Cultivating the Ch'i. - book reviews

Most people are attracted to T'ai Chi Ch'uan because of the grace and fluidity of the exercise form. These external movements, however, represent only a small part of what is occuring inside the body when practicing, This first volume of five deals with a specific method of increasing the chi, or vital energy of the body.

The first half of the book is devoted to translation of the T'ai Chi Ch'i-Kung text. In the second half the author demonstrates the exercise routine using multiple-exposure still photographs to indicate each gesture.

Cultivating the Ch'i helps provide the intellectual foundation necessary for chi development. It fills a gaping void in English translations of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan bases itself exclusively on gentleness, softness, naturalness and bringing you back to your original nature. Daily training makes the muscles and bones become softer and more pliable, and it especially causes the breath to become natural. These are the results of disciplining and refining the ching, ch'i and shen to the end of your days. How then can you consider dispensing with your kung or wish to suffer bitterly?

In T'ai Chi Ch'uan there are the fundamental principles of "opening and closing," "stillness and emptiness," "inhaling and exhaling," and "advancing and withdrawing." These are the training methods for circulating the ch'i throughout the entire body. From these the body will become quite sensitive and alert, as will the muscles and tendons. The sense of touch will also become increasingly more acute. Thus, the spirit will be made active and alert.

The original books acted as a teacher to the beginner, but everyone should also have a teacher. It is impossible to acquire the teachings solely through books. This would be like food caught in the throat which must be vomited up. You need a teacher to give detailed accounts of both the method and practical use.

COPYRIGHT 1994 Point Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group