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Recently posted on another Face Book Page The Historically Accurate Taiji Tu ( ) Symbol Paper Lantern Publishing Co. 2001 By John P. Painter and Sophia D...elza Some months ago a student of the internal arts wrote inquiring as to the historical accuracy and correct method of illustrating the Taiji Tu "double fish" diagram. It seems many authors of martial arts books and things Taoist have many variations of the positioning for the black and white sections and curved dividing line. While it is true that the symbol is instantly recognizable in any configuration or orientation, there is according to Taoist scholars a very definite symbolic meaning conveyed when the symbol is presented in its original shape as designed by the originators. I asked a well respected scholar and pioneer Taijiquan teacher, who helped bring the arts of Taijiquan to the USA, my late good friend Sophia Delza if she would respond to our readers question. The following is excerpted from her reply and other sources provided by Ms. Delza. The symbol for the Taiji Tu is a circle divided into curved shapes of equal size, one being yin, the shadowed right part, the other yang, the light part. A touch of yin in yang and of yang in yin is indicated by the small spot or dot of the opposite color in each area, showing the flexible and sympathetic character of each to the other. The line between them have the movement of a wave. The fall and rise of the wave-line is also yin and yang; this flowing is restrained and contained by the evenness of the circumference. All of the movement represents the continuity of the life force, which is movement. Yin as the receptive, feminine and yang as the creative, masculine complement each other. Through opposite, they are not in opposition or antagonistic. Though different they supplement each other. In the continuous movement between them, without beginning and without end. When yang reaches its final moment, then yin is created and starts. The interplay of the two fundamental and vital elements implies " perpetual motion" Together in Taiji Tu, where their relationship so perfect they constitute equilibrium and harmony. The symbol indicates that which is held in balance. A few examples of the opposite (placing yang before yin) as experienced in the exercise of Taijiquan are movement-stillness, motion-rest, tangible-intangible straight, curved, expansion-contraction, inhalation-exhalation, outside-inside, solid-empty (void), light-dark, firm -soft, open- close, right- left, forward-backward, float-settle, and rise-sink. There is nothing without it's opposite; nothing that does not change (move) in order to be permanent (to live)- which in itself is a yin-yang statement. In my long experience with teachers of Taijiquan in the United states I have found few (if any!) who ever noticed the wave-curve, no less saw the way it was drawn. In recent years, some have taken for granted that it was an S curve, like the letter S in our alphabet. Very few have inquired into the history and philosophy of the Taiji Tu symbolism. The current version of the Taiji Tu symbol was designed during the Sung Dynasty with the curve in a form similar to a reverse S. The symbol has so remained in all of classical Chinese literature. When books are translated into English the printer usually makes the mistake of reversing the symbol. (How well I know printer's and publisher's errors, having experienced the horror of having many of my Taijiquan forms printed in reverse or backwards in my own publications books and articles.) In the book Tai-chi Ch'uan its effects and Practical Applications, English edition printed in Shanghai by Y.K. Chen a short section on page five deals with the Taiji diagram. "There are two different Grand Terminus Diagrams in China. One made in black and white circles, that are actually the Yijing symbols for fire and water curved to make a circle with a blank circle in the center. This was designed by Chou Lien-ch'i a notable scholar of the Sung Dynasty (A.D. 1017-1073). The other is the Double Fish Diagram adopted by the common folk. The former is adopted by the Confucians, and the latter by the Taoists. Though they differ in form they are exactly the same in representing the theories of Yin and Yang." The symbol of Chou Lien-ch'i as I said, represents two Gua from the Yijing or book of changes interchanging cosmic forces. These two forms or trigrams are Fire on the left in the Yang position and Water on the right in the yin position. Fire and water create steam the symbolic representation of unseen life force as depicted in the ideograph for the word Qi (). The double fish diagrams upper curve with a reversed S configuration is consistent with the art of Chinese Calligraphy. In the historically correct version the upper curve embraces the yang which is the South; the lower curve embraces the yin which is North- with an English S curve it would be reversed and that would be wrong philosophically. One very interesting note from the science of astrophysics involves the creation of spiral galaxies. Computer simulations used in the study of the formation of spiral galaxies suggest that the formation of these galaxies comes about through the electromagnetic attraction of a charged gas or plasma which creates a magnetic field. This highly charged energy field bends plasma forcing the entire mass to begin a spiral rotation. The electronic simulations bear a startling resemblance to the formation of a double fish Taiji diagram in the classical Yang right yin left configuration. Perhaps the universe knows something about the Tao. This article was assembled from information contained in. Personal letters from Sophia Delza to Dr. John Painter. Additional information was taken from: T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Body and Mind in Harmony Sophia Delza State University of New York Press 1985 Tai-Chi Chuan Its Effects and Practical Applications Yearning K. Chen Sun Wah printing co. Hong Kong Click this link to see how I explain the connection and correct positioning for the Taiji Tu in the Fuxi Bagua circular arrangement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k76FVp0udVs&t=5s

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For that special Internal Arts Maven for the holidays. Limited supply of these items so if you are interested Feel free to share with friends and your Face Book Groups Please Order Early. www.thegompashop.com