CM 839 - Taiji III Practicum

Credit(s): 1.50

Tàijíquán 太極拳 is an exercise used to cultivate the unification of yīn 陰 and yáng 陽 within the self. In this course, students continue to study the concepts and movements of various styles of Tàijíquán, in particular the Yang, Chen and Sun styles. They deepen their practice of zhuāng gōng 樁功, the foundational ”posting” meditation exercise practiced by the Zhēn rén 真人 (often called the ”immortals”) mentioned in the Huangdi Neijing Suwen 黃帝內經素問. Zhuāng gōng 樁功 includes moving, standing, sitting and laying postures that provide a path to experiencing motion within stillness and stillness within motion 靜中有動，動中有靜. Through these practices, students continue to engage with the concept of wúwéi 無為 or ”effortlessness.”

Students also further their practice of Tàijí Nèigōng 太極內功, or the Internal Art and the concepts of jīng-qì-shén 精氣神 (the three treasures) as well as pí-jìn-gù 皮筋骨 (skin, tendons and bone). They continue to cultivate an inner balance of yin and yang, as well as an embodied understanding of the macrocosm-microcosm. The ultimate lifetime goal is to achieve the level of harmony between the mind and body that characterizes the Shàng gōng 上⼯ or superior physician that is espoused in the Neijing. Prerequisite(s): These courses are to be taken in the ordered sequence of CM819, CM829 and CM839.