The “Language” of Tai Chi Chuan
Master Cui Zhongsan keeps telling me that in order to really understand tai chi I need to understand Chinese Culture. I’ve never really been interested in Chinese Culture yet continue to pick up pieces along the way. I’ve noticed some things about the culture and how they seem to relate to tai chi when visiting China.
While being driven around in Beijing taxi’s I’ve noticed the ebb and flow of “chaos” that is Beijing traffic. Four lanes of roadway transforms to five with little regard for the painted lines marking the roadways. One-way traffic refers specifically to the car you’re in going only one direction, not necessarily the direction the One Way Arrow on the sign is pointing. While drivers here in the US tend to test how man cars can make it through a light as it changes from yellow to red, the Chinese seem to have an unwritten agreement that it’s OK to go through a red light that has just changed, as long as there is no one blocking their way from the cross traffic.
This ebb and flow reminds me of the concept of yin and yang in a profound way. No space is left unfilled as the traffic flows around and through itself with surprisingly few accidents. While I have come across the occasional crabby cab driver, people don’t seem the least bit disturbed by being cut off. The agreement seems to be that if there is room, no matter how small, come on in.
Before my last trip to Beijing I began studying Chinese. It is a remarkably simple language - hey, isn’t tai chi known for being a simple art? But just like tai chi, don’t let the simplicity fool you. The language is contextual and tonal rendering it challenging for those who speak a language that is non-tonally based and has only a hand full of words with more that one meaning. Chinese makes use of 4 tones plus a neutral tone, as well as a large number of somewhat unique sounds. Each specific sound and tone combination can have a number of different meanings.
While in Beijing and being rather impressed with my own, yet paltry, Chinese language skills I hopped in a cab with a one of my training sisters. We were looking forward to spending the afternoon at the “Dirt Market”, Panjiayuan, bargaining for trinkets to pawn off on unsuspecting friends and relatives at home. Well, considering the Beijing dialect is a bit like the American Bostonian accent, with R’s added to the ends of many words, we didn’t make it to the Dirt Market by the most direct route. Panjiayuan is pronounced more like “Panjaiar” in Beijing… I think. After the driver looked at me a bit strangely and asked me to repeat myself several times we ended up at the well-known tourist attraction, the construction site of the Bird’s Nest. While this Olympic Venue is quite impressive it was not yet open to the public, and therefore held limited entertainment value.
While laughing with each other and admiring the street view of this new Beijing landmark, we again tried to communicate our intended shopping destination. After another circuitous route, because of the Olympic construction projects, we finally ended up at the Dirt Market. Interestingly enough the entire cab ride totaled around $5 US. Not bad for an hour’s unintended amusement.
Now that I’m again applying myself to learning Chinese, I’m beginning to see similar concepts in tai chi chaun. While there are only a limited number of forms in tai chi, they can be varied slightly and applied in a number of different ways depending on the context or attack. This is similar to each sound in Chinese having 5 different tones or ways of pronunciation, while one particular tone and sound combination can have a number of different meanings depending on the context. Each meaning has it’s own unique character making reading Chinese a bit easier that speaking it, assuming of course you can recognize the characters. Simple and yet at times, difficult to grasp.
The Chinese are very polite people; tai chi is a “polite” martial art. Tai chi is based in self-defense and is not considered an “offensive” art. Speaking of words with double meanings, I believe that was just a double entendre. ;-) For the Chinese it’s important to “give face” to those you’re interacting with and to allow others to “save face” whenever possible. The Chinese consider it acceptable to tell a “Chinese lie” - what we would call a white lie - in order to allow someone to save face and to save face yourself. The tai chi uniform, or efu, is designed to hide the finer points of the movements from prying eyes, or a hapless opponent. Thus allowing you to save your own face while removing your opponent’s. OK… that’s was a more than a bit of stretch so I think I’ll stop while I’m ahead.
I’m still not entirely sure where this journey is taking me but I am enjoying the ride, kind of like my Beijing taxi experience. It’s all good.
Your thoughts?
John
P.S. I found this Beijing Opera Mask photo here: http://www.craft-in-china.com/-c-38.html
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May 26, 2009 - 09:05:03Hello John, I know all of China learned through documentaries. I have a friend who visited often because she said that love the Chinese culture. Is very interesting you visit a place that combines a philosophy of life that try to follow. I also feel wonderful learning Chinese. It must be difficult, but it depends on who wants to learn.
Cheers!
Sissym’s last blog post..O retorno da estátua
Sissy,
It is nice to visit China and “see” the philosophy in action. However, as their appetite for western culture is satisfied, they’re loosing some of what we now consider valuable. There are still people who are holding on to some of the old ways while incorporating the new, and I hope that keeps the culture from being too westernized.
John
Hi, John!
I understand what you said. Especially because as a visitor you can see and compare yesterday with today. Some cultures have a great cultural wealth as it is a shame and waste if mixed.
See you!
Cheers,
Sissy!
Sissym’s last blog post..O pior inquilo do mundo !
Much of China is still steeped in old tradition, and some of these traditions need to change. Old tradition is crippling, it is limiting and it shuts doors in your mind that would otherwise enrich your life (Speaking from experience). They’re embracing the west as they see there are answers there, but we in the west don’t have all the answers.
It’s fascinating what’s going on culturally in China, they’re going through a cultural upheaval, an industrial revolution and great political change all at the same time, over the course of decades. Great Britain took several hundred years to do what China’s trying to do in such a small space of time.
My guess is that they’ll find something inbetween their traditions and western culture.
tannage the taijiquan dude’s last blog post..Relaxation Part 2 – The Infinite Onion Bit
Taijiquan Dude,
Change is inevitable no matter where we are. I only hope the more valuable aspects of the culture are not lost in the process. No one has all the answers, and there is some real value to be gained from such an old culture.
John