History of Taiji
A thousand years ago Daoist Master, martial arts and medical expert Zhang Sanfeng created what he believed was the ultimate form of self defence and natural health preservation.
The system he designed would not only disrupt the harmony of chi (energy), by striking certain points at certain times of the day but also realised the therapeutic value of these same meridians and points.
The question was how to strengthen the body, tonify the organs, create free flow through the meridians and cultivate chi.
This system is know known as taiji or more commonly, tai chi: “the grand/supreme or ultimate fist”, taijiquan being the fist part of the fighting art of taiji. Nowadays taiji and qigong are known most commonly for their healing and strengthening potential and as exercises which are practised in a set pattern.
Taiji and qigong improve health through relaxing and releasing; body awareness and alignment; the cultivation of vital energy (chi); balance and co-ordination; breathing with movement; meditation and visualization and attention to the here and now.
The five external and five internal senses are the focus of each level of training.
In the longer term, awareness of intention is developed together with the confluence of body, mind and spirit; sensitivity and inner listening through the practice of pushing hands, and a greater understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
By learning not to identify with aggressive energies, non-aggressive responses are accessed with the ability to deal with unwanted or blocked energy.
There are many ‘styles’ of taiji, among them Yang, Wu, Chen, Han, Sun: find the style and teacher which resonates for you and learn to flow with these gentle and ancient movements.
The character Tai can be translated as great, grand or supreme. The character Ji (Chi) means the ultimate, infinite or extreme. Together they form a concept which goes back in philosophy way beyond the formation of Taiji as an art based on the martial arts. Thousands of years ago, perhaps before even the concept of the Dao (Tao) had been formalised, the idea of the Taiji or Supreme Ultimate was developed. It referred to the origin of all things – that from which all else had developed. Taiji was taken as the name of this art probably only in the 19th century. Taiji is often joined with the character Quan (Chuan). The meaning of Quan is literally ‘fist’ and Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is used to depict the fighting art.
In the mid to late 19th and early 20th centuries Taiji spread rapidly through China. During this period, several well known teachers developed and refined the exercises. Several distinctive branches took the names of these pioneer teachers. The Yang style developed from the Chen style. The Wu and Sun styles developed from the Yang style. Chen Changxing (1771-1853), Yang Luchan (1799-1872), Wu Jianquan (1870-1942), and Yang Chengfu (1883-1936), were the outstanding pioneers in their respective branches. Since that time many new branches have appeared but the practice of naming new developments after the family name of the teacher is no longer widespread.
The Chen style was kept mostly within the Chen village. Many believe that this branch of the transmission became mixed with the more external, local Chen family fighting art. The last of the great Chen masters, was Chen Fake (1887-1957) who spread this branch to Beijing. Â Courtesy – Patrick Kelly Taiji