Traditional Chinese Medicine is more than simply a range of medicines. Even though many other traditional medicine systems have disappeared due to the rise of modern techniques, traditional Chinese medicine has remained a complete system.

The system began approximately 6,000 years ago with the established theory coming into being about 2,000 years ago with the writing of "Nei Jing" - the internal classic of the Yellow Emperor.

During the last 50 years, traditional Chinese medicine has been subjected to a great deal of scientific study.

Traditional Chinese medicine has four classic books with wide ranging content covering:

• Acupuncture

• Herbs

• Qi Gong

• Family Health

• Medical History

• Etc.

Traditional Chinese medicine has been strongly influenced by Chinese culture and by ancient Chinese philosophy - Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

Modern western medicine is derived from the Greek philosophy of dividing everything ultimately into very small parts. Its basis is cause and effect (a microcosmic view).

Western medicine emphasises analysis while traditional Chinese medicine emphasises function.

In some ways, western medicine has abandoned its philosophy, but traditional Chinese medicine practice matches its philosophy.

Traditional Chinese medicine operates within a coherent framework based on:

• Yin/Yang

• 5 Element Theory

• Jing/Qi/Shen

Western medicine relies on studying symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine relies on symptoms and physical appearance.

Western medicine is based on experiments, but Traditional Chinese medicine is based on experience. It is therefore very individual. Basically there are four ways to influence the meridians: Acupuncture, Qi Gong, Moxibustion and Massage.

The term 'Dao Yin' embraces two main concepts - that of guiding the Qi with the mind, clearing blockages in the energy channels and physical movement, particularly stretching and contracting.

"Dao" refers to the guiding of the Qi by the mind. "Yin" refers to the physical movement.

Dao Yin methods go back to the times of Chuang Tzu (approximately 1000 BC), when they used the terms "Dao" and "Yin" as above, with the object of improving health and making the body supple.

Dao Yin is therefore a combination, but the more important "partner" is the concept of the mind guiding the Qi.

N.B. "Guiding" and "focusing" are the same.

The practice of Dao Yin provides four benefits:

1. Regulation of the Breath.

2. Regulation of the Heart.

3. Regulation of the Shen (Spirit).

4. Internal self-massage.

Many practitioners are not aware of this aspect of self-massage, which is particularly strong in Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong.

Tai Ji Quan is part of the martial arts world.

However, Tai Ji also represents the concept of the ancient philosphy which expresses the nature of the Universe as consisting of two opposing elements which are eternally changing into each other.

This concept influenced the ancient philosphers to come to the conclusion that the Universe is ever changing, and this in turn led to the concept of Yin and Yang.

Originally, the world was viewed as either Yin or Yang, but gradually this notion evolved to take account of gradations. This is symbolised in the Yin/Yang design in which a "seed" of Yin is contained in the Yang shape and vice versa.

Tai Ji embraces the concept of the Yin/Yang symbol. This is seen in the various aspects of the movements, especially the circle which evokes the shape of the Yin/Yang symbol.