Exploring the Ancient Art of Taijiquan
By Shifus James and Loretta Donnelly

Taijiquan (tai chi chuan) is an ancient practice that combines centuries-old martial arts with Daoist philosophy and energy cultivation techniques with roots that span thousands of years of Chinese history. Yet not all taiji is the same. To understand why, one must look to history.

Tai Chi History
Most documentation suggests that a 14th century Daoist named Zhang San Feng combined elements from Daoism (including components of the I-Ching; the Chinese “Book of Changes”) and Shaolin gongfu (kungfu) to develop the precursor to today’s taijiquan. Zhang’s taiji originally was the “ad hoc” practice of specific forms of movement referred to as the “13 postures,” composed of the “8 gates” and “5 elements.”

This original way of taiji practice found its way into the Chen family, a Chinese military clan, around the 1500’s. Chen style remains the oldest of the three classical families of taijiquan to be preserved and practiced today. In the 1700’s Yang Lu Chan mastered Chen taijiquan and went on to develop his own style, using insights from his study of Chen. This second of the classical styles, Yang taijiquan, was the first to be exported from China, making it the most widely practiced style today. The last of the classical families of taijiquan is the Wu style, sometimes called “Wu/Hao” style. As with the Yang style, its inventor, Wu Yuxiang, studied the preceding families of classical taijiquan before developing this distinct style. All other forms of taijiquan practiced today are variants of these three classical families.

An Art Divided
Unlike other practices such as yoga, which were openly disseminated, taijiquan comes from a tradition of secrecy. Before the advent of firearms, the martial arts of China served as the primary secret weapon(s) of the ruling class. As such, many of the martial arts, such as taijiquan, that were taught openly were very watered down. Even after the arrival of guns in China, many of these secret practices remained locked away from the public. This set the stage for tragic loss.

During the Japanese invasion of China (1937-1945), the occupying forces forbade the practice or teaching of martial arts. Some masters were killed or imprisoned. Others fled the country or went into hiding. In an attempt to eliminate China’s bourgeois past during the Cultural Revolution (1967-1976), the communist party enforced rules designed to “sanitize” its culture. Chinese martial arts did not escape the cleansing. During this period much of the martial and philosophical components of taijiquan practice were removed. Traditional training was modified or eliminated.

Eventually, the departments of Chinese Physical Education devised new training forms. These forms are usually referred to as modern wushu. These modified forms were designed around tournament rules, allowing taijiquan to be judged on the competitive circuit. With the philosophical and martial components removed, this new taijiquan was, and is, merely a skilled performance art. Meanwhile, traditional masters who had fled to other countries, or kept a low profile in China while secretly teaching small handfuls of students, continued to preserve the traditional practices.

Tai Chi Today
Today, tai chi can be divided into several different categories. At one end of the spectrum you’ll find teachers of classical taijiquan who teach the art holistically – that is they focus on all aspects: physical, martial, metaphysical, spiritual, etc. The plus side of classical training is that it offers some of the greatest physical benefits. On the down side, if you’re looking to quickly develop self-defense skills, effective use of taijiquan can take decades to learn, depending on your level of dedication and practice, thus the popularity of comparatively easier arts like karate and tae kwon do. Also keep in mind that classical taiji doesn’t follow tournament rules so if competition is your thing, the traditional arts may not be for you.

At the other end of the spectrum is modern wushu, taiji turned gymnastic art. With only the slightest acknowledgement of its philosophical or martial practice, it serves as neither a complete martial art nor spiritual practice. It does, however, possess physical demands that can keep one fit. It can also serve as a light introduction to a classical practice later on, and if competition appeals to you, modern wushu has plenty to offer. In between the two extremes exist a wide range of hybrid systems. These are combinations of systems based on the teacher’s own background and training. In this case you’ll often find schools that teach a multitude of martial art styles, tai chi being only one of them. On the plus side, many of the hybrids serve up plenty of hardcore martial arts training in other styles, allowing students to become proficient martial artists while studying taiji as a health practice. Also, though focused on the martial aspects, the hybrids often include some level of conformity to modern wushu, allowing students to enter into competitions. The down side to hybrid systems is that the teachers’ grasp of classical taiji principles may vary, with characteristics of their other styles taking precedence in what they teach. Thus, at the end of the day, the taiji you learn may be little more than modern wushu with some kungfu from other arts sprinkled in.

A Lifetime of Study
Taijiquan is an ancient practice that continues to enrich the lives of millions each day.

Once you’ve found the teacher and style that fits your goals, you’ll discover an art that will bring you benefits for a lifetime.

Shifus Jim and Loretta will speak at MCNJ’s Mar. 11 Lecture.