Master Hwa spoke at this New Year celebration and coined the analogy of calligraphy and Classical Tai Chi.
Of the numerous Tai Chi styles, there is only one that has a "round" form and a truly "square" (”fang”) form. With all its derivatives, the Classical Tai Chi Wu Style often surprises people with the opposite requirement between Square and Round.
This is not unique, however:
“As has been said, think about how one learns the art of calligraphy.”
My experience with learning inkbrush Chinese calligraphy taught me how to write in print form (brush and ink, of course). Then, one learns the cursive form. These two writing forms are analogous to the differences between the two Tai Chi Forms.
Square Form is analogous to the block printing of (pinyin) Kai Style or "Kai Shu." The round form is analogous to the Tsao Style, "Tsao Shu/Cao Shu," or the cursive script.
In Square form, as in calligraphy, movements occur in relatively straight lines between points (start and end points of inflection).
The Round form, with its curves, has curves going through those points. The Square is like a template for the round.
Master Hwa and I discussed this, and he said: “Jim, like the Calculus of mathematics, however, I would like to point out that the round form is like calculus, which integrates a tiny segment of a curved motion as a straight line to form the curved motion. Square form is like taking one of the essential tiny straight lines and expanding it into a linear movement. I guess the way of the universe is based on similar principles for everything, which appears to be unrelated.”
In Jou Tsung Hwa's book Tao of Tai Chi, I think he states that movement is like individual frames in a movie. Taken separately or even in two or three, it makes no sense, and one sees no motion. We only imagine motion when one puts all the frames together.
Regarding square form and perhaps to the critics: Although the principal purpose is to teach students to delineate yin and yang, there are many, many individual "points," "stops," "pauses," etc. As it was said, "changes of direction occur at those points." the more "points" are present in something such as a square form, the more capacity there is for those points to join and produce a round form. It would seem then that, much like the individual frames in a film, many make a fine product that gives us the illusion of motion.
If I only have 2 or 3 points, it would be hard to see the round if I join them with straight lines. If I put 10 points in that same situation and join them, one sees the round very clearly. As in the eight consecutive lines joining and changing direction in the I Ching diagram, one can draw the circle around those 8 points. It would also seem that lines joining like this form angles at the joints. Ideally, an excellent place to mount an attack would be at an angle or "tangent."
The points where one changes direction are called "Dingdian" or fixed inflection points. Those starting and ending points define the curved movement in the round form. Of course, nothing begins or ends in Tai Chi, like ocean waves and breathing; each has its peak and trough…sine waves come to mind. This considers the concept of "reversal, " a mainstay in the I Ching.
When learning calligraphy, I appreciated the stop-and-go of the strokes in Kai Shu. It allowed me to reflect on my stroke and prepare for the next movement. The square form of Tai Chi enables us to gather energy, align the joints, and strengthen the "points." I can prepare for the next move by gathering energy for the coming action. This is why the moves in the Square are resolute and appear abrupt.
Based on this, I would say that Tai Chi is not only very analogous to calligraphy but also very scientific. In light of Calculus, one can appreciate mathematics.
Thanks
James Roach
When I think of understanding the analogy “calligraphy and Tai Chi” the biography of the Chows is at this link. They were both outstanding artists, calligraphers, and Tai Chi teachers. They both learned from Wabu Young, who was my own teacher's teacher.
http://www.enlighteners.com/history.html#transcript