太极拳：风靡全球的健身养生方式
2020年12月17日，“太极拳”列入联合国教科文组织人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录。太极拳归属为中国古代武术的一种，形成于17世纪中叶，到今天已经传承了300多年，它是中华民族辩证理论思维与武术、艺术、中医等的完美结合。
On December 17, 2020, "Tai Chi Chuan" was listed in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list. A key discipline of the ancient Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan originated in the middle of the 17th century and has been handed down for more than 300 years. It is a perfect combination of the Chinese dialectical thinking with martial arts, art and traditional Chinese medicine.
太极是中国古代最具特色和代表性的哲学思想之一，讲究阴阳循环、天人合一。太极拳也是生发于同样的思想，要求练拳之人立身中正，动作又松柔圆活。一招一式尽显刚柔并济之美，一动一静尽展中国功夫气韵。经过多年的发展，太极拳还融入了中国传统儒家价值观念，例如尊师重道，不可不敬、不可狂、不可满等，体现了“和”的理念。
Tai Chi is one of the most characteristic and representative philosophical thoughts in ancient China, which advocates the theory of circulation of Yin and Yang and the unity of heaven and man. Based on this idea, Tai Chi Chuan features an upright and balanced seated posture with supple and smooth movements. While its distinctive movement poses show the beautiful blend of strength and softness, its motions and meditative calm well display the essence of Chinese Kungfu. Traditional Chinese Confucian values, such as respecting teachers and nature, being humble but not being arrogant and complacent, are integrated into Tai Chi Chuan embraces the idea of peace and harmony.
将拳术的形体运动与中医学相结合，是太极拳的精髓所在。通过动作平衡肌肉和关节，巧妙运用腹部呼吸，保证形体运动不妨碍人体的肺脏呼吸运动，从而达到治病健身的效果。新冠肺炎疫情发生后，太极拳“提高免疫力”“改善气血和肺功能”的抗疫价值得到凸显，受到钟南山、张伯礼院士的充分肯定。
Tai Chi borrows the body movement of boxing and digs into elements of traditional Chinese medicine. By balancing muscles and joints and skillfully using abdominal breathing, body movements do not hinder respiratory movement and boost fitness. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the role of Tai Chi in "improving immunity" and "improving Qi and blood and lung function” gained significance. This was fully affirmed by the two prominent Chinese medical scientists Zhong Nanshan and Zhang Boli.
练太极拳时既能放松肢体，又能静心，长期练习可以帮助摆脱身体亚健康，提高生活质量。太极拳作为传统的有氧运动，动静结合，适合不同年龄的人群来习练，同样受到年轻人的青睐。
Practising Tai Chi can not only relax the body, but also the mind. Long-term practice can help get rid of ailments and improve quality of life. As a traditional aerobic exercise, Tai chi is suitable for people of all ages. Young people are especially drawn to it.
作为中华武术瑰宝，太极拳成为中华民族最具代表性的优秀文化符号之一。2008年北京奥运会，太极拳作为表演项目向世界展示；2012年，在“天宫一号”上，宇航员刘洋打起太极拳；2016年，G20杭州峰会文艺晚会上，白衣翩翩的太极拳舞者在夜幕下涉水而来。
A treasure of Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi Chuan has become one of the most iconic cultural symbols of the Chinese nation. In 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Tai Chi was included as a performance item; in 2012, astronaut Liu Yang played Tai Chi on "Tiangong-1"; in 2016, at the evening party of G20 Hangzhou summit, Tai Chi dancers in white came wading through the water at night.
如今，太极拳已传播到全球150多个国家和地区，习练者有4亿多人，成为一项风靡全球的国际化健身形式。越来越多的外国人通过练习太极拳感受中国文化的魅力。太极拳已经成为连接不同种族、不同民族、不同语言、不同国家的文化纽带。
Today, Tai Chi has spread to more than 150 countries and regions, with more than 400 million practitioners. Drawing more and more people worldwide towards the charm of Chinese culture, Tai Chi has become a cultural link connecting different races, nationalities, languages and countries.
