Yang family 40 chapters

[Erik the Strange]

I have been reading and slowly digesting the Tai Chi classics. I read about the Yang family 40 chapters. Any links to it? Any other reading material worth checking out on the topic of internal work?

[Steve James]

Doug Wile did a translation of the "40 Chapters" and, iinm, so did Yang Jwing Ming. Wile's book is on Amazon, you can get a used copy for $5 or so.
http://www.amazon.com/Tai-Chi-Touchston ... KWQAY185A5

[cdobe]

There are two versions of the text that are very similar (arrangement and some different characters ). This is basically the same text:
https://brennantranslation.wordpress.co ... i-fa-shuo/

[Steve James]

There are two versions of the text that are very similar (arrangement and some different characters ). This is basically the same text:
https://brennantranslation.wordpress.co ... i-fa-shuo/

Fwiw, I prefer Wile's translation. Maybe it's because I'm used to it. But, for ex., I prefer Wile's translation of Chapter 32, "An Explanation of Increasing or Draining the Ch'i and Strength in T'ai-chi" to " TAIJI’S BOOSTING OR DISSIPATING ENERGY & STRENGTH." i think Wile's English is much clearer.

[Steve James]

I don't like this translation, but because it is a bit cryptic (and openly available), I think it holds a good explanation of principle.

When the opponent has too much energy, boost it. When he has too much strength, dissipate it. By this means, you will win and he will lose. Or you may when he has too much energy, dissipate it, or when he has too much strength, boost it. The principle is the same in either case, and yet to elaborate further: if he has too much [of either], add more so that he is overdoing, or if he has too little [of either], dissipate it further so that in his insufficiency he adds more and again ends up overdoing. Both boosting his energy and dissipating his strength induce him to overdo it. Boosting his energy is called the method of “tying up his energy”. Dissipating his strength is called the method of “emptying his strength”.

[Wuyizidi]

A major reason it's cryptic to modern readers is that it's mostly likely written down by scholars/officials working for the kings and noblemen the Yangs were teaching. This is a bad tradition in Chinese writing called "we yan da yi" - that with sages, each single word they utter is packed with layers of meanings. There's a cottage industry of commentaries on classics, especially those of Laozi and Zhuangzi. These Yang family classics reads like modern academic articles on philosophy, just filled with technical terms and elaborate contemplations about Yin Yang theory, cosmology, Chinese medicine theory, etc that had nothing to do with martial art topic at hand. The Yangs (Yang Luchan was most likely illiterate, Yang Banhou did not do very well in school) definitely did not write like that, much less speak like that.

Within each article there are a few good insights buried amongst all these other ... not so meaningful things, it takes a lot of effort to get to them. Out of all the Taiji Classics, these are the ones most difficult to get through - not as in the material is difficult, but so easy to stop reading out of boredom and frustration, dismissing its value entirely. The language is so stilted to started with, when translated into English, it can sound downright ridiculous at times. If people think this is what Taijiquan masters are really like when discussing Taijiquan theory, then they'd be justified to conclude that theory is meaningless for Taijiquan.

[neijia_boxer]

I just have a hard time trying to maintain the "10 essence of Taiji" let alone 40 chapters of more stuff:

Yang Chenfu's 10 essences of Taijiquan*:
1. Raise the head, lift the spirit to the crown.
2. Sink the chest and round the back.
3. Relax the waist.
4. Separate the weight, understand the full and empty in the legs.
5. Drop the elbows and shoulders.
6. Coordinate the upper and lower body.
7. Coordinate the inner with the outer.
8. Use the mind not external force.
9. Move continuously without interruption.
10. Seek stillness within motion.
*to be maintained while performing the form both physically and mentally.

[Wuyizidi]

With standing, we can cycle through all these requirements. When we're doing the form, there's just not enough time to check all the requirements in the time it takes to perform any single movement, no matter how slow. So we just have to pick one or two requirements to work on each time, until we can do it automatically, then we move on to the next...

[Michael Babin]

For those into the Yang-style; there are many nuggets of vital information in Yang Family Transmissions as compiled and translated by Douglas Wile. Those various extracts from old manuals are worth re-reading periodically over the years as your training and experience progresses and unfolds. Much of it only makes sense once you can at least sort-of do what is being discussed and understand the jargon; but isn't that true of theoretical technical training in general?

[wingchun]

Can someone please post the Yang family 40 chapters?

[Wuyizidi]

Can someone please post the Yang family 40 chapters?

The Chinese text or translations? If it's just Chinese text they're all available on line, below is a list of articles. A full translation with with annotation would run ~150 pages.

