Where does the term chi come from in tai chi?

Answer 1

The word "chi" in tai chi chuan, can be roughly translated as "ultimate, terminus" or "nexus." The entire phrase, tai chi chuan, can be translated as "Grand Ultimate Fist." Tai chi refers to the Daoist principles which form the philosophical foundation of tai chi chuan.

A practitioner of tai chi begins their practice by standing in a ready position with arms at their side. This position is called "wuji," representing a void or nothingness wherein nothing is thought of, no movement occurs. At the very moment that the intention of movement is expressed, it is said one goes from wuji to tai chi. At this point, tai chi represents the balance of yin and yang, the polar opposites found throughout all of nature in general, and in the tai chi movements in particular. From the two opposites of tai chi spring "the four" - greater yang and lesser yang, greater yin and lesser yin." The four divide once again to become the eight trigrams which, combined with the tai chi diagram, form the xiantian bagua. The bagua is combined with the Chinese five elements or phases, to create thirteen distinct patterns of movement, often called the "thirteen postures of tai chi chuan." These thirteen postures predate the oldest "form based" training methodology (Chen style) and were practiced in an ad hoc manner. Trained this way, the art was referred to as "long quan." The eight trigrams of the bagua are further divided to create the sixty four trigrams of the I-Ching, the Chinese book of changes, otherwise known as the "bible" of Daoism.

The "chi" in tai chi should not be confused with the "chi" which roughly translates as "life energy." While pronounced identically, these are two distinctly difference Chinese characters, meaning two entirely different things.