Taijiquan (Taaigikkyun): Ji: the ultimate The key to the term's meaning is the derivation of the central character Ji (Gik,) shown at right. It's contemporary dictionary translation is 'ultimate' or 'extremity.' Initially it meant a ridgepole -- the horizontal timber that spans the peak of a roof, dividing a house into two sides. The early Chinese extrapolated it from its modest domestic meaning into a cosmic symbol, now dividing the universe into Yin and Yang. As Yin and Yang have strong associations with darkness and light, the metaphor takes on the poetic flavour of the constant play of sun and shadow as the sun moves across the celestial sphere. Taiji took on a specialized meaning in Chinese philosophy, particularly in Taoism and Neo-Confucianism, referring to the phenomenology of the universe in a continual state of flux. The addition of Quan, 'fist,' to the term represents the adaptation of this philosophy to martial arts. The etymology of Taijiquan highlights the continual modulation of Yin and Yang in the dynamics of its form, and the importance of sensitivity and response to changing conditions. The standard translation as 'supreme ultimate boxing' is both tautological and unhelpful. A translation closer to the root meaning might be something like: 'the martial art of dynamic change.'

 

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Taijiquan (Taaigikkyun): Ji: the ultimate The key to the term's meaning is the derivation of the central character Ji (Gik,) shown at right. It's contemporary dictionary translation is 'ultimate' or 'extremity.' Ini . . . View Full Definition