Understanding Of I-Ching And Tai Chi In Relation To Our Lives
Tai Chi, The Great Ultimate, was found earliest in the Book of Change, or otherwise known as I-Ching. Legend said that this scripture has written by the first emperor of the Zhou Dynasty - Zhou Wen Wang. Thus I-Ching is also known as Zhou-Yi.
I-Ching, or the Book of Change, with its name implies, stated that life is in constant flux of change. The word I (Yi in pinyin) means 'change' in Chinese. It is formed from the characters of the sun and the moon, which represents yang and yin respectively.
It has a verse stating, "Changes has the Great Ultimate, which give rise to the Two Elements. The Two Elements give rise to the Four Phenomena, and the Four Phenomena give rise to the Eight Hexagrams..."
Let's begin with the word Tai Chi ? the Great Ultimate. It actually means the earliest, the beginning... of all events and things. In some case, it refers to the Universe by ancient Chinese.
In one of the scripture, it stated that "One yin and one yang is the Way..." This means that the all changes of events and things in the universe come from this opposing, yet united forces of yin and yang.
This is why in from Tai Chi, there arises in the Two Elements - yin and yang. Take a look at the Tai Chi diagram, which is better known as the 2-Fishes diagram in Chinese. It is a circle divided into 2 sections in proportion. The circle is representing Tai Chi, or the Universe Whole, and within this wholeness, there's the Two Elements.
The division of the yin and yang in Tai Chi means that there are 2 opposing elements, represented by the black section and white section respectively. Yet, the division is not a straight division, but a curved division ? meaning that the 2 opposing elements actually accommodate each other in order to form the complete circle.
Firstly, this means that while it is divided as opposing elements ? it is united in a way to form the complete wholeness. The opposing yet united forces of yin and yang became the basis of the thinking in I-Ching. And Tai Chi uses the concepts in the I-Ching, the yin and yang elements as the core concepts to explain the both physical and meta-physical aspects of the world.
Secondly, the curved division gives a sense of balance. Here, we are talking about balancing the yin and yang elements here. There's this statement in I-Ching: "When the yin goes to the extreme, the yang is born. And when the yang goes to the extreme, the yin is born".
Look at the 2-fishes diagram again. If you go in counter-clock wise along the diameter of the Tai Chi circle, you will find that as one element grows more and more and reach its peak, the other elements will begin to grow in replacement. For example, if you move along the diameter on the black side, you will see that the 'half' represented by the black will become bigger and bigger and then suddenly shrink and the white 'half' will begin to grow instead. This means that if one element goes to the extreme, the other will begin to set in.
What does this mean to us then?
Simple: we have to balance our life in every aspect, and do not just focus only on one or a few. We have to balance between work and personal life, between family and friends, between material and spiritual, and the list goes on. Otherwise, there will be disharmony in our lives.
Thirdly, the movement growing or shrinking of the yin and yang elements within the Tai Chi diagram suggests that life changes constantly to and from between good and bad, joy and sorrow, happiness and sadness, high and low and between any two extreme qualities. This is the dualistic principles in I-Ching.
In any events or things, there are two qualities within. There's no such thing as complete good or perfectly bad things. It is the degree of good, or bad that matters.
Take for example, can we say that a person is good because there's no bad quality in him, or a person is bad because he or she have never done any 'good' at all??? A good person may at times been guilty of small bad deeds, and a bad person may at times have some good in him or her. Isn't it?
A good thing may have some negative side in it. And vice versa, a bad thing may have some positive side in it. It depends on how we perceive the issue. That's the dualistic principles in I-Ching.
This goes to the next concepts. In the diagram, within each element, there's a dot in it. The black section has a white dot, while the white section has a black dot. What does this means? We move now to the next statement: The Two Elements give rise to the Four Phenomena. This means, in the yin element, there will be yang element and vice versa, in the yang element, there will be yin element.
What does it means to us?
In any events or things, there will be some good in the bad, and some bad in the good. Just like there's some yin in the yang, and some yang in the yin. For example, when a person wins a race, others will lose the race. There's bad news within the good news, there's sorrow amongst joy, there's losing among winning and so on.
In life, there will be mixtures of good and bad, joy and sorrow, happiness and sadness, winning and losing, high and low, and it all come in a 'package'!
