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Glossary of Tai Chi |
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Taoism Taoism is a 5000 year old natural science based on the endeavors of individuals dedicated to understanding the laws that govern life, and the best way for us, as individuals, to participate and interact with these laws.
T'ai Chi expresses the attempt to express in physical, energetic, and mental movement the principle which Taoists throughout the ages have observed as the basis of all life, balance within a process of constant change.
One of the timeless principles of Taoist perspective has been that of the relationship between the Microcosm and the Macrocosm; the inner experience and the outer reality. Through the use of simple body movements one becomes more aware of the principles of all movement whether it be the shifting of one's weight, the breeze blowing a cloud across the sky, or the orbit of the planets around the sun. Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine is composed of three primary modalities; acupuncture, herbology and therapeutic movement (Chi Kung and T'ai Chi). It's emphasis is placed on an ideal of preventive medicine, an approach that is health oriented rather than disease oriented. It is interesting to note that in ancient China one paid a doctor for keeping one healthy, but if illness occurred, treatment was free.
In respect to its therapeutic process, Chinese medicine views disease as merely symptomatic; physical expressions of imbalance taking place on the energetic level. Likewise, treatments, even those administered to the body, are directed to the chi or energetic body. So regardless of whether the physician uses acupuncture, herbs, or T'ai Chi as the technique of choice, the intention is always to nurture a state of enhanced circulation and balance of the energy.
Yin/Yang Taoist long tradition is based on the keen observation of Nature over the course of many centuries. Through this process of keen observation, the ancient Taoists extracted the supreme law that govern Nature, namely that of Yin and Yang.
T'ai Chi is described in the Classics as the study of "separating the Yin and the Yang ". Life, to be truly productive, one must be Yin or Yang according to the need of the situation. We feel stuck, confused, or un productive when we get caught in the gray zone of being neither Yin or Yang, or chose the wrong expression entirely. In T'ai Chi this is referred to as being "double weighted" in the sense that one gets caught in a 50-50 weight distribution which, surprisingly to many, is the weakest of all possible positions. In life we don't want to be double weighted.
The intention is to be sensitive to the needs and demands of our situation, If the situation is Yin, we respond by being Yang. If the esituation is Yang, we respond with Yin. The goal is always to maintain a state of balance and harmony within the framework of Yin and Yang. In Taoist practice this is truly the only essential goal in life.
Three Treasures In Taoist philosophy there is a description of the Three Treasures. This paradigm gives us an example not only of the Taoist view of health and an ideal of life experience, but also of the evolution of the individual in terms of personal and spiritual growth. The Three Treasures are given the Chinese names of Shen, Chi, and Ching. These represent three expressions of one's true nature in respect to different aspects of our multi-faceted being. The Shen , said to be located in the Upper Tan T'ien or head, means "spirit", and denotes the higher faculties of mind (both intellectual and intuitive). The Chi, or "breath", is located in the Middle Tan T'ien or heart center, and denotes one's relationship with worldly activities (communication and relationships).
The Ching, or "essence", is located in the Lower Tan T'ien or pelvic center, and represents one's basic body center and energetic foundation. The definition in the Chinese culture of the "superior person" is that individual in which all Three Treasures, or Tan T'iens, are healthy, strong, and in good relationship with each other. In a very real sense it describes a person who is strong and healthy in body, emotions, and mind, all of which contribute to a strength of spirit. One definition of a master in T'ai Chi is "that person who thinks, feels, and does the same thing".
In our T'ai Chi practice the emphasis is placed initially (and possibly for a number of years) in the Lower Tan T'ien because this is understood to be the foundation upon which the other two energetic centers are built. The understanding is that the Ching is the basic fire which needs to be strong and warm. All to often, due to poor diet, poor exercise habits, and wasteful sexuality, this lower fire becomes weak. This is considered in Traditional Chinese Medicine to be a major contributor to many of the conditions that both men and women experience as they enter mid-life. So the remedy is to keep this Lower Tan T'ien fire strong through good mental focus, movement practice, and diet. This in turn begins to have a beneficial affect upon the other two treasures of Chi and Shen . The Taoist approach is very methodical. It is like building a house; first you lay a strong foundation, then build the walls, and finally the roof. The Ching is the foundation, the Chi is the walls, and the Shen is the roof. Achieving this state of richness in the Three Treasures is what would be considered "mastery" in the Taoist tradition.
Tan T'ien (Lower) The Tan T'ien , located approximately two inches below the navel and in the center of the pelvic area, is a body location which expresses the multi- The Tan T'ien is understood to be the true body center in a sense of balance, integration, and strength. T'ai Chi emphasizes the ability to place the focus of the mind in the Tan T'ien in order to improve movement skills by eliminating the poor movement habit of excessive upper body emphasis (head, shoulders, and arms) which is considered "top heavy".
While the ability to actually drop the attention into the Tan T'ien yields some significant physical benefits, the most important and challenging aspect of this principle is to create a shift of attention away from a thinking orientation to a feeling one.
While thought process is a wonderful aspect of mental function, in T'ai Chi it is understood to be just one of a broad range of possible skills which all fall under the general heading of Mind.
Being centered in the Tan T'ien implies the intention to give one's sole attention to the experience of this moment without the distractions of thoughts concerning either past or future events. END
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