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| Taiji | |
|---|---|
| Name | Taiji |
| Focus | Internal |
| Hardness | Soft/Hard |
| Country | China |
| Creator | Attributed to Chen Wangting and others |
| Parenthood | Wudang, Chen Village, Shaolin |
| Descendant art | Push hands, Tui Shou, Qigong |
Taiji
Taiji is a Chinese internal martial art and moving meditation associated with slow, flowing movements, breath regulation, and mind–body coordination. Practiced for self-defense, health, and spiritual cultivation, it has influenced qigong, Confucianism, Daoism, and Chinese martial culture across centuries. Major lineages developed in Henan, Wuhan, and Beijing, and prominent masters and treatises shaped its techniques and pedagogy.
The term derives from classical Chinese cosmology expressed in I Ching, Yin and Yang, and Taijitu imagery, linking martial practice to theories advanced by figures such as Zhou Dunyi and referenced in works like Song Dynasty treatises. Historical nomenclature appears in records connected to the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, with stylistic labels emerging tied to lineages in Chen Village, Yang Luchan, Wu Quanyou, Sun Lutang, and later teachers in Beijing and Shanghai. Alternative names used in texts by Wang Zongyue, Li Yiyu, and Yang Chengfu reflect doctrinal emphases paralleling Neo-Confucianism and Daoist practice.
Early sources attribute formative contributions to martial families in Henan such as Chen Wangting and itinerant teachers who interacted with members of the Imperial Examination class, military officials and monastic communities like Shaolin Temple. Transmission accelerated during the Qing Dynasty when practitioners like Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang trained in urban centers including Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai. Sociopolitical currents—rebellions like the Taiping Rebellion, modernization during the Republic of China, and patronage by figures such as Sun Yat-sen—shaped institutional formation and popularization. Literary accounts by scholars such as Li Jinglin and documentation in newspapers connected to Shanghai Commercial Press helped codify curricula.
Major lineages include the Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu (吳), and Sun families, each associated with masters such as Chen Fake, Yang Chengfu, Wu Quanyou, Wu Jianquan, and Sun Lutang. Practices integrate empty-hand forms, partner drills like push hands, standing postures linked to Zhan Zhuang, and solo routines derived from texts preserved by Wang Zongyue and commentaries by Li Yiyu. Lineage schools in Beijing Sports University, Shanghai University of Sport, and private academies maintain competitive and pedagogical traditions alongside folk variants tied to provincial associations.
Principles emphasize harmonizing opposites as articulated in I Ching commentaries and related to theories advanced by Zhang Zai and Wang Yangming. Core training concepts include rootedness, intent over strength as discussed by Sun Lutang, alignment appearing in teachings of Yang Chengfu, and internal energy cultivation paralleling qigong practices codified by figures in the Republic of China era. Ethical and meditative dimensions reflect engagement with Confucianism for social virtues and Daoism for cultivation of qi, with modern interpretation influenced by scholars at institutions like Peking University.
Clinical and epidemiological studies published in journals linked to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and international medical centers such as Johns Hopkins University and University of Sydney have evaluated balance, fall prevention, cardiovascular function, and mental health outcomes. Randomized trials and systematic reviews examine effects on conditions including osteoarthritis, hypertension, and depression, often comparing programs against aerobic exercise or physiotherapy protocols associated with hospitals like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Research draws on methodologies from World Health Organization guidelines and integrates traditional diagnostics from Traditional Chinese Medicine institutions.
Training curricula range from short forms promoted by sports federations to long classical sequences preserved in lineages. Canonical routines include the 24-form standardized in the People's Republic of China sporting movement and the 108-step routines kept by families like Chen and Yang. Weapon practices employ the jian (sword), dao (broadsword), staff traditions linked to Shaolin, and straight-sword forms practiced by masters such as Chen Fake and Yang Chengfu. Competitive formats overseen by bodies like the Chinese Wushu Association and routines adapted for demonstration, research, and therapeutic settings coexist.
From expatriate teachers who migrated to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia to instructors who established schools in Europe and North America, the art spread through diaspora networks and cultural exchange programs sponsored by institutions like UNESCO and national sport ministries. Prominent figures including Cheng Man-ch'ing, T. T. Liang, William C. C. Chen, and academies in cities such as New York City, London, and Paris contributed to widespread practice, incorporation into public health initiatives, and representation in popular culture via film and literature associated with personalities like Bruce Lee and events like international martial arts tournaments.