Taiji is the method of Chan

by Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy on 2011/09/10

Grandmaster Chen Xin said in his book, “Illustrated Book of Chen Family Taijiquan”, “Taiji is the method of Chan. Without it, there is no taiji.”

Post Category: Quotations

About Chen Zhonghua Taiji Academy

Chen Style Taijiquan 19th generation disciple. International Standard Bearer of the Practical Method system of Hong Junsheng. Second generation master of Hunyuan Taiji. Been teaching internationally since 1985. Educated in the West with a Master's Degree in Education. Highly accomplished through the lineage of two great masters. Disciplined, precise and powerful. He teaches a complete system of taiji based on the principle of yin yang separation; indirect power as a core concept; movement and tranquility as the source of action. In both theory and practice, his taijiquan deals with the problems of double-heavy. He is a real treasure of the heritage of taijiquan.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

bruce.schaub September 13, 2011 at 3:07 pm

Does this refer to Chan Buddhism? It’s my understanding that Chan Buddism is an amalgam of Boddhidarma’s Buddhism mixed with Taoist philosophy…. and that Taiji is likely a mixture of Shaolin Martial Art and Taoist internal alchemy…dao-yin, nei gong, etc..???

Chen Zhonghua September 13, 2011 at 3:25 pm

Sorry I have not had time to expand on this thread yet. “Chan” is a word often used in Taiji as in “Chan fa”, the method of Chan. Directly it means to coil as in the making of thread from cotton. The term “Chan Si Jin”, silk reeling energy is derived from this word. Please note that this is one of the word the interpretation of whose meaning cause the division of taiji styles. For example, Chen Style believes in reeling silk while Yang style believes in pulling silk while others might not believe in anything related to this concept at all.

bruce.schaub September 14, 2011 at 6:29 am

it appears to me that all styles of taiji coil their bodies up into protected positions to store energy( in transitional movements) then uncoil to release energy….i suppose i’ve never had a detailed explanation of the concept of reeling silk….only that when you draw silk from a cacoon it must be done with a subtlety of control and consistancy as to draw the silk out without pulling so hard as to break it ” bu tiu.. bu ding ” as it were…. is the idea that you coil lines of energy around each other like building up a big strand of energy or even a rope of energy vs. merely a single thread??

Chen Zhonghua September 14, 2011 at 9:07 am

Chan is a method. “Bu diu bu ding” is a desired result of doing proper taiji. I often state that learning taiji must start with the understanding and ability to sort concepts and actions into categories so that a procedure is present. Single silk or multiple? Big silk or small? Those are details, not which is good, which is bad.

bruce.schaub September 14, 2011 at 10:37 am: thank you for taking the time to respond to my questions… and for being so forthcoming with information about taiji…. i sincerely appreciate the vast amount of real knowledge contained in your efforts on this site…..i didn’t mean to cloud the issue.

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Niko September 14, 2011 at 7:03 am