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 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 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 , Dr. Ma Hailong , Ma Jiang-bao , and Ma Jiangling . 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 .

Generational senior instructors of the Wu family

''1st Generation''

Wu Ch'uan-yü , 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 , was senior from 1902-1942.

''3rd Generation''

His oldest son, Wu Kung-i was senior from 1942-1970.

''3rd Generation''

Wu Kung-i's younger brother, Wu Kung-tsao , was senior from 1970-1983.

''3rd Generation''

Wu Kung-i's younger sister, Wu Ying-hua , was senior from 1983-1997.

''4th Generation''

Wu Kung-i's daughter , Wu Yen-hsia was senior from 1997-2001.

''4th Generation''

Wu Kung-tsao's son, Wu Ta-hsin , 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 .