太极拳是中国特有的民族体育项目，它被认为是最能体现中国元素、中国风格和中国优秀的传统文化而又能同时具有现代精神的体育项目。于是，在各大仪式中几乎都能看到太极拳的表演，其动作柔和缓慢，处处带有弧形，运动绵绵不断，势势相连，如行云流水一般，非常潇洒优美。别看太极拳打起来动作缓慢，长期坚持锻炼，能够舒经活络、营养腑脏，具有强身健体的功效，是一种极佳的养生之道。

太极拳看似简单，却有着丰富的文化内涵，体现了中国传统哲学文化中的阴阳平衡的理念。它强调形神合一，动静结合，处处体现着中国传统文化的韵味——和谐。这种运动既自然又高雅，可亲身体会到音乐的韵律，哲学的内涵，美的造型，诗的意境。

太极拳有很多派别，其中的杨氏太极拳，因为其拳势简单、易学易练，正在以独特的魅力被世界人民所喜爱。许多外国人认为，练中国太极拳可进可退，"进"可提高技击水平，"退"可修身养性。现在一些国家已经把太极拳开展到学校中去了。

Tai Chi Chuan is a popular national sport in China. It is considered to be a sport  which can best represent ancient Chinese culture and at the same time is full of spirit of modern sports. Therefore, we can see performances of Tai Chi Chuan in many important ceremonies. The movements of Tai Chi are slow and soft and full of curves. When executing the movements, there must be no obstructions, no breaks in the movements, like in a symphony. Tai Chi Chuan is consists of both spiritual and motion, it flows like a running water of river and follows the rhythm of nature. Although movements of Tai Chi Chuan look very slow, if you practice it for a long time, it is an excellent exercise that preserves health and vigour, prevents illness and prolongs life. The harmoniousmotion is not only can strengthen different part of one's internal organs, it can also provide a greater blood circulation and can be beneficial to central nervous system.

Tai Chi Chuan seems simple, but is full of rich cultural contents. It demonstrates the principle of balance between Yin and Yang in traditional Chinese philosophy. It is a kind of exercise where heaven and man are united as one. This performance is in concord with the concept of Tai Chi theory, embracing motion and stillness in unity. It requires the different parts of the body move together harmoniously.  This sport is very natural and elegant. You can experience the rhythm of music, the meaning of philosophy and the beauty of the routines and the artistic value of poetry.

Up to now, numerous Tai Chi styles have been developed. Among them, Yang Style has been most widespread all over the world because of its simple and easy movements. Many foreigners believe that to practice Tai Chi Chuan is able to "step forward" and "step backward". To "step forward" means you can improve skills in self-defense. To "step backward" means it is good for your health and longevity. Tai Chi has become quite popular, now many countries have already made Tai Chi Chuan a course in schools.

• culture [´kʌltʃə]   n.修养；文化；饲养   (初中英语单词)
• therefore [´ðeəfɔ:]   ad.&conj.因此；所以   (初中英语单词)
• spiritual [´spiritʃuəl]   a.精神(上)的；神圣的   (初中英语单词)
• running [´rʌniŋ]   a.奔跑的；流动的   (初中英语单词)
• illness [´ilnis]   n.生病，不健康，疾病   (初中英语单词)
• strengthen [´streŋθən, ´strenθən]   vt.加强 vi.变强   (初中英语单词)
• nervous [´nə:vəs]   a.神经的；神经过敏的   (初中英语单词)
• cultural [´kʌltʃərəl]   a.文化(上)的；教养的   (初中英语单词)
• contents [´kɔ:ntents]   n.容纳物；要旨   (初中英语单词)
• philosophy [fi´lɔsəfi]   n.哲学；人生观   (初中英语单词)
• performance [pə´fɔ:məns]   n.履行；行为；工作   (初中英语单词)
• concept [´kɔnsept]   n.概念；观念；思想   (初中英语单词)
• poetry [´pəuitri]   n.诗；诗意   (初中英语单词)
• motion [´məuʃən]   n.手势 vt.打手势   (高中英语单词)
• vigour [´vigə]   (=vigor) n.活力；精力   (高中英语单词)
• internal [in´tə:nl]   a.内部的；国内的   (高中英语单词)
• circulation [,sə:kju´leiʃən]   n.循环；流传；发行(量)   (高中英语单词)
• concord [´kɔŋkɔ:d]   n.协定；一致   (高中英语单词)
• stillness [´stilnis]   n.不动；无声，寂静   (高中英语单词)
• elegant [´eligənt]   a.文雅的；优美的   (高中英语单词)
• artistic [ɑ:´tistik]   a.艺术的；有美感的   (高中英语单词)
• symphony [´simfəni]   n.交响乐(曲)   (英语四级单词)
• rhythm [´riðəm]   n.(诗的)韵律；格律   (英语四级单词)
• harmonious [hɑ:məuniəs]   a.协调的，悦耳的   (英语四级单词)
• beneficial [,beni´fiʃəl]   a.有利的，有益的   (英语四级单词)
• traditional [trə´diʃənəl]   a.传统的，习惯的   (英语四级单词)
• widespread [´waidspred]   a.广布的；普遍的   (英语四级单词)