Chi Original
Shamanic Origins of Tai Chi
"Only the multi-disciplined warrior, the techno-shaman, can scale the walls of ignorance and shed light on darkness. The warrior spirit must guide this process. "
The board of Guerrero, Alexander, Groll, Morris
Under the moonlight, in a village somewhere in the Golden Triangle, the Ka-ren Shaman moved slowly and methodically. We showed that the movement had taught his shaman, who had been sent by the tribe for generations. Shaman moved like a master of Tai Chi.
The Golden Triangle is a crude, geographic area that straddles the borders of three countries: Myanmar, west, Laos to the east, and Thailand in the south. This area receives its maiden export of its excretion or the most profitable poppy – opium. The field of small mountains and valleys narrow brown forest is ideal for guerrilla tactics. In the landscape beyond this incomprehensible act as a barrier against invasion by Burmese, Cambodian and Chinese empires, idigeonous for hill tribes in the region to maintain their autonomy. More recently, the removal of the triangle continues to keep most of civilization at bay. The two Buddhist missionaries and Christians failed to convert but a small number of people out of their ancient animist beliefs. The shaman or medicine man still plays an important role in the lives of single persons. In 1987, he visited with the Ka-ren in one of the most remote areas Triangle. There I had the chance to spend a night with a Shaman and witness his Spirit Dance. It is where the link between this tradition and Chinese martial arts seemed to melt.
Tai Chi has often been described and writing on a form of meditation a meditation in motion. The purpose of meditation is to change consciousness in order to achieve various objectives of relaxation and healing, to extend the life of one and many believe, the development of supernatural abilities. The image that most often comes to mind when we consider meditation is the Yogi, Buddhism and Taoism, sitting cross-legged in a temple. The main ingredients are silent, calm and loneliness. Contrast of the image with one that runs continuously, and sometimes moves Tai Chi explosives, and seems to be the antithesis of the conditions necessary meditation. Where then, this unique concept, linking the physical movement with an altered state of consciousness arise?
The five elements and their associated heraldic animals represent ancient knowledge of how heavenly forces could be manipulated to affect earthly destinies. The central ritual of Taoist magic consists in the ability calling the general spirit these forces and indicates that the heraldic animals are really the essence of supernatural powers.
The Chinese PauKua Ong Hean-Tatt,
In martial arts the most ancient traditions of China, Burma, Philippines and Malaysia, there are defense systems that are based on motion control cons of real or mythical animals. The better known styles originated in China and include tiger, leopard, lion, Crane, Eagle, Phoenix, Snake, Dragon, White Monkey, monkey, mantis, and just to name a few. Most of the movements of these styles are more complex and more vigorous than its liabilities cousin Tai Chi, and therefore still beyond the traditional requirements of silence and immobility. However, in the grand ballet styles of animals that the connection is closer to the ancient origin moving meditation. This connection can be seen in the oral traditions.
Each style has its own folklore regarding its origins. Often, they are like parables that teach moral lessons and philosophy, and the origins of the style. But there is also a model for many of the stories. The following story is Typical of these and contains the classic elements of the history of this point to an origin much older
In the 15th century, China, Wang Lang was a young hoodlum who had studied martial arts from an early age. The strut and intimidate the local population with displays Kung Fu, but men of older people are not impressed. "Bah!" In your opinion, who are you? "They whisper:" His skills are nothing compared with even a beginner Shaolin. "Biting such criticism, Wang pledged to find the Shaolin Temple, and defeat his master. After a difficult journey, Wang came to the temple and challenged the monks to a duel. Initially, the monks have ignored, but day after day, Wang was released his challenge and, finally, the monks agreed. Hoping to duel with the master, Wang was disgusted to find themselves before the young monk. Same was his most humiliating defeat early in the hands of novices. Wang frowned nearby mountains where he trained for months. After restored his confidence, Wang returned to Shaolin and defeated the novice monk who had beaten him before. However, his next opponent was a senior monk flying effortlessly.
Wang, withdrew again into the mountains to contemplate his failure. Then one day while sitting in meditation, Wang was distracted by noise from nearby bushes. Investigate the origin of the shock, he found prayer a struggle between a praying mantis and a cicada. As I watched, Wang was fascinated by the martial qualities of the mantle. He grabbed the mantis and kept in a cage built of sticks. He used a straw to push and attack by insects to study their combat strategy. Wang joined strategies of the praying mantis in his martial arts and returned to the temple. He beat everyone monks sent against him. Abbott Finally, ordered a stay of war concede victory to Father Wang was curious about his unique style of fighting and asked Wang how he arrived. Wang told the story of his encounter with the Mantis. After also learned humility, insects, Wang Lang became a monk of Shaolin and Praying Mantis style became famous throughout China.
As a parable, this story illustrates three of the most important strategies of war, deception, speed and surprise. Then there are the moral lessons: persevere in the face of failure, learn humility, and the benefits of learning to be in harmony with nature.
