What is a Tai Chi Ruler?
A Tai Chi Ruler (also known as a Tai Chi Chih) is a specially shaped piece of wood used to help improve, and increase the quality and circulation of a person’s chi. Use of the ruler is easy to learn, and has several benefits.
What are the benefits of the Tai Chi Ruler?
Tai Chi Ruler is a very beneficial qigong practice. First, the practice is simple enough that anyone can perform it – it can even be performed while seated. Secondly, if performed standing, it improves your balance. Thirdly, use of the Tai Chi Ruler helps to improve the circulation of your chi, which helps improve your health. Lastly, Tai Chi ruler can be practiced as a martial art in its own right.
History of the Tai Chi Ruler
Master Fong Ha, my teacher, provided the information. This is an excerpt of the information he provided.
The Tai Chi Ruler does not look like very much, but all great things do not look like very much. It is a very simple exercise, and it works with the very basics: your body, your mind, and your breath.
The Tai Chi Ruler first became known in China in the 1950s. At that time, due to a shortage of medical supplies, the Chinese government was encouraging its citizens to practice and publicize traditional healing systems. One such system was, for instance acupuncture. Another one is the Tai Chi Ruler. Chiu-chung-tao introduced the Tai Chi Ruler in Beijing, and opened there a center for the practice and teaching of the Tai Chi ruler. Already at that time he was 115 years old, and he died three years later, at the age of 118. During the three years he taught in Beijing, many people started practicing the Tai Chi ruler, including wester-trained physicians and other academics. Many of them have experienced not only a regeneration of their energy, but also the healing effect of the system.
According to Chiu-chung-tao, the Tai Chi ruler was practiced in his family for many generations. He himself was introduced to it through his grandmother. As a young man he was very interested in martial arts. Being a son to a wealthy family, he had his own private martial arts teacher. One day his grandmother asked him: “Do you practice martial arts?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“Do you do it to defend yourself against others and to be able to hurt others?”
“Yes, that’s why I do it.”
“This sounds very interesting. Could you introduce me to your teacher?”
So, Chiu-chung-tao introduced his grandmother to his teacher. She asked the teacher to try and push her. After she had guaranteed the teacher that nothing would happen to him in case he hurt her, he agreed. He tried to push her, but every time he tried, she bounced him away. When the teacher realized that the grandmother manages to repel all of his attacks, he tried to attack more and more vigorously, but he did not succeed in hurting the grandmother, and every time he tried, she bounced him away.
His grandmother told Chiu-chung-tao that his was the result of the practice of the Tai Chi ruler, a very simple practice, and that she did not tell him about it before because he would not have believed her. This practice has been the tradition of the family since the time of Chiu-hon-yun, the first emperor of the Sung dynasty, who Chiu-chung-tao was his descendant. While Chiu-hon-yun was organizing a rebellion against the Mongolian Yuen dynasty he met a Daoist monk who helped him. Chiu-hon-yun promised that monk that if he would succeed and become the emperor, he would grant him whatever he wished for.
After many years the rebels had toppled the Mongolian rule and Chiu-hon-yun became an emperor. When he met the monk again he remembered his promise. The monk replied to the offer, saying, “I am just a monk; I don’t need much. All I need is a place to practice my meditation.” So, Chiu-hon-yun granted the monk a mountain to build his temple on. “Your life will end and your glory will pass,” the monk said to the emperor. “So, in return for your generosity, I will teach you something which not only will enhance your well-being and health, but will pass to your descendants, generation after generation” and he taught him the practice of the Tai Chi Ruler.
How to Perform the Tai Chi Ruler
Using the Tai Chi ruler is quite simple but profound. Hold it loosely in your palms. Turn one foot out to about 45 degrees. Take a half step forward with the other foot. Now rock back and forth, putting all your weight on one foot then the other. Switch the foot orientation when you feel like it. Spend about half of the time with each foot forward. Now, relax your arms and shoulders and let them swing in a circular motion as you rock back and forth.
Click here to purchase a Tai Chi Ruler and receive your free Quick Start Guide.