In daily practice activities, we often encounter some people who cannot distinguish the difference between Tai Chi and Qigong, and mix the two together, which does not achieve good fitness effects, and even causes physical discomfort or deviation. For this reason, it is necessary to clarify the respective functions and characteristics of Tai Chi and Qigong so that people who learn them can correctly master and use Tai Chi and Qigong.
Tai Chi is a sport for the purpose of fighting, and Qigong is a fitness skill to stimulate human potential. The former is traditional martial arts, and the latter is traditional medical fitness and internal cultivation. Each has its own system theory.
Qigong is divided into two categories based on the body shape: static exercises (standing, sitting, lying limbs still) and dynamic exercises (coordinated with limb movements). In operation, it is inseparable from the three adjustments: adjusting the body (adjustment of the body), adjusting the breath (adjustment of breathing), and adjusting the mind (adjustment of thoughts). It is indispensable to make the human body and mind achieve self-adjustment and balance, thereby stimulating the potential of the human body, achieving the purpose of fitness, disease treatment, and longevity, and advanced special functions will appear “distributing qi, internal and external vision, remote viewing, prediction, and many other magical functions”.
Tai Chi is a sport with a strong sense of combat. It consists of many contents such as frame, single exercise, push hands, sparring, free fighting, weapons, etc. Tai Chi’s exploration of the practicality of throwing, hitting and grabbing, and the breakthrough of high-level combat techniques, reasonably serving the human mind and breathing in combat techniques, has far-reaching significance in leading and strengthening combat techniques. It is a great leap in the history of the development of Chinese martial arts.
Wu Yuxiang, the founder of Wu style Tai Chi, said in Tai Chi boxing manual: Although the body moves, the mind is precious and quiet; the qi must be restrained and should be quiet. The heart is the order, the qi is the flag, the spirit is the commander, and the body is the body. Only by paying attention can you get it. First in the heart, then in the body. Those who are in the body do not know that the hands are dancing and the feet are dancing. It is the so-called “one breath”, “sacrifice oneself and follow others”, “introduce and fall into the air”, and “four ounces to pull a thousand pounds”. Huang Baijia said in the book “Internal Martial Arts” that Tai Chi “is mainly used to defend against the enemy”. As the saying goes: “Taiji can bring peace to the world, and Baji can bring order to the world.” (Baji is a fierce boxing technique in the north) This shows that Taijiquan is known throughout the world as a martial art.
Taijiquan uses thoughts and breathing to coordinate boxing movements. The fundamental purpose is to achieve combat effects. At the same time, it overcomes the harm of boxing. Taijiquan also objectively has the function of curing diseases and prolonging life. Taijiquan is a perfect boxing technique that can improve internal fitness and external combat.
Chinese martial arts have their own unique theories, regulations and norms. Like dance and gymnastics, they generally have their own rich content, and Taijiquan is even more so in terms of rules. Therefore, it cannot be considered that Taijiquan has a fitness aspect, which is Qigong. Practitioners must be clear about this. Even dance and gymnastics have fitness effects. They also emphasize: “relaxation of the body”, “breathing requirements” and “use of thoughts”. If dance and gymnastics are considered to be Qigong, it would be too contrary to common sense.
As for some Qigongs that have the word “Tai Chi” in their names or that have been compiled into the Tai Chi system, or that have movements that are similar to those in Tai Chi and have the same names, these do not mean that Tai Chi is Qigong. Rather, they use the fitness aspects of Tai Chi to serve the actual health needs of the human body.
In actual practice, Tai Chi is very different from Qigong.
(1) In the dynamic Qigong movements, different exercises have different body movements to achieve the Qigong effect. Generally, there are no special requirements or rules for the movement, except that it is forbidden to move too much. In addition to following the standard procedures, Tai Chi also requires careful practice of being loose, steady, slow, even, with a clear distinction between the real and the fake, and the feet and hands are in sync; it is strictly forbidden to bend forward or backward, rise and fall, or twist the upper body, and to point to a target in the opening and closing.
(2) Tai Chi loosens each joint and penetrates each joint to achieve the internal strength of the fake and the real under the feet, and the muscles and tendons of the whole body are in a continuous cycle between looseness and tension. In Qigong, relaxation is practiced throughout the whole process, and no tightness is allowed at any time or place.
(3) Qigong requires “three adjustments” to enter the Qigong state and stimulate potential. Tai Chi’s movements are coordinated with the mind, breathing, relaxation, and comfort. It involves lifting the anus and hanging the belly, relaxing the waist and lowering the hips, not pushing or losing, leading in and falling into the air, and using a little force to pull a thousand pounds. This is practiced for martial arts and fitness.
(4) Qigong enters the “unity of man and nature” Qigong state in selflessness, until the highest state of “emptiness”, while Tai Chi always concentrates on the boxing, trying to figure out the overall boxing movement and the use of the power path.
(5) Qigong can stimulate advanced special abilities, while Tai Chi leads to martial arts and fitness.
(6) Tai Chi strictly follows the boxing rules, and is entertaining and playful. Qigong is practiced with “three adjustments” in a relaxed and serious manner, without worry or joy.
(7) Qigong practitioners gain Qi quickly and can feel the tendons and meridians being unblocked. Tai Chi requires a longer time and requires gradual mastery of the opening and closing movements before one can feel the Qi sinking into the Dantian. Each has its own characteristics in treating different diseases and keeping fit. For example, severe hypertension, heart disease, and bedridden patients are only suitable for Qigong rest. Neurological dysfunction is best treated with Tai Chi.
(8) People who are well-trained in Qigong eat less (only one to two taels per meal or no food) and sleep less (only about four hours a day or less), and can reach the high Qigong realm of “avoiding hunger” and “retreat”, stimulate potential and benefit the whole family, be of moderate weight, be sincere and kind, do not fight with the world, and be generous. People who are well-trained in Tai Chi have a normal appetite and a good appetite, sleep normally and sweetly, and have internal strength everywhere in their bodies. They have a unique understanding of various martial arts such as frame, single exercise, pair training, pushing hands, free fighting, throwing, hitting, grabbing, and weapons. They benefit themselves, have a healthy body, are of moderate weight, have sharp ears and eyes, and a cheerful personality.
It is undoubtedly good to practice Tai Chi boxing alone. Those who practice for a long time will have red palms, and their qi and blood meridians will be unblocked. It has different degrees of curative effect on many diseases. Therefore, it is a one-sided view and incorrect to regard Tai Chi boxing as Qigong. Because the practice of Tai Chi boxing and single exercises are only the basic skills of boxing, a large amount of boxing content has not been touched, and the functions and uses of Tai Chi boxing cannot be fully displayed.
Quoting Mr. Chen Weiming’s book “Tai Chi Boxing Answers” sixty years ago, “I asked if Tai Chi boxing can replace meditation? The answer is of course it can’t. It is difficult to get rid of distracting thoughts when sitting in meditation, but Tai Chi boxing can be spiritually focused without distracting thoughts.” Among the many Tai Chi boxing manuals, boxing books and oral teachings of senior boxers, the closest statement about Tai Chi boxing and Qigong is this paragraph. The author believes that this paragraph shows that Tai Chi boxing is both a fighting skill and a fitness exercise, but it cannot be said that Tai Chi boxing and Qigong are equivalent.