rom the earliest times, people have performed physical movements to train their bodies. Exactly how these movements became formalized into systems of exercise is anybody's guess. But that a number of systems in China were formalized at a relatively early stage is undisputed. During the process of development, these systems acquired philosophical and medical underpinnings that provide them with a sophistication and complexity that is perhaps unmatched.

From murals discovered in tombs dating from the Han Dynasty (漢朝), there is clear evidence that these systems of exercise had already reached a high degree of sophistication by that time. It is likely that these exercises had already developed into two distinct streams—exercises to develop strength and agility for war and exercises designed to cultivate spiritual calm and longevity.

These two streams had large areas of overlap, with similar movements being adapted for different purposes. This overlap can be seen most clearly in the development of Taichi Boxing (太極拳).

Taichi Boxing, also called variously "Grand Ultimate Boxing" and "Ultimate Limit Boxing", is one of these ancient styles of exercise, which has seen a strong revival in recent years. Just go on the web and you can find hundreds of organizations all over the world dedicated to teaching Taichi, which is seen by many as a means to reduce the stress of modern life, as well as to cultivate physical fitness and mental health. In Taiwan, you can contact the R.O.C. Tai Chi Chuan Association (中華民國太極拳協會), located at Rm. 608, 20 Juluen Str., Taipei (台北市朱崙街20號608室；

But what exactly is Taichi?

Taichi is a Taoist concept that, at its most elementary, expresses the idea of going beyond the mundane world and reaching out to universal forces that are all around us. Observing nature, and training both the mind and body in accordance to the forces of nature, is the way to acquire access to the universe. It is not surprising that Taichi, like other forms of martial arts developed in China, names many of the movements after natural forces and animals. "Tiger crouching", "eagle swooping", "wind in the grass", and other such names are common, reflecting the Taoist preoccupation with placing man back into the flow of nature.

Once tapped into the Tao, the conventional limits cease to apply, and the Taichi master is able to "move a thousand catties by exerting only four taels of force".

This of course has enormous appeal, but Taichi, in both theory and practice, is about far more than throwing your weight around.

Whatever the inspiration of the person who first created Taichi Boxing, it has a long history as a martial exercise preparing men for war. This is still preserved in the Chen style of Taichi (陳式太極), in which many of the movements are quite physically demanding and are removed from the therapeutic aspects of Taichi, which are emphasized today. But now, those wishing to improve their fighting skills are more likely to choose one of the many other martial arts available today, such as taekwando, karate, or even the increasingly popular Wingchun kungfu (詠春功夫) popularized by Bruce Lee.

But these full contact sports appeal to a minority, and the international trend has been toward the softening of martial exercise systems to appeal to a wider audience. Taichi was ideally suited to this, has now virtually removed itself from the realm of the martial arts, and is more likely to be thought of as a dynamic meditation system. In fact, even "hard" martial sports are developing a softer side, as can be seen in the development of taekwando's adoption to aerobics that has become widely popular in South Korea in recent years.

This trend is also reflected in taichi daoyin (太極導引: Breathing and Exercises of the Grand Ultimate). According to Jang Liang-wei (張良維), a teacher of taichi daoyin, this exercise uses even softer movements, emphasizing the philosophical and breath-control aspects of the exercise over the physical movements. Hence the removal of the word "boxing" from its title. This is an exercise for those who don't want anything to do with the martial, no matter how indirectly.

According to Jang, it is more a kind of environmental conservation for modern living. Jang says: "Physiologically life is a dirty process. Whenever we eat, we ingest harmful chemicals. If we don't take appropriate measures, these will build up to dangerous levels." Taichi daoyin is a means of cleansing the body, stimulating the digestive system, and exercising to sweat out the toxins that collect in our bodies.

This is very much in tune with what people today want—a mixture of physical and mental healing. Mr Chou, who runs a Kungfu academy in Taipei, pointed out that all Chinese martial arts draw on Taoist tradition. It does not take in just a philosophical lead from the great classics such as Laotzu (老子) and Chuangtzu (莊子), but also in placing a premium on observation, both of the environment and of our own body.

A form of taichi that has acquired considerable popularity among Westerners in recent years has been the exercise of "pushing hands"(推手). Lee Ang (李安) even made a movie with this title about family relationships. This was singularly appropriate, for "pushing hands" is about creating a relationship with a partner. In a sense it is rather like sparring, but both practitioners are constantly in touch with each other, advancing and retreating. At one level this can be seen as a competition of strength and skill, seeing which participant can unbalance the other. But at a more fundamental level, it is about being sensitive to the vital energies flowing between you and the other person. In effect, the exercise of "pushing hands" is about a relationship between two people. It seems to have been made for the 20th century, when the stress of interpersonal contact can sometimes seem overwhelming.

As people all over the world seek to find some inner place of quiet, to find healing from the ills created by the stress and pollution of the modern world, Taichi is gaining in popularity. There is much to learn, but Mr. Chou said that the first step depends largely on luck—you have to find a good teacher. "Without that," he said, "you will never get beyond physical exercise."

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