Glenn Spiro writes about his passion in life: the history, philosophy and practice of Tai Chi and the many interpretations of this martial art. http://glennspiro.net/

1. Glenn Spiro writes about his passion in life: the
history, philosophy and practice of Tai Chi and the
many interpretations of this martial art.

2. Since its beginnings centuries ago in ancient China,
the majestic art of Tai Chi has undergone some
radical changes, with its uses in modern medical
environments and health centres, and its
appearance in popular culture in films, books and
video games.
However, the original form of Tai Chi and four
subsequent orthodox forms have retained their
individuality and purity since the creation of the art
form so many years ago.

3. The philosophical origins of Tai Chi can be found in the
ancient Chinese philosophies of Taoism and
Confucianism, from which Tai Chi takes its aspect of yin
and yang, the harmony of two opposing forces
combining through opposite approaches.
One of the fundamental principles of Tai Chi, born from
these philosophies, is the teaching that brute force met
with brute force will only result in injury for either or both
of the parties involved. Instead, Tai Chi teaches that in
order to combat brute force, one must meet the force
with a kind of softness, which can, through physical
contact, guide the force and diminish its power or
redirect it somewhere less destructive.

4. In this way, the teachings of Taoism are illustrated,
through the coordination of the mind and the body with
the rules of nature. It is not surprising then that the
etymology of the original name ‘Tai Chi Ch’uan’ should
mean ‘great’ or ‘supreme energy’ in boxing, or held
within the fist.
The Tai Chi we know today is separated into many
different derivatives and variations, however, there are
five main forms which still remain untouched. The names
of these forms refer to the families which created and
practiced them, and passed them on to future
generations. These orthodox forms are known as the
‘Chen-style,’ from the Chen Wangting family, the ‘Yang-
style,’ from the Yang Lu-ch’an family, the Wu Hao-style’
from the Wu Yu-hsiang family, the ‘Wu-style’ of Wu
Ch’uan-yu and his son, and the ‘Sun-style’ of the Sun
Lu-t’ang family.

5. While there is some dispute over who originally created Tai Chi,
only one of the two names involved in the legends is
attributed to the first of the five orthodox forms of the martial
art. Two different theories state that either a man named
Chang San Feng or one named Chen Wang-Ting first created
the art that is now known as Tai Chi, however, only the
second has been given as much credibility as to assign his
name to the first and original form of Tai Chi.
At the time of its creation, which is said to have been around
600 years ago, Tai Chi had not yet been given it formal name.
Legend has it the martial art was practiced in relative isolation
within a small community in the mountains. It wasn’t until the
mid 1800s, that a student named the ‘Unbeatable’ Yang Lu-
ch’an performed an interpretation of art generally referred to
as zhan quan and mian quan, meaning ‘touch’ or ‘soft’
boxing, that Tai Chi was recorded in a document written by
an imperial court scholar by the name of Ong Tong He.

6. From that day on, Tai Chi spread throughout China
and the rest of the world, in its many forms as well
as its original method, proving popular with the
young and older generations alike, as a martial art,
exercise regime, and way of life.

7. From that day on, Tai Chi spread throughout China
and the rest of the world, in its many forms as well
as its original method, proving popular with the
young and older generations alike, as a martial art,
exercise regime, and way of life.