Editing Tai chi (section)

{{short description|Chinese martial art}}
{{About|the Chinese martial art|the philosophical concept|Taiji (philosophy)|other uses of tai chi|Taiji (disambiguation){{!}}Taiji}}
{{Multiple issues|{{Context|date=April 2021}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}}}
{{Infobox Martial art
| logo            = Yin and Yang symbol.svg
| logocaption     = The lower {{tlit|zh|pinyin|[[dantian]]}} in tai chi:<br />{{tlit|zh|pinyin|[[Taijitu]]}} ([[yin and yang]]) rotate, while<br />the core reverts to stillness ({{tlit|zh|pinyin|[[Wuji (philosophy)|wuji]]}}).
| logosize        = 100px
| image           = Yang-single (restoration).jpg
| imagecaption    = [[Yang Chengfu]] ({{circa|1931}}) in ''[[Single Whip]]'' posture of [[Yang-style tai chi]] solo form
| imagesize       =
| name            = Tai chi<br />{{lang|zh-Hant|{{nobold|太極拳}}}}
| aka             = ''See [[#Etymology|etymology]]''
| focus           = [[Taoism]]
| hardness        = Forms: {{horizontal list|Competition|Light contact ([[pushing hands]], no strikes)|Full contact (strikes, kicks, throws, takedowns etc.)}}
| country         = [[China]]
| creator         = [[Chen Wangting]] or [[Zhang Sanfeng]]
| formation       = {{tlit|zh|pinyin|[[Daoyin]]}}
| famous pract    = {{Unbulleted list|[[Chen Wangting]]|[[Chen Changxing]]|[[Chen Qingping]]|[[Chen Fake]]|[[Joey Bond]]|[[Marshall Ho'o]]|[[Yang Luchan]]|[[Yang Chengfu]]|[[Cheng Man-ch'ing]]|[[Wu Quanyou]]|[[Wu Jianquan]]|[[Wu Yuxiang]]|[[Sun Lutang]]|[[Wang Peisheng]]}}
| parenthood      =
| ancestor arts   =
| descendant arts =
| olympic         = [[Demonstration sport]]
| website         =
| meaning         =
| martialart      =
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 太極拳
| s = 太极拳
| l = "[[Taiji (philosophy)|Taiji]] Fist"
| p = Tàijíquán
| w = T'ai<sup>4</sup>-chi<sup>2</sup> ch'üan<sup>2</sup>
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|t|ai|4|.|j|i|2|-|quan|2}}
| bpmf = ㄊㄞˋ ㄐㄧˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ
| lmz = Tha-ciq jioe
| j = Taai3 gik6 kyun4
| y = Taai-gihk kyùhn
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|t|aai|3|-|g|ik|6|-|k|yun|4}}
| poj = Thài-ke̍k kûn
| tl = Thài-ki̍k kûn
}}
{{Chinese martial arts}}
{{Taoism}}

'''{{tlit|zh|pinyin|Tai chi}}'''<!--Chinese in infobox and further explanation in etymology --> is an ancient [[Chinese martial art]]. Initially developed for combat and self-defense,<ref>{{cite book|last=Lu|first=Shengli|author-link=Lu Shengli|year=2006|title=Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua: Principles and Practices of Internal Martial Arts|isbn=978-1583941454}}</ref> for most practitioners it has evolved into a sport and form of [[exercise]]. As an exercise, tai chi is performed as gentle, low-impact movement in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths. Often referred to as "[[meditation]] in motion", tai chi aims to concentrate and balance the body's purported {{tlit|zh|pinyin|[[qi]]}} (vital energy), providing benefits to mental and physical health.<ref>{{Citation |title=Slow and Steady: The Health Benefits of Tai Chi |date=2023-09-05 |url=https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-health-benefits-of-tai-chi |issue=Health essentials |publisher=Cleveland Clinic}}</ref>

Many forms of tai chi are practiced, both traditional and modern. While the precise origins are not known, the earliest documented practice is from [[Chen-style tai chi|Chen Village]] and [[Zhaobao tai chi|Zhabao Village]] in [[Henan]], which are located a few hundred miles from the [[Shaolin Monastery]] on Song Mountain.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shahar|first=Meir|author-link=Meir Shahar|year=2008|title=The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts|isbn=978-0824833497}}</ref> Most modern styles trace their development to the five traditional schools: [[Chen-style tai chi|Chen]], [[Yang-style tai chi|Yang]], [[Wu (Hao)-style tai chi|Wu (Hao)]], [[Wu-style tai chi|Wu]], and [[Sun-style tai chi|Sun]]. Practitioners such as [[Yang Chengfu]] and [[Sun Lutang]] in the early 20th century promoted the art for its health benefits.{{sfn|Wile|1996}} Tai chi was included in the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists|UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tai Chi now on Unesco's intangible heritage list |url=https://www.scmp.com/video/china/3114494/chinese-martial-art-tai-chi-added-unescos-intangible-cultural-heritage-list |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref>