Cheng Man Ching (1901-1975)
Cheng Man Ching was the Master of the Five Excellences: painting, calligraphy, poetry, traditional Chinese medicine, and t’ai chi chuan. He studied t’ai chi under Yang Cheng Fu and thereafter developed a simplified 37-posture form, which has become one of the most widely practiced forms in the world.
Dates -- Accomplishments
1901 Born in Yungchia, in the Province of Chekiang.
1911-1913 Studied painting with Prof. Wang Hsiang-Ch’ian who named the Professor’s studio the “Wisteria Flower Studio”.
1913-1915 Studied painting with well known artist, aunty Chang Kwong-Hong in Shanghai.
1916 Moved to Hangchou. Studied painting, poetry, and calligraphy with Shen Mei-So, Ma Yi-Fu, Ching Tzu-Yuan, Lo Hsing-Hu, Wang Ch’ien Lo, and others
1919-1923 Moved to Peking. Published Ch’ang-he style of poetry with Lo Fu-Kan and Lo Ying-Kung.
1920 Taught poetry at Yu-Wen University.
1922 Professor of Chinese Ink Painting at the Peking Academy of Fine Arts.
1925 Taught at National Chi-Nan University and served as Director of painting Department of Shanghai School of Fine Arts.
1926-1928 Formed Chinese Herbal Medicine Doctor’s Society as Chairman Director. Became a student of Tang, Sung, Yuan, Ming, and Ch’ing Dynasties medicine with Dr. Sung You-an. Additionally, he achieved mastery of traditional gynecology, and orthopedic medicine.
1928-1935 Studied T’ai Chi Ch’uan with Yang Cheng-Fu.
1930 Founded the College of Chinese Culture and Arts and served as vice-president to the college.
1931-1933 Retired from teaching and moved to Yang-Hu where he studied with Master teacher of classics Ch’ien Ming-Shan
1933 Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan at Central Military Academy.
1936 Began practicing medicine full time.
1938 Consultant to Hunan Provincial Government and Director of Martial Arts for Hunan Province.
1938 Condensed the T’ai Chi Ch’uan solo exercise to 37 postures in Hunan.
1939 Taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan at the Military Training Group in Chung King.
1941 Took the name “Man-Ch’ing” and married Ms. Yi-Tu.
1946 Member of the National Assembly for the construction of the Constitution for the Republic of China.
1947 Representative for the Community of Doctors of Chinese Medicine to the National Assembly.
1949 Moved to Taiwan and formed the Shr Jung School of T’ai-Chi Ch’uan.
1950 Formed the Poetry Society with Yu You-Jen, Ch’en Han-Kuang, Chang Chao-Ch’in, Ma Shao-Wen, Chang Ching-Wei, and others.
1950-1963 Private instructor of painting, students include Madam Chiang Kai-Shek.
1951-1964 Formed the seven Friends of Painting and calligraphy with Ma shou-Hua, T’ao Yun-Lo, Chen Fang, Chang Ku-Nien, Liu Yen-T’ao, and Kao Yi-Hung. Helped to form the Republic of China Fine Arts Society, served as an officer and head of the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition. Held a lifetime professorship at the College of Chinese Culture. Director of Fine Arts, The Republic of China Cultural Renaissance Movement, American branch. Held many one man painting exhibitions, including the 1964 exhibits at the National Cernushi Gallery in Paris and the World’s Fair in New York.
1964 founded the Shr Jung Center for the Cultural Arts in New York.
1964 Established T’ai Chi Institute in NY.
1973 Formed the Shr Jung T’ai Chi Center in Yew York
1974 Returned to Taiwan to publish Yi Ch’uan.
1975 Passed away on March 26, midnight.
