by charles on Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:47 pm
The "Tai Chi Chih" or Tai Chi ruler is an old practice that has, so the story goes, been passed down through two paths, one Daoist monks, the other the Emperor/royalty. Despite the name, it is not a traditional part of Taijiquan practice.
In more recent years, Feng Zhiqiang has formalized a set of exercises that include ruler exercises he learned from Hu Yaozhen with the bang exercises he learned from Chen Fake. That set is called "Special Taoist Stick and Ruler Qigong". The bang exercises are very good, particularly if practiced not as qigong. I find some of the ruler exercises are very good and are qigong/neigong if practiced correctly, rather than just waving one's arms around while shifting weight back and forth, as they are usually seen and taught. As they are often taught and practiced, there is little distinction between the two types of exercises, which leads to confusion and suggests to many that the bang and chih are the same thing. If practiced as qigong, I think they have a lot to offer particularly older practitioners.
As for what the organization "Tai Chi Chih" is doing, can't tell you much.
Last edited by
charles on Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.