The wordTaimeansGrand Ultimate and the wordChimeansEnergy
Tai Chi thereforemeans Grand Ultimate Energy. This "Energy" is the energy of the Universe, the Source, The Tao, Oneness, Absolute, Cosmos, God: The life force energy that permeates all things.
The Tao is Absolute. It means The Way - The Way back to Oneness or Wholeness. The universal principal of Yin and Yang - Feminine and Masculine - comes from the Tao meaning that as we are not in wholeness we separate into yin and yang energies.
It is always difficult to trace the origins of Tai Chi but a widely accepted explanation is that Tai Chi originated from Chang San-Fen who lived on Wu-tang mountain where legend has it he lived for 200 years. One day he observed a group of Herons dance around a snake. He watched the snake maintain its circular shape, shifting slightly evading attack and waiting to attack. He saw how softness and circular movement overcame attack. He added breathing techniques to this and through this inspiration and observation Tai Chi movement was born.
The ancient Taoists saw that continuous movements of the Tao followed certain principles and Tai Chi developed as a group of physical exercises combined with spiritual growth that would aid the practitioner in understanding Oneness/Tao.
Therefore the movements of Tai Chi are an imitation of The Tao. By imitating The Tao the Tai Chi practitioner becomes one with it and harmonises with all things.
Tai Chi is an oriental discipline that must ultimately be done with all one's being so that the distinction between body, mind and soul is lost as they all flow into each other and become ONE. Consciousness flows from the mind throughout every cell in the body and the entire being becomes pure awareness. Physical body, breath, balance and focus blend until the individual merges into the Void that is Tao. In the Void that is Tao the ego/the personality is no more - there is only spontaneous, unceasing, harmonious movement.
"If powerful men and women could remain centred in the Tao, all things wouldbein harmony" - Tao Te Ching
Tai Chi therefore means Grand Ultimate Energy. This "Energy" is the energy of the Universe, the Source, The Tao, Oneness, Absolute, Cosmos, God: The life force energy that permeates all things.
Therefore the movements of Tai Chi are an imitation of The Tao. By imitating The Tao the Tai Chi practitioner becomes one with it and harmonises with all things.