If you are new or well versed in the art of Tai Chi, you may well have seen references to other spellings. If you belong to any forum online, this discussion degenerates quickly into a series of insults and emojis. Particularly when someone insists:
“We should stop calling it Tai Chi. It’s Taijiquan.”
But this isn’t really about spelling. It’s about what we think we’re practising. And in the current debate about Tai Chi walking - we do need to be careful about the names we choose and the names we use.
Is Taijiquan the “correct” name?
Correct and incorrect don't really apply. I know that may be difficult for the more pedantic practitioners out there, but lets not forget that Taijiquan is simply a more modern Mandarin name.
“Taijiquan” comes from Pinyin—the official system used in China today. So yes, it’s standardised. But let’s not pretend it’s the only “real” name.
There’s also a bit of politics and branding in play. If you standardise the name, you can promote—and to some extent control—the identity of the art. This is much harder to do that with “Tai Chi,” elusive term which has already wandered all over the world.
Other names you’ll come across
The art didn’t arrive neatly packaged and delivered to your door. It travelled through different regions and languages, which is why we have:
- Tai Chi Chuan (older Western spelling)
- Taijiquan (modern Mandarin)
- Taai Gik Kyun (Cantonese)
And all, yes all of them, point—more or less—at the same thing.
What does “Tai Chi / Taijiquan” actually mean?
This is where things get more interesting.
- Taiji (Tai Chi) does not mean “energy” but rather a principle: change, balance, interaction
- Quan (Chuan / Kyun) means fist, boxing, martial method
So whatever name you use: it has a martial component. Now, it varies widely as to what people define as a martial application. Demonstrating a shin-high toe kick to a dog (without contact) can be defined a "martial application". So too can jumping in the ring with a mouth guard and gloves for a full-contact fight. But thats for another article.
But Taiji/Tai Chi is not just martial either
The art reflects a way of thinking rooted in the philosophy of Taoism:
- doing less, but doing it better
- adapting instead of forcing
- structure without stiffness
Not vague “energy balancing” and not simple mechanics either. Something far more subtle than both. And it is this aspect, that is too often missing. Even though schools print t-shirts with a yin yang symbol , or quote Laotze on their Facebook page, this in itself does not constitute teaching the philosophy. And without the philosophy, a punch will always be just a punch.
So which name should we use?
Consider your audience. Pick what is appropriate for them. Tai Chi is great for reaching a wider audience. Even we confined ourselves to just Taijiquan in all our publicity, many would be teaching to empty rooms.
- Tai Chi: accessible, familiar, gets people started. Great for keywording and SEO (even amongst die-hard pedantic Taijiquan worshippers.
- Taijiquan: accurate, structured, closer to the original meaning
- Taai Gik Kyun: reminds us the art didn’t just come through Mandarin China and can still be a living art without the blessing and approval of Beijing.
What actually matters in practice
Names are useful—but they’re not the art. What matters is whether all the elements are on offer - even if not taken up. And that includes the art of philosophy as well as the art of the intercepting fist.
Final thought
History has played games with the naming. There's no trying to reverse that or ignore it. But we can use it and adapt it and learn from it, so others will benefit and we can celebrate its many variant manifestations as styles, schools, uniforms and even spellings.
Call it Tai Chi.
Call it Tai Chi Chuan
Call it Taiji
Call it Taijiquan.
Call it Taai Gik Kyun if you like.
Just don’t let the name become the art. It's not what you call it, it’s what you’re actually doing when you move.
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