Therefore, we should learn to be more give and take - and accept the nature of life as it is. Enjoy the good things, and accept the bad one bravely and gracefully. This will then help us to achieve a more balance and harmonious life.
Tai Chi's concepts of yin and yang became influential to the ancient Chinese, and found its way into the philosophy, theories, medicine, art of war, religion, arts and the way of maintaining life. It has found its way into Daoism, which in some ways, people claimed that Tai Chi is under the idea of Daoism, which is not quite true. It should be the other way round.
Whatever it is, understanding the principles of I-Ching does help us to understand the nature of life itself to better balance and manage our ups and downs to face our daily chores and challenges. And I wish all of you success and harmony in your life. May the Energy of Tai Chi be with you!
Written by:
C. Guan Soo
http://www.TaichiForYourHealth.com
*************
** Note ***************
You may distribute or publish this article freely provide you do not make any changes or alteration on the article content, or remove my name and website from the article. Thank you!
C. Guan Soo
A Tai Chi Practitioner and love who practice meditation, martial arts, energy healing and Tai Chi Chuan since the age of 10. He has also strong interest in the eastern philosophies like I-Ching and Buddhism. He combined his understanding of I-Ching into Tai Chi Chuan practices to further enhance the effectiveness of the art.
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:51:51 GMT Aurilia, Vizquel help Giants rally for win - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Andrew Baggarly It would be difficult to claim that the Giants improved their playoff hopes when they rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. Aurilia gets key hit, makes pitch for old guys Giants rally in eighth to edge Nats Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:43:04 GMT Obama to demand more from Europe in Berlin speech - Reuters
Reuters - By Caren Bohan and Noah Barkin BERLIN (Reuters) - US presidential candidate Barack Obama is expected to call on Europe to do more in hotspots like Afghanistan when he speaks in Berlin on Thursday in his only formal address of a week-long foreign tour. Berliners welcome Obama as they did JFK Obama Starts European Trip With Stop in Germany Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:25:11 GMT Sudan's president boogies on last Darfur pit stop - AFP
AFP - EL GENEINA, Sudan (AFP) - A dancing Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir paraded as a man of peace on Thursday during a heavily protected tour of Darfur defying accusations that he masterminded genocide in the region. Sudan counters charges with diplomacy Al-Bashir in Sudan peace pledge Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:15:43 GMT Day After, WNBA Untangles Brawl - New York Times
New York Times - By MIKE OGLE Some of the WNBA’s biggest stars commanded national attention Tuesday night and into Wednesday - but not in a way their teams or the league wanted. Don't count on fights becoming WNBA trend WNBA may have a fighting chance Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:06:48 GMT Finding Bale's dark side - Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times - BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist 'The Dark Knight'' star Christian Bale's alleged ''assault'' in London against his mother and sister is part of a long-simmering family feud. Batman star stays silent in Spain Christian Bale's lady sidekick: Sibi Bale Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:08:50 GMT US cancer boss in mobiles warning - BBC News
BBC News - The director of a leading US cancer research institute has sent a memo to thousands of staff warning of possible higher risks from mobile phone use. Cell phones: The next cigarettes? Group sees possible link to brain cancer Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:35:11 GMT Hunt begins for Karadzic helpers - BBC News
BBC News - Officials investigating captured Bosnian Serb ex-leader Radovan Karadzic say they will track down and punish those who aided his false identity. Video: Karadzic plans to defend himself in The Hague Kenya: Karadzic's Fate a Lesson Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:47:45 GMT Increased Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... From time to time, we wonder about the mystery that... Read More "[I often get] the feeling that the very concept of... Read More I'll admit that I used to be jealous of my... Read More Illuminati in Kentucky:My fevered imagination includes the probability that Andrew... Read More Due to the indoctrination of World Religions and their control... Read More Saying goodbye is easy for the traveler. I am a... Read More Alumpeth temple is an ancient kalari temple of Sri Bhadrakali... Read More ALFRED LEE LOOMIS:Privilege sometimes leads to productivity and creativity through... Read More Tai Chi, The Great Ultimate, was found earliest in the... Read More . Human being Knowledge & social scienceHuman beings are the... Read More Animus Mundi:The World Mind or Critical Mass of intellectual and... Read More To start this chapter we have a response from the... Read More Throughout my life, I have always known that it is... Read More Recently I discussed what sets humans apart from other animals... Read More Rudyard Kipling on Masonry: "the closest thing to a religion... Read More As a young lad, I took on my first scientific... Read More One of the greatest and everlasting debates of humanity has... Read More Money is time, a commodity which can be used to... Read More RICHARD FEYNMAN: - I had the great pleasure of watching... Read More The artist's of tribes of the Great Plains left their... Read More One of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World is... Read More Nature is often called "red in tooth and claw", this... Read More The CON in CONstructs:There are many esoteric wisdom schools and... Read More Sometimes we all sit and think. Sometimes we doodle with... Read More This morning, I awoke somewhat down. As little seems to... Read More
Adsense
websites
My Insight into Numerology
The Knowledge Filter
Why Im Glad Im Not a Minority Writer
Illuminati in Kentucky
Reducing Human Population Growth
Its Not Your Fault!
