this person is called the Jang Moon.  The Jang Moon possesses the best skill and knowledge to maintain the purity of the art.  Chang, Sam Bong chose one Jang Moon, and that person was Song, Won Kyo. 

Later during the Myung Dynasty, Tai Chi separated into two major groups:

·        Nam Pa: Southern Group

·        Book Pa: Northern Group

The Nam Pa, Southern Group was called Geun Gon Pa, and this was the art passed down by Song, Won Kyo.  The Book Pa, Northern Group was taught and passed down by Jin, Gi Woo.  Jin (Chen) learned the art from one of the remaining disciples of Chang, Sam Bong.  Jin, Jang Heung (1771 – 1853) was the grandson of Jin, Gi Woo and continued to pass down the Northern Group, Book Pa art. 

The Song family of China continued the teachings of the Nam Pa Group’s Song, Won Kyo.  The eventual move of the Song family to Korea, lead many to believe that this form had died off.  However, the art was maintained by the Song family and continues to be passed down in its pure form.