These historical explanations are simply wonderful!. From this point of view, the early sages conservatively practiced to obtain profound results. This art is easy and simple, when facing an enemy — move agilely and unexpectedly. However, for no apparent reason, the number of forms were increased from six to 10, thus the art contained: dragon; tiger; eagle; bear; chicken; monkey; swallow; hawk; horse; snake; with thunder being relegated to a mere addendum. Then the art was changed again in which alligator and pigeon were added, and thunder deleted. Furthermore, the name was changed to Xing-yi 形意, meaning shape and thought. What was simple became complicated. Moreover, the deletion of thunder made no sense as the art was now deficient in a method to startle. Consequently, Xinyi Liuhe Quan became muddled and its true essence was lost. Prior to these changes and additions, Xinyi Liuhe Quan was easy to teach to the masses and ordinary people could be enlightened to its principles. However, now, later generations are unable to know and see its intrinsic nature. It is like “painting a snake and then adding legs.” (畫蛇添足 huàshétiānzhú, a Chinese idiom or “cheng yu” meaning to ruin the effect by adding something superfluous). Is this not true? The only difference between a dragon and a snake is in size; a monkey and a bear both keep things close and don’t reach out long; and are not hawks and eagles similar? These natures being interchangeable. What is the difference between swallow snatches water and eagle snatches prey? Horse gallops and tiger tramples, are in fact the same. How does adding alligator and pigeon matter? If from the basic form, one can arbitrarily add or delete forms, then an infinity of forms can be added, e.g., “carp stands defiantly” can be the basis for fish form, or “black ox waves its head” is the basis for ox form, “red phoenix looks at the sun” for phoenix form, “tabby cat climbs the tree” for cat form and so on. Why stop at only 12 forms? As for deleting thunder, this was a myopic modification. It was assumed that shouting was vulgar and uncouth. Rather the deletion of thunder was a misunderstanding of its theory and practice (ti-yong 體用), i.e, extending Qi, discharging force, the technique of startling an enemy. Thus those who abandon thunder cannot be said to be practicing Xinyi Liuhe Quan. The special characteristic of Xinyi, as mentioned above, is that it is easy and simple. Its practical application is not in the slightest based on fantasy, but rather science. Science confirms that matter can exert physical force. As stated in the boxing manual: “fighting method must first focus on the torso, then foot and hand can arrive.” . . . “The whole body equally arrives without hindrance.” Upon knowing this, then boxing is not just waving a fist or sending out a foot to surprise an enemy, but using whole body power to respond to a situation, and having the dan-tian command the body. How can the mass of a single fist or a single foot contend with that of the whole body? Take for example a small and skinny person, who only weighs about 50 kilograms, if he or she utilize this mass of 50 kilograms as quickly as lightening and strikes the opponent appropriately, even a big and stalwart opponent could not maintain his balance and stability! This is the same as using a 50 kilogram hammer to attack someone; how can one withstand such an attack. Therefore, Xinyi Liuhe Quan’s power is very fierce. It has numerous methods to strike with the body, the dan tian is the commander, and the limbs are the assistants. Larry Braniff LikeLike · · Share.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 01:07:12 +0000
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