Taijiquan Discourse (太极拳论) By Wang Zongyue (王宗岳)[1525-1606)] (Translated By Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
Translator’s Note: Wang Zongyue (王宗岳)[1525-1606) was a living historical figure. He was also known by the first-names of “Linzhen” (林桢) or “Forest Post” [perhaps “Wooden-Support”] - and lived during the Ming Dynasty reign-eras of “Jiajing” (嘉靖) [Emperor Shizong 1521-1567] and “Wanli” (万历) [Emperor Shenzong 1573-1620]. His ancestral home was either Xinjiang County – or Xiaowangbao Village in Taigu County - of Shanxi province (sources disagree). He was either a direct Disciple of the Daoist Sage “Zhang Sanfeng” (张三丰) - despite living around 300-years after his recorded birth of “1247” – or a Disciple of “Liu Guquan” (刘古泉) – a contemporary descendent in the lineage of Zhang Sanfeng. Wang Zongyue was a Confucian Scholar who studied and inherited lineages relating to “Daoist Family” (道家 – Dao Jia) “Closed-Fist Arts” (拳法 – Quan Fa). His known (and/or “assumed”) works include:
Wang Zongyue Closed-Fist Discourse (王宗岳拳论 – Wang Zong Yue Quan Lun)
Long-Closed-Fist Thirteen-Postures (长拳十三式 – Chang Quan Shi San Shi) – aka “Long-Closed- Fist” (长拳 – Chang Quan)
Thirteen Postures Practice Exercises Song Verse (十三势行功歌诀 – Shi San Shi Xing Gong Ge Jue) – including “Striking-Open-Hands Key Points” (打手要言 – Da Shou Yao Yan)
Thirteen Postures Explained (十三势解 – Shi San Shi Jie)
Shade Correspondence Spear Manual (阴符枪谱 – Yin Fu Qiang Pu)
Merit Mind Understanding (功心解 – Gong Xin Jie)
Long-Closed-Fist Explanation (长拳解 – Chang Quan Jie)
Grand Ridge-Pole Closed-Fist Discourse (太极拳论 – Tai Ji Quan Lun)
Grand Ridge-Pole Closed-Fist Explaining Name (太极拳释名 – Tai Ji Quan Shi Meng)
Thirteen Posture Song (十三势歌 – Shi San Shi Ge)
Fighting-Open-Hands Song (打手歌 – Da Shou Ge) Wang Zongyue was a creative powerhouse of spiritual (conscious) and material (technical) development of the internal martial arts – primarily the Grand Ridge-Pole Closed-Fist – where he sought to integrate Taijiquan with the Yin-Yang ideology. Historically, the concepts of “Internal and “External” pre-date the Yin-Yang Theory by perhaps a thousand years – as does the attributes of “Hard-Soft” – although it must be acknowledged that the Yin-Yang ideology was perhaps the logical conclusion of these older concepts. Furthermore, Chinese-language historical records state that at various times there were different martial arts termed “Taiji” – but despite being devastating on the battlefield (and perhaps “Internal”) they were not necessarily structured through the Yin-Yan Theory. This would explain why Wang Zongyue’s contribution is considered so important for Taijiquan in general – and the Wudang tradition specifically. ACW (22.5.2026)
The “Grand Ridge-Pole Fist” (太极拳 – Tai Ji Quan) and the “Non-Ridge-Pole” (无极 – Wu Ji) [unbounded infinity] emerge from the same point of origin (生 – Sheng) – whilst “Movement and Stillness” (动静 – Dong Jing) manifest through its “Apparatus” (机 – Ji) – and “Shade and Bright” (阴阳 – Yin Yang) manifest as the “Mother” (母 – Mu). When “Motion” (动 – Dong) manifests there is “Division” (分 – Fen) – but when “Stillness” (静 – Jing) manifests there is “Unity”( 合 – He).
“Neither Too-Far” (无过 – Wu Guo) “Nor Too-Close” (不及 – Bu Ji) – “Pursue-Curvature” (随曲 – Sui Qu) “Undertake-Extending” (就伸 – Jui Shen). When “People” (人 – Ren) are “Hard” (刚 – Gang) [strong] – I am “Soft” (柔 – Rou) [gentle] – this is manifest through “Yielding” (走 – Zou) – I “Give-Way” (顺 – Shun) to “People” (人 – Ren) [and move behind their] “Back” (背 – Bei) – this manifests as “Adhering” (粘 – Zhen). If the “Movement” (动 – Dong) is “Quick” (急 – Ji) – then “Quickly” (急 – Ji) “Respond” (应 – Ying) - if the “Movement” (动 – Dong) is “Slow” (缓 – Huan) – then “slowly” (缓 – Huan) “Follow” (随 – Sui). Despite the “Change-Transformations” (变化 – Bian Hua) being “Ten-Thousand-and-Beyond” (万端 – Wan Duan) – the “Principle” (理 – Li) [pattern] is identical and “Unified-All-the-Way-Through” (一贯 – Yi Guan). To “Raise” (招 – Zhao) the “Practice” (熟 – Shu) – leads to a “Gradual” (渐 – Jian) “Comprehension” (悟 – Wu) that “Grasps” (懂 – Dong) “Penetrative-Power” (劲 – Jin) – by “Grasping” (懂 – Dong) “Penetrative-Power” (劲 – Jin) the “Rank” (阶 – Jie) of “Spirit-Brightness” (神明 – Shen Ming) (divine-wisdom] is achieved. Unless utilising “Cutting-Force” (力 – Li) manifested over a “Long-Time” (久 – Jiu) – it cannot be [suddenly] “Open-and-Clear” (豁然 – Huo Ran), “Penetrated” (贯 – Guan), or “Transcended” (通 – Tong) [as a subject].
