Here is a link to a more extensive and excellent Biography.

Cheng Man-ch'ing was born 1901 in Yungchia Province of Chekiang. In 1916 he began his studies in painting, poetry and calligraphy and in 1923 became a teacher of Chinese Painting at Peking Academy of Fine Arts. Soon afterwards he began studying Chinese Medicine and established the College of Chinese Culture and Art. In 1932 at the age of 32 (other sources say at the age of 27) he began his study of Tai Chi Chu'an with the famous Yang Cheng-Fu.

In 1938 he created the 37 posture Short Form which we teach and practice and began teaching professionally. Cheng's Short Form distilled the essental elements of the Yang form he had learned from Yang Cheng-Fu, and carried forward his work.

In 1941 he married Ms. Yi-Tu and took the name "Man-ch'ing." Eight years later he moved to Taiwan and shortly thereafter published his seminal work "Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on Tai Chi"

In 1964 he established the Tai Chi Institute in New York and until he diead in 1975 he divided his time between his schools in Taiwan and New York.

During his years teaching Tai Chi in New York, he developed a dedicated following of American students, eager to learn this ancient art of Tai Chi Chu'an of which he was aknowledged Grand Master. As a result of his work in New York and the efforts of his students his 37 posture form is the most widely practiced style practiced in America.

Master Cheng was a bridge between the ancient era and modern times. His understanding and generosity helped transmit to future generations the practice, spirit, and principles of this ancient Chinese art, thus preserving it, and making it accesible to students of the East and West.

The Clear Light Tai Chi school continues this tradition, founded by the students of Cheng Man-Ch'ing as The Minneapolis Tai Chi Center, and later their students continued the tradition as The Circle of Light Tai Chi Center and more recently The Clear Light Tai Chi Center.