Data map: Hundreds of Tai Chi enthusiasts practice Tai Chi under the 108-meter-high statue of Guanyin on the sea in Nanshan Scenic Area, Sanya facing the sunrise to relax their minds and bodies.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Luo Yunfei
Chinanews client, Beijing, December 17 (Wang Hao) Recently, the 15th regular session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage was held online.
Good news came on the evening of the 17th, Beijing time, that China’s separate declaration of "Taijiquan" was reviewed and approved by the committee and included in the UNESCO Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage.
In addition to becoming an important choice for people to keep fit, this sport, which can be seen almost everywhere in China, is unknown to everyone, and has deeper cultural connotations.
The road of application for the heritage of more than ten years
Since its formation in China in the middle of the 17th century, Taijiquan has been passed on from generation to generation, with practitioners all over the country.
Taijiquan has no restrictions on the gender, age, physique, occupation, and ethnicity of the practitioners. Through the practice of Taijiquan, people not only cultivate their body and strengthen their bodies, but also inherit the cultural genes of the Chinese nation.
Data map: Aerial photography of more than 300 people performing Tai Chi in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
On the same day, the 2018 "Bada Shanren" Tai Chi Cultural Exchange Exhibition in Qingyunpu District, Nanchang City was held at the Folk Square of Bada Shanren Meihu Scenic Area. Famous teachers, masters, descendants and representatives of Tai Chi institutions joined hands with Jiangxi calligraphy and painting masters to perform here "Ink and Wash Poetic Love" is a great drama.
Photo by Liu Zhankun
In May 2006, Tai Chi was announced by the State Council as a representative item of national intangible cultural heritage.
In 2008, Jiaozuo City, Henan Province officially launched the application of Taijiquan to the world's intangible cultural heritage masterpiece list, and a total of 35 items were submitted to UNESCO together with other projects in China.
However, due to the relatively large number of declared projects in China and the insufficient preparation of materials related to Taijiquan, the road to the first application for heritage can only end in failure.
In 2009, Taijiquan applied for the second heritage, and all the way through the pass will report relevant information to the UNESCO headquarters.
But just one step away from the success of the application, Tai Chi once again rubbed shoulders with the world's intangible cultural heritage.
At that time, UNESCO began to limit the number of declarations, and only two were allowed that year.
China finally declared Beijing Opera and TCM acupuncture, and Tai Chi was shelved.
And this miss is a long 11 years.
In 2017, foreign media reported that there was a possibility of "grabbing" Taijiquan in other countries. At this time, many people began to worry about whether China's Taijiquan could successfully apply for it.
Fortunately, these worries have been resolved now, and after more than ten years, Tai Chi has finally succeeded in applying for heritage.
So far, a total of 42 intangible cultural heritage items in China have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List (Book), ranking first in the world.
Data map: Tai Chi lovers practice Tai Chi together in the morning on the beach.
On the same day, the 2019 Haikou Summer Vacation Tai Chi Training and Great Exhibition Charity Event was held at the public dock of Haikou National Sailing Base, attracting nearly 800 Tai Chi enthusiasts to participate in the activity.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Luo Yunfei
Both sports and spiritual
The connotation of Chinese Taijiquan is not just those simple moves that are visible to the naked eye. It contains rich philosophical principles, which is the so-called "learning boxing wisely."
Taijiquan contains the yin-yang cycle, the traditional Chinese philosophy and the concept of harmony between man and nature, and enriches people's understanding of the laws of the universe, nature and the human body; its basic requirements for relaxation, softness, roundness, and righteousness, respect the teacher The values of emphasizing Taoism and learning boxing must not be disrespectful, mad and not satisfied, and subtly cultivate people's peaceful, tolerant, and friendly disposition.
Taijiquan plays an important role in enhancing people's health awareness, promoting physical and mental health, promoting harmonious coexistence among people, and enhancing social cohesion.
For example, in recent years, Tai Chi has been widely used in universities, middle schools and primary schools, and some schools have even included it as a compulsory course.
Tai Chi is not only a sport played by grandparents in the park, but also an important way for young people to keep fit.
At Wuhan Dahuashan Fangcai Hospital, medical staff led a group of patients to actively "unlock" Tai Chi skills.
Photo by Zhang Ming
At the beginning of this year, the new crown pneumonia epidemic broke out, and a shelter hospital was built in Wuhan to deal with the epidemic.
In the spare time of treatment, the medical staff in the cabin will lead the patient to perform appropriate exercises, including Tai Chi.
In Dahuashan Fangcai Hospital, based on medical treatment, the team guides patients to learn Tai Chi, Wu Qin Xi, Baduan Jin and other health-preserving exercises, which not only helps to smooth the patient’s mood, but also helps improve the patient’s immunity and optimize treatment effect.
National and global
At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, more than 2,000 Tai Chi hands jointly performed peerless Tai Chi, magnificent, agile and refined, blending tradition and modernity, classic and fashion, harmonious and natural, and flowing clouds and flowing water fully displayed the charm of Tai Chi, which not only shocked all The audience is also known to the world.
Tai Chi originated in China, but its spread is not limited to China. Tai Chi has a large audience worldwide.
Wu Amin, the fifth-generation successor of Wu-style Taijiquan who has lived in the United States for more than ten years, deeply feels this.
Data map: The opening ceremony of Switzerland's first "China Book Center" was held at the University of Zurich.
The picture shows the student representatives from the Swiss Confucius Institute performing Tai Chi before the ceremony.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Peng Dawei
In an interview last year, she introduced that as more and more kung fu movies became popular in the United States, "learning kung fu" became fashionable, and Wu Amin's Tai Chi Club began to be welcomed by locals.
"One type is for people who want to learn Kungfu. There are Chinese, Europeans and Americans, as well as people from Mexico, Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia and other countries. The age level is getting younger and younger. The other is doctors in the medical system. After Tai Chi feels good for the health, I recommend my patients to study too." Wu Amin said.
In addition, some Internet companies in Silicon Valley in the United States even opened Chinese Kung Fu courses and invited her to teach.
"I have courses on Google and YouTube. Each course lasts three months, once a week. These companies have a lot of sports courses, but the Tai Chi courses are full early in each session. Many people register in advance. One course."
Data map: A foreign guy who plays Tai Chi.
Not only in the United States, but in many countries around the world, foreigners can be seen playing Tai Chi.
The ancient sport that originated in China has now become an important way of international cultural exchanges. This is the vitality of Tai Chi.
The successful application of Taijiquan is of great significance to its protection and promotion.
I hope that more young people can understand the essence of Chinese classical cultural thoughts through Tai Chi, and that practitioners no matter where they are located can feel the charm of traditional Chinese culture through Tai Chi!
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