Yang Family Taijiquan Manual Passed Down by Wu groups ("Gold Book")

• The Eight Gates and the Five Steps 八门五步
• The Practice Method of the Eight Gates and the Five Steps八门五步用功法
• Clarification on the Innate Abilities 固有分明法
• Sticking, Adhering, Linking and Following 粘黏连随
• Butting Against, Getting Flattened, Separating and Resisting 顶匾丢抗
• Flawless Engagement 对待无病
• Practice Methods of Engagement for Safeguarding the Center Earth – Commonly Known as “Standing Post” 对待用功法守中土 - 俗名“站桩”
• Proper Forms for the Waist and the Crown 身形腰顶
• Taiji Circles 太极圈
• Taijiquan’s Forwards and Backwards without End Skills 太极进退不已功
• Taijiquan’s High and Low Level Named Heaven and Earth 太极上下名天地
• Taijiquan’s Human Level Eight-Character Skill 太极人盘八字功
• Ti and Yong of Taijiquan Explained 太极体用解
• Wen and Wu in Taijiquan Explained 太极文武解
• Dongjin in Taijiquan Explained 太极懂劲解
• Eight and Five Thirteen-Posture Long Fist Explained 八五十三势长拳解
• Taiji Yin-Yang Inversion Explained 太极阴阳颠倒解
• Taiji in the Human Body Explained 人身太极解
• The Three Levels of Intellectual and Martial Cultivation in Taijiquan 太极分文武三成解
• The Lower Level Martial Aspects of Taijiquan Explained 太极下乘武事解
• Correct Practice of Taijiquan Explained 太极正功解
• Light, Heavy, Floating and Sinking in Taijiquan Explained 太极轻重浮沉解
• Taijiquan’s Four Corners Explained 太极四隅解
• Taijiquan’s Maintaining Level Waist and Crown Explained 太極平准腰頂解
• Taiji Four Seasons Five Qi’s Explanatory Diagram太极四时五气解图
• Taijiquan’s Explanation of the Origins of Blood and Qi 太极血气根本解
• Taijiquan’s Strength and Qi Explained 太极力气解
• Taijiquan’s Precision Explained 太极尺寸分毫解
• Fascia, Meridians, Tendon and Acupuncture Points in Taijiquan Explained 太极膜脈筋穴解
• Taijiquan Terminologies Explained 太极字字解
• Precision in Intercepting, Seizing, Grabbing and Closing-off in Taijiquan Explained 太极節拿抓閉尺寸分毫解
• Taijiquan’s Replenishing and Draining off Qi and Li Explained 太极補瀉气力解
• Discussion on Taijiquan’s Kong, Jie, Cuo and Rou 太極空結挫揉論
• Discussion of Dongjin: Before and After懂勁先后論
• On Achieving Precision after Reaching the Level of Dongjin 尺寸分毫在懂勁后論
• On Oral Teachings Concerning Fatal Pressure Points 口授穴之存亡论
• Finger, Palm, Fist and Hand in Taijiquan Explained 太极指掌捶手解
• The Large and Small Taiji Explained 大小太極解
• Taiji Saber Formulas 太极刀诀
• Four Broadsword Skills Formula 四刀赞
• Taiji Spear Skills 太极枪法
• Ten Types of Persons Who Are Not To Be Taught (十不传 Shi Bu Chuan)

Yang Family Taijiquan Manual Passed Down by Niu Lianyuan

• Thirteen-Character Practice Formula 十三字行功诀
• Thirteen-Character Application Formula 十三字用功诀
• Eight-Character Method Formula 八字法诀
• Insubstantial and Substantial Formula 虚实诀
• Random Circles Formula 乱环诀
• Three-Circle and Nine-Rotation Formula三环九转决
• Yin-Yang Formula 阴阳诀
• Eighteen Key Points Formula 十八在诀
• Five-Word-Phrase Formula 五字经诀
• Five Key Points of Taijiquan 太极拳五个要领

[wingchun]

The Chinese text or translations? If it's just Chinese text they're all available on line, below is a list of articles. A full translation with with annotation would run ~150 pages.

