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Whatever expressive form the 'Act of moving' had taken, whether it was the ancient ritual, where priests and Shamen danced to honour the spirits, or whether, as in communal dance, it was to express joy because of a fine harvest, each unmistakably contributed to the idea of body movement, rhythmically arranged and styled, according to physiological and emotional principals, can correct body ills and perpetuate the life force of man.
In ancient China, during Emperor Yu's time (2205 BC), stagnant waters, from a devastating flood had infested the land. Suspecting that the contamination had resulted from such stagnation, he ordered that a series of exercises called 'The great dances' be done regularly by all the people. The reasoning was simple and obvious, if inactive waters became diseased, the same could be true of inactive bodies. By doing exercises to stimulate the circulation of the blood, the body would be constantly refreshed, which would make the body impervious to disease.
Emperor Yu doubtless was putting into practice, theories on circulation inherited from his ancestors, who believed that 'The blood current flows continuously in a circle and never stops, it flows like a river'. The heart regulates all the blood of the body in an unceasing circle of movement, which is life. Circulation is the vital current. These concepts are from the year 2600 BC, so these ancient dances dictated by Yu, thus appear to have evolved from inventions of movement for the cure of diseases a thousand years earlier. Though healing with herbs and plants is known to have been practised even prior to 3000 BC, exercise persisted as an essential, necessary part of curative and preventative medicine. The proverb 'Prevention is better than cure', was known in ancient China, and in a practical sense, may have been the inspiration for the many self-help exercise systems, since it was said, 'Medicine was useful only in curing disease'.
It was believed that 'Worry and Anxiety', cause sickness, because they hinder breathing, thus interfering with blood circulation, so to do exercises for the physical body only, was not enough to ensure health. 'If the mind is peaceful, every joint will feel good' and 'Joy quickens the circulation', are evidences of the belief that body and mind inextricably affect each other. Confucius said that 'The virtuous live long', the definition of being virtuous, in this case, included having a peaceful heart, a good body and an active mind and with such a balanced personality, 'One's behaviour could not possibly be improper'.
Body and mind in harmony - The science of Tegatani
A great creator of great work, may be considered to represent the culmination of the spirit of his age. In crediting the phylosopher Chang-San-Feng, of the Sung dynasty (11th century), with being the father of Tai-Chi-Chuan (internal arts), this may indeed be true. Chang-San-Feng, reflected in his work, the intellectual confucian and the spiritual, mystical, Taoist speculations of that time. He changed and expanded the various systems existing in his day, by creating new forms and techniques and integrating structure, with a style which evolved from his deep experiences and phylosophical observances, just like the modern day Professor J. A. Holt did to develop Nei-Chi-Tegatani. The principals that are the very art of Tai-Chi-Chuan, were derived from the theories and practices of the different ancient Chinese phylosophic schools, concerned with the development of man's intrinsic and potential powers. Though intriguing subtleties, as to man's ultimate destiny may have divided one school from another, all seem to agreed upon the fact that it was nessesary to achieve both heart calm (tranquility) and physical health in order to become a stable, harmonious and realised man.
Over the centuries since 2000 BC, phylosophers, physicians, alchemists and athletes, have offered their various theories and techniques on :-
a) How to combat illnesses of the mind and body.
b) How to create the skill to maintain one's health.
c) How to increase one's power and potentialities.
d) After restoring the body to its proper harmony, how to develop the way to understanding the hidden qualities in the nature of man and to make him an instrument of his own will.
Even from the earliest recorded times in China, a distinction was made among various forms and functions of designed body action such as:-
a) Those created for commemorative and ritual purposes.
b) Those that were intended to stimulate and influence the minds and hearts of the audience, like some modern styles.
c) Those used to stimulate and direct the feelings, body and mind of the doer himself.
The last body actions (c), were termed medical or health gymnastic movements, along with arithmetic, music, writing and dance for ceremony, the dance for health was included in the liberal arts, studied by all the warior classes.
Many streams of philosophical thought contributed to the development of 'Body and mind in Harmony', whether it was for immortality, for long life or for a better life, all schools included systematic regimes to neatralise the body by making it so healthy that it would not disturb the minds growth. 'Fatigue your body and exhaust your mind', was a maxim that clearly compressed the idea of body-mind relationship. The early Taoists (5th century BC), withdrawing from active society, stressed the observation of nature and natural phenomena as an essential part of their philosophy, this interest led them among other things, to the study of a man's movements, in relation to the way he functions physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Over the many centuries, their followers evolved patterns, postures, rhythmic movements and breathing exercises, that were intended to develop a clear intellect, ensure good health and cure complaints. Complaints such as indigestion, asthma, sciatica, tuberculosis, heart ailments, eye and skin diseases, to name but a few of the hundreds of illnesses that could be relieved, so it was claimed by specialised postures and exercises done systematically. Remedies for mental and emotional disturbances were given equal considerations. Man's mental, physical and emotional health were always considered together as an entity.
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