Tai chi began as Chinese combat training and became a health practice

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Tai chi began as Chinese combat training and became a health practice

the gist

Tai chi is a Chinese martial art created for combat and self-defense, but most people now practice it for exercise, relaxation or sport. Practitioners perform set sequences called forms, usually in slow, flowing movements that are often described as meditation in motion. Its earliest well-documented practice dates to the Ming-Qing transition in Henan province, a region where a long history of rebellion and invasion had encouraged many martial arts. Most modern styles trace back to five traditional schools, including Chen, Yang and Sun. In the early 20th century, teachers such as Yang Chengfu promoted it for health, and it was later institutionalized by the Chinese government. UNESCO added tai chi to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.

how it works

Tai chi uses slow shifts of weight, relaxed posture and continuous circular movement. Each form encodes self-defense techniques, so practicing it trains balance and coordination while the slow pace reduces strain on the joints. Partner pushing hands teaches how to yield to force rather than oppose it directly.

so what

Tai chi shows how a fighting art can change purpose over generations. Its health reputation has made it one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world, and UNESCO's 2020 listing recognized it as part of humanity's living heritage.

the bigger pattern

Many martial arts moved from the battlefield to health and sport as warfare changed. Judo, karate and kung fu underwent similar shifts toward education, fitness and competition.

fun fact

In competitions, tai chi athletes are judged on their forms, pushing hands and free sparring, so it is scored like a sport.

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