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Where does the word "tai chi" come from? It comes from Chinese tai ji, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
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Where does the word "tai chi" come from? It comes from Chinese tai ji, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Tai chi’s story begins in Chinese: tai ji meant “the supreme ultimate.” Meaning "supreme ultimate", a concept of balance in Chinese philosophy. It reached English by 1900s as tai chi. Chinese 'supreme ultimate', named after the Taiji of yin-yang philosophy. Today, tai chi means a slow-moving Chinese martial art practiced for health and meditation.
- Stage 1 · Chinese · ancient tai ji "the supreme ultimate", meaning "supreme ultimate", a concept of balance in Chinese philosophy.
- Stage 2 · English · 1900s tai chi "a slow, meditative martial art", Chinese 'supreme ultimate', named after the Taiji of yin-yang philosophy.