Ultimately Taijiquan is not about its appearance but its content. Without expressing the content the practice is incomplete and has not reached its final goal.
Successful practice requires the understanding of core principles in order to bring about its content. Realising the existence of content enables deeper study. However, appearance and content are dual facets of Taijiquan. Appearance without content is flawed, but then expression is required to bring forth, exhibit and validate the content.
The appearance can be viewed as the path that leads to a destination. One needs the path to go forward, but one must not remain on the path. A boat takes one across the water to the other side, but one needs to step off the boat on the other side.
Often people do not realise this and devote time and effort to maintain appearance rather than expressing Taijiquan's content. Being able to do a form beautifully does not necessarily mean one is exhibiting its content and character. Taijiquan movements without its content is not Taijiquan.
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