Emptiness and Solidity

The Concepts of Xu (Void) and Shi (Reality) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

by
The Concepts of Xu (Void) and Shi (Reality) in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Xū (虚) refers to emptiness, derived from the character 虍 (hǔ, tiger skin) and 丘 (qiū, mound). The original meaning of Xū is a desolate area governed by a tiger (土, earth). The character 丘 represents two people fleeing back to back, symbolizing the discord of human hearts (土, heart). The character 虍 is composed … Read more

Three Key Points to Distinguish Between Empty and Solid in Tai Chi

by
Three Key Points to Distinguish Between Empty and Solid in Tai Chi

Wu Yuxiang proposed in “Shisan Shi Shuo Lue” that “the distinction between empty and solid must be clear; there is emptiness and solidity in every part, and everywhere there is this one emptiness and solidity.” This is the earliest source for distinguishing between empty and solid in Tai Chi. Wang Zongyue’s “Tai Chi Chuan Lun” … Read more