'Why' T'ai Chi?
T'ai Chi is art
Art does not lend itself to words...
However, if we develop more than one explanation, version, or definition of what T'ai Chi might mean, we may find it possible to gain an understanding of T'ai Chi through words.
Sun Version
The Chinese words T'ai Chi are widely translated in to English as supreme ultimate. This humble T’ai chi player accepts the clearer interpretation that is supreme ultimate way of life.
The supreme ultimate way of life is the way of the peaceful warrior { the warrior/priest, those old enough may remember the 1970’s television series titled kung Fu and starring David Carodine, but conceived by Bruce Lee, about the adventures and travels of a shaolin monk.}
T’ai chi chuan. The Chinese word chuan translates to fist. { the phrase translates to supreme ultimate boxing}
T’ai chi is ancient and has roots in Taoism{a Chinese religious system} and Confucianism.
The way of the peaceful warrior has used spiritual awareness and military precision to develop an exercise system that is time proven and with established science based testing, results, and reporting {many prestigious establishments, Harvard university for example, have released documents} T’ai chi can be claimed to be the most effective way to develop balanced health for the body and mind with positive test results showing benefits for:
Improved health
Calmness and focus of mind
Increased energy
Suppleness, strength, co-ordination, balance and agility
Relaxation and freedom from stress
Strengthening of the internal functions of the body{immune system, metabolic functions, and cardiovascular system}
Understanding of the body’s process’ and self-healing
Harmony with the natural laws of life
Better mood with lower levels of depression, stress and anxiety
Greater aerobic capacity and muscle strength
More energy and stamina
Lower blood pressure and improved heart health
Reduced inflammation
Fewer falls
Better sleep quality and enhanced immune system response
Sources:
{www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18487899}
{www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/guidetotaichi}
The Jupiter version
T'ai chi is art. Art is an expression of abstract knowledge. Art does not lend itself to words. {Chinese classic the toa de jing states: The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way}
T'ai chi is symbolized as shown opposite. It is symbolic of yin and yang, the primordial energies that are the basis of all things in existence. The curved lines are indicative of the continual motion of the energies, and the active and interactive relationships of their polar opposite and complementary existences.
The two smaller circles represent the tiniest flecks of yin within yang energy and vice versa, and indicate thet no thing in existence is exclusively yin or exclusively yang in its make up.
The symbol, at the same time,represents all things and no thing, and therefore, all of existence.
The Saturn version
The chinese words T'ai chi translate to supreme ultimate.
Grammatically the phrase is incorrect, or at least incomplete. Supreme and ultimate are adjectives, the phrase does not have an object/noun.
The phrase makes grammatical sense only when there is realization that the phrase has been truncated and that the noun that would make the translation scientifically and linguistically legitimate is missing/hidden.
Study of translations of Chinese classics, the Tao te jing and the I jing amongst others, reveal this as a recurring theme when they speak of "the way ". {Tao te jing book one verse one: The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way. Verse 25: I know not its name so I style it the way. Verse 32:The way is forever nameless. Verse 41: The way conceals itself in being nameless.}
The idea that should not be lost is this, with countless references to " the way", that part of the phrase becomes a noun in its own right. When the hidden noun is added/revealed in the translation it becomes Supreme ultimte way. Even so, the phrase then remains incomplete since it begs the question; Supreme ultimate way to what?
This humble T'ai chi player has this view: The supreme ultimate reason for mans existence, is; to have meaningful life. My own personal translation of T'ai chi is; Supreme ultimate way of life.