Taijiquan · physics · biomechanics

Taiji, from first principles

Wuji and Taiji read through physics, biomechanics, and what humanoid robots accidentally teach us about balance. Derivative work, sources always cited.

Essays

• Wuji → Taiji: The Foundation Stillness, differentiation, and broken symmetry — the opening move of taiji, read as physics.

Experiments

• The Living Symbol The taiji symbol rests in wuji, undivided. Push it and yin and yang are born, then break symmetry — the wuji→taiji arc, felt in the hand.
• The Turning The flat taiji symbol is one face of a turning sphere of light and shadow. Turn it and watch the familiar sign dissolve into the depth it was hiding, then return.
• Full & Empty (虚实) The conserved weight, poured between the legs — read from real tai chi motion capture.