The terms “tai chi ch’uan” and “taijiquan” are equivalent and each is pronounced the same: tie gee chwenn.  The source of the difference (older Wades-Giles method of transliteration of the Chinese language character 極 to the romanized “chi” versus the modern pinyin method that yields “ji”) is not important.  However, the difference can lead to confusion about two important concepts:

 

1)  Many Asian philosophies are concerned with the concept of vital life energy/life force, which is the best English translation of “prana” (Sanskrit), “ki” (Japanese), and “gi” (Korean).  The Hawaiian “mana” has a similar meaning.  In Chinese, the analogous term is “qi” 氣, which is pronounced “chi”.  Thus, while qi energy is VERY important to practice of tai chi ch’uan, the word “chi” (極) in the term "tai chi" has no relation to the vital energy “qi” (氣).

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2)  Understanding the “chi” (極) of tai chi is very important.  Tai chi ch’uan, or tiajiquan, is usually translated as “grand ultimate fist”, with ch'uan, meaning "fist" (also “boxing” or simply “power”), indicating the distinction between tai chi as a philosophy and tai chi ch’uan as a physical exercise.  However, it is the concept of “ultimate” that takes us to the core of the Taoist understanding of reality and its impact on modern tai chi ch’uan.  Taoists explain that before the universe was created, there was nothing, i.e. there was no differentiation of anything.  The idea of yin and yang as defining polarities between opposites has no meaning when there are no starting points.  This state of undifferentiated nothingness is termed “wuji” (無極): without polarity, without ultimate.

 

We begin all tai chi forms in the Wuji posture, motionless and with weight distributed equally between our left and right legs. As soon we begin to move, shifting our weight and energy between the empty and the full, navigating the strong and weak, yin and yang are differentiated.  At this moment, we leave the state of wuji and enter into the state of tai chi. The differentiation is maintained in motion, weighting, and…intention…until we end tai chi and return to wuji.