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| Subject:
Tai Chi Chuan Commentary |
Author:
Wang Tsung Yueh |
Upload time:
2007-11-20 11:05:28 |
Content:
The Great Ultimate (Tai Chi) arises from the state of Ultimate Nothingness (Wu Chi). It (Tai Chi) acts as a pivot for the change between the dynamic and the static, and is the mother of the alternations of yin and yang. In movement, substantiality and insubstantiality (solidity and emptiness) will be differentiated; when coming to still, they are combined. Whether one advancing, retreating, turning, or transferring, there must not be the appearance of too much or of not enough. When one extends the hands, one must reach out and follow the opponent's bending or folding. When one meets hard and strong force form the opponent, one must cope with it by soft turning with retreating, or by yielding. In boxing arts, this is called tsou or 'neutralizing'. On the other hand, when the opponent retreats or yields, one must follow his retreating movements and follow him by attaching. This is called chan, or attaching. If the opponent moves quickly, one must react quickly. When the opponent moves slowly, one must also follow slowly. Throughout the endless variety of dynamic and static states and the flow of yin and yang, this point of the theory of Tai Chi Chuan remains constant. The study of this martial art must begin with substantial practice of particulars. Gradually one may then reach the level of tung chin (understanding), or 'understanding ability'. By continuing to practice diligently after reaching the level of tung chin it is possible to attain to a level reaching self central spirituals. This level of Tai Chi Chuan can not be mastered quickly; it requires long and skillful learning and practice.
When practicing Tai Chi Chuan you must achieve to loose the neck and suspend the head straight and to guide your chi into tan-tien. The weight must be kept stable and in equilibrium. One must not lean or sink to another side. The chi in the body may sometimes appear and sometimes seem to disappear. Coming in contact with an opponent, if one feels a pressure on the left, simply empty the left side. If it comes to the right side just relaxed the right side. When contemplating the heights of Tai Chi Kung-fu, it seems so high as to be unattainable. When imagining the depths of this Kung-fu, it may seems so deep but not reachable. When chasing after it, it may seem far away and not easy to catch. When fleeing from it, it seems very close and difficult to escape. To achieve the highest level of Kung-fu, one must be so light that it would seem a feather could not brush his body without causing him to yield. One must be so agile that it would seem a fly or insect could not alight on his skin. Thus an opponent will not be aware of his changes, but he will feel the opponent's changes of dynamic and static, substantial and insubstantial, hard and soft.
In the past, many distinguished, unconquerable heroes developed their Kung-Fu through the procedures mentioned above. This martial art has spawned many heresies. They differ not only in the sole exercise, but also in the area of skill. Most do not go beyond the large and strong defeating the small and weak, and the quick overcoming the slow. In these spin off styles, the more powerful can defeat the less powerful and the slow give way to the quick. These are the results of natural gifts, with no connection to physical or martial arts skill. Just consider the phrase that to push aside a thousand pounds with only four ounces to realize that in Tai Chi Chuan one does not depend on straight force to win. As another example, consider how a man of seventy or eighty years could ever successfully defend himself against a simultaneous attack by several people if he depended on speed alone.
When practicing Tai Chi Chuan, one should be centered himself, upright the body and as stable as a balance-type instruments for weighting. The body and hands should be smooth and active like wheels. If one sinks one side of the body and the hand of the same side onto one leg, one will be passive and lose the superior position. It is not easy to be smooth and agile when one is obstructed by being double-weighted. Often a person practices hard for many years without knowing how to yield and circle well, thus still being easily controlled by others from the first movement. This is due to lack of understanding of the fault of being double-weighted (not having the body's weight rest entirely on one leg). To avoid these defects one must understand attaching, sticking and yin and Yang. Attaching means following the opponent's yielding. Sticking means adhere to the opponent and move in advance of him.
Use the two hands according to the conditions of dynamic and static, substantial and insubstantial, and hard and soft, and allow the yin and yang to flow so that the yin does not leave the yang and the yang does not leave they yin. When the yin and yang complement each other and maintain joining (lien) and following (suie), then one truly 'understands' chin. After attaining this level, one can improve steadily in practice.
Tai Chi Chuan is the boxing art in which one defeats the opponent by 'yielding one's own initiative and following the other'. It is unfortunate that most people make the mistake of 'pursuing what is far and forgetting what is near by'. A small mistake in the beginning can result a significant losses at the end. All the students of Tai Chi Chuan should know and remember all of these meanings.
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