Taiji Quan 太极拳
is a martial art that builds speed and strength from slow, light movements and has the unlimited potential of promoting the self-healing of our body and mind.
There are innumerable forms of Taiji Quan today. One of them is Wudang Taiji Quan. It is a Daoist Taiji and closely associated with the philosophy of Daoism. Practicing the physical aspect of the skill and the "inner work" of NeiGong 內功 are intertwined.
I've written a lot about Taiji Quan many times before, this time I`m finishing my writing here.
Much information is available to us through the Internet and books. To really get to know what Taiji Quan is, we need to practice it. No publication can give us what actualy practicing Taiji gives us.
The writings and comments of the masters sum up the essence beautifully. Let yourself be inspired;
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"No school of Chinese martial arts is as well known and popular as Taijiquan. It is suitable for both the young and the old, not only because Taijiquan possesses special features of stretching, flexing the joints, softly twining, exercising both the inside and the outside, dispelling diseases and prolonging life, but it is also the martial art that best reflects Chinese traditional philosophy. More and more people from other countries, especially those interested in Chinese culture, are beginning to practice Taijiquan. Taijiquan is becoming popular all over the world. Because of this, Taijiquan has no national boundary and is beyond the category of culture, and belongs to people everywhere."
- Fan Chun-Lei and A. Frank Shiery, Traditional Chen Style Taijiquan
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"Taijiquan is like a bright mirror -
it reflects our physical and mental weaknesses,
we need to polish it constantly to see our true selves."
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“There is no mystique to Tai Chi Chuan. What is difficult is the perseverance. It took me ten years to discover my chi, but thirty years to learn how to use it. Once you see the benefit, you won’t want to stop.”
– Ma Yueh Liang
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“We all have inner demons to fight. We call these demons ‘fear’, and ‘hatred’, and ‘anger’. If you don’t conquer them, then a life of a hundred years… is a tragedy. If you do, a life of a single day can be a triumph.”
– Yip Man
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“Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.”
– Morihei Ueshiba “The Art of Peace”
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“The teacher however, can only lead the student to the correct gate, he cannot compel him to go further, Somewhere inside the gates masses of gold and diamonds lie hidden. It is up to the student to go beyond the door and into the inner rooms to search for the treasure. So in order to acquire the art one must have a determined and enduring mind, ready to persevere and study hard. If one relies entirely on the teacher one will never find the treasure.”
– Master T.T. Liang “Tai Chi Chuan for Health and Self Defense”
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“What is true stillness? Stillness in movement”
Bruce Lee
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“Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
Frances de Sales
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“He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened.”
Tao Te Ching
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“To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.”
Sun Tsu
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“Every tree and plant in the meadow seemed to be dancing, those which average eyes would see as fixed and still.”
Jalal ad-Din Rumi
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Of all things, to live in darkness must be the worst. -Young Caine
Fear is the only darkness. -Master Po
Never assume that because a man has no eyes, he cannot see. -Master Po
Close your eyes. What do you hear? -Master Po
I hear the water. I hear the birds. -Young Caine
Do you hear your own heartbeat? -Master Po
No. -Young Caine
Do you hear the grasshopper which at your feet? -Master Po
Old Man, how is it that you hear these things? -Young Caine
Young Man, how is it that you do not? -Master Po
Kung Fu (1972)
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Dictionary:
太极拳 variously written forms of Martial Art of Yin and Yang Interaction: TaiJi, Tai Chi, Taichi, Taiji, Tai Ji, TaiQi, Taiji Quan, TaichiQuan
道德 经 variously written forms of the book "The Classics of the Virtue of Dao" possibly written by someone named Lao Zi ("the old teacher"): Dao De Jing, Tao Te Ching, Tao De King
DaoDeJing is a classic of the Daoist mindset. It is one of the more popular and read, among the multitude of Daoist texts.
道 Dao: Tao, Way
The Daoists strive to follow the natural path of existence-Dao. Daoism evolved from Chinese mythology, philosophy and culture. It was originally a movement, but later restructured into a temple practice that borrowed from previous traditions for worship. The first Daoists were, as we would say today; shamans. They practiced "witchcraft", astrology, medicine, alchemy, etc.
陰陽, 阴阳 Yin Yang, TaiJi Tu = ☯ Shadow side of the mountain, Sunny side of the mountain
Its a basic concept of Daoist mentality. It all consists of two intertwining, constantly changing, complementary opposites (dark-light, top-bottom, slow-fast, ...
