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Tao Zihong (1897 - 1984 Shidaxing

Biography of Tao Zihong (陶子鴻)

Tao Zihong (陶子鴻, 1897–1984) came from Shouxian County (壽縣) in Anhui Province (安徽省) and hailed from a family of martial artists. According to lineage testimony preserved by Prof. dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen, his grandfather Tao Yingzhou (陶英州) was a scholar-warrior during the Daoguang era (1820–1850), renowned for both technique and physical strength.

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As a child, Tao Zihong was already fond of martial arts. He studied Tantui (彈腿), Chaquan (查拳), and weapons training. In 1933, he entered the Central Martial Arts Academy to continue his martial studies and to teach, later receiving recognition in national martial examinations. After graduating, he stayed on as an instructor. After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, he later founded the Nanjing Municipal Martial Arts Academy, continuing his work as a teacher and organizer.

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From 1948, Tao Zihong learned Xinyiliuhequan (心意六合拳) from Lu Songgao (盧嵩高, 1875–1961) and later transmitted the tradition to many students, including Fu Qinglong (傅青龍).

Training and Teachers — Foundations and Martial Formation

 

Tao Zihong’s early training emphasized foundational martial development and weapons, rooted in traditional practice culture. According to Dan’s transmitted knowledge, his foundational curriculum included:

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  • Tantui (彈腿) — foundational training for structure and strength

  • Chaquan (查拳) — another northern martial art system

  • Weapons training — part of traditional martial education

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His later development continued through institutional study and teaching:

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  • Central Martial Arts Academy (1933) — continued studies and teaching role

  • National examinations — reportedly received awards in two examinations

Early Career and Reputation

 

Tao Zihong is remembered as both a practitioner and an educator. His reputation is closely tied to:

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  • formal training and teaching within Republican-era martial institutions

  • recognition through national examinations

  • continued teaching after graduation

  • long-term commitment to martial education and organization

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He also attributed his strong health condition to continuous martial practice and disciplined lifestyle choices, including abstaining from smoking and alcohol.

Expansion to Nanjing and Wider Teaching Role

 

After the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan, Tao Zihong expanded his teaching work and later founded the Nanjing Municipal Martial Arts Academy. This step reflects his role not only as a transmitter of skill but also as an organizer who helped shape martial education in a formal setting.

 

His institutional activity strengthened his ability to teach and transmit the principles of internal martial method with clarity and structure.

Teaching System and Core Method — Xinyiliuhequan / Shidaxing

 

From 1948, Tao Zihong studied Xinyiliuhequan (心意六合拳) under Lu Songgao (盧嵩高) and taught the tradition as a system centered on:

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  • internal body-method and structural power

  • applied understanding through practice

  • Shidaxing (十大形) — ten animal-based strategic principles

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Tao is remembered for a vivid and practical teaching method: to help students understand the ten animal techniques, he would take them to the Shanghai Zoo so they could observe the animals directly and embody the movement principles through imitation.

Influence on the Teaching Tradition

 

Within lineage memory, Tao Zihong represents a rare combination of:

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  • strong traditional foundation

  • institutional teaching capacity

  • and a clear, principle-based pedagogy for Shidaxing

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His teaching influence is remembered through:

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  • direct observation methods (zoo pedagogy)

  • clarity in transmitting ten-animal strategy as internal mechanics

  • disciplined lifestyle ethics supporting long-term training

Lineage and Disciples

 

Tao Zihong transmitted Xinyiliuhequan and Shidaxing to many students. Within the Taoist-Lifestyle.Com lineage, the most important continuation is:

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Through Fu Qinglong, the tradition later continued into the Taoist-Lifestyle.Com teacher line.

Connection to Taoist-Lifestyle.Com Lineage

 

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Within Taoist-Lifestyle.Com, Tao Zihong holds a central position in the direct teacher line of Xinyiliuhequan / Shidaxing 十大形:

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Tao Zihong is therefore honored as a key transmitter who ensured the continuity of the tradition into the modern Taoist-Lifestyle.Com practice stream.

Acknowledgment of Gratitude

 

Taoist-Lifestyle.Com honors Tao Zihong (陶子鴻) as a major lineage master in the modern transmission of Xinyiliuhequan (心意六合拳) and Shidaxing (十大形). His clarity of teaching, disciplined lifestyle ethic, and vivid pedagogy continue to support the internal principles preserved within Taoist-Lifestyle.Com today.

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