T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Harmonizing Taoist Belief and Practice

This book combines academic expertise and philosophical inquiry with the practical expression of T'ai Chi. The authors combine eastern philosophy and the wisdom of T'ai Chi as expressed through a Master. The result is a harmonious blend of Taoist philosophy and the everyday use of its principles through the Chinese art of T'ai Chi Ch'an. The exploration of Taoism and T'ai Chi begins by examining their origins and affiliations under the title ofBeginnings;. Subsequent chapters take up the themes ofHarmony;(expressing the duality and interrelation ofyin;andyang;);The Way;(which looks at the philosophy of the Tao and the path that leads to its practical expression through T'ai Chi);Change;(which examines the influence of theI Ching;and the Eight Energies);Direction;(an analysis of the Five Elements); andEnergy;(which explores alchemy and the vital energy ofch'i;). The primary focus is onMovement and Stillness;, which harmonizes the softness of movement with the stillness of the inner self leading to the theme ofUnity;, the ultimate goal of philosophical Taoism and the practical dimensions of that philosophy in T'ai Chi.Blends academic analysis with practiceIntegrates Taoism and T'ai ChiSuitable for study and practiceIllustrates the philosophy informing T'ai Chi