Daoist philosophy

The term Tai Chi can be translated in many different ways. Firstly, it can mean a “a large beam that bears the roof of the house”. Figuratively this stands for the connection between heaven and earth. The ancient Chinese imagined the earth as a square plate, over which the heavens were stretched like a dome. This was supported in the middle by a great central column - Tai Chi - which reaches down into the depths of the earth and up into the celestial spheres.

In the same way, mankind must stand, rooted in the earth and upright reaching towards heaven, between these two poles . Philosophically, this means that Tai Chi is the “the most extreme point”, “the original”, “the maximum, the ultimative”, “the supreme ultimate”, “the highest powesr”or “the highest law”, all of which can be rendered by the concept of  “Dao. Dao cannot be described: it encompasses the origin and principle of the whole of creation.

In English the various translations of the term, such as “way”, “movement”, “path”, “channel” point concretely, and figuratively towards the meaning of “the right path”, “the correct way to live”, “the innate order of nature and the universe”, “the origin of all things”, “the highest state of existence”.

The concept of the Dao goes beyond the other great religions of the world. It embraces everything in existence, but also everything that does not exist. Daoism is not a religion in the usual sense of the word, but should rather be seen as a philosophy of life. The originator of Daoism is thought to be Laozi (Lao Tsu), who lived around 500 BC. He created a teaching strongly oriented towards inner reflection, harmony with nature and non-violence. He is considered to be the author of the “Dao De Jing” (Classic of the Way and Virtue): 81 surviving verses about meaning and life. There are so many legends about Laozi that it is possible that this figure is an amalgam of many different individuals.

In the 78th verse it is stated: “Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water. Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better; It has no equal. The weak can overcome the strong; The supple can overcome the stiff. Under heaven everyone knows this, Yet no one puts it into practice.” Many of the the wise words in the Dao De Jing originate from the “I Jing” (The Book of Changes), in which was presented the principle of polarity relating to the whole of existence: mutual opposition and complimentarity, each both determining as well as making the other possible, arranged in a logical system.

To begin with, Yin and Yang were geographic-astronomical concepts, which represented the sunny side (Yang) and the shadowy side (Yin) of a mountain. Summer and winter, heat and cold,the light of day and the dark of night. But almost all opposites can be arranged according to the Yin/Yang concept. Development is only possible as a result of the contrast in the Yin Yang pair which, just like night and day, gradually and smoothly succeed each other. This is expressed in the well-known symbol of Tai Chi . Originally it showed two fishes which circle around each other. In the place with the most powerful concentration of black (yin) there is a white spot (yang) and vice versa. This indicates that Yang is present in Yin, just as Yin is present in Yang, so that stagnation is not possible.There is neither a beginning nor an end , but a constant change between beginning and end, between birth and death, which then produces new life... Harmony arises through balance and the smooth exchange between the two contrary polarities, a change that is illustrated through the movements of Tai Chi. Behind this constant change is the origin of all things, “Dao” or ”Tai Chi”.

In accordance with these philosophical principles, systems of exercises were developed in Daoist monasteries (Tai Chi Chuan, Qi Gong) whose purpose was to keep body, soul and spirit in harmony and to achieve long life. These exercises include breathing exercises, meditative immersion, and the perfect movement, by which means inner energy (qi) is utilised to the full. To reach a condition of deep tranquility and intellectual emptiness (yin), the Daoists employed conscious control of breathing and movement (yang). In this way amazing results were achieved as regards health and the martial arts.