Vol 16, Issue 2/2004
Aesthetic appearance and inner strength
Thoughts on the external form of Taijiquan.
By Shen Xijing
Yin and Yang, internal and external, should form a harmonious unity. Prompted by his
impression that many people, especially in the West, pay too little attention to a correct execution of the external form, Shen Xijing advocates a stronger emphasis on precise
bodywork. As five main points he cites the conscious use of the gaze, the hand movements, the movement of the legs, the torso and the applications in self-defence, i. e. an
understanding of the purpose of the movements. The precise coordination of the body opens the way for a free flow of energy at the internal level and thus also for effects on health; this is expressed in a simultaneously stable and flexible structure and in an
aesthetic appearance.
