中華文化丹田 河洛匯流處
太極拳，發(fā)源于中國焦作市溫縣陳家溝。
太極拳是極富中國傳統(tǒng)民族特色元素的文化形態(tài)。
太極拳是中華民族辯證的理論思維與武術(shù)、藝術(shù)、引導(dǎo)術(shù)、中醫(yī)等的完美結(jié)合，她以中國傳統(tǒng)儒、道哲學(xué)中的太極、陰陽辯證理念為核心思想，集頤養(yǎng)性情、強身健體、技擊對抗等多種功能為一體，是高層次的人體文化。作為一種飽含東方包容理念的運動形式，其習(xí)練者針對意、氣、形、神的鍛煉，非常符合人體生理和心理的要求，對人類個體身心健康以及人類群體的和諧共處，有著極為重要的促進作用。太極拳這種以體育運動作為主要外在表現(xiàn)形式和載體的非物質(zhì)文化形態(tài)，充分體現(xiàn)了人類對自然界的客觀認知和科學(xué)實踐。
17世紀(jì)中葉，溫縣陳家溝陳王廷在家傳拳法的基礎(chǔ)上，吸收眾家武術(shù)之長，融合易學(xué)、中醫(yī)等思想，創(chuàng)編出一套具有陰陽開合、剛?cè)嵯酀?nèi)外兼修的新拳法，命名太極拳。
太極拳在陳家溝世代傳承，自第14世陳長興起開始向外傳播，后逐漸衍生出楊式、武式、吳式、孫式、和式等多家流派。
太極是中國古代最具特色和代表性的哲學(xué)思想之一，太極拳基于太極陰陽之理念，用意念統(tǒng)領(lǐng)全身，通過入靜放松、以意導(dǎo)氣、以氣催形的反復(fù)習(xí)練，以進入妙手一運一太極，太極一運化烏有的境界，達到修身養(yǎng)性、陶冶情操、強身健體、益壽延年的目的。
太極拳含蓄內(nèi)斂、連綿不斷、以柔克剛、急緩相間、行云流水的拳術(shù)風(fēng)格是習(xí)練者的意、氣、形、神逐漸趨于圓融一體的至高境界，而其對于武德修養(yǎng)的要求也使得習(xí)練者在增強體質(zhì)的同時提高自身素養(yǎng)，提升人與自然、人與社會的融洽與和諧。
太極拳基本內(nèi)容包括太極養(yǎng)生理論、太極拳拳術(shù)套路、太極拳器械套路、太極推手以及太極拳輔助訓(xùn)練法。其拳術(shù)套路有大架一路、二路、小架一路、二路。器械套路有單刀、雙刀、單劍、雙劍、單锏、雙锏、槍、大桿和青龍偃月刀等。
太極拳這枝中華武術(shù)奇葩已受到了世界各地人們的普遍推崇。20世紀(jì)80年代以來，各級政府及廣大民眾對太極拳這一古老文化體系的保護意識日益強化，各級政府相繼制定保護措施，太極拳發(fā)源地先后舉辦了11屆國際性太極拳交流大會。傳承人、民間傳承組織也加大深入推廣的力度。2006年5月，太極拳被中國政府公布為第一批國家級非物質(zhì)文化遺產(chǎn)。
在太極拳逐漸成為連接不同種族、不同民族、不同語言、不同國家的文化紐帶，已經(jīng)成為中國文化對外交流傳播重要載體之際，為進一步傳承和弘揚太極拳文化，溫縣人民政府聘請國內(nèi)一流設(shè)計單位，對陳家溝文化旅游區(qū)進行全面規(guī)劃，按照傳承、弘揚、養(yǎng)生、功夫、產(chǎn)業(yè)五大功能區(qū)設(shè)計，建設(shè)包括太極拳展示基地、教育培訓(xùn)基地、休閑度假基地、文化產(chǎn)品基地、研究傳播基地在內(nèi)的陳家溝世界太極拳文化中心，開展對太極拳全方位多層次的挖掘、整理、推廣，描繪出了陳家溝世界太極拳文化圣地的美好藍圖。河南省文投集團等單位已經(jīng)入駐，開始建設(shè)美麗陳家溝。
Chenjiagou, Wen County, Jiaozuo, City is the birthplace of Tai Chi, the most distinguished Chinese traditional cultural element.
