19/06/2026
Tai Chi is not merely a movement system – it is a philosophy
Some thoughts on Tai Chi Chuan
This article is a written summary of a lecture delivered at the Congress of the Hungarian Society of Acupuncture Physicians on 6 September 2025.
Tai Chi is not simply a movement system (although in practice it can be understood as such when put in quotation marks), but rather a philosophy.
When we look at the Yin-Yang symbol, it refers to the natural state of balance within a polar world. It expresses how these opposing qualities change and continuously find balance.
This is a Taoist concept, and from it, a movement art was developed, which we call Tai Chi Chuan.
The name of the system we most often recognize as slow movement practice is Tai Chi Chuan. “Chuan” means fist, and the full term therefore refers to a martial art created based on this principle of polarity and transformation.
“The soft overcomes the hard.”
Its foundation is thinking in terms of Yin and Yang duality, and within this system we primarily work with three qualities of their relationship. The movements and the ideas behind them reflect the universe in a microcosmic way.
Yin and Yang always appear together, which is why we can observe them both in our movement practice and in our everyday functioning.
At the same time, Yin and Yang also oppose each other, which is another key principle of this system. Perhaps most importantly, Yin transforms into Yang, and Yang transforms into Yin – meaning these states are interchangeable.
From this understanding, a martial art was born called Tai Chi Chuan, which is essentially based on the idea that softness can overcome hardness.
In everyday life, we are not used to the idea of how relaxation can overcome rigidity.
Tai Chi Chuan – or simply Tai Chi – as a system allows us to experience this directly.
The first renaissance of Tai Chi
The name Tai Chi Chuan likely became established in the late 19th and early 20th century. During the period of the Republic of China, somewhat similar to the Bartók–Kodály era in Hungary, there was an effort to collect and preserve traditional movement arts such as Qi Gong and Tai Chi. This marked a major renaissance of these practices.
People rediscovered martial arts.
The underlying idea behind this collection was the importance of health preservation, disease prevention, and also the cultivation of mental states. During this time, a martial art emerged that was highly innovative for its ability to overcome resistance and force without apparent effort, and without causing harm to the opponent.
Tai Chi became increasingly popular and began to flourish in the 1920s and 1930s. Its origins can be traced roughly back to the mid-19th century, though historical interpretations vary.
When political changes occurred in China, these systems were initially not supported, and for several decades many masters left or fled the country. Some were relocated, and the development of these arts stagnated for a period.
Later, toward the end of the Cultural Revolution, these movement arts resurfaced again, partly influenced by Bruce Lee films, which helped martial arts gain global recognition.
The second renaissance of Tai Chi
In China, attitudes toward martial arts and movement systems changed again, and Tai Chi experienced a renewed renaissance – its second major revival.
This was partly because its original martial necessity diminished. At the same time, during its evolution, Tai Chi absorbed many new elements, and much has since been discovered about its benefits.
Tai Chi now exists as a form of community experience, sport, health preservation, and disease prevention. It is also widely used in clinical contexts.
It took a different path and, due to simplification, became more accessible and therefore highly popular. As a result, an estimated 100–150 million people practice it today.
Most people know it from films or parks, where groups move slowly together – this is Tai Chi.
Soft fist, cotton fist, long fist
The core symbol of Tai Chi is Yin and Yang. It includes both slow and fast, soft and strong movements, but its most widely known benefits come from slow practice, which is why this form spread globally.
Earlier names for Tai Chi included “soft fist” and “cotton fist,” referring to its softness and flexibility, as well as “long fist,” referring to the length of movement sequences.
In Tai Chi practice, we often refer to choreography or forms that can last 15, 20, 30, or even 40 minutes of continuous movement.
Tai Chi – mystery and everyday life
Eckhart Tolle once described this well:
“Millions practice this calming movement meditation in streets and public squares every day. It has a significant effect on the collective energy field, and through its mind-calming and presence-generating effects, it also weakens the pain-body.”
Spiritual practices involving the physical body, such as Tai Chi and Qi Gong, are increasingly embraced in the Western world.
These practices do not separate body and soul, and help weaken the pain-body.
They are expected to play an important role in global awakening.
Tolle accurately captures the impact of Tai Chi that goes far beyond health or disease prevention.
It creates a form of integration that we may not consciously focus on while practicing – we simply work on posture, alignment, and movement – yet we inevitably connect with manifest energy.
We become active participants in the flow between earth and sky energies, engaging creatively with them.
This energetic, holistic way of thinking remains highly relevant today.
Awareness, energy, and transformation
This approach requires increasing sensitivity and awareness through practice, whether learning Qi Gong or Tai Chi.
Any awareness that begins in the physical body gradually extends into everyday life and into our environment.
Tai Chi has many well-documented benefits, so they will not be listed here in detail.
One key aspect is that it interprets Qi differently from traditional Chinese medicine. Tai Chi does not claim to directly manipulate energy, but it trains and activates it through movement, which has a strong effect on longevity.
Today, many practitioners begin Tai Chi later in life, often after the age of 50 or 60.
Tai Chi – longevity and joy
In China in the 1980s, a woman retired at the age of 60. She attended her first Tai Chi class in a park with a famous master. By the age of 70, she had reached master level, and between 70 and 80 she traveled the world teaching Tai Chi as a living example of its transformative power.
We once invited an 83-year-old master from China to teach a sword seminar. Despite our own training, we were left breathless trying to follow him at that age.
A real-life story from practice
In one of my recent group classes, an instructor had been observing an elderly woman for months. She struggled with coordination, often stood in the back rows, and clearly found the choreography difficult.
The instructor even considered telling her to stop and perhaps try yoga or Qi Gong instead.
Before he could say anything, the woman arrived at class and said: “Last night I woke up, and I was simply happy.”
She smiled, and at that moment, any advice to stop attending became irrelevant.
Tai Chi and Qi Gong offer such deep personality integration that they can generate a profound sense of happiness.
This is why what started with 50 practitioners 150 years ago has grown into 150 million people today.
The original text can be found below.
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