Grandmaster, the founder, Wang Xiangzhai

　

Grandmaster Wang Xiangzhai, the founder of Yiquan, was born in Weijialin village in Shen Country, Hebei province, in November 26, 1886, Chinese calendar October 27.His former name was Nibao, he was also called Yusen, and later took the name of Xiangzhai. As his father learned Xingyi Quan from Great Master Guo Yunshen, when he reached the age of  8, he was also sent to learn with Mr. Guo, the most famous Xingyiquan master of his time. Mr. Guo always let Wang standing zhanzhuang beside his bed. In winter, if Wang's traces after standing zhanzhuang were not wet enough, then Guo glared on little Wang, as indicating him to continue to stand. Wang trained very hard and in a short time mastered the art of his teacher becoming Mr. Guo's favorite student. In 13 years old he was famous because he could make "fly" a skilled master away several meters, and it was the first time Master Wang knew how to Fa Jin.

1907 Wang Xiangzhai left his native county and became a soldier in the army, General Wu was admiring his combat skills and later he let him marry his daughter. That's why Master Wang could write well without never studying during childhood.

1913 Wang was 22 years old, he was promoted as Director of the Land Army Wushu Institute.
1918 In order to further improve his skills and continue his research on martial arts, he decided to travel all around China, looking for the most skilled masters of the time, willing to compare skills with each of them and to learn from them. He traveled through Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, and other provinces. In Shaolin temple of Henan province -  he lived in the temple several months while he conducted his research on  Xinyiquan with the collaboration of Monk Heng Lin. In Hunan province Wang met Master Xie Tiefu, this time he was defeated. Master Xie confessed that  he had never met such a skillful opponent  than Wang, and was willing to gain his friendship. Then Wang lived with Xie several years and continue to learn the art of Mr. Xie. However Master Xie did no turn out further high skilled successors in Hunan, as later Xie's descendant confirmed during a visit to Wang in Beijing 1940.

1923  he met several Masters of Southern White Crane Style - Fang Yizhuang and Jin Shaofeng, who also became his closed friends.

1925, in Huainan he met a famous master of Xinyi - Huang Muqiao, from whom he learned "Vigorous Dance".

1928, Wang attended as Umpire, the Third Wushu Game in Hangzhou, he met there Mr. Wu Yihui, Liu He Ba Fa Master, from then they became very close friends. Mr. Zhang Changxin began to learn from Wang this year, he won the championship of the Shanghai Boxing Competition. Mr. You Pengxi also learned from Wang, he was called "Wonderful fist You" and developed "Kong Jin" later.

In 1929, Wang published: "The Right Path of Yiquan" which is now a reference for Chinese Martial Arts.

1930 Shanghai, several students studied under his supervision, and later became famous such as, Gao Zhendong, Zhao Daoxing, Zhang Endong, Han Qiao, Han Yuan, Pu Enfu...  Gao, Zhao, Zhang Changxin, Han Qiao were known as "The 4 Vigorous Spirits" of Wang (in Buddhism 4 Vigorous Spirits represent  God's guard).

1937 Wang was living in Beijing, he completed "The Theory of Dacheng Quan". Among the most famous of his students: Hong Lianshun, Yao Zongxun, Dou Shiming, Li Yongzong...

1939 Wang wrote several articles on YiQuan in the newspaper "Truth News". As a result: more and more martial arts masters came in Beijing, but no one could defeated his students: Zhou Ziyan, Hong Lianshun, Han Qiao, Yao Zongxun. From then on YiQuan gains its well-known reputation inspiring respect and admiration. At that time Mr. Zhang Yuheng wanted to glorify the accomplishment of this art and suggested to rename it "Dacheng Quan".

1940 Sawai Kenichi became Wang's student.

July 12 in 1963, 78 years old, grandmaster Wang died in Tianjin.