Sun Style Influences

Sun Lu Tang

Sun Lutang (孫祿堂) was born in 1860 in Hebei, China. He was named Sun FuChuan (孫福全) by his parents. He was a towering figure in the world of internal martial arts. He's best known as the founder of Sun Style Tai Chi, a unique synthesis of Tai Chi, Xing Yi Chuan, and Ba Gua Zhang, three major internal martial arts.

Sun Lutang married Zhang Zhouxian in 1891 and had four children, including Sun Xing Yi (孫星一 1891-1929), Sun Cunzhou (孫存周 1893-1963), Sun Wuzi (孫务滋 1897-1922), and the only daughter Sun Jianyun (孫劍雲 1913-2003).

In his martial journey Sun Lutang studied Xing Yi Chuan under Li Kuiyuan and later Guo Yunshen. This art gave Sun a foundation in direct, explosive movements. He learned Ba Gua Zhang from Cheng Tinghua, which added circular, flowing techniques and Taoist philosophy. He became a student of Hao Weizhen and learned Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan, despite being older and already accomplished. This was rare and speaks to his humility and dedication.

Sun Cunzhou

Sun Lutang's second son and the most prominent male successor of Sun Lutang's teachings created the Baqua influence in Sun Style. He trained extensively in Sun Style Tai Chi, Xing Yi Chuan, and Ba Gua Zhang under his father. Became a respected martial arts teacher, continuing the family tradition and helping to spread Sun Style Tai Chi. He was known for his technical precision and deep understanding of internal principles.

Sun Jianyun

Sun Lutang's only daughter became a very respected Tai Chi Master and carried on his teachings.

Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan

Developed in Sun Lutang's later years, Sun-style Tai Chi is known for smooth and flowing transitions, medium to high stances, and gentle, continuous movements without abrupt force. It reflects Sun Lutang's deep understanding of internal energy (qi), Taoist and Neo-Confucian thought, and martial application. Sun Style Tai Chi is unique because it consciously blends elements from Tai Chi Chuan, Xing Yi Chuan, and Ba Gua Zhang, each with its own philosophy and movement vocabulary. The Ba Gua Zhang influence in Sun Style Tai Chi adds a dynamic, spiraling energy that sets it apart from other Tai Chi styles.

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Ba Gua Zhang Influence

Sun Lutang, the founder of Sun Style, was a master of Ba Gua Zhang and Xing Yi Chuan before creating his Tai Chi Chuan style. Sun Lutang studied Ba Gua Zhang under the legendary master Cheng Tinghua, one of Dong Haichuan's top disciples. Cheng was known for his fluid, circular movements and deep understanding of Taoist principles, which heavily shaped Sun's martial philosophy.

Circular Stepping and Spiraling Energy

Ba Gua is known for its circle walking and coiling movements. Sun Style incorporates this through agile footwork and subtle spirals in the torso and limbs. You'll notice this especially in transitions and directional changes with a Taoist philosophy into the mix.

Opening and Closing Movements

These are emphasized more explicitly in Sun Style than in other Tai Chi forms.

Internal Power and Waist-Hip Coordination

Ba Gua emphasizes the separation and coordination of the waist and hips to generate power. Sun Style dives deep into this principle, explaining how energy flows from the ground up through the waist and out to the fingertips.

Philosophical Roots: Taoism and the I Ching

Ba Gua is deeply rooted in the I Ching (Book of Changes) and Taoist cosmology, emphasizing constant transformation and balance between opposites. Sun Lutang was a scholar as well as a martial artist, and he integrated these ideas into his writings and forms. His book, Xing Yi Chuan Xue, was one of the first to link internal martial arts with Taoist thought and the I Ching.

Movement Characteristics

Ba Gua's hallmark is circle walking, spiraling energy, and evasive footwork. These traits show up in Sun Style Tai Chi as:

Smooth, flowing transitions   Agile, quick steps   Opening and closing movements that mirror Ba Gua's coiling and uncoiling

Fusion with Tai Chi and Xing Yi

Sun Lutang didn't just borrow techniques. He synthesized them. Ba Gua's circularity complements Tai Chi's softness and Xing Yi's linear explosiveness. This triad creates a style that's both meditative and martial, gentle yet powerful.

