The Origin of Tai Yi Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient martial arts form. It is widely believed that it was created by the Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng in the 12th century, knowing as “Wu Dang Tai Chi“. Thus, Tai Chi has influences that was imposed by Taoist and Buddhist monasteries.

Through oral history, Taoist Tai Yi Tai Chi Chuan was founded by a Taoist priest in the Chinese Song Dynasty. It had not been publicized broadly, and it was kept secretly with only one successor in each generation among Taoists. During the chaos of wars period, the Dao Guan (meaning Taoist Temple) was destroyed, and the Taoist priest who mastered Tai Yi Tai Chi Chuan was badly hurt. He was then rescued by a Kung Fu Master whose last name was Wang. Wanting to repay his kindness, the Taoist priest decided to teach and pass Taoist Tai Yi Tai Chi Chuan to Master Wang.

Since then, Tai Yi Tai Chi Chuan was carried by Family Wang.

What Does “Tai Yi” Means

Taoist Tai Yi Tai Chi Chuan was invented based on Tai Chi principles and followed the directions provided by the Nine Halls Diagram.

Nine Hall Diagram

The Nine Halls Diagram (refer to the left image) is an ancient Chinese diagram that mystically connected with the movement of the seven starts of Beidou, the Northern Ladle (Big Dipper) plus two secret “companions” to the penultimate star of the handle. According to the legend, Tai Yi is the Deity of North Pole and it takes one year for the stars of Beidou moves around Tai Yi.

Tai Yi moves in the directions of Eight Trigrams (Ba Gua, refer to the image below) and rests in the central hall. The eight Trigrams and the central hall are called Nine Halls.

Eight Trigrams

In the Nine Halls Diagram, you can see Tai Yi starts from central hall where yin interplays with yang (No. 5, Hall of Purple). It then goes to Hall of Kan (No. 1, Yang). Followed by Hall of Kun (No. 2, Yin) and Hall of Chen (No. 3, Yang). According to the order, next is Hall of Sun (No. 4, Yin) and go back to rest at Hall of Purple. Subsequently, it travels to Hall of Chien (No. 6, Yang), Hall of Tui (No. 7, Yin), Hall of Ken (No. 8, Yang), then Hall of Li (No. 9, Yin). Finally, it returns to the Hall of centre again to mark the completion of the whole cycle.

What Makes Tai Yi Tai Chi Different

Tai Yi Tai Chi was invented following the route of Nine Halls Diagram. This movement is an interplay of yin and yang, which are two opposite yet complementary forces in the universe.

Imagine Tai Chi is a symbolically roundness dividing into two halves. Half is yin and the other half is yang. yin cannot separate from its complementary part of yang, and vice versa. Only when yin and yang are complementing with each other, one shall reach balanced as a whole harmoniously. Roundness is the key in all your movements when practising Tai Yi Tai Chi. Your body movement shall follow different curves that are continuous, circular and unending. One easy way to visualize is to think of a reeling silk thread from a cocoon.

Your upper body need to be moved in full roundness and your lower body in half circle. When you practise Tai Chi, it is important to keep in mind that, always keeps your leg firmly grounded and well rooted.

The history of Taoist Tai Yi Tai Chi can be traced back to a millennium ago, where it was passed down through thirty-one generations to nowadays. With a long history of development, this Tai Chi form differentiates itself from other modern popular Tai Chi styles in unique features and characteristics.

Join our special Taoist Tai Yi Tai Chi class and experience how special it is yourself.

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A lyric from the 51^st Division Headquarter of the Kuomin Tang states that Tai Chi actually came from Wudang Mountain. The essence of Wu Dang Tai Chi is to benefit both the citizens and their nation. It is also a way to make oneself stronger.

The Wu Dang martial arts style is also called by many different names – Wu Tang, Wudang, Wudong or Wudan. It originated and evolved from the Taoist monasteries right atop the Wu Dang Mountains.

Located in Hubei Province, the Wu Dang Mountains became a home to another Kung Fu style just as the Shaolin Kung Fu took root at the Chen Buddhist monastery in Sho Shan Mountain.

