Author: Siyu, 2008
Sometimes it seems nice to get a bit of socio-cultural knowledge on how things are being talked and written about in Chinese martial arts circles, so this translation by Chen Yu's wife seemed nice to share. The term for "master" here is usually 宗师 zōngshī - in dictionaries often found as "the great scholar / master respected for learning and integrity". I used the term "master" to keep it short, though that also has difficult connotations of course. For "disciple" they use 徒 tú in Chinese here. Anyway, here is the translation, you'll find more info on Chinese WeChat:
Chen Zhaokui (January 24, 1928 – May 07, 1981) was the 18th-generation descendant of the Chen family from Chenjiagou and the 10th-generation inheritor of Taijiquan. From a young age, he learned his ancestral martial art under the guidance of his father, Grandmaster Chen Fake (1887–1957). Chen Fake’s contribution lay in spreading the Chen family’s Taijiquan beyond the secluded village of Chenjiagou to Beijing. Chen Zhaokui, in turn, further disseminated this art to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chenjiagou, Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang, Jiaozuo, and other regions, leaving his mark across the lands north and south of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.
With tireless dedication and immense effort, Master Chen Zhaokui nurtured thousands of disciples. Today, many of his students have continued to promote and develop this martial art, spreading it worldwide. Thus, the father and son, Chen Fake and Chen Zhaokui, can rightfully be regarded as two great grandmasters of Chen Taijiquan in 20th-century China.
Master Chen Zhaokui faithfully upheld his family’s martial heritage. Under the rigorous tutelage of his father, he fully inherited the essence of the Chen family’s Large Frame (Dajia), including Yilu (83 Postures) and Erlu, also known as Pao Chui (71 Postures), along with the core principles and techniques of Taijiquan. Due to his profound cultural knowledge and exceptional comprehension abilities, he made tremendous contributions in compiling and writing Taijiquan manuals, standardizing forms, elucidating martial theories, and revealing the combat applications of Taijiquan. His achievements are timeless, paving a broad and illustrious path for Chen-Style Taijiquan to be recognized globally and benefit humanity.
Stele Erected by:
Son: Chen Yu
Nephew: Chen Zhenglei
Disciples:
Wan Wende (Shanghai)
Ling Zhian (Nanjing)
Ma Hong (Shijiazhuang)
Wang Xian (Chenjiagou)
Zhang Qilin (Jiaozuo)
Zhang Maozhen (Zhengzhou)
Zhang Xitang (Jiaozuo)
Qiao Nuoshan (Jiaozuo)
Wu Chongqi (Hong Kong)
Zhang Zhijun (Zhengzhou)
Shi Chaoji (Jiaozuo)
Composed by: Wang Xian, Ma Hong, April 5, 2001