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Taoist Philosophy and Tai Chi Chuan
Tai Chi is based largely on Taoist (pronounced "dowist") philosophy, though it has much in common with Zen disciplines.
Wu Chi is the grand ultimate space where nothing exists yet the potential for everything is contained. Out of this arises Tai Chi, the journey from stillness to movement - the extremes of yin and yang - and back to stillness. The whole of this cosmic scheme of things is the Tao. 
The Tai Chi symbol shows the eternal motion and interplay of yin and yang around the central point of stillness. Each contains a little of its opposite (the “eyes” of the fishes) and as each reaches its extreme, its opposite arises again. The circle enclosing all of this represents the Tao.
A Tai Chi form also begins with Stillness (Wu Chi), moves to the extremes of yin and yang in a flowing tide of continuous motion and comes back to stillness. An internal stillness is retained throughout the movements of the form. Meditation resting in the state of Wu Chi can bring peace of mind, serenity and greater wisdom
Although most of the time in class will be spent learning forms and martial applications, some of the time may be spent in still meditation. This is because:
1. Tai Chi is based on the philosophy of Yin and Yang (opposites), therefore movement is balanced with stillness.
2. Still meditation is a very powerful way to calm the mind and manage stress.
3. Still meditation, when practiced correctly, increases the peripheral awareness, which is very useful for a martial artist as it makes it less likely that someone can creep up and attack you from behind. 4. Still meditation allows a mental "stepping back" into the observing self. From this wider perspective, one is better equipped to deal with difficult situations, master one's own mind and become aware that the apparent differences which separate people are quite superficial. Tai Chi Philosophy and Daily Life
Tai Chi teaches us the importance of balance and harmony in all things. We gain a sense of equanimity, a kind of detachment from the ups and downs of life and an ability to remain on an even keel. The interplay of yin and yang tells us that everything has its opposite, so however bad things get, the good times will come again, and when things go well, we don’t become complacent but appreciate what we have.
We begin to see unity in diversity – that everything in creation operates according to the same basic principles and is essentially the same. We can see that all people and all living creatures are of equal value and we are all part of an integrated whole, like threads in a tapestry. This leads to greater tolerance and respect for each other and for the planet as a whole.
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