This was my 3rd trip to China, previously I had visited the usual cultural sites in and around Beijing. I had also travelled further afield by night train to Xian to see the terracotta warriors, to Zheng Zhou (Henan Province) visiting Shaolin Temple, Buddhist monastery famous for its association with Shaolin kung fu and Chen village, home of Chen style tai chi and where Yang Lu Chan founder of Yang style tai chi is said to have trained. But it was Wudang and the tai chi practiced there that captivated me, I felt that I had experienced something fundamental and profound – I had returned to the source of it all.
On this occasion I returned to continue training with Chen Li sheng a 15th generation Master of Wudang Quan. He has studied Wudang martial arts and Daoist health cultivation for a long time, his teaching is of the highest level and he is highly regarded both in China and Europe.
The Wudang Mountains are a small mountain range in the northwestern part of Hubei Province, south of the city of Shiyan. It is the Peak ‘Wudang shan’ that is the most famous, during the Ming dynasty (1388 – 1644) Daoism flourished, many temples and monasteries, including the Golden Hall, Nanyan Temple and Purple Cloud Temple were constructed. Around this time the legendary Daoist sage, Chang San-feng retreated to Wudang shan where he formed his exercises into Tai Chi after watching a snake and bird fighting.
The Ming dynasty was a period of great social and political achievement, scientific progress and intellectual thinking. Chinese Daoism with its roots in shamanism moved towards more esoteric internal practices and the development of internal Kung fu. The monasteries became academic centres for the teaching and practice of meditation, martial arts and traditional Chinese Medicine. Evidence of the presence of Daoism in these mountains goes back approximately 2000years, the Five Dragon Temple complex dates back to the 7th Century and is currently undergoing restoration. I was able to visit this special place, although officially it is not open to the public yet! It is said that of all the temples on the mountain, this has the best Feng Shui. Some monasteries were damaged during the Cultural Revolution but since the opening up of China the area has become an extremely popular centre for tourism. Because of its scenary, historical and cultural significance Wudang became a World Heritage Site in 1994.
So what is it about Wudang that makes me want to return year after year and climb the ‘20,000 steps’ to the top. Despite the increasing commercialisation this place is one of the most spiritual that I have ever visited. Life on the mountain is easy to regard with cynicism, it is so alien to our own ways and customs but it made me stop and think – re-evaluate my own life – where was I going and what was I doing?
The principles and philosophy underpinning Tai Chi owe much to Daoism, the belief in living a simple life in harmony with the universe may appear naive in our world of change and uncertainity. But learning to go with the flow, understanding that change is inevitable and to make the best of it, instead of becoming ‘stressed out’ is a useful survival skill. Regular Tai Chi practice encourages the body to become stronger and more relaxed, more able to combat aches and pains and defend itself from infection & disease. Proper execution of the postures requires focus of mind and body as one allowing flow, clarity and balance to emerge this is meditation in movement. Getting in touch with the body, learning how to focus our minds and tuning in to our energy or chi are highly beneficial as is simply slowing down.
Wishing you peace, joy, health and happiness for the coming year.
Classes start again on Monday 9th January : New students welcome
