Finally, earth conquering water matches central equilibrium defeating beware of the left. This means that in order to defend against force from the left, you have to find your center and stability.
As one can see, trying to fit the five directions into the pattern of the five elements can be even more frustrating and unsatisfactory than is the case with the eight trigrams. It may very well be that the masters of old did not ever intend these philosophical explanations to be taken literally. If you train yourself to always respond a certain way to a certain attack, you are depriving yourself of flexibility and perhaps setting yourself up to be countered. The key point this philosophy teaches is probably that one must always remain mobile and flexible in both hands and footwork. There are many ways to respond to each and every attack, and the more thinking and research you do, the better off you are. The various interpretations of the philosophy reflect different points of view and give the practitioner different ways to train. The philosophy may give you ideas, but all ideas must be tested out. In the final analysis, it is not the philosophy but the practical experiences that are the foundation of taijiquan.
In addition to the thirteen postures, taijiquan is also commonly called soft sequence (mian quan, 綿拳). This is because when taiji is practiced, the forms are soft and smooth, the mind is calm, the qi is round, and jing (勁) is fluid. Taijiquan is also called long sequence (chang quan, 長拳). Chang, San-feng’s Taijiquan Treatise says, “What is the long sequence? It is like a long river and a large ocean, rolling ceaselessly” (see appendix A-1). That means when taiji is practiced, the forms flow smoothly and continuously. The qi flow is also smooth and continuous, and the jing is unbroken. There is another martial style also called chang quan. However, this Shaolin Style should be translated as “long fist” because it specializes in long-range fighting.
1-5. What Does Taiji Training Include?
Taiji has been evolving for more than seven hundred years, and it is very difficult to state just exactly what makes up the art. The content of the art has varied from one generation to the next. For example, one generation might specialize in the taiji spear, and gradually come to ignore other aspects of the art, such as the sword or saber. The contents of the system can also vary from one teacher to another. One might have learned only the sword from his master, and so naturally the sword would be the only weapon he could teach. Some masters will emphasize a particular principle or training method because of their experience, temperament, or research, or perhaps create a new training style for a new weapon.
Since the beginning of the twentieth century, taiji weapons practice has been increasingly ignored. Frequently, only the bare hand solo sequence is taught. In some cases the solo sequence has been modified to make it simpler and shorter, and therefore more accessible to a greater number of people. Although a number of techniques have been eliminated, the sequence still serves the purpose of improving health. However, a simplified sequence may not be enough if one is interested in deeper research and practice. Additionally, the coordination of breath and qi circulation is often ignored. Most people these days learn taiji without ever being exposed to the martial applications of the postures, the concept of jing, bare hand fighting sets, or taiji sparring. Taiji sword and saber sequences, because of their beauty, are practiced in the United States, although the applications of the techniques are seldom taught. Qi enhancement and extension training seems almost to have disappeared. Taiji spear, staff, and ruler can hardly be found in this country.
The reason for this is nothing new. The practitioners today are usually looking for a relatively quick and easy way to improve and maintain their health. Very few are willing to sacrifice their time for the long, hard training required to develop the other aspects of the art. Because of this, both in China and the rest of the world, even if a master is qualified to teach the whole art, he may be reluctant to pass it down to an unappreciative, if not actually doubting, generation. It seems very possible that the deeper aspects of taijiquan will die out in the near future.
The various aspects of taijiquan that are still available are listed below for reference:
1 Bare hand:Taiji Solo SequenceApplications from the Solo SequenceFast Taiji TrainingStill MeditationQi Circulation TrainingJing TrainingPushing Hands and Its ApplicationsTaiji Fighting Set and Deeper Martial ApplicationsTaiji Free Pushing Hands and Sparring
2 Taiji Sword:Taiji Sword Solo SequenceQi Enhancement and Extension TrainingMartial ApplicationsTaiji Sword Matching FormsTaiji Sword Sparring
3 Taiji Saber:Taiji Saber Solo SequenceMartial ApplicationsTaiji Saber Matching FormsTaiji Saber Sparring
4 Taiji Spear and Staff:Individual Spear and Staff Martial TechniquesSpear and Staff Sticking-Matching PracticeLong-Weapons Sparring
5 Taiji Ball:Listening and Understanding Jing TrainingAdhere-Stick Jing TrainingTwo-Person Taiji Ball Training
6 Taiji Ruler:Unknown to Author
1-6. The Proper Approach and the Sequence of Learning Taiji
The Proper Approach to Learning Taiji
Whether or not a person learns something depends upon his attitude and seriousness. First he must make a firm decision to learn it, and then he must have a strong will to fulfill his intention. He needs perseverance and patience to last to the end. Even if a person has all these virtues, his achievement might still be different from that of another person who has the same qualities and personality. The difference is due to their manner of learning. If a person practices and then ponders every new thing he has learned, and keeps going back to research and master it, he will naturally be better than the person who never explores what he has learned. Both students may learn a method for changing rocks into gold, but only the first one will know why the method works. The former’s knowledge will continue to grow and he will soon become a master; the latter will always be only a practitioner.
Taiji theory is profound. It takes many years of learning, research, pondering, and practice to gradually grasp the key to the art and “enter into the temple.” However, the more you learn, the less you are likely to feel you understand. It is just like a bottomless well or a ceaselessly flowing river. In appendix A-6, the reader can find an ancient list of five mental keys the student of taiji needs in order to reach the higher levels of the art. It is said: (1) Study wide and deep; (2) Investigate, ask; (3) Ponder carefully; (4) Clearly discriminate; and (5) Work perseveringly. If you follow this procedure, you can learn anything, even how to become a wise and knowledgeable person.
In addition to the above learning attitude, a good master is also an important key to learning the high art of taijiquan. In China, there is a saying: “A disciple inquires and searches for a master for three years, and a master will test the disciple for three years.” It also says: “A disciple would rather spend three years looking for a good master than learn three years from an unqualified master.” A good master who comprehends the art and teaches it to his students is the key to changing a rock into a piece of gold. It is the teacher who can guide you to the doorway by the shortest path possible and help you avoid wasting your time and energy. It is said: “To enter the door and be led along the way, one needs oral instruction and practice without ceasing; the way is through self-practice” (see appendix A-15). It is also said: “Famous masters create great disciples.” On the other hand, a good master will also judge if a disciple is worth his spending the time and energy to teach. A student can be intelligent and practice hard in the beginning, and change his attitude later on. A student who practices, ponders, humbly asks, and researches on his own will naturally be a good successor to the style. Usually a master needs three years to see through a student’s personality and know whether he is likely to persevere in his studies and maintain a good moral character.
In the fifty years since taijiquan has been popularized, many good taiji books and documents have been published (see bibliography).