太極拳論-王宗岳 The TaiChi Chuan Treatise-Wang Zong-Yue

太極拳論 王宗岳

太極者，無極而生，陰陽之母也。動之則分，靜之則合，無過不及，隨曲就伸。人剛我柔謂之走，我順人背謂之粘，動急則急應，動緩則緩隨，雖變化萬端，而理唯一貫。由著熟而漸悟懂勁，由懂勁而階及神明，然非用力之久，不能豁然貫通焉。

虛領頂勁，氣沉丹田。不偏不倚，忽隱忽現。左重則左虛，右重則右杳。仰之則彌高，俯之則彌深。進之則愈長，退之則愈促。一羽不能加，蠅蟲不能落。人不知我，我獨知人，英雄所向無敵，蓋皆由此而及也。

斯技旁門甚多，雖勢有區別，概不外乎壯欺弱、慢讓快耳。有力打無力，手慢讓手快，是皆先天自然之能，非關學力而有為也。察四兩撥千斤之句，顯非力勝；觀耄耋能禦眾之形，快何能為？

立如平準，活似車輪，偏沉則隨，雙重則滯。每見數年純功，不能運化者，率皆自為人制，雙重之病未悟耳。欲避此病，須知陰陽。粘即是走，走即是粘，陰不離陽，陽不離陰，陰陽相濟，方為懂勁。懂勁後，愈練愈精，默識揣摩，漸至從心所欲。本是捨己從人，多誤捨近求遠，所謂差之毫厘，謬之千里，學者不可不詳辨焉，是為論。

The TaiChi Chuan Treatise by Wang Zong-Yue

TaiChi is born from WuJi, which is the mother of Yin and Yang. If it moves, it is divided. When it is stillness, it is united. Neither going too far nor not enough, the bending or extending are followed. Who is solid (hard) while I am soft – this is yielding. My energy (position) is followed (better) while whose against (worse) – this is sticking. Who moves quickly, I respond quickly, and who moves slowly, I follow slowly. Although the transformation is myriad, there is only a single principle [of yielding and sticking] throughout. Once you have experienced all techniques, you will gradually comprehend jin (energy). By comprehending jin (energy), you will work your way toward something miraculous. One can not understand it thoroughly without applying effort for a long time.

Head upright to let the vitality rise to the top of the head and Qi (energy) sinks down to your Dan Tian (elixir field), there will be no lean in any direction. Suddenly vanish, yet, suddenly appearing. If one puts pressure on my left side, I let my left side empty, or if one puts pressure on my right side, I make my right side disappeared. If who looks upward at me, who will feel that I am like a mountain which is too tall to ascend, or if who looks downward at me, who will feel that I am like a bottomless abyss. If one advances, one will feel that I am further away and can not be touched. once one retreats, one will feel that I am approaching and one can not escape. A tiny force, as a feather, cannot be added to other's body and a tiny force, as a fly, can not be added to my body. No one can know me, but I know them. People who practice in these methods become undefeatable masters.

There are many other schools of martial arts besides this one. Although their postures are different, they generally do not go beyond the strong bullying the weak and the slow yielding to the fast. The strong beating the weak and the slow submitting to the fast are both a matter of inherent natural ability and not relate to skills that can be learned. Examine the phrase “four ounces moves a thousand pounds”, which is clearly not a victory obtained through strength. Seeing an old man (who is skilled at Taichi) repelling a group of people, how could fast movements influence him.

Standing like a level, move like a wheel. If you sink at one side, you can follow. But if you sink at both sides (double-weighted), you will be stuck. We often see people who have practiced hard for many years yet is unable to perform any neutralizations and is generally under the opponent’s control. That means the error of double-weighted has not yet been understood. If you want to avoid this error, you must understand yin and yang. Sticking is yielding and yielding is sticking. The yin does not depart from the yang and the yang does not depart from the yin. Once yin and yang are cooperated to each other, it means you understand jin (energy or force). After you understand jin, the more practice, the more experience. By trying to figure out and imitate how did those masters do, then gradually you will reach an accomplishment that you can control people and do whatever you want. The basic principle is to forget about your thoughts and simply respond to the opponent, however, people often make a mistake that ignoring that principle and doing useless efforts. For such situations, it is said: “Miss by an inch, lose by a mile.” Learners must understand all this clearly. That is why this article being written down.


Reference:

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/the-taiji-classics/

Taijiquan Classics: An Annotated Translation