Although Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong enjoy several similarities, there are also numerous obvious differences that separate them as two disciplines.

 

The objective of Qigong training is to improve health, prevent disease, cure disease, promote longevity and, recently, develop extraordinary or inborn ability. Tai Chi Chuan training on the other hand is primarily a longevity exercise by the Taoists, and contains martial functions. Recently, people began to practice Tai Chi Chuan for its value as a health maintenance exercise. Therefore, Qigong has its culture in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tai Chi Chuan has its culture in traditional Chinese philosophy and martial art. The following are some difference between these two kinds of culture.

 

Tai Chi Chuan evolved into five major family styles based on the practitioners' experiences. Qigong is divided into five major schools based on their objectives. Medical Qigong School is for strengthening one's health, treating and preventing disease. Confucian Qigong School is for one's self-cultivation and temperament. Taoist Qigong School is for one's cultivation of moral character and longevity.

 

In Qigong training, for each exercise and movement, the concentration is on regulating the body, the breathing and the spirit to improve health, cure disease and achieve extraordinary or inborn ability. In Tai Chi Chuan training, for each movement, the concentration is on the movement's physical correctness to integrate the other three components: Physical Body, Chi, Intent and Spirit, and the effectiveness as a martial strike.

 

Practicing Qigong can bring out the extraordinary or inborn ability and the sensation of chi quicker than the practice of Tai Chi Chuan. This is so because Qigong exercises are created to achieve specific objectives, e.g. cure disease. There are some advance Qigong techniques that work directly with the Original Spirit by supplying or channeling elements from outside the body. This is why these advance techniques have superiority over Tai Chi Chuan in improving one's health and bringing extraordinary or inborn ability.

 

There are some advance Qigong techniques that can clear the meridians more quickly than Tai Chi Chuan as described above. Generally, Qigong clears the meridians in three methods. In the Static Method, the Chi is mobilized by the Intent to circulate. In the Dynamite Method, the Chi is mobilized by specific physical movement. In the third method, the Chi is mobilized by the external Chi. Tai Chi Chuan clears the meridians primarily by applying physical movement to mobilize the Chi to circulate. Therefore, Qigong is superior, it is able to clear the meridians and develop Chi sensation quicker than Tai Chi Chuan.

 

Tai Chi Chuan came from the Taoist teachings. The Tai Chi Chuan's Solo Form reflects the Taoist philosophy of harmonizing with the universe or environment. Today, people recognize this as a very important factor in life. The ancient Chinese already recognized this issue and recommended that people should live in harmony with the environment. This is why they proposed the philosophy of Harmony among heaven, earth and people. This issue had been researched extensively among Taoists who came up with Tai Chi Chuan as the solution. 

 

Qigong’s harmony with the environment is mainly to achieve specific objectives such as extraordinary or inborn ability by absorbing energy from the environment, curing disease, strengthening the physical health and purifying the mind and temperament. Therefore, Qigong's Dynamic and Static methods have many levels of exercises, each of which is easy to practice and each is focused on the relationship of the three components such as Heaven vs Earth, Heaven vs People, Earth vs People, People vs People to achieve quicker result. In Tai Chi Chuan training, the emphasis is on the introduction and understanding of the philosophy of harmony among heaven, earth and people. In Qigong training, it is a step further; the emphasis is on the application and functions of this philosophy.