The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2407 page)

 
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(Chin., ‘ridge-beam’). The supreme ultimate in Chinese philosophy and religion. It is the source of order and appearance in the
I-Ching
: ‘In the changes, t'ai-chi produces the two energies [
yin-yang
], which produce the four images [
ssu-hsiang
, the four possible combinations of Heaven and Earth, which give rise to the four seasons], from which arise the eight trigrams.’ In
neo-Confucianism
, t'ai-chi combines
li
(structure) and
ch'i
(primordial materiality), in an alternation of rest (yin) and activity (yang): from these arise the five elements (
wu-hsing
) which constitute all existence.

 
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(Chin., ‘power of the Great Ultimate’). An old form of physical and mental discipline in China. It consists of a sequence of stylized, graceful, slowly executed movements. In China it is commonly used as a daily exercise routine, but its roots lie in the great
martial arts
tradition. It has sometimes been called ‘shadow-boxing’ in the West. See also
GYMNASTICS, TAOIST
.

 
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see
SAN-CH'ING
.

 
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(Chin., ‘diagram of the supreme ultimate’). The
yin-yang
diagram, central to
Chou Tun-(y)i's
explanation of how diversity arises from a single and unproduced source; hence
T'ai-chi Tu Shou
, the title of his work explaining the oscillation between activity and rest.

 
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see
CH'I
.

 
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