For fans of tai chi , the huge wait to see it get global recognition (正式承认) may soon be over.

对于太极拳迷来说，等待太极拳得到国际认可的漫长岁月，或许很快要熬到头了。

China has nominated (提名) tai chi to be included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产名录). A final decision will be made later this year, reported China Daily.

中国已经提交了将太极拳列入联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产名录的申请。据《中国日报》报道，最终决定将于今年年内公布。

The list was introduced by UNESCO in 2008 to celebrate and protect the world’s cultural diversity. It’s hoped that tai chi will become China’s 38th entry on the list, which already includes Peking Opera and acupuncture¹ (针灸).

该名录由联合国教科文组织于2008年提出，旨在弘扬与保护世界文化多样性。人们希望太极拳将成为中国在该名录上的第38个项目，京剧和针灸此前都已位列其中。

But there are fears that other countries could beat China to UNESCO’s list. “Both South Korea and Japan are competing with us to get tai chi registered (注册),” said Zhang Liyong, a deputy from Henan province, during this year’s meetings of the National People’s Congress.

但现在人们担心，其他国家会在“申遗”这件事上抢先中国一步。“韩国和日本都在和我们抢报太极拳（申遗），”河南省人大代表张立勇在今年的全国人民代表大会上表示。

Tai chi, a kind of martial² art (武术), has been practiced in China for centuries. It combines slow movements, deep breathing (呼吸) and meditation³ (冥想). Every movement in tai chi represents an important part of traditional Chinese philosophy – harmony (和谐).

太极拳是一种在中国被修习数百年的武术。它将缓慢轻柔的动作、深呼吸与冥想三者结合在一起。太极拳的一招一式，都透着中国传统哲学中的重要部分 —— 和谐。

“Tai chi is not just a traditional activity. It is deeply rooted in many areas of Chinese culture, such as medicine and aesthetics⁴ (美学),” Zhu Xianghua, 40, told China Daily. He is the son of the famous tai chi master Zhu Tiancai from the village of Chenjiagou, Henan. This is widely thought to be the birthplace of tai chi.

“太极拳不仅仅是项传统运动。它根植于中国文化的方方面面，如医药及美学等等，”今年40岁的朱向华在接受《中国日报》采访时表示。朱向华是来自河南省陈家沟村的著名太极拳宗师朱天才之子。而陈家沟也被认为是太极拳的诞生地。

Although it’s popular, the idea that tai chi is for the elderly has stopped many young people practicing the ancient martial art. They think of it as a slow exercise, which is better suited for their grandparents.

尽管太极拳备受欢迎，但老年人才打太极的想法，让不少年轻人将这一古老的武术拒之门外。他们认为这种慢节奏的运动更适合自己的祖父母。

“The first impression I have of tai chi is that it’s something old people do in parks,” Yin Haolong, a 29-year-old graphic⁵ designer from Beijing, told The Christian⁶ Science Monitor.

“我对太极拳的第一印象是，这是老年人在公园里做的运动。”北京的一位29岁平面设计师尹浩龙（音译）在接受《基督教科学箴言报》采访时表示。

Instead, many young people are turning to the Indian practice of yoga (瑜伽), which was placed on UNESCO’s list last year. According to Chinese market research firm Daxue Consulting, about 10 million Chinese people practiced yoga in 2014, up from 4 million in 2009. Many of them do yoga to keep fit and relieve stress.

与此相反的是，不少年轻人转而练习印度瑜伽，该项目于去年被纳入联合国教科文组织名录。据中国市场调研公司DX咨询的数据显示，2014年，大约有1千万中国人练习瑜伽，而2009年这一数字仅为4百万。这些人大部分都是为了保持身体健康和减压练习瑜伽的。

Tai chi is also a great way to keep healthy. Researchers from the American College of Rheumatology found that it can help manage several diseases.

太极拳也是保持健康体魄的一种极佳方式。美国风湿病学会的研究人员发现，这种运动有助于控制多种疾病。

At the same time, more efforts are being made to get young people to practice this kind of martial art. Xi’an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi province requires (要求) students to learn tai chi.

与此同时，人们为了让年轻人练习这种武术也做出了更多的努力。陕西省的西安交通大学就要求学生们学习太极拳。

Wang Yunbing, a professor with the university’s sports center, told China Daily that tai chi is not only good physical exercise, but is also connected to ancient Chinese civilization.

该高校体育中心的教授王云冰在接受《中国日报》采访时表示，太极拳不仅仅是很好的锻炼项目，还和古代中华文明密切相连。