Taijiquan - A New Dimension in Body Experience
An interview with Wushu professor Jianguo Sun, head of the WuYuan School in Munich
Mr. Sun, what distinguishes Taijiquan from traditional physical exercises?
Traditional physical exercises strengthen the body and build up muscles but Taijiquan does much more than that. It cultivates body and mind for it is marked by a dinstinctive philosophical background. It is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine which - due to its holistic concept - considers the mind inseparable from the body. In addition, Taiji centers on essential principles of Chinese philosophy such as the two powers Yin and Yang which by their interaction create the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth) and it also follows the Daoist motto that man shall live in harmony with nature.
So Taiji is not just a physical exercise. It requires the complex interaction of mind (Yi), energy (Qi), breathing and physical power (Li) true to the Chinese saying "Yi dao qi dao, qi dao xue xing, xue xing bing chu." This saying means: "Where the mind goes, there also goes Qi. When Qi has arrived, the blood will flow (evenly) and when the blood flows (evenly) all kinds of illnesses will be driven away."
Can people from the West learn Taijiquan although they are coming from a different cultural background?
Yes, of course. In China Taijiquan is considered a martial art and just like any other art Taijiquan, too, cannot be limited exclusively to one political system. For people from all kinds of cultural backgrounds Taiji is the perfect way to cultivate body and mind. There are, however, certain conditions that should be met: The Taiji student should have a real interest in learning Taijiquan. He should have the right mindset for learning and a great deal of patience. He also should be willing to form his chararcter in a positive way. And he needs a good teacher to guide him through the different learning stages.
Will people from the West perceive their bodies in a different, more holistic way by practising Taiji?
In general I have to say that I am against dividing people into the categories East and West. Basically all humans are equal. Yet anyone who is practising Taijiquan seriously, who is strictly keeping to the requirements of the relevant learning stages and who is training on a regular basis for years will certainly experience a positive development of body and mind. I would even go as far as saying they will discover a new and wonderful quality of life. For anyone - no matter where they come from - Taijiquan can be a way of cultivating body and mind and it can essentially contribute to improving their quality of life.
Is it still relevant for Taiji routines taught in the West that Taijiquan once was a martial art?
In Taijiquan every movement has a fighting application or meaning. It seems to me that this aspect is sometimes neglected in the West. A good Taiji teacher must be able to explain the meaning of a movement to his students and demonstrate its fighting application. Any student should understand the fighting application and practise it from time to time. It is my experience that especially beginners benefit from that because they can memorize the movements more easily and execute them more precisely.
Do you think people from the West will gain a new understanding for the relation between man and universe by practising Taiji?
The basic philosophy of Taijiquan emphasises the need of man living in harmony with nature and his surroundings. The aim of Taiji practice is to become centered, to avoid extremes, to understand that one is part of nature and to act in accordance with the principle of Yin and Yang that says that all opposites complement each other in harmony. This means one has to strive for living in harmony with oneself and one's surroundings. To do so, however, you first have to find inner peace and Taijiquan can help you in that process.
