Tai Chi Chuan: Scientific Standing Meditation Practice

Author: Zeng Guanghua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The book "Scientific Standing Qigong" presented to the readers is written by Professor Zeng Guanghua, 83-year-old Vice President of the Massachusetts Higher Education College in the United States. This book is not only a work exploring the health and wellness of scientific standing qigong, but also showcases the cultural heritage where traditional Chinese internal martial arts collide and intersect with Western science, while permeating the historical tragedy of Chinese intellectuals who have devoted themselves to national rejuvenation for over half a century.
There are two types of cultural traditions in China. The first is the old tradition, gradually formed over tens of thousands of years by the matriarchal primitive communal societies in human history. The second is the new tradition left behind by the patriarchal patrilocal societies that emerged since the rise of the feudal society during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Clearly, the cultural tradition of matriarchal primitive religion is the origin of Taoist and Mohist cultures, while the cultural tradition of patriarchal patrilocal society is the foundation of Confucian and Legalist cultures. The matriarchal communal society of primitive communism was the earliest "civil society," which included primitive "democratic" ideas. The patriarchal patrilocal society since the Zhou Dynasty was a "subject society" under autocratic monarchy, where only the idea of "people-centered governance" existed without democracy.
Chinese traditional culture was formed during the "Hundred Schools of Thought" in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, when feudal society based on patriarchal patrilocal systems had already emerged. Therefore, Confucianism and Legalism were designed as "royal governance" and "dominant governance" control techniques for monarchs, and even Taoism was a "kingship" doctrine specifically for teaching "rulers." All three were based on the idea of "people-centered governance."
I have said that, whether in the East or the West, all diverse civilizations of humanity started from the same origin about ten thousand years ago. All sources are the same, and all are interconnected. Ancient sages and modern sages, Western philosophers and Eastern philosophers, all follow the same principle. So, can the scientific, democratic, and free ideas of ancient Greek civilization in Western culture, the legal and human rights concepts of ancient Romans, and the religious thoughts of ancient Hebrews be found in ancient Chinese traditional culture? Must "Mr. Democracy" and "Mr. Science" be introduced from the West? In fact, the Mohist school in Chinese culture was not short of scientific and democratic concepts and similar religious thoughts to those of Calvinism. The Taoist school was even a doctrine of freedom, equality, and brotherly love ("peace, prosperity, and tranquility").
However, due to the direct conflict between the Mohist doctrine and the autocratic political system of monarchs, the Mohists ultimately lost their living space and were absorbed by the Taoist school. As a result, Chinese traditional culture became dominated by the combination of Confucianism and Legalism, while Taoism and Mohism were marginalized.
Thereafter, the autocratic bureaucratic political system in China lasted for thousands of years. Although many wise rulers in each dynasty made promises of "serving the people" and "loving the people," these were at most the "royal governance" and "people-centered governance" ideas of Confucius and Mencius, which were entirely different from modern "democratic" concepts. Although the succession of power could be forced to follow the ancient system of "" (imperial abdication) to a new ruler, even the system of selecting a "successor" through abdication was fundamentally different from modern "constitutional" systems.
It wasn't until January 31, 1850, that Marx and Engels predicted in their "Commentary on the Situation in 1850 (January-February)" written in London that ancient China was on the eve of social and political transformation. "When reactionaries from Europe flee to the Great Wall, they will see the gate inscribed with: 'Chinese Republic. Freedom, equality, brotherhood.'" (Collected Works of Marx and Engels, Vol. 10, p. 278) The person who truly realized Marx's political foresight of writing "freedom, equality, and brotherhood" on the city gate was Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of the Chinese Revolution.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen inherited the essence of Taoist and Mohist culture in China, introducing "Mr. Democracy" and "Mr. Science" to China. His "Three Principles of the People" and "Five Powers Constitution" not only corrected the flaws of Western politics but also perfectly suited the conditions of China. From then on, the "people-centered governance" practiced by emperors was surpassed to the level of "democratic" politics, and the "Outline for National Construction" also negated the patriarchal patrilocal autocratic political system, revealing a blueprint for the modern constitutional system's transformation from a "subject society" to a "citizen society."
In modern history, the status of Dr. Sun Yat-sen is irreplaceable. He represents the historical trend of the Chinese nation moving toward modern society. Unfortunately, Chinese politicians since that era have ultimately been unable to break free from the deeply rooted imperial ideology, and China's political system has long been in the "" (guided governance) stage outlined in the "Outline for National Construction."