Tung Hu Ling (Chinese: 董虎嶺; pinyin: Dǒng Hǔlǐng; 1917–1992) was a Chinese and later American master of tai chi, known for teaching Yang style and Tung style, and an early leader in the spread of tai chi worldwide.

Born in Renze (then known as Renxian), Xingtai, Hebei, China, his father Tung Ying-chieh was a top disciple of Yang Chengfu and famous for his fighting skills.

Also highly skilled and creative himself, Tung Hu Ling taught in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

He then emigrated to Hawaii, founding a school in Honolulu, continued teaching workshops around the world, and carried on the Tung family legacy.

[1] Highly skilled by the age of twenty, during the Japanese occupation of China he was frequently challenged by Judo masters from Japan.

He would politely decline but then accept once the challenge was repeated, and won every match while being careful not to use his full ability even when in a difficult position.

[3] Beginning in 1953, he established branches of the Tung Ying Kit school in Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia,[4] and in 1956 he published a book, 太極拳使用法 (Methods of Applying Taiji Boxing; Pinyin: Tàijíquán Shǐyòngfǎ), in which his brother Tung Chun-ling (董俊嶺, Pinyin: Dǒng Jūnlǐng; 1923-1983) posed with him in photographs demonstrating the martial applications of Yang-style tai chi.

[6] Tung Hu Ling further contributed advanced weapons forms he created — modestly stating he based them on the teachings of Yang Chengfu's elder brother, Yang Shaohou — including vigorous routines for single and double saber with long leaps, high kicks, reverse spins, and challenging circles.

[7] He also developed a unique series of seven two-person push hands sets in Thailand, because many students there have a very martial orientation.

During one of his first demonstrations in the country, two martial arts instructors suddenly decided to mount the stage and test him.

[8] The next year when his famous father arrived for a tour, the 56 year-old Tung Ying-chieh also easily fended off a challenger proficient in Muay Thai, Shaolin, Iron Palm, and other arts.

But then in 1966 he was invited to promote tai chi on a trip to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Hawaii.

[11] During that Los Angeles visit, Tung was interviewed by the editor of Black Belt Magazine, resulting in an extensive cover story that introduced his tai chi to a wider American audience.

His son Tung Kai Ying (董繼英, Jyutping: dung2 gai3 ying1; Pinyin: Dǒng Jìyīng, 1941-) joined him there in 1969 to help with the growing business, then in 1971 established his own school in Los Angeles.

[13] In 1972 Tung Hu Ling produced a new edition of his father's 1948 book, 太極拳釋義 (The Meaning and Significance of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Practice; Pinyin: Tàijíquán Shìyì), adding detailed instructions and photos of himself performing the Ying-chieh Fast Form (英傑快拳, Pinyin: Yīngjié Kuàiquán).

These were appended to the final chapter, which previously contained only that form's posture list and a short introduction.

[14] Tung Hu Ling continued to travel and teach, including visits to China where he helped train his younger son Dong Zeng Chen (董增辰, Pinyin: Dǒng Zēngchén, 1947-) and grandson Alex Dong (董大德, Pinyin: Dǒng Dàdé, 1971-).

A T'ai Chi magazine cover story paid tribute early the following year with articles on the man, his art, and his life, in which his disciple Wu Ta-yeh noted, "Despite Master Tung's superb accomplishment, he was very modest and never talked about his own achievements.