Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing), which can be used to self-defense and improve the corporeity and prevent and cure the illness, is a kind of traditional Chinese boxing with gentle and slow actions. It has a long history with various schools and wide popularity.
Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) originated from the late Ming Dynasty of China (about 400 years ago). Chen Wangting, a villager of Chenjiagou village, created a new kind of Chinese boxing based on the integration of the ancestral boxing, the essence of the excellent folk boxing types and the Chinese medicine meridians, so it is called “Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing)”. The theory of Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) evolved from the classical works of the Chinese traditional philosophy, leechcraft, Wushu, such as the Book of Changes, Huang Di Nei Jing and so on, and absorbed the proper contents of the Daoism, Confucianism, Sakyamunism and so on during its long time development, so Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) is called as “the Quintessence of the Chinese Culture”. Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) is a kind of martial art to make people strong and healthy; it is not used to attack people. The actions of the Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) are gentle, slow, coherent and flexible, and it can dredge the main and collateral channels, regulate Qi and blood, nourish the viscera and strengthen muscle and bones. Nowadays, Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) has become one kind of sports especially for old people.
Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) is also popular among the foreign countries. There are Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) activities in Europe, America, Southeast Asian, Japan, and etc. Many countries have established societies such as Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) Association to carry on communication activities with China. As a unique Chinese sport, Taiji Quan (Shadow Boxing) has aroused interest and love of many foreign friends.