Yang Zhenji, 1921-2007
Yang Zhenji, second son of Yang Chengfu (楊澄甫), died on March 27 in Handan City, Hebei Province in China. Yang Chengfu, grandson of Yang Luchan (楊露禪) the "invincible" (who made Taijiquan famous, teaching it at the Imperial Palace in Beijing), taught the "large-frame" version of his grandfather's art, ultimately passing it on to his children.
Yang Chengfu's first son, Yang Zhenming (楊振銘), was best at his father's art, but he emigrated to Hong Kong. Of the other three sons who remained in mainland China, Yang Zhenji was the oldest, and had learned the longest from his father.
For some reason, however, Yang Zhenduo (楊振鐸), the third son, was set as the "Yang Family Inheritor" in the PRC, while Yang Zhenji was for some reason suppressed in some way, likely for political reasons. In reality, Yang Zhenduo was very young when his father died, and so his skills likely came from his older brothers and other disciples of his father.
With Yang Zhenji's death, we have lost perhaps the last Yang family member who had actually spent a substantial amount of time training with the famous Yang Chengfu.
Yang Chengfu's first son, Yang Zhenming (楊振銘), was best at his father's art, but he emigrated to Hong Kong. Of the other three sons who remained in mainland China, Yang Zhenji was the oldest, and had learned the longest from his father.
For some reason, however, Yang Zhenduo (楊振鐸), the third son, was set as the "Yang Family Inheritor" in the PRC, while Yang Zhenji was for some reason suppressed in some way, likely for political reasons. In reality, Yang Zhenduo was very young when his father died, and so his skills likely came from his older brothers and other disciples of his father.
With Yang Zhenji's death, we have lost perhaps the last Yang family member who had actually spent a substantial amount of time training with the famous Yang Chengfu.