Dao Lun | The Essential Teachings of the Eight Great Masters of Tai Chi

Chinese Tai Chi· Promote the Dao and cultivate righteousness

The key points of Tai Chi are the essence of the masters’ insights and experiences, and have always been an unspoken secret. Understanding him is like seeing the path he has walked. If you can correctly grasp his insights, it will be of great help to your boxing practice. However, some things can only be sensed but not expressed in words. Only when you taste the crab can you know its flavor.

One’s own understanding of others’ descriptions may be somewhat off, not to mention that some of their consciousness cannot be perfectly expressed in words. It can only be understood but not expressed in words. One should not interpret things rigidly, take them out of context, or make groundless guesses. As long as you practice correctly, over time and with sufficient effort, you will naturally understand its meaning. If one can understand and grasp it, improving oneself from this starting point is, after all, a shortcut to practicing martial arts.

The following are the key points of the essence of Tai Chi classics, for everyone to ponder and collect.

Chen Xin“Tai Chi Chuan Theory”

Original text

The name of the martial art is Tai Chi, but it is actually the natural operation of the heavenly mechanism and the natural opening and closing of Yin and Yang. Not a single bit is forced. Forcing is not the natural principle of Tai Chi and cannot be called Tai Chi Chuan. The spirit lies in its accumulation and should not be exposed.

Explanation

Tai Chi Chuan is actually a form of boxing that follows the natural movement laws of celestial bodies. The transformation of Yin and Yang (here referring to all the positive and negative sides) is not forced at all. If it is subjectively forced, it is not the principle that Tai Chi conforms to natural movement. In terms of mental (inner strength), the key lies in storage and accumulation; it should not be superficial.

Mr. Sun Lutang

Original text

The essence of the Dao flows naturally in one breath; emptiness and tranquility are the hardest to seek.

All methods are of no use; the form should flow like water.

Explanation

The Great Way follows the unity of nature. Emptiness and tranquility are the most difficult states. All the techniques of practicing boxing have no fixed rules. Just remember that your body flows like water (here, the softness of water is used to describe naturalness, without forcing it).

Mr. Wang Xiangzhai

Original text

The so-called “peng Jing” is like rowing a boat on water. First, it consolidates the qi of the dantian. Secondly, it suspends the head. The whole body is like a spring, opening and closing at a certain distance. Even with a thousand jin of force, it is not difficult to float.

Explanation

The so-called “Peng Jin” is like water supporting a boat. First, it enriches the qi of the dantian, then suspends the head, and the body opens and closes naturally like a spring. Even if one has a thousand pounds of force, it is not difficult to float like a boat.

Mr. Yang Luchan

Original text

Hit people inside the circle and push people outside it.

Explanation

Yang Luchan taught Quan You Kung Fu. Quan You was one of his three major disciples. He was good at softening and was regarded as the progenitor of the Wu family’s Tai Chi. Later, when Yang Luchan retired and returned to her hometown, Quan You followed her with reluctance. Yang then got out of the sedan chair and said to him, “I swore that day that I had taught you all the skills and not a single move was left behind. Anyway, remember, ‘Hit someone inside the circle and push someone outside the circle.'”

Chen Changxing“Essential Words for Military Use”

Original text

A punch comes from the heart, and a fist is thrown at will. One must always know oneself and the opponent, and adapt to circumstances as they arise.

Explanation

The attacks in Tai Chi are all launched in accordance with the control of the heart (here emphasizing that the spirit and energy of Tai Chi are the sovereign), and one must be able to understand oneself and the opponent, and adapt to the changing situation.

Mr. Hao Weizhen

Original text

When one first practices Tai Chi, it feels as if one is in water with both feet on the ground, and the movements are as if there is water resistance. The second layer is like being in water, with both feet floating, floating in the water and being able to move freely. On the third level, the body is light and agile, with feet as if walking on water, walking on ice in a deep pool, and the spirit is reserved, not daring to be the least bit scattered. This boxing move is complete.

Explanation

When I first started practicing Tai Chi, it was like my body was in water while my feet were on the ground, and there was always resistance in my movements. In the second stage, just like the body is in water, the feet also float in water and can move freely like water. In the third stage, the body is very light and flexible. The feet walk as if on water or on the thin ice above a high cliff. The spirit is gathered in the heart without the slightest distraction. At this point, the boxing practice is completed.

Chen Ziming“Chen Family’s Hereditary Tai Chi Boxing”

Original text

Non-greed and non-delusion: When practicing Tai Chi, the most important thing is to avoid being greedy for too much, especially to refrain from acting rashly. All applications and postures should be correct. Only in this way can one avoid getting sick after mastering the practice and make progress easily. However, if one is greedy or rash, the achievements will be rare. This drawback is inevitable for beginners and should be paid close attention to.

Explanation

When learning Tai Chi, the most feared thing is to seek speed and quantity. In particular, one must not make changes without authorization. If both the movements and the mental techniques are learned correctly, there will be no mistakes after mastering the practice and progress will be very fast. If one seeks quantity and allows subjective changes and developments, no achievements will be made. In fact, nine out of ten such mistakes will be made. One must pay attention.

Nameless Master

Original text

Holding a hoe empty-handed, riding a water buffalo on the road, a person crosses the bridge, the water flows but the boat doesn’t.

Explanation

Holding a hoe with bare hands mainly talks about the initial enlightenment period, where both hands should be empty.

Walking and riding a water buffalo should be something that occurs during the middle stage of spiritual practice. On the surface, one sweats profusely and walks with great effort, but inside, it is the pure and wonderful conduct of a Bodhisattva.

The phrase “A person walks on a bridge” should refer to the later stage of cultivation. After achieving perfection in one’s merits, there is still a bridge to go before reaching one’s ideal, corresponding to the practice of “cultivating the spirit and returning to emptiness”.

The phrase “The bridge and the flowing water do not flow” refers to the state of mind after attaining Buddhahood. In simple terms, it means “What is still is moving, what is moving is still, there is both movement and stillness.”