origami_itto wrote:Bao wrote:Source? Who wrote the comment below the four characters?
It's from Douglas Wiles "Tai Chi touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions"
Thank you, I didn't remember he had this passage. I already found other translations.
Wile:
"These four characters represent what has no form and
no sound . Without the ability to interpret energy and
training to the h ighest perfection, they cannot be
understood. We are speaking here exclusively of ch' i.
Only if one correctly cultivates ch 'i and does not damage
it, can one project it into the limbs . The effect of this on
the limbs cannot be described in words ."
But I think
this one by Peter Lim is better:
These four words are formless and soundless. Only one who understands strength and achieves the finest stages can know the meaning of what has been said here about Qi. Only one who cultivates his Qi correctly so that it spreads to the body's four limbs will be able to respond to the soundlessness and formlessness of these four words.
You see Wile separated the sentences so this hangs loose: "We are speaking here exclusively of ch' i." He wants to emphasize that it's about "qi".
Peter's translation's full sentence: "Only one who understands strength and achieves the finest stages can know the meaning of what has been said here about Qi."
"Energy" in Wile's and "Strength" in Peter's is translated from "jin". So my interpretation would be
"Only one who understands
jin and achieves the finest stages can understand the Qi as here described"
So the key is to develop Jin, which means skilled, refined movement that doesn't rely on Li (clumsy force based on muscle tension).
So when you have developed jin, first then you can "cultivate the Qi correctly so that it spreads to the body's four limbs."
And then you will be able to "respond to the soundlessness and formlessness of these four words."
So from my understanding, Yu means that Qi is an expression if jin.
You can also compare with Peter's translation of the 4 words:
"To
Spread is to circulate the Qi in my body, to spread it upon his strength so he cannot move freely.
To
Cover is to use my Qi to cover the point of his attack.
To
Confront is to use my Qi to match his approach precisely.
To
Swallow is to use my Qi to receive and transform his power completely."
I think this is also a bit clearer. Wile seems to have added a little by himself, or have a more loose translation.
However, "Qi" doesn't necessarily mean energy, it depends on the context, which is why I don't like Wile's text.
Sometimes the exact meaning of Qi and similar characters are more diffuse and not so lucid. Sometimes "Qi" just mean "movement."
As the Jin is what you need to have Qi, I would guess Yu Wuxiang with "Qi" actually mean "skilled movement through the use of Jin".
My interpretation might not be as exciting as one with "mystical energy qi", but it is more practical and applicable.