Taï-Chi – « The Temple of the Strait » | 太极拳 – « 海峡的寺庙 »

Since 1949, Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have lived a political separation without any formal peace treaty. Beijing considers Taiwan a rebellious province that must be reunified, by force if necessary, while Taiwan increasingly asserts its own identity and democratic system. China's growing military and diplomatic power, combined with Taiwan’s strengthening ties with Western countries, particularly the United States - has heightened tensions.

In 2024, the election of a pro-sovereignty Taiwanese president triggered a hardening of Chinese military demonstrations in the Taiwan Strait. The fragile status quo now rests on a delicate strategic balance: deterring conflict while avoiding crossing critical red lines.
Although Taiwan is not recognized as a sovereign state by most countries, it continues to build informal alliances and strengthens its economic, military, and technological resilience. The geopolitical situation is marked by an asymmetric rivalry: Beijing applies hybrid pressure (economic, media, military), while Taiwan relies on its democratic legitimacy and growing international support to maintain its de facto autonomy.
In this volatile context, any initiative fostering mutual understanding, cultural empathy, and peace becomes urgent and indispensable.


Taï-Chi – « The Temple of the Strait »
A temple on water, two nations, one breath.

The relationship between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan is woven from a complex historical fabric, which today, more than ever, demands new gestures to ease tensions.

The Tai-Chi concept offers a peaceful response, a vision for the future where differences do not divide, but intertwine to create new energy. It is designed to be apolitical, intercultural, and solely dedicated to spreading a message of peace, reconciliation, and dialogue between China and Taiwan—rendering any rigid ideological appropriation meaningless.
The name Tai-Chi itself is a powerful symbol: a contraction of Taiwan and China, embodying the union of two entities into one shared breath.

This play on words becomes a semantic bridge: Tai (Taiwan) and Chi (China), joined like the two forces of yin and yang.
Moreover, in Chinese, Tai (太) means "grand, supreme" and Chi (极) means "ultimate, extreme," together evoking the "Grand Ultimate" (太极), the source of all duality in Taoist philosophy.

Between China and Taiwan, at the heart of the strait, two interlaced rings will rise from the waters evoking the flowing forms of Tai Chi, the yin-yang circle, and the double spiral of shared destiny. Inspired by Taoist values and the art of Tai Chi, this floating temple-bridge embodies balance, reconciliation, and peace.

It invites dialogue, contemplation, and the union of two sister nations.
No borders, no territory, only a sacred space to build a more peaceful future.
One can envision two stylized dragons dancing together, one facing East, the other West, uniting at a central point - a visual symbol of universal balance, movement, and eternity.


Main Objectives of the Project :

> Create a neutral and sacred space, beyond political divides.
The temple would be under neither Chinese nor Taiwanese sovereignty.
It would be declared an "international sacred space," protected by multinational governance and independent institutions.
Its architecture, open to all cardinal directions, would symbolize its non-political nature, offering a refuge of peace for all.

> Preserve peace in a region at high geopolitical risk.
The Tai-Chi Temple would serve as a symbolic bulwark against military escalation and confrontational logics.
By occupying the marine space of the strait with a monument to peace, it would embody an alternative geopolitical narrative: one of interdependence rather than confrontation.
Its very existence would affirm that dialogue and harmony are viable, future-oriented political choices.

> Promote a global message of reconciliation rooted in Taoist wisdom and the universality of Tai Chi.
Drawing from Taoist principles (harmony of opposites, dynamic balance, listening to vital breath) and Tai Chi (fluidity, adaptability, natural rhythm), the temple would emit a universal message:
True strength lies in balance and flexibility, not domination.
This message could be echoed in major international gatherings involving artists, thinkers, spiritual leaders, and global citizens.

> Foster cultural, spiritual, and human exchanges between the two peoples.
Through cultural initiatives—exhibitions, festivals, shared meditation retreats, academic exchanges—the temple would become a living space of peaceful interaction, rebuilding human trust through beauty, culture, and spirituality, beyond the logic of formal treaties and tense negotiations.

> Cross-readings alternating speakers from both shores to illustrate complementary perspectives.
A continuous cycle of cross-conferences would be established, where a Taiwanese speaker would always be followed by a Chinese speaker, and vice-versa.
The goal would be to show, through diverse viewpoints, that mutual listening enriches rather than divides.
Topics could range from Taoist philosophy to science, from traditional arts to contemporary governance, reflecting both shared heritage and constructive differences.

> Symbolic peace ceremonies centered on mutual respect.
At symbolic dates, rituals of peace would be organized where participants could offer flowers, burn incense—simple but powerful gestures dissolving resentment into a shared momentum of life.
Musical performances, joint dances, and collective artistic expressions would reinforce the sacred nature of these ceremonies, held annually.

> Stimulate international cultural tourism committed to peace.
Finally, the temple would become a major destination for meaningful tourism, attracting:
Spiritual travelers seeking harmony, diplomats and NGOs dedicated to peace, academics, artists, intercultural thinkers, and young generations striving to build a new world.
A floating eco-lodge and thematic retreat programs would accompany this vocation, while strictly respecting the marine ecology of the strait.