Alumpeth Devi Temple of Kerala in India
Privilege - Alfred Lee Loomis and Hecateus
Understanding Of I-Ching And Tai Chi In Relation To Our Lives
Knowledge and Study of Social Science
Animus Mundi and Intelligent Design
Goths
In Answer To: Words Of Encouragement
Viewing from Anothers Perspective Sets Humans Apart?
Conspiracy Theorist
The Galileo Conspiracy: 5 Questions Your Science Professors Hope You Never Ask
What Is Destiny? Is There Some Thing Called Free Will?
Tempus Fugit and the Dollar Doesnt
Infinity - Feynman
Dorothy Dunn and Primitive Art
The Cosmic Eggs
Nature of Visual Representation
Belief is Closure
An Amazing, Hazy Look Into The Future
Angel Inspired E-mails
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
The Early Life of Jesus
INTRODUCTION:Yeshua bar Joseph or Yeshua ben Joseph has become known... Read More
Dorothy Dunn and Primitive Art
The artist's of tribes of the Great Plains left their... Read More
Stranded Notions: Time And Philosophy Of The Individual
As I look back now, a long time seems to... Read More
The Esoteric Mandate (Rothschilds too)
The monopoly called usury given to a specific group of... Read More
Some Ponderable Questions
I am nothing if not inquisitive. Ask any person who... Read More
Archetypes
DEPTH PSYCHOLOGY (ARCHETYPES): - "All material bodies are condensations of... Read More
Nature Worship
NATURE WORSHIP: - Wicca and witchcraft or other shamanic attunements... Read More
Why Im Glad Im Not a Minority Writer
I'll admit that I used to be jealous of my... Read More
Critical Thinking To Go: Dodging The Pepperoni Pizza Fallacy
Today we commonly hear in the news journalistic items about... Read More
German Philosophers
German Culture: German PhilosophersGerman and German speaking philosophers have made... Read More
Fire Walkers
DERVISH: - Whirling and ecstatically altering their conscious and soul... Read More
I Wouldnt Change A Thing
CHAPTER ONE: From Riches to Rags:When I look back upon... Read More
Evolution and Exorcisms
EVOLUTION: More surprising to me as I consider where my... Read More
Infinity - Feynman
RICHARD FEYNMAN: - I had the great pleasure of watching... Read More
Crop Circles and Critical Mass
CROP CIRCLES:The Learning Channel (August 7, 2003) just had a... Read More
Conspiracy Theorist
Rudyard Kipling on Masonry: "the closest thing to a religion... Read More
Simple Words
The words, the thoughts, the processes go on and on.As... Read More
Quotes to Think About
INSPIRATIONAL COMMENTS:"There is a principle which is a bar against... Read More
Illuminati in Kentucky
Illuminati in Kentucky:My fevered imagination includes the probability that Andrew... Read More
Nature of Visual Representation
Nature is often called "red in tooth and claw", this... Read More
Angel Inspired E-mails
This morning, I awoke somewhat down. As little seems to... Read More
Common Psi-sense
Up until the start of the 20th Century there was... Read More
Viewing from Anothers Perspective Sets Humans Apart?
Recently I discussed what sets humans apart from other animals... Read More
Alumpeth Devi Temple of Kerala in India
Alumpeth temple is an ancient kalari temple of Sri Bhadrakali... Read More
The Knowledge Filter
"[I often get] the feeling that the very concept of... Read More
Philosophy |