Glossary Taijiquan

Taijiquan

Definition:

In this framework, Taijiquan refers to:

A body of ideas—including beliefs (such as “the mind is the master, while the muscles are the servant”), concepts (such as Jin, Relax, and Yi), and principles (such as “movement is triggered and driven by Yi, the command of the mind”).4
A discipline—that studies the hidden connection and interplay between the human mind, body, and movement.
An art—that follows and applies Taijiquan’s ideas. This may appear in martial arts, fighting skills, or in practical, real-world contexts such as gently restraining an agitated patient, nonviolently subduing a suspect, or performing work involving repeated loading and unloading of goods.
Taijiquan Form—an exercise consisting of structured movements guided by Taijiquan’s principles, aiming to develop the ability to apply its ideas in various movements.

Usage:

As ideas: “We may reasonably assume that Taijiquan’s formation began with the chance discoveries of ancient sages during meditation and deep reflection.”
As a discipline: “Taijiquan reveals the hidden interplay between the human mind and body.”
As an art: “Taijiquan defeats opponents by borrowing power from their impact.”
As a Form: “Yi must be maintained throughout Taijiquan practice.”

Additional Notes:

For consistency and convenience, this book uses “Taijiquan” interchangeably to refer to these four narrower senses, unless otherwise specified by context.