Practical Demonstration and Integration

Performing Sun Style forms shows how Ba Gua's principles are integrated into its movements. If you're practicing Sun Style Tai Chi, tuning into the Ba Gua side means embracing spirals, circular stepping, and the philosophy of change. Here are some hallmark movements where Ba Gua's influence shines through:

Lazily Tying Coat Ba Gua Element: Coiling and uncoiling of the arms and torso Why It Matters: Mimics Ba Gua's spiraling energy and emphasizes waist rotation and fluid transitions   Parting Wild Horse's Mane Ba Gua Element: Opening and closing energy, circular arm movements Why It Matters: Reflects Ba Gua's yin-yang interplay and dynamic directional changes   Low Forward Heel Kick Ba Gua Element: Agile footwork and balance control Why It Matters: Demonstrates Ba Gua's evasive stepping and rooted spirals through the legs and hips   Open and Close Hands Ba Gua Element: Expansion and contraction of qi Why It Matters: Mirrors Ba Gua's breathing rhythm and internal energy flow   Turn Body and Chop with Fist Ba Gua Element: Waist-driven power and circular redirection Why It Matters: Channels Ba Gua's martial application of redirecting force through spirals

These movements aren't just stylistic—they embody Ba Gua's philosophy of constant change, circular motion, and internal strength. Sun Lutang's genius was in blending these with Tai Chi's softness and Xing Yi's directness to create a style that's both elegant and powerful.

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Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi Chuan Influence

Sun Lutang learned Wu/Hao Style Tai Chi from Hao Weizhen in 1911. Hao Weizhen was a prominent master of the Wu/Hao lineage, which traces back to Wu Yuxiang, one of the early developers of Tai Chi as a distinct internal art. What's especially interesting is that Sun Lutang came to study Tai Chi relatively late in life after already mastering Xing Yi Chuan and Ba Gua Zhang. His deep foundation in internal martial arts allowed him to absorb Wu/Hao Style principles quickly and profoundly. This study became the final piece in the triad that formed Sun Style Tai Chi, which blends the softness and internal energy of Tai Chi, the direct power of Xing Yi, and the spiraling agility of Ba Gua. Sun Lutang didn't just borrow movements—he absorbed the internal mechanics and philosophical depth of Wu/Hao Style. Here's how that influence shows up:

High, Upright Posture Wu/Hao Style Trait: Emphasis on vertical alignment and relaxed stance Sun Style Result: Movements are upright, gentle, and accessible to practitioners of all ages. There’s less emphasis on deep stances and more on internal flow.   Small Frame Movements Wu/Hao Style Trait: Subtle, compact motions with deep internal focus Sun Style Result: Sun Style uses small, refined gestures that prioritize qi circulation and intent over large external displays.   Opening and Closing Energies Wu/Hao Style Trait: Clear transitions between expansion and contraction Sun Style Result: These transitions are emphasized in nearly every movement, often paired with breath and intention—mirroring Ba Gua's yin-yang dynamics.   Step-by-Step Progression Wu/Hao Style Trait: Careful, deliberate stepping with weight clearly shifted Sun Style Result: Sun Style's footwork is light and nimble, with clear weight transfers that echo Wu/Hao's methodical approach.   Internal Cultivation Over Combat Wu/Hao Style Trait: Focus on health, meditation, and internal development Sun Style Result: Though martial arts applications exist through the form, Sun Style is often practiced for wellness and spiritual growth, aligned with Sun Lutang's scholarly and Taoist leanings.

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Xing Yi Chuan Influence

Sun Jianyun, only daughter and most famous descendant of Sun Lutang and his youngest child, began training under her father from a young age and became a master of Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan. Known for her graceful movements, deep internal cultivation, and teaching clarity, she taught extensively in Beijing and was instrumental in preserving and promoting her father's style.

Stepping Method Sun Style uses advancing and retreating steps reminiscent of Xing Yi Chuan's aggressive footwork. This gives the form a forward-driving energy even within its softness.   Intent and Structure Xing Yi Chuan emphasizes intention (yi) and structure (xing). Sun Lutang infused this into Tai Chi by focusing on internal alignment and mental clarity in each movement.   Compact Power While Sun Style Tai Chi Chuan appears gentle, the Xing Yi influence adds hidden strength and short-range explosive power, especially in transitions and postural changes.

You will learn how the Xing Yi principles of intent, structure, and directness can be taught alongside your Sun Style Tai Chi to deepen students' understanding of internal power.