| Tai Chi Articles by Mandana |
Can you coax your mind from its wandering? And can you keep to the original oneness? Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child? Can you cleanse your vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? Can you deal with the most vital matter, by letting events take their own course? Can you step back from your own mind,thus understanding all things? Giving birth and nourishing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control. This is the supreme virtue. Tao Te Ching Lao Zi Tai Chi Chuan is a Taoist form of martial arts that is also beneficial for the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of the practitioner. Its movements are slow, graceful and therapeutic to the body. Therefore, the young and the old, the healthy and sick can all benefit. Tai Chi Chuan can be translated as the "Grand Ultimate Fist," meaning the highest or ultimate martial arts. In the next few weeks I'll be discussing the philosophy, principles, history, health benefits, background, and incorporation of this multi-faceted art into our everyday living. Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan Tai Chi Chuan philosophy is based on the following: Wu Chi, or the state of nothingness; the eight changing trigrams of the I-Ching or the Book of Changes; Tai Chi or Yin Yang; the Five Elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal; and finally, according to father of Taoism Lao Zi, the Tao or the Way. "Tai Chi is born of Wu Chi or the ultimate nothingness. It is the origin of dynamic and static states and the mother of Yin and Yang. If they move, they separate. If they remain static, they combine." Wang Tsung-Yueh (Ching Dynasty) Principles of Yin Yang (Tai Chi) Ancient Chinese philosophers developed the concept of Tai Chi as a practical approach to human problem-solving. This principle is more commonly known as Yin Yang. This is the idea of opposites and balance. Without one there cannot be the other. The Yin principle is passive and the Yang active, and they are in continual transformation. Consider a simple everyday phenomenon such as night and day. Day is considered to be Yang and night is said to be Yin. As the world turns, night slowly and gradually transforms into day, and day slowly transforms into night. This cycle continues uninterrupted forever. Another way of looking at this concept is in daily relationships such as the ones we have with our spouses. To create a peaceful and harmonious family unit instead of fighting, we can complement each other in spite of emotional differences to achieve harmony. Traditional interpretation of Yin is female and Yang is male. Submission of Yin to Yang and Yang to Yin and the equal cooperation between the two is balance. The Tai Chi master, in response to attack, may disappear like fog, resist like a mountain or fight like a tiger. Thus, the master understands the separation and combination of Yin and Yang. Yin Yang concepts were used to create the Chinese calendar, astrology and art. Chinese medicine, herbology and nutrition use the Tai Chi philosophy and principles in their approach to curing disease and maintaining balance and health in the body. The practice of Tai Chi Chuan is also another application of the Yin Yang concept, and the physical form of the philosophy. By daily practice of Tai Chi Chuan, we train our bodies, minds and spirits to live more peaceful and harmonious lives. Our bodies become more healthy, flexible and agile; our minds serene and tranquil; and our spirit free. This article appeared in the Robeks website in 1998 |
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