To be human is to exist at the intersection of heaven and earth—at least according to the Yi Jing, which is the foundational book of Chinese thought. Human beings are a product of the strength, energy, and vitality of heaven and the flexibility, firmness, and nurturing of earth. Life is having these qualities in proportion and knowing how to use them at the appropriate time and in the correct way.
The qualities of strength and flexibility are the fundamental characters of T’ai Chi as well, which is the gist of the saying that in T’ai Chi the body is an iron rod wrapped in silk. From a practical perspective, the idea of the iron rod wrapped in silk refers to how the core of the body is engaged and strong while the limbs are relaxed and flexible. This focus upon strength and flexibility is why T’ai Chi is excellent for improving proprioception, which is how the body adjusts itself in space to maintain balance and to move with grace and power.
Being in space extends beyond the body, though, and from a T’ai Chi perspective includes the mind and heart as well: how we respond to the world, emotionally, and psychologically as human beings. After all, T’ai Chi is about the health of the body, mind and spirit, and authentic training includes not only how we move physically in the world, but also our attitude and conduct. The interplay of the body, mind, and spirit are vital to the twin poles of wisdom and compassion — the head (or heaven) and the heart (or earth).
Traditional Chinese medicine refers to the brain and the heart as our two minds: Yi (brain) is the intentional, intellectual mind , and Xin (heart) is the emotional mind. We train these two minds to harmonize wisdom and compassion, and to have empathy while maintaining appropriate boundaries that help to navigate the space of the social world and others.
What many people overlook about T’ai Chi is that it is so much more than a great form of physical exercise. It is a way of actively engaging in the balance of heaven and earth, and everything that is under heaven and upon the Earth. The iron rod covered in silk principle is the reminder of how we should approach ourselves and the world. It is also a reminder of the sacredness of being human. Authentic T’ai Chi helps us to recognize the gift of life, and its practice strives for the sacred balance of heaven and earth.
T’ai Chi is a valuable tool to be integrated with heaven and earth and to honor the sacredness of our humanity.