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Concept of Taiji Chi
After careful and intensive study of the world around them, the ancient Chinese philosophers developed the concept of "the Grand Terminus" or taiji. Understanding this taiji philosophy provides a necessary foundation for the study of taijiquan. Unlike fragmented and apparently unrelated branches of knowledge, taiji can offer a comprehensive explanation for all of the phenomena in the universe. Thus, taiji is essentially the root of the tree of wisdom in its ability to enrich every branch of knowledge.
Taiji principles describe practical approaches to solving problems in
natural as well as human realms. For example, during the Yin Dynasty (1200 BC), these concepts were used to create the Chinese calendar and to predict lunar and solar eclipses. Additionally, acupuncture was invented during the Zhou Dynasty (696 BC) and applied taiji philosophy to cure illness and maintain health. Taijiquan is another practical application of taiji philosophy.
Taijiquan can be translated as the ultimate or highest of the martial arts. It
is based on three major principles of taiji philosophy: the changing trigrams of The Book of Changes or the Yijing, the taiji diagram, and the five elements. The objectives of taijiquan include:
- harmony of the mind
- promotion of health
- attainment of rejuvenation and longevity.
Through the constant practice of taijiquan, you will comprehend more
fully some of the profound concepts in Chinese philosophy, which are otherwise impossible to explain clearly in words.
Zhangsanfeng and Taijiquan
Although there are various people credited with the founding of taijiquan, Zhangsanfeng is generally given the major credit. Zhangsanfeng was also known as Zhangtong and Zhangjunbao and is certainly the greatest teacher of taijiquan.
His ancestors lived on Dragon-Tiger Mountain , a Daoist
historical site in Jiangxi Province in southeast China. His grandfather moved to Yizhou i n Liaoning , a northeast province. His
father, Zhangjuren was a very intelligent man. Zhangsanfeng passed the examination given by the government of the Emperor Taizong of the Yuan Dynasty,
( 1279-1368), and was thereby eligible for a high government position. However, he was devoid of worldly ambition and preferred to live in the mountains. This lack
of worldly ambition was admired since the educated Chinese saw the hermit who renounced all connection with society as the ideal and the
position of government official as much less satisfying. Zhangsanfeng was born at midnight on
April 9, 1247. The anniversary of this day is now celebrated by followers of taijiquan with dining, drinking and demonstrations of taijiquan.
Zhangsanfeng's Biography
To the ancient Chinese, physical appearance reflects a person's level of intelligence and character. This method of evaluation is similar to the more familiar art of palmistry except that
the Chinese looked not only at the hand, but also at the whole body. According to
legend, Zhangsanfeng was born a wise man because he had the arched back of a tortoise and the figure of a crane. His large round eyes were considered a symbol
of intelligence and longevity.
At twelve years of age he began studying the Chinese classics. Because of his good memory
and keen perception, he was eventually able to become a government official. Zhangsanfeng
spent some time meditating and planning his future during a visit to Gehong Mountain, where
Gehong, a minister in the reign of Emperor Yuan (290-370 AD) was said to have become
immortal. After the death of his parents, Zhangsanfeng resigned from his government position
and returned to his birthplace long enough to give his property away to relatives. Then
accompanied by two young boys, he set out to wander the mountains for thirty years visiting
old temples in the hope of meeting a wise man. Finally, he settled in midwestem China in the
beautiful, green Baozhi Mountains which have three pointed peaks, or "sanfeng" in Chinese. It is said he mastered the well-known shaolinquan during that time.
In 1314 at the age of sixty-seven, Zhangsanfeng finally met a Daoist, Huolong whose name
means "fire dragon." This hermit taught Zhang the method of being immortal, but Zhang
practiced in the high mountains for four years with very little achievement. He then moved to
Wudang Mountain and finally, after staying there for nine years, became aware of the truth
and the Dao. Again Zhang started wandering from north to south. When he returned to his birthplace, he found that all of his relatives had died.
When the Yuan Dynasty ended in 1368 and the Ming Dynasty 1368-1654 AD) began,
Zhangsanfeng was afraid that the royal family would need him since he was a well-known
immortal Daoist, so he pretended to be mad. Thus he earned the nickname of the "Sloppy Daoist."
In 1385, the Emperor ordered him to serve the government, but he hid himself near the
border of Yunan Province, which is in southwest China, until 1399. At that time, he returned to Wudang Mountain to meet his best friend, Wanpuzi.
In 1407, Emperor Chengzu sent two officials to visit Zhang on Wudang Mountain, but they
could not find him. The emperor then ordered high-ranking officials to build a big temple on Wudang Mountain in Zhang's honor.
