Tai Chi approaches fencing pragmatically. Its function is martial; its purpose is therapeutic and philosophical.
#PhilosophicalFriday
65 posts
#PhilosophicalFriday is the Taiji Forum blog on philosophy and theory of the Chinese arts. It works with expressions and calligraphies from East and West to explore parallels and differences between Chinese and „Western“ culture and thought. – And it gives you a little something to chew on for your weekend.
At the moment, we are publishing a section of Ken van Sickle’s book „Tai Chi Sword“ every week. Simultaneously, Gabi’s German translation will be published on our German sister page. Be prepared for some unique insights into the philosophy and practice of the way of the sword in the Cheng Man Ching tradition!
Blocking or pushing an attacking blade aside instead of moving the body out of the way.
Move slowly ‘ as if ’ moving fast. Move in air ‘ as if ’ moving in water. Move ‘ as if ’ still. Be still ‘ as if ’ moving. If one practises with a feather, respecting it ‘ as if ’ it were steel, ultimately steel may be […]
We are sending each other particular intelligence on our intentions, skill level and vulnerability.
In the beginning you will find fencing with various people as a ‘difference’ experience. The sooner you are able to harmonise with the O the sooner it will become a ‘self similar’ experience.
If you observe Tai Chi people fencing you will hear more laughter than in any other Tai Chi action, and you may have noticed if you have seen the films of Professor Cheng fencing, that he was definitely ‘amused ’ .
We also use our internal energy systems, circulatory (hydraulic), respiratory (pneumatic), and nervous (electromagnetic).
A general way of measuring sword length is with the pommel on the floor, the point reaching near but not higher than your navel. However since the length of the blade is the most important element, and …
In all of these works the swords were shown to require great skill in their use, as well as noble and spiritual qualities,…
Then a friend told me that there was an old Chinese doctor who taught Tai Chi on Canal Street, his name was Professor Cheng Man Ch’ing.
This sometimes happens while doing forms, in dreams, while reading the Classics or viewing films of the master…
All serious students of Tai Chi read this material repeatedly; as they progress they become more able to grasp formerly obscure concepts.
Tai Chi Sword – An Instrument of the TAO
Kenneth Van Sickle leads the reader through the various attributes of this, the most gentlemanly of weapons, with the eye of an artist and the soul of a poet.
Next week, Taiji Forum will start publishing Ken van Sickle’s book Tai Chi Sword as a weekly series in our section #PhilosophicalFriday!
Coronavirus: Disease patterns and the road towards fearlessness – #PhilosophicalFriday I am writing this, because I am worried about the consequences of misinformation concerning the coronavirus. If the truth is first victim of war, then compassion seems to be the first victim of the war against a supposedly deadly super […]
The Chinese character 萬 wan means many. It means a large quantity which is innumerable, because it appears to be uncountable. To do justice to these connotations in a translation, the notion ”ten thousand“ is often used. One example is the “10,000 things“ in the Daodejing, another example is the […]
The two characters 玉宇（yu yu）mean Jade House. The traditional value of jade in China The Chinese admiration of jade stones goes a long way back. On the one hand, it looked great and was therefore thought as the perfect gemstone. – Jewellery, belt buckles, ornaments and buttons on clothes and […]
Happy New Year! 新年好 Following the Chinese calendar, January, 25th 2020 is the first day of the year of the rat. If you look at the Chinese character, it could also be named the year if the mouse – as mouse and rat share the same symbol. Perhaps, to imagine […]
Today’s calligraphy 劍 shows a sword – or, as you may detect in the details, a two-edged, pointed blade. The sword is commonly seen as the queen of weapons. Furthermore, it also has a symbolic meaning. Like in Europe, swords as insignia of power (sometimes lended by the ruler to […]