But from the standpoint of cultural anthropology that folktales May contain an ancient memory an older tradition, that of "Vision Quest". Common with shamanism, vision quest is a ritual whereby a young warrior first undergoes a training period, after which begins in the desert. It must be the difficulties of isolation during fasting and meditation before vision. The vision usually takes the form of an animal that reveals certain secrets. This animal is the warrior of the family or the guardian spirit and share their skills with the warrior. For example, if the animal was a visionary, the fox, the warrior would have on the qualities of cunning, an eagle up that the hearing is granted, a bear – the force, and so on. Compare elements of the vision quest in the history of Wang Lang: constitution and the initial defeat, leaving the desert to contemplate his failure, the encounter with the Mantis, which reveals the secrets of strategy and tactics, and finally, the triumphant return of Wang possessed by the powers of the Mantis, and a renewed humility.
The conditions that cause these (as amended) states include these common experiences such as isolation, fatigue, hunger, and rhythmic noise and is therefore likely to be rediscovered by different generations and cultures. Since these states may be pleasant, helpful and healing, is likely to be actively sought and methods of inducing remembered and transmitted from generation to generation.
The Spirit of Shamanism, Roger Walsh
Popular stories surrounding the origin of other styles of martial arts also follow the same plot. A Tibetan monk named Ordator walked alone in the mountains where he met with a fight between a crane and an ape. Thinking that the crane thin and fragile than succumb before the muscle and strength than the monkey, he was surprised when the crane defeated monkeys. He studied the movements of the crane and found that avoidance, distraction and attack the weaknesses of the enemy was the strategy of a smaller person can use to overcome a larger opponent. The crane of grace and the hope of turning movements became the basis of White Crane style, and famous throughout China.
The folklore surrounding the origins of Tai Chi also reflect the same pattern. The legendary founder of Tai Chi is said to have been a hermit in the mountains name of Chang San Feng, who lived during the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). He wanders through the mountains and learned breathing techniques Taoist secret that made him almost immortal (legend has it that live well beyond 200) also notes the fight against the Temple Other wandering monks of Shaolin.
One day while living on Wu Tang mountain, heard a hawk Chang [1] cries and went to see what was happening. What he found was an attack hawk and a snake fight. Although the hawk was stronger, faster and had greater arms shaped beak and claws, the snake was a success Hawk attacks in the foreground. Soft, circular movements of the snake escaped the attacks Hawk. Chang realized by adopting soft aspects of performance Defense of the snake, the soft could neutralize the heavy defeat of the weak strong, and overcome the slow to fast, and thus was born the Tai Chi.
These folk tales, share a common theme with the plot of Vision Quest. Each includes a challenge or test followed by isolation and poverty, then a revelation as a vision of a wild animal that acts as a catalyst for transformation of body and mind, finally, everyone assumes rather attributes of the mythical beast.
In the fifth century BC did not describe the ritual and the inspector "of the region" was dressed in a bearskin and accompanied by twelve other attendants each dressed as another animal, the bear came out "Dance" which was intended to ward off evil spirits.
Bird Deities in China, Waterbury, F.
According to his book, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Eliade recounts a shaman performing a ritual dance sometimes known as The name Spirit. Well known among American Indians, accounts of this practice dates back 4,000 years in Chinese records. During the Ghost Dance, the shaman moves in imitation his animal spirit to call upon their skills. They say that the animal spirit actually takes possession of the shaman and the body absorbs Shaman superhuman strength. It is the principle is also reflected in the martial arts. The stage movements of Tai Chi are called a spiritual energy – Chi. As the infusion of shamans his animal spirit, Chi also gives superhuman strength. Could it be that the realization of a form stylized movements of Tai Chi is based on the ancient practice of dancing Shaman ghost?
The Ka-ren languages belong to Thailand, whose origins lie in the south-west China, Yunnan, possibly or Szechwan. In the twelfth century, the Mongols led to entire populations in southern China. Social disruption this caused contributed to end fabulous empires of Pagan and Angkor. The Thai tribes that were moved south, first settled in the mountainous desert region bordering these two empires, but when the Mongol incursions and civil wars, finally destroyed the kingdom, the Thai government has dropped the hills and sets his own kingdom on the ruins. But not all the tribes descended from the hills. While his cousins went to found the Kingdom of Thailand, others have opted to stay in the highlands of living changed little over time. Could the practice of the Ka-ren Shaman be a time capsule of a Chinese archaic art martial, as it existed a thousand years ago? The affirmative, this means that the connection between martial arts and shamanism was closer and far more than we believe?
Although there are many similarities between the origins of systems of martial arts and traditional shamanic demand vision does not mean that the practice of Tai Chi is a form of spirit possession. What do you do? suggestion is that some of the oldest traditions of China may be the origin, inspiration, or template from which more sophisticated disciplines such as Tai Chi evolved.
So the next time to go out and practice their slithering snake, and Crane Abre Alas, in the light of the moon, know that not only continuing a millennium old and martial arts tradition, but probably a tradition that goes back through the mists of prehistory at the dawn of mankind itself.
[1] Some variations of the credit account of a crane as an opponent of the serpent.
About the Author
Stefan Verstappen is a writer and martial arts practitioner who has lived and traveled throughout the Far East. He is a frequent contributor for Black Belt, and Inside Kung Fu Magazine and author of , The Thirty-Six Strategies of Ancient China, Blind Zen, Little Warriors and Chinese Business Etiquette.
Author’s website: www.chinastrategies.com
You can e-mail Stefan with questions and comments to sverstappen@yahoo.com
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