Even in today’s age of readily available information, the question continues to plague the practice tai chi chuan. In short, the answer is, “No. The practice of tai chi chuan (taijiquan) is not a religion, never was a religion and does not originate from a religion. It originated as a mindful martial arts practice in old China. The facts to support this are searchable via historical evidence. Anyone who claims otherwise should educate himself/herself on the facts before making erroneous statements that tai chi is some kind of religious activity.
The confusion stems from tai chi chuan’s roots in Taoist philosophy. This ancient Chinese philosophy is unlike any other popular philosophy in the West (i.e., existentialism, structuralism, solipsism, etc.), so that Taoism’s strange concepts and symbols can easily confuse the less-worldly observer. Remember too, that in its purest definition, our current scientific method is built on little more than a modern application of philosophy! The problem with a person ill-versed in Sinology is that he or she will come across religions and religious practices that are built on the foundation of Taoist philosophy. Since Taoism was the ancient Chinese people’s way of understanding and explaining the reality they observed around them, of course their religious practices would utilize this philosophy as their basis. But Taoism has many branches – some are religious and blatantly pagan or shamanic in their employment of Taoist philosophy. There are a multitude of branches of Taoism that are philosophical without any religious undertones. And some branches of Taoist philosophy are somewhere in the middle of these two divisions. This widely variable and flexible characteristic of Taoist philosophy has existed through the millennia and seems to be disconcerting to a person who assumes that any religion or philosophy must have narrowly defined rules and practices. But, sorry, this is not the case with Taoism!
Another recent problem plaguing traditional tai chi’s reputation is the formation of eastern groups that appear cult-like and employ modern versions of qigong and tai chi chuan. In China, Falun Gong and in Korea, Dahn Yoga, are examples of modern groups that practice something recently created that they claim is based on traditional practices. I will not comment either way on these group’s activities or incidences, as that is not my place. But I seriously advise you to check the history of any such group and when their traditional arts were actually first created or advertised. If you feel uncomfortable, then leave. Please do not make the mistake that too many make: that if a group or its practices sound “eastern” it automatically means that they all must be practicing pure, old, traditional arts. This is a mistake made far too often.
An individual foreign to Chinese culture and born into a longstanding religion is usually advised by a Taoist priest or philosopher to keep his family’s religion and still feel free to explore concepts of Taoist philosophy and perhaps even integrate that with his current religious views. This is because numerous sects of Taoism recognize and accept that people of the world each have their special way of recognizing the “greater” parts of their reality in different ways and under different names. To the Taoist, this is to be accepted and respected. As such, is it customary nowadays to see a public altar in a Taoist temple bearing the symbols of many faiths that visitors are encouraged to place there. These altars will allow a Christian crucifix, Star of David, copy of the Koran and statues of Buddhas, orishas, etc., all to share the same space. This points to the global acceptance and respect that many branches of Taoism ultimately promote – whether from a philosophical point of view or a religious one.
For tai chi teachers who are concerned about teaching tai chi with its Taoist philosophical roots intact, I share my personal experience with this. In my school, I have found that people enjoy a classical and Taoist approach of tai chi chuan. Invite students to bring in their personal religions and to feel free to reject anything that makes them uncomfortable even if their classmates accept it. There is no pressure, just mutual respect. If students are Christian conservatives, I encourage them to see God as the creator of Tao and our understanding of it, and to connect with the polarities of the universe that can balance us – Taoism’s yin and yang – as something that their Creator made and governs. Prayer is welcomed to replace any meditation or qigong that they may not desire to do. For a Buddhist student, I encourage him to use what he learns about tai chi to augment his study of the sutras or meditative cultivation in order to help surrender the “ego self” to the Tao – or universal Mind. Anyone can feel free to sit out from tasks or talks that they feel may interfere with their belief system, or to alter and interpret them in a way that they find ethical. It doesn’t matter. Everyone is welcome to conceptualize and converse in class using the terms from their religion (or non-religion) and culture, in the context of how we can develop ourselves in tai chi chuan.
For prospective students who are concerned about their religious faiths, I recommend that they immediately bring up the topic with the tai chi school they intend to attend. If they feel uncomfortable, they should move on to a different teacher or school – because “people are people;” therefore, teachers vary widely in their viewpoints, training, credentials and acceptance of others. Students should never assume one teacher or school is representative of all.
For a conservative religious adherent who will scoff that tai chi enthusiasts are relying on things “external to God” to heal our bodies or affect our energies, I advise looking at it like this: We are appreciating and using the gifts that God provided to us without our bodies and within His creation. Why ignore these great gifts within us if you can cultivate them and use them in ways that are positive? If you consider this, you can see that the flexible and open-minded character of Taoist philosophy can make the practice of tai chi possibly be the best mental and physical activity for even the most conservative of religious adherents.
The one thing that is unacceptable is for religious leaders to shirk the responsibility of checking the facts for themselves and then making blanket statements about practices from philosophies and cultures that they do not understand or are prejudiced against. All this does is cause continued misinformation and xenophobia – certainly not the cornerstone of anything spiritual.
Feel free to keep your religion and enjoy the benefits of tai chi chuan.
