Tao is the most inclusive concept in Chinese culture, the center of all philosophical and spiritual belief. It may be defined as a path, a way, a doctrine, or the natural process of the universe itself. Every art and science is called a Tao or a way.
From a rhythmic perspective, the I Ching offers and represents a "Tao of Drumming." The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text and divination system. It is the wellspring of Chinese thought, stressing the connection between humanity's destiny and the natural world. Philosophically, it describes the universe as a single, flowing, rhythmic being, and all things in it in constant cyclical change. Everything is t'ai chi -- one universal energy, which expresses itself as two polarized yet complementary aspects, yin and yang. Yin and yang ebb and flow, creating the cycles and rhythms of life.
By observing nature, the sages perceived all of the rhythms and energy patterns that arise from the interaction of yin and yang. They then coded these rhythmic patterns into a "book of life." The I Ching's sixty-four hexagrams represent a code or program of the operating principle of life itself. Each six-line configuration is the visual representation of a rhythm archetype. The image pattern of each hexagram generates a particular drum pattern based on the sequence of the yin and yang lines. Each rhythmic pattern pulsates a particular resonance, which stimulates, works with, and informs the body, mind, and spirit in the most optimal manner for effecting change or harmonizing with change.
The drummer may then utilize the I Ching as a gauge, a precise means for placing oneself in relation to the pattern or way of cyclical change, and that way is known as Tao. It is a guide to harmony and balance and the drum is the instrument of attunement. It is a pathway to the "infinite Tao," the unknowable force that guides the universe and everything in it. Through the beat of the drum, anyone can resonate in harmony with the eternal rhythm of Tao. To learn more, look inside my book I Ching: The Tao of Drumming.
From a rhythmic perspective, the I Ching offers and represents a "Tao of Drumming." The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text and divination system. It is the wellspring of Chinese thought, stressing the connection between humanity's destiny and the natural world. Philosophically, it describes the universe as a single, flowing, rhythmic being, and all things in it in constant cyclical change. Everything is t'ai chi -- one universal energy, which expresses itself as two polarized yet complementary aspects, yin and yang. Yin and yang ebb and flow, creating the cycles and rhythms of life.
By observing nature, the sages perceived all of the rhythms and energy patterns that arise from the interaction of yin and yang. They then coded these rhythmic patterns into a "book of life." The I Ching's sixty-four hexagrams represent a code or program of the operating principle of life itself. Each six-line configuration is the visual representation of a rhythm archetype. The image pattern of each hexagram generates a particular drum pattern based on the sequence of the yin and yang lines. Each rhythmic pattern pulsates a particular resonance, which stimulates, works with, and informs the body, mind, and spirit in the most optimal manner for effecting change or harmonizing with change.
The drummer may then utilize the I Ching as a gauge, a precise means for placing oneself in relation to the pattern or way of cyclical change, and that way is known as Tao. It is a guide to harmony and balance and the drum is the instrument of attunement. It is a pathway to the "infinite Tao," the unknowable force that guides the universe and everything in it. Through the beat of the drum, anyone can resonate in harmony with the eternal rhythm of Tao. To learn more, look inside my book I Ching: The Tao of Drumming.
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