Tai Chi Chuan and the Code of Life (eBook)

Graham Horwood is a practising Jungian analyst with over 30 years of training in martial arts and Chinese healing systems. He is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Taoist Group and has taught Tai Chi, Chi Kung and the Health Arts since 1976. Horwood's principle Tai Chi teacher, Master Chu King Hung, is considered by many to be the world's leading authority on Family Yang Style Tai Chi.

Introduction. Jung, Wilhelm, and the I Ching. The I Ching and Life in Harmony. Feng Shui and the Balance of Nature. Science, DNA, and Tai Chi. The Role of Change in the University Life Force. The Dark and Light Sides of Tai Chi Chuan. Chapter One: The Philosophy of Taoism from a Western Perspective. Chinese Thought and History. Alchemy and Opposition. The Number and Name of Creation. Tending the Waters of the Unconscious. Chapter Two: The History of Tai Chi Chuan. The Four Styles of Tai Chi Chuan. An Ancient Way of War. The Tai Chi Hermit. The Spiral Dance of Chen Wang Ting. Tai Chi Goes Underground. Yang the Shadow Boxer. The Yang Family Style. What the History of Tai Chi Tells Us. Chapter Three: The Eight Pa Qua Trigrams. Chinese Archetype: Chien–Heaven. Chinese Archetype: Kun–The Receptive. Chinese Archetype: Kan–The Abysmal. Chinese Archetype: Li–The Clinging. Chinese Archetype: Tui–The Joyous. Chinese Archetype: Chen–The Arousing. Chinese Archetype: Ken–Keeping Still. Chinese Archetype: Sun–The Gentle. Conclusion of the Pa Qua and Their Relationship. Chapter Four: The Five Elements–Wu Hsing. The Relationship with the Tai Chi Form, Movement, and Internal Organ Balance. The Psychology of the Wu Hsing. The Four Elements in Greek Thought. From Paracelsus to Quantum Physics. Applications in Tai Chi. Fire Element. Earth Element. Metal Element. Water Element. Wood Element. Conclusion. Chapter Five: The Science of the Inner Breath–Chi Kung. Sexuality, Reproduction, and the Maintenance of Healthy Chi. Forms of Chi Kung. Chi Kung 1–Reverse Breathing. Chi Kung 2–Microcosmic Orbit. Chi Kung 3–Macrocosmic Breathing. Chi Kung 4–Ball Breathing. Chi Kung 5–Condensing Breath. Chi Kung 6–Heaven and Earth Breathing. Chi Kung 7–Meridian Breathing. Chi Kung 8–Five Element Internal Organ Breathing. Chi Kung 9–Eight Trigram Breathing. Chi Kung 10–Variations for Healing. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.