Abstract
Taegeuk is the source and union of the two primary aspects of the cosmos, Eum(陰, Yin) and Yang(陽). The Neo-Confucian philosophers of Chinese Song(宋) dynasty associated Taegeuk with the supreme rational principle of the universe. Taegeuk is a powerful blend of self-discipline, self-defense and healing. It is an art which has grown over the millennia to include hundreds of forms and variations, and can easily take a lifetime to master. Taegeukgwon based on the Taoist philosophies of Eum(陰, Yin) and Yang(陽) is an ancient Eastern form of exercises, characterized by slow reversing movements. There is strong research evidence validating Taegeuk as a safe form of exercise having potential for health promotion and rehabilitation. Today, Taegeukgwon has spread worldwide. The Internal Training of Taegeuk is one of the exercises for regiment. As exercise, Taegeukgwon is designed to provide relaxation in the process of body-conditioning exercise and is drawn from the principles of Taegeuk, notably including the harmonizing of the Eum-yang(陰陽, Yin-yang), respectively the passive and the active principles. It employs flowing, rhythmic, deliberate movements, with carefully individually prescribed stances and positions. In practice, two masters teach the system exactly alike. As a mode of attack and defense, Taegeukgwon resembles Kungfu and is properly considered a martial art. It may be used with or without weapons. Freehand exercise to promote health was practiced in Korea. This training proved to have effect on hypertension, enervation, impotence, premature ejaculation, seminal emission, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and arteriosclerosis. There have been many schools of Taegeukgwon. Depending on school and master, the number of prescribed exercise forms varies from 24 to 108 or more. The objective of this paper is to reconsider Taegeukgwon and its effect on the body and mind-conditioning in Hwangjenaegyeong(黃帝內經).
