Running head: TAI CHI AND DAOIST IDEALS 1

Tai Chi and Daoist Ideals

Student’s Name

Institution’s Name
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Tai Chi and Daoist Ideals

Tai chi refers to an internal martial art practiced in China for its health and defense

benefits (Darboe, 2016). It is also practiced for other reasons such as achievement of greater

longevity and competitive wrestling. The practice involves combination of deep breathing,

relaxation, and gentle or slow movements. On the other hand, Daoism constitute one of the

greatest Chinese philosophical traditions (Schipper, 1993). Daoist ideals revolve around

philosophical texts and such thinkers as Daojiao, Zhuangzi, and Laozi that describe religious

activities dating back to Han dynasty. Thus it encompasses thoughts, ideals, and practices that

may be viewed as being religious, philosophical, or even a combination of the two.

As presented in our text book, Tai Chi reflects some of the Daoist ideals. The connection

between the two may be attributed to the fact that Daoist science and notions are linked to the

culture of China, which gave rise to Tai Chi. In order to understand movement in relation to

martial applications and health, Tai Chi has drawn upon the principles of softness, yielding,

slowness, centeredness, balance, rootedness, and suppleness. However, the same principles

constitute elements of Daoist philosophy. Additionally, the main features of Daoist thoughts such

as nature’s appreciation and contemplation are reflected in a number of Tai Chi movements.

They include return to mountain, lion shaking its head, repulse monkey, embrace tiger, and snake

creeps down. Daoist talismanic symbolism and pseudoscience have also been incorporated in Tai

Chi forms. Daoists studied astronomy and astrology carefully and this knowledge reflects in such

Tai Chi forms as “embrace the moon” and “meteor runs after the moon”.

In Daoist thinking, symbolism was a powerful force and played an active role. According

to this practice, magic diagrams were used and esteemed to be influential talismans and to

possess great power over spiritual forces. Moreover, they entreated the harmonizing inspiration
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of the 5 elements represented by 5 sacred mountains. As a result, symbolism of names, with

numerological component, has infiltrated Tai Chi forms. Special mystical significance is

attached to number 5. There are symbolic 5 mountains, 5 colors, 5 elements, 5 virtues, 5 months,

5 planets, 5 directions, and 5 emotions among others. Thus, Tai Chi forms have 5 Repulsive

Monkeys, implying reflection of Daoist ideals by Tai Chi.

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References

Darboe, B. (2016). Tai Chi Philosophy. Chi.dk. Retrieved 27 October 2016, from

http://www.chi.dk/tai_chi_philosophy.htm

Schipper, K. M. (1993). The taoist body. Univ of California Press.