How does one accomplish "Enticing into emptiness" and is it different than "yielding"?
So what is the "right amount of yielding", and what is the actual difference between yielding and leading?
Using those terms, "leading" and "enticing" are the same, except the former is physical and the latter is psychological. "Yielding" means "not resisting." Of course, there are many ways not to resist; running away, for example. But, the skill is in yielding "without letting go."
The example I used was the swinging door. If someone leans against it thinking it's a wall, they may become off-balanced and possibly fall. If you entice someone into thinking they're hitting something solid, they can be put off balance. The trick, however, is to encourage them to feel that way. If you're tantalizingly close, the opponent will be more likely to take the bait.
This is a strategy, not a technique. A western boxer --or a Chinese general-- can use it just as easily. It has nothing to do with internal/external. Though, training methods can obviously differ. Theoretically, push hands is training in using tcc methods to accomplish a particular strategy. At least, imo, it's possible to generalize about the theory in ways one can't when it comes to the specific practice. The idea of "fa" (and what to do with the opponent who's be enticed into emptiness/unbalance) is debated among styles. I.e., there are people who emphasize the "internal power/strength" they can issue is what defines tcc. And there are others who'll argue that it's all about the qi.