“… from your nothingness, you then begin to explore …”
I am by no means an expert in tai chi, or any martial art for that matter, but one stance that always intrigued me was the Wu Chi (or Wuji). It’s a very basic posture, and it is by no means strenuous to perform. You stand with your feet shoulder width apart, weight evenly distributed while trying to extend through the length of your spine. You keep your arms at your side, imagining you have eggs in your armpits so there’s a slight gap. It’s mostly used for standing meditation, or an introductory motion into a Tai Chi Chuan sequence.
The literal translation means nothing or empty for Wu, and Chi representing ends or limits. Together, Wu Chi refers to the infinite void of nothingness. It’s believed that before the big bang, before the universe and the Yin and Yang were created, there was just universal emptiness. It is from here that everything was created; substance, matter, nature, humanity, and everything we know today.
When you stand in the introductory motion of Wu Chi, you are to become that void. Empty mind, completely relaxed body with conscious breaths. You are part of the universe, so you are attempting to create the feeling of being in the Wu Chi. Then, it is from Wu Chi that yin and yang is born, and from yin and yang Tai Chi was created. So, from your nothingness, you then begin to explore and turn your consciousness to the various yins and yangs that compose your body, and your movement. As you begin to find motion in your stillness, you then begin practicing tai chi.