Perfectly combined with Chinese dialectical theoretical thinking, martial arts, art, Daoyin (breathing exercises) and traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi absorbs TaiChi, Yin Yang from traditional Confucianism and Taoism. It is thus good for people to nature one’s temperament, physical fitness and improve one’s attacking and defending skills. It is a high-level culture about human body in some sense. Characterized by Oriental magnanimous personality, Tai Chi helps practice one’s will, breath, look and spirit, satisfying people’s physical and psychological needs. Moreover, it is also critical for one’s physical and mental health and harmonious coexistence of the society as a whole. Tai Chi, the Intangible Cultural Form taking sports as the main external manifestation and carrier, fully embodies human’s objective cognition towards nature and scientific practice.
In mid-17th century, Chen Wangting borrowed the essence of various martial arts, combined the ideas of The Book of Changes and Chinese traditional medicine to create a new boxing based on boxing coming from his own family. It was named Tai Chi.
For generations after generations, Tai Chi was practised in Chenjiagou only. However, since from the 14th Tai Chi master Chen Changxing, it became known more by the outside world. Gradually it was developed with more styles, such as Yang Style, Wu Style, He Style, Wu Style, Sun Style.
The concept of Tai Chi is one of the most unique and representative traditional Chinese philosophy. Based on the concept of Tai Chi Yin Yang, Tai Chi could control one’s body with will. Practitioners repeatedly get themselves physically relaxed, regulate their breathing with will, shape their looks through breathing, immersing in a exclusive world. In this way, one’s temperament, mental state physical fitness, longevity could benefit a lot.
Special Tai Chi style of impliciting, overcoming hardness with softness, natural and smooth is the highest level of state that the views of practitioners in idea, breath, shape and spirit are gradually mixed together. The martial arts and moral requirements could also allow practitioners to enhance their physical fitness, improve their cultured mind, promote harmonious existence between people and nature, people and society as well.
Tai chi basically includes Tai Chi theory to maintain health, various Tai Chi styles, Tai Chi weapon routines, Pushing Hands and auxiliary training methods. Tai chi chuan can be subdivided into Old Frame Routine One and Two, Small Frame Routine One and Two. Tai chi weapons includes single knife, double knife, single sword, double sword, single mace, double mace, spear, large pole, the spring and autumn Broadsword.
The treasure of Chinese martial arts Tai Chi has received worldwide popularity. Since 1980s, governments at all levels and general public have gradually enhanced their awareness to treat Tai Chi as an ancient cultural treasure, and governments at all levels have also formulated legislative measures for its better protection. As the birthplace of Tai Chi, Chenjiagou has successively held International Tai Chi Exchange Conference for 11 years. Tai chi successors and folk heritage organizations also increased further promotion efforts. Eventually Tai Chi was found on the list of the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by Chinese government in May 2006.
Tai Chi gradually served as the cultural tie, connecting different races, nationalities, languages and counties throughout the world. Since it has regarded as an important carrier of Chinese culture, People's Government of Wen County cooperated with a top design company at home to cultivate Chenjiagou as a first-class cultural tourism zone. In accordance with five designed major functions of Tai chi inheritance, Tai chi promotion, health maintainance, Kung Fu and Tai chi-related industry, Chenjiagou World Tai Chi Cultural Center includes Tai Chi Chuan show area, teaching and training area, leisure and vacation area, cultural products area and research area. The aim is to make Chenjiagou as a wonderland for Tai Chi cultural. Several units such as Henan Cultural Investment Group have lived in Wen County to make this dream come true.