Tai Chi Chuan, often known as Tai Chi, has its roots in ancient China and has gained popularity as a martial art and a means of self-defense. It is credited to the fabled Taoist monk Zhang Sanfeng and was created over several decades. Tai Chi philosophy is greatly impacted by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Taoism. It represents the idea of yin and yang, the balancing of opposites, and the movement of life force, or "qi" (pronounced "chee").