tai(4)

This character means greatest, supreme. It's origins are from the radicalmeans big, great, and is a pictograph of a man with outstretched arms and a dot that has been added for emphasis.

ji(2)

This character means utmost point, extreme, ultimate. This character is composed of parts or radicals. The left hand part = wood. The more complicated right side shows a mouth and hands with a man standing between the two lines, heaven and earth. This right hand part of the character implies struggling, The idea of urgent, anxious is contained.

The character can mean ridgepole, pole, utmost extreme.

tai(4) ji(2) when used together has been translated as "the supreme ultimate." The idea of the "greatest extremes" has deep meaning. The symbol which is usually called the yin-yang is actually called the TaiJi.

This familiar symbol contains light and dark, the greatest extremes.

quan(2) means fist.

The lower part of this character is picture of a hand . The upper part also is a hand with clawmarks and means roll. Together the meaning of fist is apparent.

tai(4)ji(2)quan(2) is the Chinese name for the exercise known to many as Tai Chi. The characters have meaning in the practice. The practice of TaiJi Quan is the experience of the TaiJi as a martial art and source of internal power (derived through the interactions depicted in the TaiJi symbol.)

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