Tai Chi and Taoism Tai Chi and TaoismExtracts from Lao Tzu’s classic the Tao Te Ching, with literal translations and interpretations of relevance to Tai Chi Chuan:
1. 道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。無名天地之始。
The Tao that can be explained is not the external Tao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The earliest beginning of Heaven and Earth has no name. (Chapter 1)
As there are many things in the universe that can neither be explained nor predicted, so it is with Tai Chi Chuan. The applications of Tai Chi have no specific names. There is no fixed form to use. Tai Chi is ever changing because it comes from the Tao. It is responsive to the opponent, but without deliberation.
To practice Tai Chi, it is necessary to relax and concentrate, to forget the concerns of your body and of daily life, i.e. to return to the earliest beginning, which has no name. Tai Chi requires that your hands be forgotten, and that the three forces, the Qi of the body, Heaven and Earth, be joined together to magnify the power of your body’s movement. In Tai Chi, a small force is used to overcome a big force, a slow movement is used to overcome a fast movement, and calm is used to overcome motion.
2. 天地之間，其猶橐籥乎。
The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows. (Chapter 5)
In ancient China, people used a special kind of wind bellows for casting iron. Air would always go into the fire of the casting oven, whether the bellows was pulled open or pushed closed. Heaven and Earth are eternal because the Qi between them is always moving like a bellows. The day and night of the universe is like the opening and closing of the bellows.
Man’s inhaling and exhaling is also like the opening and closing of the bellows. The space between the upper and lower parts of the body is the abdomen. The abdomen, and not chest, is used by newborn babies to breathe. No matter whether you are inhaling or exhaling, Qi must be lowered to the Dan Tian at the abdomen. Therefore, when practicing Tai Chi or other internal Kung Fu one should follow the saying “your Dan Tian is like the iron casting stove and your body is like the bellows.” Thus, your body will become as strong as steel.
3. 栽營魄抱一，能無離乎。專氣致柔，能嬰兒乎。
Can you always unify your body so that blood, energy, mind, soul, and spirit are not separated? Can you always concentrate your Qi fully all over your body, and let your body be as supple as that of a newborn? (Chapter 10)
Ancient Chinese physicians believed that the internal energy of the newborn child was the purest and that it filled the whole body. They also observed that, not only does the newborn use its abdomen to breathe, but also when a baby is crying, it moves all of its body. Everything is unified in Tai Chi. Any movement involves the whole body so that if a movement ceases, the mind, energy and spirit also stops. A movement of only one part of the body is not in accord with the principles of Tai Chi or the Tao.
Another name for Tai Chi is ‘prenatal Chuan (boxing), 先天拳’. After practicing Tai Chi for a while, the body becomes like that of a newborn baby, healthy, soft, relaxed and full of Qi.
4. 吾所以有大患者，為吾有身，及吾無身，吾有何患。
I have a lot of distressing problems because I have a body. Without a body, how could I have any distressing problems? (Chapter 13)
In Buddhism, a wandering monk brings a bag with him. The bag, which holds things like food or money, is divided into small parts, and hangs in front of his chest and on his back. It is said that when the monk walks, he has the bag hang on him. Only when the monk puts down the bag will he feel free of burden. This is like the above quote from the Tao Te Ching because the bag can represent money, power, authority, or love. In practicing Tai Chi, you must forget that you have a body, which is like putting down the bag. It is possible to concentrate and relax if distractions like being afraid of being hurt, of losing, of making mistakes, or of concern over rapid improvement, are freed from your mind. Only then is it possible to concentrate, relax, and be supple. This ability to control distraction is very difficult to achieve.
5. 執古之道，以御今之有，能知古始，是謂道紀。
Hold and use both the ancient Tao and the present knowledge. Knowing the ancient origin is the purpose of Tao. (Chapter 14)
In Tai Chi, one should not only be aware of past experience, but also understand present knowledge. To neglect either the history of Tai Chi or the knowledge gained from recent experience is to remain ignorant about Tai Chi.
6. 曲則全，枉則直。少則得，多則惑。
To curve round will be perfect. To go straight will be a waste of time. To have little will result in having more. To have too much is to be confused. (Chapter 22)
All Tai Chi movements and every detail of Tai Chi practice are circular. In accord with this principle of the Tao Te Ching, every joint keeps moving in a circular way. Tai Chi also requires you to learn a little at a time. If the material to be learned is not too much, it can be easily understood. If too much is attempted at one time, only confusion rather than understanding results.