Very little credit is given, though, to Taoists and their general contribution to Chinese martial arts.

The most noteworthy Taoist contribution to martial arts is the birth of Tai Chi Chuan. Its creator was Chang San Feng, a Taoist priest who sought immortality with the development of qi – better known as chi in the Western world.

Tai Chi Chuan was the internal or soft style that showed circular movements that were meant to deflect or redirect energy back to one’s opponent. This system swiftly spread throughout China and soon many other styles evolved from it such as the Wu and Woo, Chen and Yang. Bagua or Pa Kua and Xing Yi (Hsing i) were also created.

The Wu Dang Tai Chi style is a rare style of Tai Chi. It was practiced by Taoist monks and widely taught in Taoist temples and schools throughout China. This style makes use of a combination of soft and hard movements as well as a straight sword form called the Jian.

Modern-day Wu Dang Tai Chi

Wu Dang Tai Chi, also referred to as Tai Chi Quan is some sort of a complex Wushu. Creating only comes if the practitioner has a thorough understanding of change or the Yi and Boxing theories. Add to these theories the inspiration, concentration and aesthetic mood and you have the precise Wu Dang Tai Chi.

When a person is upset, it is supposedly impossible to practice Wushu, hence, Tai Chi Quan needs the most rigid conditions of mental wellness.

All schools of Wu Dang Tai Chi are derivatives of Zhang Sanfeng as people regard him as the original master of this martial art. Yet there are also those who oppose the idea, stating that the believers are merely trusting in a legend.

Even today, no one knows exactly from which generation Wu Dang Tai Chi really came from and how it has been passed to the masters of today but one thing is certain – those who practice it learn to live in serenity and peace.

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Sheng Xiao Dao Ren, a traveling Taoist, once stopped by the Shaolin Temple. In there, he observed the kung fu style that the monks were practicing. It looked sort of jerky and it was as if it lacked power.

He then asked for a match but he quickly lost the battle to a junior monk. He thought it was just a stroke of luck so he asked to be matched to a senior monk. It was at this sparring game that he was thrown, embarrassingly, to the ground.  He soon learned that the seemingly ineffective style that they were studying was called praying mantis.

Sheng Xiao Dao Ren decided to stay at the Shaolin Temple to learn the said Kung Fu style. He soon became a master and there began his travels once more. Throughout his life, he only taught one student – Lee San Jian.

It was Lee (after learning the praying mantis style) who established a famous caravan guarding service. Nobody was able to beat Lee and he was soon nicknamed as Lee the Fighting Fist. Local bandits had the highest respects for him.

When Lee retired from his guarding business, he decided to look for a successor. In Fusham, he came across a champion – Wang Rong Sheng. When Lee saw the demonstration shown by Wang, he decided that the latter should not have been called a champion. Offended, Wang challenged Lee to a fight. It was then that he realized that the praying mantis style was, indeed, a style to reckon with. Wang soon decided to be taught by Lee.

Through Wang, the praying mantis style soared to higher levels. Since Wang came from a wealthy family, he devoted more time to the development of the art. Several years after, he accepted his own student, Fan Xu Dong.

Fan was called a giant or the broadsword because of his 300-pound frame. He was notorious for the incident in which he confronted a pair of angry bulls. Both animals died and soon, people learned about Fan’s abilities. He became doubly popular when he traveled to Russia and won a match there.

The Praying Mantis Forms

The northern Kung Fu style of praying mantis is already a complete system with more than 80 forms. There are weapon forms, hand forms, one three-person empty hand form, two person empty hand and weapon set, and a breathing set referred to as the Luo Han Gong or Monk martial art. Included also are the Iron Palm and the Juey Luo Han Chuan or drunken form.

The Northern praying mantis instructors have added styles of their own to the system throughout the years. When the social conditions changed, so did the training highlights.

The system is an effective fighting art as it makes use of guiding principles and concepts of old while incorporating the flexible approach of the newer generations. In every generation, the praying mantis strategies are still applicable in any fighting environment.

