鄭曼青宗師與門下三位大師

 

鄭曼青宗師與門下三位大師

                               

鄭曼青易理談陰陽相濟

Cheng Man-Ching used I-Ching to interpret “yin and yang supplement each other”

太極拳需分「一陰一陽」之謂道，守勢為第一。譬如「一陽一陰」便成為「天地否 」。「地天泰 」，能守方可言攻，現在要求進步，必須從守方面著手，等於「水火既濟 」。

 

鄭子以易經的「天地否」「地天泰」「水火既濟」等三個卦象，引導習者進入陰陽相濟的領域。

Cheng Man-Ching used the Hexagram Pi （天地否）the Hexagram Tai（地天泰）and the Hexagram Ji Ji (水火既濟), three guas in I-Ching, to lead learners into the realm of yin and yang supplementing each other.

「天地否」：上卦陽氣往上升，下卦陰氣往下降，陰陽二氣互不交合。不合乎太極拳之道。

 

The Hexagram Pi「」: The yang (hot) air of the upper trigram (three yang yaos) ascends, and the yin (cold) air of the lower trigram (three yin yaos) descends. Therefore yang and yin will never meet, so they have no chance to supplement each other.

 

「地天泰」：上卦陰氣往下降，下卦陽氣往上升，陰陽二氣相互交合，為太極拳之道。

The Hexagram Tai「」：The yin (cold) air of the upper trigram (three yin yaos) descends, and the yang (hot) air of the lower trigram (three yang yaos) ascends. Therefore, yang and yin will meet, so they have a better chance to supplement each other.

 

「水火既濟」：陰不離陽，陽不離陰，陰陽二氣相輔相成，是太極拳聽勁、懂勁、階及神明的最佳訓練法，也是展現「以柔克剛」技藝最佳的途徑之一。

 

The Hexagram Ji Ji「」：The six yaos of alternating yin and yang of the upper trigram and the lower trigram form Hexagram Ji Ji (既濟卦)。Yin and yang are neighbors, never far from each other, so they are best positioned to supplement each other, thus fire and water help each other (水火既濟) . To know how yin and yang supplement each other is one of the best ways to learn to be familiar with jing (ting-jing), understand jing (dong-jing), and approach all-knowing and unfathomable to others, and it is also the best way to show how to “overcome hardness with softness.” 

 

鄭曼青太極拳架與推手技藝

Cheng Man-Ching on Tai Chi Chuan Form and Pushing Hands

 

陰陽妙用須於拳架與推手求之。先採攻守為進程之階，不可越體用二法。

太極拳陰陽（虛實、動靜與剛柔）變化的要領必須從拳架訓練中去磨練與體會，其妙用展現於推手互動中。

In Tai Chi Chuan, changes between yin and yang include shifting between being still and moving (in the arms), empty and full (in the legs), and supple and rigid (in the whole body), which Soong J. J. (Song Zhi-Jian) called “the three aspects of yin and yang.” Be mindful of these aspects in your form practice, and their wonders will show in your pushing hands.

  

攻者為陽，守者為陰，攻不可強取，守不可緊張，必須「守必固、攻必取」，皆從自然而能得者為上也。

     就攻守而言，攻者為陽，守者為陰，攻者，要隨勢而動。守者，要能放鬆柔化且穩定，以自然的方式去化解對手的招式，並加以克制。

Offense is yang and defense is yin. Offense should not be forceful; defense should allow the opponent to come close. Offense is to go with the opponent’s move; defense is to be stable and relaxed. With a sharp sense of where your and his momentum is (“listening”), you can detect and dissolve his every move and then take control of him.

譬如採牽走化，能分虛實之用者，乃為守之為陰。

例如守者以牽採或走化為法，攻者以撥或引導為法，得機勢者，即能無往不利，而得機勢之妙在陰陽之變。

As an example, defense is to draw him in or neutralize him. Offense is to upset and move his center, and then follow his inclination as he loses his balance, guaranteeing your victory.

 

撥擊發放可得應手而用，乃為攻為陽，須要分清之類。其方法是要分清虛實、動靜與剛柔之變的時機。

You must clearly recognize the opportune moment for switching between empty and full, between moving and still, and between rigid and supple.

 

強者先為守勢，弱者為攻勢，守者使左右落空略帶牽採者為得也。攻者以撥靠發放，必須如法，不可自落虛空為得也。

強者是以對手的招式來克制對手，而弱者是不斷的施展自以為有用的招式，而一心只想要打敗對手，反而適得其反。其要領是守者保持「立身中正安舒」、「不偏不倚」，以輕靈的身手化解對手之招式，攻者以撥或引導對手身體之重心，順勢借力，兩者必須隨勢而動。

A wise and hence strong player exploits the opponent’s moves to defeat the opponent. By contrast, a foolish player, badly wanting to win, uses preconceived postures regardless of the opponent’s moves. The desire to beat the other party only leads to the opposite result. 

