Tai chi philosophy
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T'ai chi ch'uan and philosophy are closely linked. Some believe[who?] that the principles of t'ai chi ch'uan practice can be applied to living life.
'T'ai chi ch'uan' means supreme ultimate pugilism or boundless fist. This refers to the ancient Chinese martial art. However in terms of philosophy 'T'ai Chi' has a wider meaning. T'ai chi or the Supreme Ultimate is the union of yin and yang. This represents the balance between the two opposites, which translates to mean a balance between soft and hard, light and dark, et cetera.
The principles of t'ai chi ch'uan practice can offer guidance for living in many ways. On one level they provide a basis for interaction with the physical world, as principles for body structure and movement, and a means of controlling or responding to contact or force. On another level the T'ai chi principles can guide attitudes and emotions, and hence an individual's experience.
For example, take the principle 'Soft will overcome hard'. This can be applied to life in the same way that it is used as a tai chi principle. The soft (Yin) will overcome the hard, because it is flexible and pliant. In contrast, something hard (Yang) is inflexible, and more likely to be broken or damaged.
A common example that illustrates this is the comparison between an oak and a willow. The oak tree seems very strong, however in a storm the willow will move and sway, but the oak tree may break.
Similarly, the t'ai chi ch'uan principle 'be like water'[who?] can be applied to life situations. This can be summed up in the idea of 'go with the flow'. In other words, do not resist. Move with the force of the situation. Follow the path of least resistance.
Forces that apply in a life situation may be social (eg. conventions) or emotional (eg. expectations of family).
Through studying the philosophy of t'ai chi ch'uan, the student can gain a better understanding of the principles. There may be benefits in terms of t'ai chi ch'uan practice, and in life in general.
See also
External links
References for T'ai chi philosophy
Master Cheng's Thirteen Chapters On T'ai Chi Ch'uan - Cheng Man-ch'ing (Sweet Chi Press, 1982)
Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation - Cheng Man-ch'ing (Frog Ltd, 1999)
T'ai Chi Ch'uan For Health and Self-Defense - Philosophy and Practice - Master T.T.Liang (Vintage Books, 1977)
The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan - Wong Kiew Kit (Element Books / Vermilion, 1996)
Tai Chi The Supreme Ultimate - Lawrence Galante (Samuel Weiser, 1981)
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tsu, translation Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English (Wildwood House, 1972)
The Tao Speaks - Tsai Chih Chung (Anchor Books, 1995)