Sun Lu Tang 1861-1933

Chronology of Granmaster Sun Lu Tang's Life:

1861 Born. His given name was Sun Fu Quan. He was born in a simple home,
near the city of Bao Ding, in Wan County, in Hebei Province.

1861-1871
His father was a poor farmer in Dingxian County in Hebei Province
His father died when he was a child and the family lost their farm.
Worked as a servant for a rich man.
Learned Shaolin Hung Boxing from Master Wu.
Lived with and worked for his uncle, and studied calligraphy.
Started learning Hsing I Quan martial arts from Li Kui Yuan.
Sun Lu-Tang became a formal discipline of Li Kui Yuan

1882 Started learning Hsing I Quan from Guo Yun Shen.

1891 Started learning Dragon style Pa Kua Chuan from the famous
Pa Kua master Cheng T'ing Hua.(1848-1900)
Master Cheng's nickname for Sun was "More Clever Than an Active Monkey."

1891 Married Zhang Zhou Xien (1863-1934)
First son, Sun Xing Yi (1891-1929)
Second son, Sun Cun Zhou (1893-1963)
Daughter, Sun Jian Yun (1913-2003)
Third son, Sun Huan Min (1897-1922)

1894 Started using the name 'Sun Lu Tang' given to him by Cheng T'ing Hua

1894 Studied Yi Jing theory and Emei Qigong in mountains of Sichuan

1895 Studied Taoism in the Wu Dang Mountains

1896 Established the Pu Yang Boxing Association in Bao Ding

1899 Moved to Xing Tang, 80 miles from Beijing, and taught martial arts

1907 Taught in Northern China for the General Governor, Xu Shi Chang

1910 Established three marital arts schools in Beijing and Tianjin
He lived in eastern Beijing from 1910-1932.
Sun Lu-Tang possessed extraordinary abilities and knowledge of the martial
arts, including legendary fast footwork, leaping, climbing, and endurance skills.
He had many talented and devoted students. He was a successful businessman.
He was know by numerous nicknames: "Tiger Head Hero, First Hand Under
the Sky, and Smarter than an Active Monkey." Sun weighted 140 pounds.

1911 Learned Wu Yu-xiang style of Taijiquan from Hao Wei Chen (1849-1920)
Sun was 50 years of age when he learned Wu Yu-xiang style Taiji.

1913 Sun Jian Yun, daughter is born. She died on 10/2/2003. She was a Sun Grandmaster.

1914 Sun began creating Sun style Taijiquan. He was 52 years of age.

1915 Xing Yi Quan Xue: The Study of Form-Mind Boxing by Sun Lu Tang is published.
Sun Lu-Tang taught in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou between
1915-1932.

1916 The Study of Ba Gua Boxing is published.

1919 Sun was a Lieutenant in the Army in Beijing, teaching martial arts from 1919-1924

1921 The Study of Tai Ji Quan is published.

1921 During his 60th birthday party his personal notebooks and diaries were stolen.

1924 The True Essence of Boxing is published.

1927 The Study of Ba Gua Sword is published.

1929 Wrote The Study of the Xing Yi Spear; but, the work was not published.

1931 He was the first noted teacher to offer martial arts courses for women at
Zhe Jiang Martial Arts School.

1933 Sun Lu-Tang died on December 16, 1933. He was 72 years old.
He became ill and then fasted and meditated until he died peacefully.
Sun Lu Tang's gravestone shows his life-span to be: 1862-1933.
Some documents say he was born in 1861 and died in 1932.
Sun Lu Tang returned to the house he was born in the last few months of
his life, and died in the room where he was born.


The Sun Style Taijiquan webpage includes a detailed bibliography, links, resources, quotations, a list of movements in the 73 Sun competition form, photos, and notes. 145Kb. By Michael P. Garofalo.