Li Lian (1951 -     ) is a leading Tai Chi teacher and practitioner based in Beijing, China. He started his Tai Chi & internal martial art training at the age of 16 with the late Great Grandmaster Wu Tu Nan (1884-1989), the legendary longevity star in the world of Tai Chi who made major contributions to the art both in its practice and in scientific research on its theory and history. In 1989, to fulfil the wish of the deceased Great Grandmaster Wu, Li Lian was initiated into the lineage as an inner-door disciple by Grandmaster Ma You-qing, the senior disciple of Wu Tu Nan. Over the last 30 years or so, Li Lian has taught hundreds and thousands of students at home and overseas and has regularly delivered lectures to Tai Chi enthusiasts. Though an influential figure in the arena of Tai Chi and internal martial art in China, Master Li Lian has never made any profits out of his teaching. In the 1990’s two important Tai Chi organisations were set up in Japan with the help of Li Lian’s senior disciple in Japan – The Research Institute of Chinese Tai Ji Gong, Japan Branch, and Wu Tu Nan Tai Ji Quan Research Institute – of both Li Lian became permanent senior consultant. Since then he’s been travelling to Japan regularly to give lectures, demonstrations and workshops as part of endeavours to carry on the Tai Ji lineage of the late Great Grandmaster Wu. Master Li also contributes regularly to the major martial art magazines both in China and Japan. He has authored two books as summering up of his teaching – An Authentic Outline of Tai Chi Chuan Practice Form (Beijing, 2005) and An Authentic Outline of Yang Shao Hou’s Tai Chi Chuan Application Form (Beijing, 2003).
Li Lian is also a highly-qualified doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine having been taught TCM by his father, a renowned TCM doctor. As a recognized TCM doctor, he speaks regularly at major national and internal conferences on TCM have seen numerous articles and essays published on the subject in many influential publications within the profession. His name and biography has been entered into The Encyclopaedia of Famous TCM Doctors of People’s Republic of China.

During my rvisit to Beijing (April, 2008), I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to carry out a long interview with Li lian.       —– by Jian Xiong

Interview Part I
Interview Part II
Interview Part III