Defense needs only to keep the body upright, relaxed, and balanced to agilely dissolve attacks. [CMC was repeating] Offense budges the opponent to upset his center, and then follows him as he further loses his balance. Both defense and offense should be done naturally, never forcefully. Then you can defeat your opponent.

  

太極拳須分「一陰一陽」之為道，守勢為第一。譬如「一陽一陰」便成為「天地否」「地天為泰」，能守方可言攻。

太極拳之道在於陰陽的變化，柔化是最重要的方法，若以主動積極的攻勢為法，是很難體會「以柔克剛」的真諦，若以柔化為出發點，要體會「以柔克剛」的技藝，將是指日可待。

The key to Tai Chi Chuan is found in timely switches between yin and yang. Defense is of the utmost importance. Taking the offensive will make it difficult for you to appreciate the real essence of “softness defeats hardness,” which is attainable if you begin with supple defense.

  

現在要求進步，必須從守方面著手，等於水火既濟。 

要進步必須從柔化方面著手，等時機成熟自然水到渠成。

Therefore, you must start with defense, using suppleness to neutralize attacks; this approach will naturally help you progress in your practice.

** Yang first leads to certain defeat; yin first assures success.—I Jing

 

 

鄭曼青大師太極要訣

Cheng Man-Ching 's Tips on Tai Chi

 

行如沙漠走駱駝，坐對人間笑彌勒。

處則兩足虛實分，臥似彎弓向右側。

行、立、坐、臥無處不太極。

There is Taiji when walking, standing, sitting or lying.  

 

行如沙漠走駱駝。 行走時，如同駱駝依靠腳掌上之鬆柔肉墊，而能輕鬆靈活的行走於沙漠中。

Walk like a camel walking in the desert. A camel can walk easily and flexibly in the desert with the broad pad that connects its two toes.

處則兩足虛實分。

When standing, differentiate the insubstantial and substantial of the feet.

站立行事時，雙手有動靜、雙腳有虛實，身體有剛柔，尤其習慣單腿交互承擔身體重量。

When standing and acting, distinguish between stillness and movement in the hands, empty and solid in the legs, rigid and flexible in the body, and we must be especially accustomed to using one-leg to bear the whole weight of the body.

坐對人間笑彌勒；臥似彎弓向右側。

When sitting, face the world like you are Lord Maitreya Buddha. Lie like a bow, bending to the right.

 

坐臥時，身如彌勒佛般，安享自在。心如嬰兒在母親子宮裡，悠然自得。

When sitting and lying down, the body is like Lord Maitreya Buddha, and you will enjoy peace of mind.  The heart is like a baby in the mother's womb, carefree and at ease.

鄭曼青大師太極拳十二字訣

Cheng Man-Ching’s 12 Keywords for Tai Chi Chuan

 

若問余四十年之心得。卻只有十二字。曰。吞天之氣。接地之力。壽人以柔。 《太極拳自修新法 鄭曼青著》

 

If you ask what I have learned after 40 years of Tai Chi Chuan practice, I can answer in 12  words (吞天之氣。接地之力。壽人以柔。): Swallow qi from heaven, receive energy from the ground, and suppleness makes for longevity.

 

「吞天之氣」、「接地之力」、「壽人以柔」。

鄭子藉由易經3爻卦，上爻（天）、中爻（人）、下爻（地）或6爻卦中的5、6爻（天）、3、4爻（人）、1、2爻（地）等爻陰陽的變化，來詮釋修練太極拳技藝四十年，所領悟到的境界。

 

Master Cheng Man-Ching used I-Ching’s “heaven (天)”, “ground (地)”, and “people (人)” and the changes between yin yao and yang yao to describe what he had learned after 40 years of Tai Chi Chuan practice.

 

「吞天之氣」﹕

身體經過鬆柔技藝的訓練後，由腳底的湧泉、臀部的尾閭與會陰、腰部的命門、背部的夾脊、到頭部的玉枕、百會等等穴道氣的運行更順暢(moves smoothly)、筋、骨與關節更靈活(enjoy larger range of motion)、肌肉與皮膚感應更敏銳(sensitivity)，身體將更能感應外在的變化，聽勁與走化的能力自然敏銳，是謂「吞天之氣」。

 

Utilize the body to sense external changes. (literal translation: Swallow qi from heaven.)

After supple Tai Chi training, a practitioner’s qi moves more smoothly through acupuncture points throughout the body; tendons, bones, and joints enjoy larger ranges of motion; and muscles and skin become more sensitive. The practitioner becomes more sensitive to the changes outside his body, enabling him or her to more quickly perceive incoming attacks and neutralize them with more agility. Cheng Man-Ching named all this “swallow qi from heaven.”