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The martial arts of the said Republic is called Wushu and is crafted by physical education coaches and is in no way related to the original art. The original disciplines in Ancient China were deeply rooted in the people’s need to hunt and defend themselves.

Legend tells that the arts were classified into various fighting systems by Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor) during the Xia Dynasty. He was a renowned general who also came up with volumes of medical and astrological books.

The most primitive Kung Fu records have been found in the Autumn and Spring Annals approximately 5^th Century BC. During the first century BC, Jiao Di, a combat wrestling style, was recorded in the Classic of Rites; so were strikes, pressure points, throws and joint manipulation.

Taoist and Shaolin Influences

While there were many philosophical influences in this form of martial arts, there is no doubt that the most dominant is Taoism. This is a religion that relates to the fighting disciplines. Taoists practice physical routines such as the Five Animals Play comprising of the tiger, monkey, deer, bird and bear.

The Taoist influence is not notable in Tai Chi, Eight Immortals and Pa Kua Chang.

Considered to be more influential is the Shaolin Temple. This Temple created a number of work on Kung Fu including training handbooks, warrior monks, histories, encyclopedias, novels, traveling journals and poetry.

Kung Fu is rich in history as it also includes other systems such as the Hsing i, White Crane, Praying Mantis, Tai Chi Chuan, Wing Chun and Bak Mei Pa.

Kung Fu Basic Principles

The Kung Fu concept revolves around these three fundamental principles –

• Motivation
• Self-discipline
• Time

Experts say that the real motivation is always inspiration and never force. Discipline complements motivation and is needed to put Kung Fu into action; while time is needed for a martial artist to perfect his art.

In essence, Kung Fu history continues to develop but in a different light. There were efforts to resurrect the classical Kung Fu of Shaolin but, to this day, they remain mere efforts. There are now systems of Kung Fu such as the Shaolin Butterfly but this originated outside the walls of China. The original styles have not been revived in full but there are new systems that have developed and with these, Kung Fu is moving forward to conquer a totally different world.

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There are many different benefits of learning Kung Fu that you can enjoy. Some come from the aerobic exercises done and those that deal in strengthening of your muscles. There are some that help to develop your mind and spirit while there are others that focus on self-confidence and so you shouldn’t be left out.  Long time ago you could only get these martial arts in China but things have now changed. You are able to access these services in many different places such as Sydney.

The benefits of learning Kung Fu are as follows.

Increased strength

Kung Fu training is comprised of exercises which help to tone some muscles especially the basic ones used in fighting. Examples of those muscles include the leg and arm muscles. You get to increase your muscle strength and level of endurance in the process.

Increased flexibility

Kung Fu practice involves a lot of punches, kicks and motions that make your entire body to stretch out. You should know that every kick or punch you make help to stretch some specific muscles. Therefore when you do it regularly then it makes your body muscles to be very flexible. In addition to that, there are some stretching techniques that are specially performed to help increase the flexibility of your body muscles.

You gain discipline and self- confidence

One of the benefits of learning Kung Fu is the fact that you gain more discipline and self- confidence. Kung Fu is made up of ranks and so you can never fail to have anything new to learn. In order for you to rise to the different ranks you need discipline and self-confidence which you will learn during the training in case you didn’t have them and if you have then you gain a higher level of them. The best part is that you will realize that you are applying the same level of discipline and self-confidence in other areas of your life that are not even related to Kung Fu.

Improved physical health

Kung Fu is made up of aerobic exercises which ensure that you improve your physical health. The exercises help to work on your cardiovascular system, respiratory system and overall health on top of muscular development. It therefore makes you healthier, youthful and you get the energy to go through life’s activities.

Self-defense

Kung Fu teaches you different ways of protecting yourself for example through kicking, grappling, throws, joint locks and punching. It is realistic and you are taught how to defend yourself in different situations. Therefore you will feel safer as a result of knowing that you are able to defend yourself in case you are faced with a situation where you need to use physical force to protect yourself.

Mental focus

Learning Kung Fu is a way of training yourself to focus and being more aware of yourself and surroundings. You help your mind and body to work together and these are things you can apply in other areas of your life.

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