{"id":5159,"date":"2011-11-15T08:30:04","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T13:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5159"},"modified":"2012-01-26T22:12:32","modified_gmt":"2012-01-27T03:12:32","slug":"echoes-of-emptiness-%e9%9f%bf%e8%99%9a-taiji","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=5159","title":{"rendered":"Echoes of Emptiness (\u865a\u4e4b\u97ff)-Taiji"},"content":{"rendered":"

Echoes of Emptiness (\u865a\u4e4b\u97ff)<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Taiji<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by Jacob Newell (Daoshi Gu Shen Yu)<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Taiji<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>\u592a\u6975<\/span><\/a>) is a Chinese fitness system based on relaxed body alignment and smooth flow of energy. It is also a moving meditation based on the philosophy of Laozi, a legendary ancient sage who taught about the virtues of remaining calm, yielding, and returning to simplicity. Traditionally it is said that Taiji is three things: Qigong, Quan, and Dao-De.<\/span><\/p>\n

Qigong<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>\u6c23\u529f<\/span><\/a>) means energy practice. It is a system of circulating energy through the body to promote health and well-being. The basic theory is that if we relax everything into a stable base, and move and breathe naturally, our energy will flow well and gradually improve in quality. <\/span><\/p>\n

Quan<\/span><\/strong> (\u62f3) means fist, which represents martial art. Taiji is not only for promoting health but also for preventing harm, a system of self-defense.\u00a0 The theory of Taiji martial art is that soft overcomes hard \u2013 by remaining calm and relaxed, yielding to oncoming force, we can respond spontaneously and remain unharmed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dao<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>\u9053<\/span><\/a>) means path \u2013 the way.\u00a0 The way of nature, the way of life, etc. <\/span>De<\/span><\/strong> (\u5fb7) means to encounter and embody the way.\u00a0 Taiji is not only for health and for self-defense, but as a meditation it also invites us to a direct experience of our original nature, which we come to see is no different than nature itself. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We all come to Taiji for our own unique reasons, but these reasons will likely fall into at least one of these three categories.\u00a0 Your teacher\u2019s job is to help you learn the theory and principles and to teach you the methods of practice.\u00a0 However, you have to actually practice in order to get results.\u00a0 In addition, you need to study and ponder the philosophy so that you come to understand the theory for yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

The fundamental theory of Taiji is that everything is one cosmic energy \u2013 qi.\u00a0 This energy naturally polarizes into yin and yang \u2013 the heavy sinks down and becomes earth and the light rises up and becomes heaven.\u00a0 Living beings, as a microcosm of the universe, contain both body (earth) and mind (heaven).\u00a0 Therefore, in Taiji we cultivate both \u2013 cultivating body and mind is cultivating the interplay of earth and heaven. <\/span><\/p>\n

In Taiji the body must relax and the mind must become empty, then the qi can naturally flow between the two poles.\u00a0 We connect to earth by opening up the bubbling-well in the foot and letting our body weight sink down.\u00a0 We connect to heaven by opening up the crown of the head and letting the mind be empty.\u00a0 We connect to living beings by \u2013 we\u2019re already a living being \u2013 but we reconnect with the basis of life by relaxing the torso, breathing naturally, and returning to the simplicity of a newborn baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we maintain these principles, along with the myriad points of posture we learn in class, the qi will begin to flow more smoothly and naturally as we practice our Taiji fundamentals, form and partner practice.\u00a0 See you in class! <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9 Jacob Newell <\/span>(Daoshi Gu Shen Yu<\/span>)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>[Jacob Newell (Daoshi Gu Shen Yu)<\/strong> is an ordained Daoist priest and founder of Old Oak School of Dao.\u00a0 He is affiliated with Redwood Coast Internal Arts and Ruyu Taiji School of Taiwan.\u00a0 He practices and teaches Taijiquan and Daoist cultivation in Sonoma County, California. \u00a0His book of poetry, These Daoist Bones, is available from his website, www.oldoakdao.org.]<\/span><\/address>\n

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