Yang Family Taijiquan Manual Passed Down by Wu groups ("Gold Book")

• The Eight Gates and the Five Steps 八门五步
• The Practice Method of the Eight Gates and the Five Steps八门五步用功法
• Clarification on the Innate Abilities 固有分明法
• Sticking, Adhering, Linking and Following 粘黏连随
• Butting Against, Getting Flattened, Separating and Resisting 顶匾丢抗
• Flawless Engagement 对待无病
• Practice Methods of Engagement for Safeguarding the Center Earth – Commonly Known as “Standing Post” 对待用功法守中土 - 俗名“站桩”
• Proper Forms for the Waist and the Crown 身形腰顶
• Taiji Circles 太极圈
• Taijiquan’s Forwards and Backwards without End Skills 太极进退不已功
• Taijiquan’s High and Low Level Named Heaven and Earth 太极上下名天地
• Taijiquan’s Human Level Eight-Character Skill 太极人盘八字功
• Ti and Yong of Taijiquan Explained 太极体用解
• Wen and Wu in Taijiquan Explained 太极文武解
• Dongjin in Taijiquan Explained 太极懂劲解
• Eight and Five Thirteen-Posture Long Fist Explained 八五十三势长拳解
• Taiji Yin-Yang Inversion Explained 太极阴阳颠倒解
• Taiji in the Human Body Explained 人身太极解
• The Three Levels of Intellectual and Martial Cultivation in Taijiquan 太极分文武三成解
• The Lower Level Martial Aspects of Taijiquan Explained 太极下乘武事解
• Correct Practice of Taijiquan Explained 太极正功解
• Light, Heavy, Floating and Sinking in Taijiquan Explained 太极轻重浮沉解
• Taijiquan’s Four Corners Explained 太极四隅解
• Taijiquan’s Maintaining Level Waist and Crown Explained 太極平准腰頂解
• Taiji Four Seasons Five Qi’s Explanatory Diagram太极四时五气解图
• Taijiquan’s Explanation of the Origins of Blood and Qi 太极血气根本解
• Taijiquan’s Strength and Qi Explained 太极力气解
• Taijiquan’s Precision Explained 太极尺寸分毫解
• Fascia, Meridians, Tendon and Acupuncture Points in Taijiquan Explained 太极膜脈筋穴解
• Taijiquan Terminologies Explained 太极字字解
• Precision in Intercepting, Seizing, Grabbing and Closing-off in Taijiquan Explained 太极節拿抓閉尺寸分毫解
• Taijiquan’s Replenishing and Draining off Qi and Li Explained 太极補瀉气力解
• Discussion on Taijiquan’s Kong, Jie, Cuo and Rou 太極空結挫揉論
• Discussion of Dongjin: Before and After懂勁先后論
• On Achieving Precision after Reaching the Level of Dongjin 尺寸分毫在懂勁后論
• On Oral Teachings Concerning Fatal Pressure Points 口授穴之存亡论
• Finger, Palm, Fist and Hand in Taijiquan Explained 太极指掌捶手解
• The Large and Small Taiji Explained 大小太極解
• Taiji Saber Formulas 太极刀诀
• Four Broadsword Skills Formula 四刀赞
• Taiji Spear Skills 太极枪法
• Ten Types of Persons Who Are Not To Be Taught (十不传 Shi Bu Chuan)

Yang Family Taijiquan Manual Passed Down by Niu Lianyuan

• Thirteen-Character Practice Formula 十三字行功诀
• Thirteen-Character Application Formula 十三字用功诀
• Eight-Character Method Formula 八字法诀
• Insubstantial and Substantial Formula 虚实诀
• Random Circles Formula 乱环诀
• Three-Circle and Nine-Rotation Formula三环九转决
• Yin-Yang Formula 阴阳诀
• Eighteen Key Points Formula 十八在诀
• Five-Word-Phrase Formula 五字经诀
• Five Key Points of Taijiquan 太极拳五个要领

Thanks for the reply Wuyizidi!

Can some one give a detailed explanation of what the following are:

The Eight Gates and the Five Steps 八门五步
Fascia, Meridians, Tendon and Acupuncture Points in Taijiquan Explained 太极膜脈筋穴解
On Oral Teachings Concerning Fatal Pressure Points 口授穴之存亡论
Five Key Points of Taijiquan 太极拳五个要领 Passed Down by Niu Lianyuan

[neijia_boxer]

my favorite is p. 27 of Yang family secret transmissions book:
in the translation of Body Principles:
he adds: "Be evasive" as a body principle. for me that translates as be ready at all times, aka aware of your surroundings, protect self always.

on the same page for translation of Four character secret transmission;
#3 is check: to check means that we use chi to check our opponents thrust, ascertain his aim, and evade it.

[Doc Stier]

"Be evasive" means getting out of the way of an opponent's attacks. "Check" means to thwart an opponent's attempts to attack before they are completed or even before they are actually launched. These actions can often both be accomplished by the same movement.

[neijia_boxer]

"Be evasive" means getting out of the way of an opponent's attacks. "Check" means to thwart an opponent's attempts to attack before they are completed or even before they are actually launched. These actions can often both be accomplished by the same movement.

exactly! +1

covering/checking i understood as not a block (external and hard) but soft and yielding using much less force to accomplish the same task.