The Cause
The Taiping Institute is a not for profit organization/group of martial arts practitioners based in the Asia Pacific Region who practice, teach, research, preserve and develop the traditional chinese martial arts. Everyone is welcome if they have a passion for traditional chinese martial arts and are dedicated to the cause.
The Focus of Taiping Institute
Our main focus are our own family lives, second to that comes our careers necessary for sustaining our family lives and lastly, comes the martial arts which is our passion, hobby and way of life. No one is a full time martial artist, we all lead normal social lifes and business/careers.
In terms of martial arts our Key focus is traditional chinese martial arts not modern sports, performance or competitive combat arts. To know more about what Traditional Chinese Martial Arts is please see our introductory article in the articles and research section where you also would find other interesting insights.
In terms of martial arts the arts that we are versed in are accessible via the left navigation bar. The founder was fortunate to study with many different teachers and had acquired a significant and broad amount of knowledge. This then has been supplemented by individuals who have learnt with Martial Uncles and other Masters of our styles abroad. This is passed and taught sometimes in key specialisations (each school or member only would teach those arts that they have specialised in).
We try to limit the number of organisations or associations that we are member of because simply we do not have time, do not have funds and often do not see the benefit. Participation in competitions or events is minimal since our aim is personal development and appreciation of martial arts, such events and associations tend to be political and administrative burdens.
We prefer to teach or learn together as primary method, but we also like to help other audiences by our articles, insights and sharing which also happens via the internet. The Taiping Institute is fortunate to have expeditions many times a year to China to enhance our learnings or meet others who are in the same boat. We aim to be the most accurate and insightful resource regarding Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.
The Meaning of Taiping
Taiping literally means "Greater Peace", it has a long history of use and additionally its further implications have formed the basis of the groups name. Some examples are given below
In the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC), the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di proclaimed "Tianxia Taiping" - Peace for all under heaven (the world) - we always believe that peace is an essential part of humanity and therefore apply this to the martial world 
Taiping is also used to mean safety or protection - in this case suiting the application of martial arts for self defense.
Taiping Jing (Classic of Great Peace) from the pre Han era (-206 BC) is the Daoist classic that attempts to achieve Cosmic Harmony. This was the sacred text of the first Taiping like Rebellion (Yellow Turban Rebellion 184 BC)
Taiping Yang is the title given to the Pacific Ocean - since our activities commenced on land situated on the Pacific ocean this was also a consideration.
Taiping can also refer to a form of Security - in this case many of our ancestors were involved in the Security Escort Logistics Bureaus (Biao Jue) of the past and this also pays tribute to that.
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was a movement that intended to bring equality to the people from the Qing imperial government. Although it did not succeed the impact and spirit of which many martial arts masters were involved including ancestors of our school. For this reason we also pay respects to those that had been before.
Taiping in its general term of harmony and peace with each other is our approach to the martial arts as well. For too long different divisions had tried to supperlate each other in modern times. Ironically enough in the past martial artists would come together to face issues of rebellion (in the Bagua uprising, Taiping rebellion etc...martial artists from all styles were side by side for the same cause). We believe that this approach where the Martial World is One Family (Wu Lin Yi Jia) and where there is Peace (Taiping) can we continue to preserve and develop the traditional Chinese Martial Arts.
The Founder
Actitivities first commenced in the year 2000 and then became Taiping Insitute in the year 2005. The founder Wu Chanlong is a long term practitioner of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts for over 30 years and has researched and travelled extensively over the years meeting Masters throughout China to enhance and improve his Knowledge. We continue the same approach as many of us are either based in China or travel often allowing ongoing exposure and experiences to improve our levels and practice of Traditional Chinese Martial Arts.
The Taiping Institute Seal
Dated to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom design, the Taiping Seal exhibits the Phoenix and Dragon on its borders, then on the centre lies the Taiji symbol (which is the movement between Wuji, Liangyi and Yin Yang), and on its perimeter is the BaGua (8 Trigrams) which correlates to our ancestor Feng Keshan and the BaGua Uprising. These elements are all ancient Chinese philosophical concepts that are embedded in Chinese martial arts. The characters Taiping WuGuan - Taiping Martial Hall or Taiping Institute are then so inscribed. Only those members with this seal are representative of the Taiping Institute.
