Time to Shine

It’s early morning in a park in China. People, mostly seniors, wearing loose, almost pajama-like, outfits with a mandarin collar are honing their Taijiquan skills. More commonly known as tai chi, this is a traditional Chinese martial art practiced for defense training, health benefits and meditation. The characteristically relaxed and circular movements have their roots in the mid-17th century in Wenxian County, Henan Province.

In 2020, was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 15th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. On its website, UNESCO described how the practice works “in harmony with breath regulation and the cultivation of a righteous and neutral mind,” and is “practiced throughout the