Great Master Dong Ying Chieh, (Kai Ying, 2012)
History of Tai Chi Chuan Propagation in Thailand
Tai Chi Chuan or Tai Chi is in Mandarin Chinese. Thai people know and commonly call it 'Tai Ge' (Thai Ge), which is the Teochew name. Both terms have the same meaning.
Before 1949, there was no teaching of Tai Chi Chuan in Thailand. Around that year, a group of Chinese-descended businessmen were interested in learning Tai Chi Chuan to improve their health. Knowing that Master Dong Ying Chieh was an outstanding disciple of Yang-style Tai Chi, they asked Master Lim Sim Ngo to represent them in inviting Master Dong Ying Chieh to come to Thailand to teach Tai Chi. Master Dong Ying Chieh came to Bangkok to demonstrate Tai Chi Chuan and teach for a short period. Due to other commitments, he sent his son, Master Dong Huling, to teach officially. The travel expenses, accommodation, food, and teacher fees were shared by the seven pioneers, including Master Lim Sim Ngo, totaling approximately 50,000 baht (fifty thousand baht), which was a large amount of money in that era 50 years ago.
The Dong family has contributed greatly to the Tai Chi Chuan community in Thailand. Both Master Lim Sim Ngo and the group who invited Master Dong Ying Chieh are considered pioneers who paved the way for Tai Chi Chuan to take firm root in Thailand. Master Dong Huling had many students because he came to teach Tai Chi Chuan for many years. These disciples and their students have passed on the Tai Chi they learned to later generations of interested people. The Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan that has spread throughout almost every province of Thailand all originates from the students of Master Dong Ying Chieh and Master Dong Huling.
Additional Information:
Great Grandmaster Dong Hu Ling (Dong Hu Ling) photographed with Grandmaster Ma Jin Chuan (Ma Jin Chuan)
Master Dong Ying Chieh came to teach Tai Chi Chuan in Thailand in 1982. Image credit from the book Learning Tai Chi Chuan by Master Dong Ying Chieh, 2012.