In 1459, Emperor Yiuchung bestowed a title of immortality on Zhang. Thus, according to
legend, Zhangsanfeng was born at the end of the Song Dynasty and lived through the whole
Yuan Dynasty to the reign of Dingzong in the Ming Dynasty a period of more than 200 years!
Legends of how
Zhangsanfeng Created Taijiquan
There are different stories as to how Zhangsanfeng created taijiquan.
- One story states that he created it in his dreams. While this may seem improbable, remember that the French mathematician Pascal invented a geometrical theory at 16
years of age in a dream. It is possible that Zhangsanfeng, especially with his sound foundation in shaolinquan, may have used his subconscious to create taijiquan.
- According to another story, Zhang heard birds on Wudang Mountain making an
unusual noise and saw them all staring down at the ground where a serpent was lifting its head and watching upward. A moment later, a magpie spread its wings and
descended to attack the serpent. The serpent moved slightly to escape the attack, but maintained its usual circular shape. The contest continued, up and down, back and
forth, several times until Zhang stepped out of the door. Immediately the magpie flew away and the serpent disappeared. Zhang then realized the truth of softness over
firmness and created taijiquan.
- A third legend states that Zhangsanfeng saw monks boxing on Wudang Mountain. He
observed that they used too much force and outer strength and therefore lacked
balance, If yin and yang were balanced inside the body, he thought, one would be less clumsy. Accordingly, he used principles from the Dao, the taiji diagram and the Yijing
to develop taijiquan. The purpose of the movements in taiji is to transfer
intrinsic energy or qi to the spirit or shen and to use inner rather than outer force.
After Zhangsanfeng, the famous taiji masters included Wangzong , Chentongzhou, Zhangsongxi, Yejimei , Wangzongyue, and Jiangfa. Finally, Jiangfa taught taijiquan to Chen's
family.
Evolution of Taiji
The evolution of Taiji can be traced from shaolinquan exercise to Shaolin boxing, and the addition of Yijing and Daoist qigong techniques.
Shaolinquan is an exercise invented in the famous Shaolin Buddhist Temple
in Henan, a northern province of China. The temple was built in the Shaoshi Mountains
during the Wei Dynasty in the third century AD. Damo, an Indian Bodhidarma master who came to China in 527 AD, lectured there for many years during the Liang Dynasty, sixth
century AD. Finding many of the monks weak, unhealthy and even prone to fall asleep during
sermons and meditation, Damo pointed out the importance of having a sound body in the
effort to develop a strong inner spirit. Before Damo emphasized the need for strength, physical
energy and proper body posture in effective concentration, Buddhist theory stressed development of the soul and neglected that of the body.
Damo, who encouraged the monks to exercise in the early morning for their health, created
several systems of exercise: "the change of tendons" or yijinjing, "the marrow washing" or
xisuijing and the eighteen Buddha's hands. Thus he founded Shaolin boxing.
After Damo died, his followers left Shaolin, and boxing was abandoned until several hundred
years later when Jiaoyuanshangren began to teach at the temple. Jiaoyuanshangren was a
master monk who was proficient in boxing and fencing. He learned of the eighteen Buddha's
hands and decided to improve the system by adding his own skills. Thus, shaolinquan
developed into seventy-two hands and earned a better reputation. One of the many followers
it attracted was Zhangsanfeng, who stayed at the temple for about ten years and mastered all of the Shaolin exercises.
The treasures of the Shaolin Temple were called the five quan. Each quan was
named for the animal best exemplifying its attributes. Each of the five quan originally had only
six postures. Currently, however, each quan has over one hundred postures. You can develop many variations if you master these five quan. The original quan are:
- Dragon Quan. Training attention and spirit; emphasizing lightness, stillness and change.
- Tiger Quan. Strengthening the bones, emphasizing jumping up and down.
- Leopard Quan. Practicing the application offeree; emphasizing jumping and fighting.
- Snake Quan. Practicing qigong, prolonging the body; becoming very sensitive and
active.
- Crane Quan. Training concentration, stability, accuracy and determination to defeat the
opponent.
All the styles, names and clans of Chinese martial arts are generated from shaolinquan, the prototypical Chinese martial art. However, taijiquan differs from
other martial arts because Zhangsanfeng added the theory of the Yijing and Daoist qigong techniques to shaolinquan. Therefore, the way of practice transcends martial art
towards will, mind, body and nature very close to the Way of Nature or practice of the Dao itself.
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