Of the numerous Tai Chi styles, there is really 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:
Just think about how one learns the art of calligraphy. My experience taught me how to write in print form (brush and ink, of course). My own teacher echoes this in the video link. Then one learns the cursive form. The differences between these two writing forms are very much analogous to the differences between those 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 Tsao Style, "Tsao Shu/Cao Shu," or the cursive script.
In Square form, as in calligraphy, movements take place in relatively straight lines between points (start and end points of inflection). The Round form with its curves has the curves going through those points…the Square is like a template for the round.
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 important 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.
I think it is in Jou Tsung Hwa's book: Tao of Tai Chi where he makes a statement about movement being like individual frames in a movie film. Taken separately or even 2 or 3, it makes no sense, and one sees no motion. We only have the illusion of 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." That, 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 being many but making 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 begins to see the round very clearly. As in the 8 straight 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 referred to as "Dingdian" or fixed points, actually inflection points. Those starting and ending points define the curved movement in the round form. Of course, nothing ever starts or ends in Tai Chi, like ocean waves and breathing; each has its own peak and trough…sine waves come to mind. This considers the concept of "reversal, " which is a mainstay in the I Ching.
When I was learning calligraphy, I appreciated the stop and go of the strokes in Kai Shu. It allowed me to reflect on the stroke I just did and prepare for the next movement. The square form of Tai Chi allows us to gather energy, align the joints, and gather strength at 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 the Calculus, one can appreciate mathematics.
Thanks
James Roach
p.s. Read the biography of the Chows 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.
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