11-10-2017

 Colossians 1:16 KJV

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Being a born-again Christian, also a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), people, Christians especially, often ask me all sorts of, other than health-related questions, such as can Christian consult TCM practitioner for healing? Or is the logo of Yin/Yang demonic?

Recently a feature story on the religious harmony among Singaporeans was aired on the Channel News Asia, a local TV network, and a young man when being interviewed, he wanted to know whether is it acceptable for Christians to engage into Tai Chi (太極) and what’s Tai Chi? 

I was ignorant about the essence of Tai Chi, except knew its early English translation as ‘shadow boxing,’ probably due to its soft movement, till I had watched a TV documentary series on Kung Fu, and concurrently took up Tai Chi myself, a few years ago. After that, I have had the experiential and emotional knowledge on Tai Chi to share.

Further, it’s entirely not related to his sermon theme, Pastor Prince mentioned that he was a fan of Bruce Lee when he was young, then I was contemplating to modify what I wrote in 2012. And this morning my friend Aimin sent me a link to an uplifting Commencement speech and I was very much taken by the keyword of ‘stand, ‘ so I knew that I have to put my acts together.

05-04-2012 –  Edits

‘The Real Combat, Tai Chi” – edit

There has been a particular feature series with the title of ‘Kung Fu Quest, the real combat’ on the National Geographic Channel for months (1). The first few episodes were on Bruce Lee (2)that seized my attention and wonder who wouldn’t want to watch more about Bruce Lee? I regret that I knew him superficially, only from his movies.

The documentary is validation that Bruce Lee has been the undeniable, world-renowned Kung Fu Legend for the 21-century.  By the grace of the film, now people and more people would know about his dedication and his deep philosophical conviction in the area of Martial Art, as what he said:

“Using no way as way; having no limitation as of the limitation so change with change is the changeless state.” – Bruce Lee

 In tune with his profound philosophical conviction, I was lured to watch the Tai Chi episode. But wonder why the ‘Real Combat’ was used to name the series, as part of the ‘Kung Fu Quest?’ Would it mean something more in-depth than pure fighting? Tai Chi is a simple, both of a low and high impact breathing exercise with a series of soft fist movements to tone up both of external physical and internal mental well-being.

It’s easy to take up, but it actually would require a lot of discipline, and an extended period of practices. The concept of Tai Chi (Tai Chi and Taiji are the same concepts) is a thick and creamy traditional Chinese philosophy, it is also known as Wuji (无极), which has derived from its inception from I-Ching (易经), the ‘Book of Change’ dated to 1000 BCE.

For thousands of years, people would spend their lifetime to practice Tai Chi without knowing the true essence of it. Sadly, many valuable kinds of literature, documents had been misplaced during the ‘ Chinese Culture Revolution’ in the 60’s. No one among Tai Chi masters was certain who was the originator of Tai Chi.

I personally want to take on the widespread myth that has accredited its creation to a legendary Taoist monk, Tai Chi Zhang San Feng (太极 张 三丰). But all agree that it ‘couldn’t be initiated by one person, at a certain period or in one particular place, but it put together by many predecessors.’ Therefore, it would be a fallacy for people to conclude that Tai Chi is a practice of Taoism.

Fist–movement is its principal characteristic, so it also calls Taijiquan (or Tai Chi Chuan). Forms or Taolu (套 路 pinyin: tàolù) are Chinese words that denote the combination of series of fist movements that can be practised into a harmonious and continuous set of moves. It is how each individual is able to apply various changes from within through simple breathing to be one with nature. It says that as our physical/mental well-being is in perfect harmony with nature, we would have the balance to pertain the living of life.

One episode was on Master Chan (陈 小 通) who claimed that the Chan style Tai Chi from his ancestors, as the cradle of Taijiquan for hundreds of years. Currently, he has been running a school of Tai Chi taking in students from all over the world.  Chan also mentioned that he couldn’t fathom why there were many of his students came to the school with confirmed incurable and challenged medical conditions were miraculously healed after engaging in Taijiquan (太極拳) exercises.

Vera, Dorothea, a 16-year-old German teenager, in the interview shared that she had a hearing problem with one of her ear, together with the numbness on one side of her body. She was miraculously cured after taking up Tai Chi while attending Chan’s school. Besides, to impart Techniques, Forms that are in tune with the sense of balance in the rhythm of nature, most Tai Chi masters would put greater emphasis on the gracious attitude, the tranquillity of mind, better physics than physical defence/combative skills.

While I was in the midst following the Tai Chi series, my dear friend, Kit called and asked me to sign up to attend the class of the ‘Wu style of Tai Chi (3) with her on every Saturday afternoon. Definitely out of curiosity, I immediately signed up for the class but also with great anticipation wanting to see if I could discern Tai Chi has a spiritual parallel.

Ephesians 6: 13 – ESV

 put on the full armour of God, so that ……you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.’

1.natgeotv.com/asia/at-the-apex-of-wudang

2.https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/bruce_lee.html

3.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Style_Tai_Chi_Fast_Form

Stay tuned  – to be continued

Kay