|
|
), a Taoist priest, was meditating on Wu-Tang Mountain, in Hupei province. One day he heard a noise outside and found that a bird was attacking a snake. Chang watched as the bird attacked the snake's head and the snake yielded at his head and struck with his tail. Then the bird attacked the snake's tail and the snake yielded at his tail and attacked with his head. When the bird attacked the snake's belly the snake yielded at the belly and attacked with both his head and his tail. In the end the bird gave up and flew away. Chang was so impressed with the beauty and efficiency of the snake's defense that he decided to create a martial art using the yielding (yin) and attacking (yang) method of the snake. He combined the thirteen postures (see below) with Taoist philosophy and exercises to create Tai Chi Chuan. Chang then wrote what is known as the Tai Chi Chuan Classic (
) a very important read for those studying Tai Chi Chuan (see the Resources page for links to translations of the Classics).
Later on, Chang San-feng passed Tai Chi Chuan to his disciple, Wang Tsung-yueh (
), who wrote more "Tai Chi Classics". And later the art was passed to the Chen family, who kept it hidden from outsiders for hundreds of years. Eventually Yang Lu Chan was able to learn and master Tai Chi Chuan from the Chen family and teach it to others. This is how Tai Chi Chuan became so widely known. Tai Chi Chuan became popular when Yang changed the form to make it less physically demanding.
), often translated into English as Book of Changes. The I Ching is an ancient Chinese book containing 64 hexagrams (sets of 6 lines, the lines being of two types: solid/yang 
and broken/yin 
). The 64 hexagrams denote movements in nature. Every movement in Tai Chi Chuan can be directly associated with one of the 64 hexagrams. It is also from the I Ching that the set of 8 trigrams (sets of 3 lines, of the same type as in the hexagrams) known as the Pa Kua (8 entrances/gates) and the set of 5 trigrams, called the 5 steps, representing the 5 elements, have been taken. It is these 13 trigrams that make up the 13 principle movements (postures) that Tai Chi Chaun is based on.
| English | Chinese Yale / Pinyin | Trigram / Element | ||
   8 Entrances Pa Kua |   4 Primary Hands | Ward Off |  Pang / Peng |   South; Heaven |
| Roll/Pull Back |  Lei / Lu |   North; Earth | ||
| Press Forward |  Jai / Ji |   West; Water | ||
| Push (Forward) |  On / An |   East; Fire | ||
 4 Corner Hands | Pull Down |  Choi / Cai |   Southwest; Wind | |
| Sit Back/Bend Backwards |  Lit / Lie |   Northeast; Thunder | ||
| Elbow Stroke |  Jau / Zhou |   Southeast; Lake | ||
| Shoulder Stroke |  Kau / Kao |   Northwest; Mountain | ||
  5 Steps | Advance |   Chin Jeun / Qian Jin |  Metal | |
| Retreat |   Hau Teui / Hou Tui |  Wood | ||
| Look Left |   Jo Gu / Zuo Gu |  Water | ||
| Look Right |   Yau Paan / You Pan |  Fire | ||
| Central Equilibrium |   Jung Ding / Zhong Ding |  Earth | ||
The other best-known Taoist writings are the Tao Te Ching/Dao De Jing (
) by Lao Tzu/Lao zi (
) and Chuang Tzu/Zhuang zi's (
) self-titled book. Lao Tzu was the first widely-popular Taoist author. The Tao Te Ching is an excellent place to find out more about Taoist philosophy. Chuang Tzu is another (some say more readable) example of Taoism. This book is full of hilarious but profound stories which say a lot about Taoism. Both of these books are still in print today under numerous translations.
The chin [intrinsic strength] should be rooted in the feet, generated from the legs, controlled by the waist, and manifested through the fingers.
All movements are motivated by I [mind-intention], not external form.
When the opponent is hard and I am soft, it is called tsou [yielding]. When I follow the opponent and he becomes backed up, it is called nien [adhering]. If the opponent's movement is quick, then quickly respond; if his movement is slow, then follow slowly. Although there are innumerable variations, the principles that pervades them remain the same.
Without long practice one cannot suddenly understand T'ai Chi.
If the opponent raises up, I seem taller; if he sinks down, then I seem lower; advancing, he finds the distance seems incredibly long; retreating, the distance seems exasperatingly short.
Stand like a perfectly balanced scale and move like a turning wheel.
Fundamentally, it is giving up yourself to follow others. Most people mistakenly give up the near to seek the far. It is said, "Missing it by a little will lead many miles astray."
Be still as a mountain, move like a great river. The upright body must be stable and comfortable to be able to sustain an attack from any of the eight directions. Walk like a cat. Remember, when moving, there is no place that does not move. When still, there is no place that is not still.
It is said if the opponent does not move, then I do not move. At the opponent's slightest move, I move first."
 |