I know what Tai Chi Chaun is. I'm trying to understand the difference between Qi/Chi and Taichi, and can't find any information on the question. One book I'm reading seems to equate them, referring to them both as the "One" that Chapter 42 of the Tao Te Ching states as stemming from the Way. But they have different characters: 氣/气 for Chi, and 太極/太极 for Tai Chi, and I assume that the Tao Te Ching only uses one of these. What is the difference between Chi and Tai Chi, or is there a difference?
"Chi" is a concept that can relate to breath or intrinsic energy. Commonly found in traditional Chinese medicine theory, as well as certain religious/monastic practices. In the martial arts, 'Chi' is often misunderstood as some sort of 'energy' that can be transferred in order to hurt an opponent, sometimes without physical contact. "TaiChi" is the term that refers to the interplay between the forces of Yin and Yang (IE: the Yin/Yang diagram is actually called the TaiChi diagram.
