T'ai Chi
What is T'ai Chi
Translated, T'ai Chi means "the supreme ultimate." In Chinese philosophy, T'ai Chi is the mother of Yin and Yang. It is the theory of opposites, the positive and the negative. T'ai Chi is one of the five Chinese accomplishments thought to make a superior person, in addition to painting, poetry, calligraphy and music.
Linking some of the older forms from Taoism and stressing the internal aspects of his exercises, Chang San-feng is credited with creating the fundamental 'Thirteen Postures' of T'ai Chi corresponding to the eight basic trigrams of the I Ching and the five elements. The T'ai Chi classics are generally referred to as: The Theory of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Chang San Feng (Zhangsanfeng), The Classics of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Wong Tsung Yueh (Wangzongyue), An Internal Explanation of the Practice of the 13 Postures by Wu Yusiang (Wu Yu Xiang), The Five Words Secrets by Li Yi Yu (Li yiyu), and Summary of the Practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Push Hands by Li Yi Yu.
Practicing T'ai Chi
The underlying theory of T'ai Chi is that the mind, body and spirit must be unified for wholeness and complete health. The emphasis in T'ai Chi is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no longer a danger. The art is practiced alone in forms, and with partners. The forms include the Long Form, which can take more than a half an hour to complete, and the Short Form, a modified version that can be performed in less than ten minutes.
T'ai Chi's original concepts are still intact today, teaching continuous movement, relaxation, solid stances, a straight body and the movement of chi from inside the body to outside. Each arm protects half the body and the hands never reach farther forward than the toes. Many of these movements are from the natural movements of animals and birds, although the way they are performed in T'ai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them. It is not ordinarily regarded as a practical self-defense system, though the movements have self-defense applications, and practitioners can achieve great power in their techniques.
T'ai Chi
The History of T'ai Chi
Little is known about T'ai Chi's early history which may date as far back to the 6th century B.C., however its foundation is credited to the Taoist Chang San-feng, a monk of the Wu Tang Monastery. Records indicate that Chang lived at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) and at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Chang San-fen's theories, writings and practices were later elaborated upon by Wang Chung-yueh and his student Chiang Fa. Wang apparently took the thirteen postures of Chang San-feng and linked them together into continuous sequences, creating something which resembles the contemporary T'ai Chi Chuan form.
Chiang Fa taught T'ai Chi to the Chen village on Henan and thus began the first family school of T'ai Chi Chuan. However, some scholars believe that rather than bringing T'ai Chi to the Chen village, Chiang Fa really only discovered the Chen villagers practicing this art. Others maintain that the Chen family's so-called 'Cannon Pounding' (Pao Chui) was a distinct martial art that undoubtedly influenced Chiang Fa's teaching but that it was not the same as T'ai Chi.
Another of Wang's students was Chen Chou-t'ung who established the so-called "Southern School" of T'ai Chi which subsequently disappeared. Chiang Fa continued with the mainstream "Northern" school of T'ai Chi which survives today. The principal styles that exist today are the New Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Yang Style of T'ai Chi, the Old Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Wu Style of T'ai Chi, the Wu Shi Style (or Hao Style) of T'ai Chi Chuan, and the Sun Style of T'ai Chi Chuan.
Present Day T'ai Chi
It would be unwise for a present day student to forget the historical fact that T'ai Chi was once a deadly art, jealously guarded by a few families and used for killing. It is within the context of a life or death struggle that the techniques of T'ai Chi were refined over the centuries.
T'ai Chi's place in a less violent, modern society lies in enlarging our understanding of who our "enemy" is. Traditionally, the enemy was an opponent in a combat situation. Today the enemy may be stress, fatigue, or the lack of understanding of oneself and one's body. The same system used then can also be used now to help keep stress from killing or injuring you.
Since the 19th century, the Chinese have understood the immense health benefits of T'ai Chi, and its popularity has grown steadily. T'ai Chi is now practiced around the world. It is one of the most popular exercises today with more than 300 million participants. While all martial arts were designed to increase one's longevity, daily practice of T'ai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.
