The patterns of Taiji are formed from yin and yang.

A person's energy (lit. essence and pneuma, jing-qi) is also formed from yin and yang.

Yang is born from stillness and yin is born from movement.

Stillness is substance (ti) and movement is function (yung).

The Extreme is stillness; stillness is what is called "returning to the root."

Extreme pliability leads to extreme hardness.

Softness nurtures; exertion injures.

 

Ni Fu-yuan, 6 February 2002