Master Jiang Fa was the first founder of Zhaobao Tai Chi. He was born in the second year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1514 AD). He learned Tai Chi from Wang Zongyue in the twenty-fourth year of Wanli, when he was 22 years old. He learned Tai Chi at the home of his master in Shanxi for 7 years, serving his master like a father, and the master also loved him like a son. Wang Zongyue had no sons, only an only daughter. In his early years, Master Wang taught his art to his daughter and Sun from Zhengzhou (his name and boxing skills have been lost), and other than that, he did not show his boxing skills to anyone. It was in his later years that Master Wang accepted Jiang Fa as his apprentice. Because he was old and could not bear to talk much, his daughter often taught him the art, and Jiang Fa called him “senior sister”. Therefore, later generations called Zhaobao Tai Chi “big girl boxing”, probably because of this meaning.
When Master Jiang Fa was learning martial arts, Wang Zongyue often said to him: “After I pass on the secrets of this boxing to you, you must choose someone to pass it on to, and you must be careful.” After Master Jiang Fa returned home after completing his training, the master gave him 8 volumes of his own notes. He also reminded him again: “This boxing cannot be passed on casually. If you find the right person, you must teach him thoroughly. If you find the right person and don’t pass it on, it’s like no heir. It’s better to pass it on widely.”
After returning home, Master Jiang Fa followed his master’s instructions and set the “Ten Not Passing On” rules, such as “not passing on to those who are disloyal and unfilial”, “not passing on to those who are unkind and unrighteous”, “not passing on to those who are treacherous and aggressive”, “not passing on to those with low personality”, “not passing on to those who are greedy for alcohol and lust”, and “not passing on to those who show off easily”. Master Jiang spent several years observing and testing Excellent people, and kept his unique skills to himself. Later, he occasionally demonstrated the light action of catching rabbits in a hundred steps in the suburbs, which caused a sensation in the village. Martial arts enthusiasts came to ask for advice, but he was very cautious and did not easily agree to anyone. After three years, Master Jiang Fa finally chose Xing Xihuai as his ideal disciple. At that time, Master Jiang Fa was already 32 years old. He passed on his art to Xing Xihuai.