75. Wudang quan & Ti kuan yin oolong

The Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin 觀音 transcends both Taoist and Buddhist belief. Hence the distinction between what is internal and what is external holds no meaning with regards to her. Oolong 烏龍茶 in general is the Chinese tea category in between black and green tea. Whether light or dark, this accidental black dragon has become its own thing. One does not need to believe in dragons or Kwan Yin to have an appreciation for Ti Kuan Yin Oolong 鐵觀音烏龍茶. The Wudang Mountains are in Northwest Hebei, China and is home to some of the most formidable martial arts collectively known as Wudang Quan 武當拳. All are dedicated to the Way - the Tao. And all are associated with the Chinese God of Martial Arts Xuan Wu 玄武. The symbolic relationship between the two gods is like fire and water. And the nearest Western equivalent is the old story of the policeman married to the nurse. Hence when one learns a martial art for fighting, one also learns it for healing. Which has sometimes been referred to as the Paradox of the Martial Arts. But there is no actual paradox. The paradox only exists in the minds of the one dimensional. A condition fueled these days by our need to live in a world of certainty. We want everything to be just so. And when it gets disturbed, we tend to react quite aggressively. Hence it can be quite a challenge to fully grasp the subtle complex taste and aroma of Ti Guan Yin Oolong 鐵觀音烏龍茶. Not everything martial can be taught by way of the fist, no matter how good the fighter. And money does not a fighter make. The great masters knew this. That is why they practiced kungfucha 功夫茶 alongside their Wudang martial art styles. These days in China, any martial art not associated with Buddhism and the Shaolin Monastery is generally referred to as Wudang Quan 武當拳. This isn’t totally accurate. But then these distinctions get lost on those not familiar with real martial arts or real Ti Kuan Yin oolong. Liked what you heard & want to connect with me? Join me at… linkedin.com/in/peterhainzl/