Taiji Quan & Dragon Gate practice
 
What is the relationship between Dragon Gate—a Taoist sect and Taiji Quan?
 
Imagine Taiji Quan a fruit in a pear tree.The branch that holds the fruit of Taiji is the Dragon Gate Taoist Sect.
 
Why and what use does the knowledge of the Dragon Gate Taoist sect help me in my Taiji practice?
 
Many Taiji practitioners only have a vague idea that Taiji is somehow related to Taoism. But most Taiji students and even some     teachers  are not clear in what  context does Taiji exist in this milieu.  Rather, after an initial search of most books written on the origin of Taiji Quan, I am sadden to note that most authors    attribute either the founder of Taiji Quan as the Taoist Cheng San Feng (1400 A.D.) or a retired military general Chan of the Chan village (1800).
 
In the case of Taoist Cheng San Feng, his own teacher is the Dragon Gate master, Fo-Leung, (Fire Dragon).  Clearly, then Taiji in this lineage derives from   the Dragon Gate school.  Whereas, the Chan Village elder developed the Taiji Quan from an old Ming General's military training manual.
 
Within the Dragon Gate immortal cultivation, Taiji Quan is relegated as the initial foundation building for meditation.  Thus, a Taiji player who wants to master    beyond the Taiji form should also cultivate a meditation practice in order to come to see the fundamental essence.
 
Personally, having realigned Taiji Quan in the Dragon Gate context helps me to expunge many hidden treasures from the Taiji form.  The most obvious one of    the three chapters in classical Taiji form correlates to the Three Realms: Earth, Humans and Heaven.  Within the Dragon Gate cultivation, one gathers and     circulates three distinct energy of the Three Realm during the Taiji form.  Thus, a master will move very differently in the Earth chapter than the Heaven  chapter.  From the I Ching, Earth energy is square and expansive while the Heaven energy is fluid, circular and never ceasing.
 
By manifesting the unique signature qualities of the Three Realms, the Taiji master then can advance to a further stage of harmonizing the energy of the Three  Realm.  In the Taiji form, the Jade Maiden Weaving the Shuttle points to this possibility that humans can balance the energy between heaven and earth.  This is  Alchemical Magic.
 
I urge serious students to study the teaching and history of the Dragon Gate Sect of the Complete Reality Taoist School. The Dragon Gate of  the Complete Reality School focuses on energetic healing and mastery.  I feel a great responsibility and privilege to carry on this lineage and tradition.  Hopefully, such wonderful flame of ancient wisdom will be transmitted through the next generation.  Otherwise, Taiji Quan will fall into the mind numbing trap of either being a Martial Art or fitness program.  To move toward Taoist Alchemy, this is a new sprite in the flowering of Taiji.
 
It is wonderful that Taiji has penetrated to all level of society and being accepted as readily as Chinese food.  From this vast acceptance, Taiji must invigorate   itself by realigning itself to its true heritage.  Otherwise, it will stagnate and degenerate into numbing commercialism.  Walk across this single log bridge of Taiji,  and you will arrive to the ancient Taoist sanctuary.
 
 
 
 
  ( Caution: The above statements are not meant as any form of medical advice. They merely serve as informative and educational purposes. If you have a medical problems please consult a qualified medical physician.)

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