7. 人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。
Man follows the ways of Earth. Earth follows the ways of Heaven. Heaven follows the ways of the Tao. Tao follows the ways of Nature. (Chapter 25)
These four sentences embody the central philosophical principles of Tai Chi Chuan from which the Tai Chi movements have evolved.
8. 將欲奪之，必固與之。
Before taking you have to give. (Chapter 36)
According to the principles of the Tao Te Ching, you are relaxed and soft when you overcome an opponent. In applying Tai Chi Chuan, as your body touches the opponent, you have to follow the direction of his force and then add a little more force to make him lose his balance, even cause him to fall. This is an inflexible principle of Tai Chi Chuan that cannot be changed. If you do not follow this principle, your Tai Chi Chuan will fail.
9. 反者道之動，弱者道之用。
Cyclic reversion is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the application of the Tao. (Chapter 40)
The movements of Tai Chi Chuan are the reverse of our habits. While it is most common to use our hands to strike somebody, Tai Chi directs you to move your foot first, then your knee, waist, shoulder and hand last of all. All sport and other martial arts require you to move fast, only Tai Chi Chuan requires you to move slowly. Finally, it is usual to use force and tension when striking an opponent. Tai Chi teaches you to relax and not to use force.
10. 天下之至柔，馳騁天下之至堅。
The softest thing in the universe subjugates the hardest thing in the universe. (Chapter 43)
The ancient Chinese believed that while water was the softest thing in the universe and that rock was the hardest, ‘drops of water can pass through rock’. Although a rock appears to maintain an unchanging position, water passing over the rock will wear it down. Consider also the softness of the tongue as compared to the hardness of the teeth. Yet the teeth will fall out as we age, the tongue remains. Softness can subjugate the hard. In Tai Chi Chuan the soft overcomes the hard.
11. 無為而無不為。
Think of nothing, then there is nothing you cannot do. (Chapter 48)
It is very important in Tai Chi to clear the mind, overcome distractions, and to start from nothingness – just as the computer starts from zero rather than one. Multiplicity must cease to exist in your mind so that you can return to the original state of nothingness. From nothingness, it is possible to change and then to achieve everything.
12. 益生曰祥，心使氣曰強，物壯則老，謂之不道，不道早已。
A better life comes from a happy mind. A strong body comes from good internal energy. Everything begins to decline after it reaches its prime; it is not the way of the Tao. Everything contrary to the Tao will not last long. (Chapter 55)
Tai Chi is not practiced correctly unless the person is happy and able to concentrate and thereby able to create internal energy. Tai Chi keeps the practitioner relaxed, soft, and young and can prolong life by up to twenty additional years.
13. 以正治國，以奇用兵。
Use justice to rule a nation. Use surprise to fight wars. (Chapter 57)
All movements of Tai Chi Chuan must be correct. When using Tai Chi against an opponent, he must never be aware of your movement. Tai Chi that is correct will take your opponent by surprise.
14. 用兵有言，吾不敢為主，而為客，不敢進寸而退尺。
Military strategists say: I dare not be the host and begin the battle. I would rather be the guest and wait for the action. I dare not advance an inch but would rather withdraw a foot. (Chapter 69)
In Tai Chi Chuan, always withdraw before your opponent rather than advance towards him. Wait for the chance to overcome your opponent.
15. 人之生也柔弱，其死也堅強，萬物草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。故堅強者死之徒。柔弱者生之徒。是以兵強則不勝，木強則折，強大處下，柔弱處上。
When a person is born, his body is soft and tender. When he dies, his body is hard and stiff. Growing plants are tender. When they die, they are withered and dry. Therefore, the hard and stiff will be the disciples of death. The tender and soft will be the disciples of life. Thus an army that is too large will never win; a tree that has grown too hard will be easily broken. The hard will be a disadvantage and the tender and soft will be an advantage. (Chapter 76)
The softness, suppleness and yielding of Tai Chi are its strength in all aspects of life. While water, the most powerful of substances in the world travels to the lowest of places, rock, which is hard and strong, is found at the highest of places in the mountains. It is water that has the strength to hold up a 500,000-ton ship, to produce electricity and to irrigate fields. So Lao Tzu and Tai Chi Chuan direct us to adopt the spirit of water; to move without seeking reward and to travel to the lowest of places.