「接地之力」：

身體經過鬆柔技藝的訓練後，有利於調整身體角度到最佳的位置，即能借地球的引力、反作用力、及慣性力，展現「以柔克剛」的技藝，是謂「接地之力」。

 

Utilize nature’s gravity, ground reaction force, and inertia. (Receive energy from the ground.)  

After supple Tai Chi training, a practitioner’s body can more easily be adjusted to a position that best utilizes gravity, ground reaction force, and inertia, enabling him or her to “overcome hardness with softness.” Cheng Man-Ching named this “receive the force of the ground.”

 

「壽人以柔」﹕

身體經過鬆柔技藝的訓練後，促使氣血的運行無阻，大腦思考敏銳，身體動作輕靈敏捷，如此自然能健康長壽，是謂「壽人以柔」。

 

Suppleness helps you live longer. (Suppleness makes people live longer.)

After supple Tai Chi training, a practitioner’s blood and qi can circulate without hindrance, his or her brain can think clearly, and his or her body can be light and agile, enabling him or her to enjoy health and longevity. Cheng Man-Ching named this “suppleness makes for longevity.”

 

宋志堅宗師十二字訣

Soong. J. J’s 12 Key Words for Tai Chi Chuan

如何做到鄭子的十二字訣，宋志堅宗師提出了，頂正頸鬆。足下有根。身正體鬆等十二字訣。

 

When asked how to attain the state that Cheng Man-Ching described in his 12-word (吞天之氣。接地之力。壽人以柔。Swallow qi from heaven, receive energy from the ground, and suppleness makes for longevity), Soong JJ answered in 12 words, too. (頂正頸鬆。足下有根。身正體鬆。 Head upright and neck relaxed, There is root underfoot, Body upright and relaxed)

頂正頸鬆，吞天之氣

Keep head upright and neck relaxed to swallow qi from heaven.

足下有根，接地之力

There is root underfoot to receive energy from the ground. 

身正體鬆，壽人以柔

Body remains upright and relaxed, and then suppleness makes for longevity.

 

能「吞天之氣」，頭部的中正，及頸椎的放鬆是關鍵，是謂「頂正頸鬆」。

Head upright and neck relaxed: Keeping the head upright and the neck relaxed is key to swallow qi from heaven.

 

能「接地之力」，腿力是根基，是謂「足下有根」。

There is root underfoot: The strength of the legs is the foundation of being able to receive energy from the ground.

 

能「壽人以柔」，身體各部位必需保持中正安舒，是謂「身正體鬆」。

Body upright and relaxed: The whole body must be upright and relaxed, and then suppleness makes for longevity.

1958年鄭曼青宗師（2排左4）宋志堅宗師（2排左1）及眾弟子合影

 

 

陶炳祥大師名言

放鬆，擺正，一條腿，一起動

Relax, body upright, weight on one leg, and move as a coordinated whole

        意思是身體保持放鬆、中正、單腿支撐身體，而且具備整體的協調能力，例如：在推手互動中，要能確保身體放鬆、中正及單腿支撐身體重量，又要能洞察對手的招式與企圖心，並加以克制。

     In his concise saying, Master Tao encapsulates the essence of TCC in ten Chinese characters: 放鬆，擺正，一條腿，一起動 (literally, relax, body upright, weight on one leg, and move as a coordinated whole).

     

Relaxing, keeping the body upright, putting your weight on one leg are three important elements of good TCC. It would be easier to do the one without paying heed to the other two, but in good TCC, it is essential to do all three well at the same time and in a coordinated way. For example, in pushing hands, you are relaxed, upright, single weighted, and still you have spare energy to observe your opponent’s movements and intention and you are still able to nullify his attacks and control his center.

 

羅邦禎大師名言

「No Burn, No Earn」

忍受痛苦，才能獲得回報

        意思是股四頭肌若能忍受身體重量的負荷，腿力才能獲得增長的回報，這也是傳統站樁的訓練方式。

        羅邦禎大師最著名的訓練法，是以站樁的方式來修正習者的拳架動作與要領，羅大師的名言：「No Burn, No Earn」就是從苦練裡獲得進步。習者一邊站架子，一邊審視自己的太極拳要領，大師不斷的重覆：「身體不要傾斜，虛腳不能有重量。」並不斷地要學員記住大師的名字叫「Bend Low」（蹲低）此乃「Ben Lo」的諧音，這是鍛鍊腿力的訓練法，尤其是增強股四頭肌的肌耐力，是身體保持輕靈與平衡的最佳途徑之一。

        羅邦禎大師五項重點：鬆柔、分虛實，轉腰胯，立身中正以及美人手。

Master Lo's famous saying "No Burn, No Earn"

The famous saying means if you can endure bitterness you will get the reward. In other words, only after the quadriceps have sufficiently borne the weight of your own body will they be able to grow in strength sufficient to support you and reward you with improved balance, which, by the way, is also the reward that post standing (站樁) offers to its practitioners.