What is T'ai Chi
Translated, T'ai Chi means "the supreme ultimate." In Chinese philosophy, T'ai Chi is the mother of Yin and Yang. It is the theory of opposites, the positive and the negative. T'ai Chi is one of the five Chinese accomplishments thought to make a superior person, in addition to painting, poetry, calligraphy and music.Linking some of the older forms from Taoism and stressing the internal aspects of his exercises, Chang San-feng is credited with creating the fundamental 'Thirteen Postures' of T'ai Chi corresponding to the eight basic trigrams of the I Ching and the five elements. The T'ai Chi classics are generally referred to as: The Theory of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Chang San Feng (Zhangsanfeng), The Classics of T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Wong Tsung Yueh (Wangzongyue), An Internal Explanation of the Practice of the 13 Postures by Wu Yusiang (Wu Yu Xiang), The Five Words Secrets by Li Yi Yu (Li yiyu), and Summary of the Practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan and Push Hands by Li Yi Yu.
Practicing T'ai Chi
The underlying theory of T'ai Chi is that the mind, body and spirit must be unified for wholeness and complete health. The emphasis in T'ai Chi is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy (in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no longer a danger. The art is practiced alone in forms, and with partners. The forms include the Long Form, which can take more than a half an hour to complete, and the Short Form, a modified version that can be performed in less than ten minutes.T'ai Chi's original concepts are still intact today, teaching continuous movement, relaxation, solid stances, a straight body and the movement of chi from inside the body to outside. Each arm protects half the body and the hands never reach farther forward than the toes. Many of these movements are from the natural movements of animals and birds, although the way they are performed in T'ai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even transitions between them. It is not ordinarily regarded as a practical self-defense system, though the movements have self-defense applications, and practitioners can achieve great power in their techniques.
T'ai Chi
The History of T'ai Chi
Little is known about T'ai Chi's early history which may date as far back to the 6th century B.C., however its foundation is credited to the Taoist Chang San-feng, a monk of the Wu Tang Monastery. Records indicate that Chang lived at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) and at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Chang San-fen's theories, writings and practices were later elaborated upon by Wang Chung-yueh and his student Chiang Fa. Wang apparently took the thirteen postures of Chang San-feng and linked them together into continuous sequences, creating something which resembles the contemporary T'ai Chi Chuan form.
Chiang Fa taught T'ai Chi to the Chen village on Henan and thus began the first family school of T'ai Chi Chuan. However, some scholars believe that rather than bringing T'ai Chi to the Chen village, Chiang Fa really only discovered the Chen villagers practicing this art. Others maintain that the Chen family's so-called 'Cannon Pounding' (Pao Chui) was a distinct martial art that undoubtedly influenced Chiang Fa's teaching but that it was not the same as T'ai Chi.
Another of Wang's students was Chen Chou-t'ung who established the so-called "Southern School" of T'ai Chi which subsequently disappeared. Chiang Fa continued with the mainstream "Northern" school of T'ai Chi which survives today. The principal styles that exist today are the New Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Yang Style of T'ai Chi, the Old Frame Style of Chen T'ai Chi, the Wu Style of T'ai Chi, the Wu Shi Style (or Hao Style) of T'ai Chi Chuan, and the Sun Style of T'ai Chi Chuan.
Present Day T'ai Chi
It would be unwise for a present day student to forget the historical fact that T'ai Chi was once a deadly art, jealously guarded by a few families and used for killing. It is within the context of a life or death struggle that the techniques of T'ai Chi were refined over the centuries.
T'ai Chi's place in a less violent, modern society lies in enlarging our understanding of who our "enemy" is. Traditionally, the enemy was an opponent in a combat situation. Today the enemy may be stress, fatigue, or the lack of understanding of oneself and one's body. The same system used then can also be used now to help keep stress from killing or injuring you.Since the 19th century, the Chinese have understood the immense health benefits of T'ai Chi, and its popularity has grown steadily. T'ai Chi is now practiced around the world. It is one of the most popular exercises today with more than 300 million participants. While all martial arts were designed to increase one's longevity, daily practice of T'ai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.
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