Striking Open-Hand Song (打手歌 – Da Shou Ge) Original Author - Anonymous (Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
Translator’s Note: It is said that the Confucian scholar named – “Sun Lutang” (孙禄堂) [1860-1933] – was a master of the internal martial arts (Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiji) and is recorded as participating in a number of honour-fights with invading Japanese Karate masters during the early 1920s (he was in his early 60s at the time). He won all of these fights despite competing only with open-hands and agreeing to a number of other unfair “rules” (which benefitted the Japanese challengers). The occupying Japanese, seeing his superiority in martial arts, offered Sun Lutang a large amount of money to teach Japanese soldiers – which he immediately refused. It is said that he attributed his skill to the instruction contained in the following text.
Oddly, a number of translators render this text as the “Pushing-Hand Song” when it is clearly entitled the “Striking-Open-Hand Song”. The ideogram “打” (Da) means “strike” – whilst “Push” is represented by the ideogram “推” (Tui). The principle idea is that a small amount of weight-force can be used to dislodge (stop or re-direct) a large amount of opposing (stationary) or incoming weight-force. As regards transliterating the actual Chinese-weights mentioned – being an Englishman who is old enough to remember when these measures ruled the roost - I have used the British Imperial System, and the results are as follows: Key – British (English) Imperial Weights & Measures:
Oz = Ounce - Ib = Pound – St = Stone(s) – l.tn = Long Ton
16 Oz = 1 Ib - 14 Ibs = 1 St – 160 St = 1 l.tn (British Long) – 2,240 Ibs = 1 Imperial Ton
1 “Liang” (兩) [Tael] = 1.8 oz
1 “Jin” (斤) [Catty] = 17.6 oz
4 X “Liang” (兩) = 7.2 oz
1000 X “Jin” (斤) = 17,600 oz [1,100 Ibs]
“7.2 oz” is used to dislodge “1,100 Ibs”
“45%” of 1 Ib dislodges “49%” of a British Ton
Just under half of one-pound controls and uproots just under half of one-ton. This means a Taijiquan practitioner must expertly generate "4%" of the ("100%") of the incoming-power so as to deflect, stop, or dissipate it. This is where accuracy of translation comes into importance, as the text is quite specific and in no way "general". An "ounce to move a ton", or "four-ounces to move a ton" does not convey the correct ratio.
In the coastal area of Old China, a “Liang” (兩) [Tael] is defined as a lesser weight (around 1.33 oz instead of 1.8 oz) possibly to benefit the traders dealing in foreign trade. Today, in Mainland China, the weights and measures are standardised. Even so, if this lesser weight is used to convert the “Liang” into Western weights, then this equals just over 5 oz (5.32). I suspect the past ethnic Chinese translators of this text may have originated from the coastal areas of China and therefore defined a “Liang” (Tael) using the lesser weight operating there. This seems to have coalesced in English texts as “4 ounces”. This process explains how the corresponding weight of “1000 Ibs” was arrived at. In the popular imagination (outside of China) “4 oz to move a 1000 Ibs” has morphed into “an ounce to move a ton” – which is considered a much tidier intellectual expression. Of course, although accuracy in translation aids understanding, it is also the case that in this instance of transliteration and short-cutting – the original principle remains unchanged or unhindered. Indeed, it may have even been enhanced. I cannot find any reliable dating for this short text, but as is usually the case, the title varies and there are slightly different versions of it, with many possessing extending notes or added paragraphs. I present below what I believe to be the “original” Chinese-language text which I have translated to retain the meaning implicit in the mind of the author. Although often termed "Anonymous" as regards the original author - it seems likely that this text was penned by the Confucian Scholar and Daoist practitioner - Wang Zongyue (王宗岳) [1525-1606) - as a text with this exact title appears in a list of documents associated with this name. ACW (19.5.2026)
1) Ward-Off (掤 – Peng)
2) Roll-Back (捋 – Lu)
3) Press (擠 – Ji)
4) Push (按 – An)
All must be [clearly] “Distinguished” (真 – Zhen) [from one another] – as “Upper and Lower” (上下 – Shang Xia) are “Integrated” (相 – Xiang) so that “Following” (隨 – Sui) [17th Hexagram of the Yijing] “Individuals” (人 – Ren) find it “Difficult” (難 – Nan) to “Advance” (進 – Jin) [55th Hexagram of the Yijing].
掤捋擠按須認真上下相隨人難進
Let others apply a “Substantial” (巨 – Ju) [cutting] “Force” (力 – Li) and come and “Strike” (打 – Da) me – “Drawing” (牽 – Qian) and “Altering” (動 – Dong) [like a ripple effect] – permits “Four Taels” (四兩 – Si Liang) to “Shift” (撥 – Bo) [scatter or dislodge] a “Thousand Catty” (千斤 – Qian jin):
任他巨力來打我牽動四兩撥千斤
“Lead” (引 – Yin) and “Advance” (進 – Jin) using a “Dropping” (落 – Luo) [and expanding] “Emptiness” (空 – Kong) that is “Integrated” (合 – He) whilst simultaneously manifesting a continuous “Contact” (沾 – Zhan) - like a “Silken-Thread” (綿 – Mian) - that is “Followed” (隨 – Sui) without “Losing” (丟 – Diu) [integration] with the “Crown” (頂 – Ding) at the centre-top of the head. 引進落空合即出連沾綿隨不丟頂
