Synopses & Reviews
and#8226; Reveals the close relationship between the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi and the hexagrams of the I Ching.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; As handed down in the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Explains the physical and spiritual benefits that result from the practice of the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; An essential reference book for any serious student of T'ai Chi and the I Ching. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;T'ai Chi is a physical expression of Taoist thought--a philosophy in motion. The relationship between the I Ching, Taoist philosophy, and T'ai Chi is well established in many of the classical texts and teachings handed down by the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng, yet it has essentially remained a mystery in the West. Stuart Alve Olson, a longtime student of renowned T'ai Chi Ch'uan Master T. T. Liang, shows how the hexagrams of the I Ching relate to the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi, and how together they comprise the orderly sequence of the postures in the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. The practice of this form initiates a process of internal alchemy that allows for the stimulation and accumulation of chi through the major energy systems of the body. Physically, this process restores youthful flexibility. Spiritually, it frees the mind to roam the sublime Tao.and#160; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Because the Before Heaven sequence of postures is the foundation of all T'ai Chi forms, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience. An essential reference book for any serious student of Taoism, andlt;iandgt;T'ai Chi According to the I Chingandlt;/iandgt; is an invaluable guide to how even the most esoteric aspects of Chinese philosophy are firmly rooted in a physical practice.
Synopsis
• Reveals the close relationship between the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi and the hexagrams of the I Ching.
• As handed down in the teachings of the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng.
• Explains the physical and spiritual benefits that result from the practice of the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form.
• An essential reference book for any serious student of T'ai Chi and the I Ching.
T'ai Chi is a physical expression of Taoist thought--a philosophy in motion. The relationship between the I Ching, Taoist philosophy, and T'ai Chi is well established in many of the classical texts and teachings handed down by the Yellow Emperor and Chang San-Feng, yet it has essentially remained a mystery in the West. Stuart Alve Olson, a longtime student of renowned T'ai Chi Ch'uan Master T. T. Liang, shows how the hexagrams of the I Ching relate to the eight basic postures of T'ai Chi, and how together they comprise the orderly sequence of the postures in the Before Heaven T'ai Chi form. The practice of this form initiates a process of internal alchemy that allows for the stimulation and accumulation of chi through the major energy systems of the body. Physically, this process restores youthful flexibility. Spiritually, it frees the mind to roam the sublime Tao.
Because the Before Heaven sequence of postures is the foundation of all T'ai Chi forms, this book provides valuable advice for all practitioners, regardless of the style they practice or the depth of their experience. An essential reference book for any serious student of Taoism, T'ai Chi According to the I Ching is an invaluable guide to how even the most esoteric aspects of Chinese philosophy are firmly rooted in a physical practice.
About the Author
Stuart Alve Olson is a longtime student of renowned Tandrsquo;ai Chi Chandrsquo;uan Master T. T. Liang. He has also studied under numerous Buddhist and Taoist masters, including Chandrsquo;an Master Hsuan Hua, Kung fu and healing Master Oei Khong-hwei, and Dharma Master Cheng Yi. He is the author of andlt;Iandgt;Qigong Teachings of a Taoist Immortalandlt;/Iandgt;, andlt;Iandgt;Tandrsquo;ai Chi for Kidsandlt;/Iandgt;, and andlt;Iandgt;Tao of No Stressandlt;/Iandgt;. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Table of Contents
andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Preface andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgments andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Introduction andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Part I: The Undercurrents of I Ching T'ai Chiandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;1.andlt;/Bandgt; T'ai Chi andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;2.andlt;/Bandgt; The Eight Diagrams and the I Ching andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;3.andlt;/Bandgt; Huang Ti: Teachings Attributed to the Yellow Emperor andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;4. andlt;/Bandgt;Lao Tzu and the andlt;Iandgt;Tao Te Ching:andlt;/Iandgt; The Classic on the Way and Virtue andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;5.andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt; T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ching:andlt;/Iandgt; The Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;6.andlt;/Bandgt; Historical Origins of T'ai Chi: Chang San-feng and Chen Wang-ting andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Part II: The Framework of I Ching T'ai Chiandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;7.andlt;/Bandgt; The Tai Chi Symbol andlt;Iandgt;(T'ai Chi T'u)andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Treatise on the Symbolism of the Supreme Ultimate andlt;BRandgt;The Tandrsquo;ai Chi Circleandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;8.andlt;/Bandgt; Fu His's Before Heaven Arrangement of King Wen andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Treatise on the Eight Diagramsandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;9.andlt;/Bandgt; The After Heaven Arrangement of King Wen andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;10. andlt;/Bandgt;The Philosophy of Before and After Heaven andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Treatise on the Secrets of the Eight Posturesandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;11.andlt;/Bandgt; The Eight Gates Diagram andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Relating the Eight Gates to Tandrsquo;ai Chiandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;12.andlt;/Bandgt; Developments of andlt;Iandgt;Wu Chiandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;13.andlt;/Bandgt; The Five Activities andlt;Iandgt;(Wu Hsing)andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Meaning of the Wu Hsing andlt;BRandgt;Treatise on the Verses of the Five Methodsandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;14.andlt;/Bandgt; The Three Powers andlt;Iandgt;(San Tsai)andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;15.andlt;/Bandgt; The 16-Posture I Ching T'ai Chi Form Arrangement andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Ten Tandrsquo;ai Chi Stances andlt;BRandgt;The Eight Hands andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Before Heaven 16-Posture Form Arrangement Charts (circular, square, and linear)andlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;The Before Heaven 16-Posture I Ching Tandrsquo;ai Chi Form andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Overview of the Posture Instructional Informationandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Wu Chi Positionandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;1 Beginning Tandrsquo;ai Chi andlt;BRandgt;2 Warding-Off (L andamp; R) andlt;BRandgt;3 Rolling-Back andlt;BRandgt;4 Pressing andlt;BRandgt;5 Pushing andlt;BRandgt;6 Single Whip andlt;BRandgt;7 Lifting Hands andlt;BRandgt;8 Shouldering andlt;BRandgt;9 White Crane Spreads Wings andlt;BRandgt;10 Brush Knee and Twist Step andlt;BRandgt;11 Playing the Lute andlt;BRandgt;12 Chop with Fist andlt;BRandgt;13 Deflect, Parry, and Punch andlt;BRandgt;14 Follow to Seal, Carry to Close andlt;BRandgt;15 Crossing Hands andlt;BRandgt;16 Conclusion of Tandrsquo;ai Chi andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Wu Chi Positionandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Before Heaven Form Posture Movements Summaryandlt;/Iandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;PART IV The After Heaven Formandlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;16. andlt;/Bandgt;Arranging the Images of the Sixty-Four Postures andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The After Heaven 64-Posture I Ching Tandrsquo;ai Chi Formandlt;/Iandgt;