Synthesis philosophica, Vol. 24 No. 1, 2009.
Original scientific paper
Supple Like a Newborn Child, Strong Like a Lumberjack and Composed Like a Wise Man. Application of Classical Daoism Philosophy in Taiji Principles
Tania Becker
; Wuppertal, Germany
Abstract
Taiji – sport, meditation, martial art (wushu), health preservation, way of enlightenment and philosophy of life – is one the best-known signs for recognizing Chinese Daoism. The following article wishes to explain the influence of classical philosophical Taoism notions such as dao (way), qi (life force) and wuwei (inactivity) and their application on Taiji principles practiced today world wide.
Arising from tradition of an early Daoism (4th – 3rd century BC) those notions are the core of its fundamental books (Daodejing, Zhuangzi) and forming material of Daoistic philosophy, which has managed, despite its exposure to great historical changes and religious influences during the thousands of years, to preserve its autonomy owing to the application of those axioms.
Regularly practicing Taiji with the aim of mens sana in corpore sano and appreciating the rules of principles dao, qi and wuwei directly result in suppleness, strength and composure of body and spirit and carries us to higher levels of consciousness in which we are able to achieve the unity of physical and mental perfection. In this manner Taiji as ”sport” gains its complete, transcendent dimension.
Keywords
Taiji; Daoism; dao (way); qi (life force); wuwei (inactivity)
Hrčak ID:
41171
URI
Publication date:
29.7.2009.
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