Tai chi

Tai chi
Tai chi
Traditional Chinese	太極拳
Simplified Chinese	太极拳
Literal meaning	"Taiji Fist"
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Tàijíquán
Bopomofo	ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ
Wade–Giles	T'ai4-chi2 ch'üan2
IPA	[tʰâɪ.tɕǐ tɕʰɥɛ̌n]
Wu
Shanghainese; Romanization	Tha-ciq jioe
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Taai-gihk kyùhn
Jyutping	Taai3 gik6 kyun4
IPA	[tʰaj˧ kɪk̚˨ kʰyn˩]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Thài-ke̍k kûn
Tâi-lô	Thài-ki̍k kûn

Tai chi
太極拳
	The lower dantian in tai chi:; Taijitu (yin and yang) rotate, while; the core reverts to stillness (wuji).
	Yang Chengfu (c. 1931) in Single Whip posture of Yang-style tai chi solo form
Also known as	See etymology
Focus	Taoism
Hardness	Forms: Competition; Light contact (pushing hands, no strikes); Full contact (strikes, kicks, throws, takedowns etc.);
Country of origin	China
Date of formation	Daoyin
Creator	Chen Wangting or Zhang Sanfeng
Famous practitioners	Chen Wangting; Chen Changxing; Chen Qingping; Chen Fake; Joey Bond; Marshall Ho'o; Yang Luchan; Yang Chengfu; Cheng Man-ch'ing; Wu Quanyou; Wu Jianquan; Wu Yuxiang; Sun Lutang; Wang Peisheng;
Olympic sport	Demonstration sport

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense,^[1] it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. Tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. Often referred to as "meditation in motion," tai chi aims to concentrate and balance the body's qi (vital energy), providing benefits to mental and physical health.^[2]

Many forms of tai chi are practiced, both traditional and modern. While the precise origins are not known, the earliest documented practice is from Chen Village and Zhabao Village in Henan, which are located a few hundred miles from the Shaolin Monastery on Song Mountain.^[3] Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun. Practitioners such as Yang Chengfu and Sun Lutang in the early 20th century promoted the art for its health benefits.^[4] Tai chi was included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020.^[5]

^ Lu, Shengli (2006). Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua: Principles and Practices of Internal Martial Arts. ISBN 978-1583941454.
^ Slow and Steady: The Health Benefits of Tai Chi, Cleveland Clinic, 2023-09-05
^ Shahar, Meir (2008). The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts. ISBN 978-0824833497.
^ Wile 1996.
^ "Tai Chi now on Unesco's intangible heritage list". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-07-17.

[1] Lu, Shengli (2006). Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua: Principles and Practices of Internal Martial Arts. ISBN 978-1583941454.

[2] Slow and Steady: The Health Benefits of Tai Chi, Cleveland Clinic, 2023-09-05

[3] Shahar, Meir (2008). The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts. ISBN 978-0824833497.

[FOOTNOTEWile1996-4] Wile 1996.

[5] "Tai Chi now on Unesco's intangible heritage list". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2023-07-17.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

The lower dantian in tai chi: Taijitu (yin and yang) rotate, while the core reverts to stillness (wuji).
Yang Chengfu (c. 1931) in Single Whip posture of Yang-style tai chi solo form
Also known as	See etymology
Focus	Taoism
Hardness	Forms: Competition Light contact (pushing hands, no strikes) Full contact (strikes, kicks, throws, takedowns etc.)
Country of origin	China
Date of formation	Daoyin
Creator	Chen Wangting or Zhang Sanfeng
Famous practitioners	Chen Wangting Chen Changxing Chen Qingping Chen Fake Joey Bond Marshall Ho'o Yang Luchan Yang Chengfu Cheng Man-ch'ing Wu Quanyou Wu Jianquan Wu Yuxiang Sun Lutang Wang Peisheng
Olympic sport	Demonstration sport