Fist (fighting method) of the supreme ultimate

T’ai chi ch’uan Chin., lit. the “fist (fighting method) of the supreme ultimate (t’ai­-chi)”; a form of meditation based on physical movements and a method of self-defense.

The origins of T’ai chi ch’uan are said to go back to the 14th century. It is practiced by performing a sequence of soft, flowing, and slowly executed movements, which coordinate mind and body -i.e., consciousness, breath, and the body as such- and thereby produce a harmonization of the energies of yin and yang (yin-yang). T’ai chi ch’uan enhances the gen­eral state of health of the practitioner, dissolves tensions in the body, and removes blockages in the energy meridians. There are at present five main styles, the best known being the Yang style, named after its originators Yang Lu-ch’an and Yang Ch’eng-fu.

T’ai chi ch’uan is normally practiced alone, but there is a method known as t’ui-shou (rough­ly “pushing hands”), which involves a partner. T’ai chi ch’uan can also be performed with a lance, knife, or sword.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.

T’ai chi ch’uan documents

Books on T’ai chi ch’uan

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