Xie Bingcan (1934-2020) was a respected master teacher of Qigong, Tuina, and Taijiquan.
Alternate spellings: Xie Bing Can; Xie Bingshan; 謝炳燦; 谢炳灿.
Biography
Xie Bingcan was born in Yuyao, China. At twenty years old, he traveled on foot from Yuyao to Shanghai, to find work at the Shanghai Mechanized Construction Group. While supporting himself there as a mechanic, Xie devoted his spare hours to the study of Daoist qigong and martial arts. His workmates were so impressed by his dedication, they assigned him the nickname “Maoshan Dao Shr.”
In 1958, Xie joined the Yongnian Taijiquan Association, led by the Tai Chi master Fu Zhongwen. Xie focused all his efforts on this martial art. Following the instructions of his teacher, Xie repeated the traditional Yang style form ten to twelve times in a row without rest. He performed this feat twice daily, morning and evening, for many years. During this period in his life, Xie often slept only three to four hours each night.
With the support of Fu Zhongwen, Xie started to assist in teaching push hands at the Yongnian Association. Xie made a point to spend one or two minutes with each student, and to give feedback on their performance. During a typical class, he would tutor sixty to eighty pupils. Xie also traveled with Fu inside China, and as his senior student, occasionally answered challenges on his behalf.
Gradually, Xie’s reputation grew, and in 1979 he was invited to join the faculty at East China Normal University. He offered teaching in Yang style Taijiquan sword and saber, as well as the hand form and push hands.
Xie also served as a competition judge for the Shanghai Wushu Association, and as a contributing member of the International Qigong Research Association, among other posts and honors.
Despite having built a reputation as an expert himself, Master Xie continued to seek new insights and perspectives. Starting in 1987, Xie advanced his long-established study of Wu style Taijiquan under the personal instruction of Ma Yueliang and Wu Yinghua.
After a favorable mention by Zhang Luping in the April 1990 issue of T’ai Chi Magazine, Xie was finally recognized by the English-speaking Taiji community. Students began traveling from around the world to seek his instruction. Four years later, he moved to the United States, joining an active Chinese martial arts community in the greater Seattle area.
Master Xie taught at a variety of locations near Seattle, including Bellevue Community College, Samena Swim and Recreation Club, Tyee Middle School, and Washington Shotokan.
In 1996, Master Xie inaugurated the Northwest Tai Chi and Qigong Association. This organization included teachers from China, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and the United States.
Xie Bingcan continued teaching his beloved art, and preparing the next generation of Taijiquan masters, until his death at age 85.