“Effortless” (虚 – Xu) in the “Neck” (领 – Ling) and in the “Top” (顶 – Ding) [centre of the crown of the head] there is “Penetrative-Power” (劲 – Jin) – “Vital-Force” (气 – Qi) [energy] is “Sunk” (沉 – Chen) into the “Lower Self-Cultivation Energy Field” (丹田 – Dan Tian). “No-Deviation” (不偏 – Bu Pian) – “No-Leaning” (不倚 – Bu Ji) – “Abruptly-Conceal” (忽隐 – Hu Yin) – “Abruptly-Manifest” (忽现 – Hu Xian). The “Left[side]-is-Heavy” (左重 – Zuo Zhong) and then the “Left[side]-is-Empty” (左虚 – Zuo Xu) – the “Right[side]-is-Heavy” (右重 – You Zhong) and then the “Right[side]-Disappears” (右杳 – You Yao). “Rising-Up” (仰 – Yang) manifests a “Mirroring” (则 – Ze) [response] – of an “Extended-Highness” (弥高 – Mi Gao) – “Looking-Down” (俯 – Fu) manifests a “Mirroring” (则 – Ze) [response] – of an “Extended-Deepness” (弥深 – Mi Shen) – “Advancing” (进 – Jin) manifests a “Mirroring” (则 – Ze) of an “Extended-Distance” (愈长 – Yu Zhang) – “Withdrawing” (退 – Tui) manifests a “Mirroring” (则 – Ze) [response] – of an “Unexpected-Closeness” (愈促 – Yu Cu). A “Single-Feather” (一羽 – Yi Yu) cannot be “Added” (加 – Jia) – and a “Flying-Insect” (蝇虫 – Ying Chong) cannot “Land” (落 – Luo) – other “People” (人 – Ren) do not “Comprehend” (知 – Zhi) me – I “Alone” (独 – Du) “Comprehend” (知 – Zhi) other “People” (人 – Ren). The “Brave-Heros” (英雄 – Ying Xiong) [martial artists] of the “Past” (向 – Xiang) were “Invincible” (无敌 – Wu Di) – this “Stems” (盖 – Gai) from the [above] training – and its “Fulfilment” (及 – Ji).
“Martial-Skills” (技 – Ji) exist throughout “Widespread” (旁 – Peng) “Gates” (门 – Men) [styles] which are numerous – although the “Postures” (势 – Shi) differ in expression – in general, this is nothing more than the “Strong” (壮 – Zhuang) “Bullying” (欺 – Qi) the “Weak” (弱 – Ruo) – the “Slow” (慢 – Man) “Permits” (让 – Rang) the “Fast” (快 – Kuai) to “Dominate” (耳 – Er) – “Abundant-Power” (有力 – You Li) “Dominates” (打 – Da) a “Lack-of-Power” (无力 – Wu Li) – “Open-Hands-Slow” (手慢 – Shou Man) “Permits” (让 – Rang) “Open-Hands-Fast” (手快 – Shou Kuai) [to dominate]. These are all [immature] “Earlier-Divine-Sky” (先天 – Xian Tian) [pre-natal] – “Natural” (自然 – Zi Ran) manifestations of “Ability” (能 – Neng) – none of this is related to [mastering the] “Study-of-Power” (学力 – Xue Li) or its “Usage” (为 – Wei). “Investigate” (察 – Cha) “Four Taels” (四兩 – Si Liang) to “Shift” (撥 – Bo) [scatter or dislodge] a “Thousand Catty” (千斤 – Qian jin) [or “7.2 oz dislodges 1,100 Ibs”] and manifest its “Grasping” (句 – Ju) – it is “Clear” (显 – Xian) it is not [naked] “Power” (力 – Li) that is “Superior” (胜 – Sheng) – observe how the “Esteemed-Elderly” (耄耋 – Mao Die) are able to “Defeat” (御 – Yu) the “Masses” (众 – Zhong) whilst manifesting [correct] “Structure” (形 – Xing) [Form] – therefore, “Haste” (快 – Kuai) is of no use.
“Stand” (立 – Li) [upright] like a perfectly “Balanced” (平 – Ping) set of “Scales” (秤 – Cheng) which are “Accurate” (准 – Zhun) – and then “Move” (活 – Huo) like a [spinning] “Cart-Wheel” (车轮 – Che Lun). “Leaning-to-Oneside” (偏 – Pian) whilst “Dropping” (沉 – Chen) [the bodyweight] – then “Follow” (随 – Ze) [in alteration] – as “Double-Weightedness” (双重 – Shuang Chong) leads to “Stagnation” (滞 – Ze). Although “Meeting” (见 – Jian) with a number of years of “Genuine” (纯 – Chun) “Practice” (功 – Gong) – often there is still no ability to “Transform” (化 – Hua) [according to the above instructions] - will be “Led” (率 – Lu) [controlled] by other “People’s” (人 – Ren) “Activity” (制 – Zhi) – so that when “Double-Weightedness” (双重 – Shuang Chong) is manifest – the “Sickness” (病 – Bing) is not “Comprehended” (悟 – Wu) at all. Trying to “Avoid” (避 – Bi) this “Sickness” (病 – Bing) – it is “Necessary” (须 – Xu) to “understand” (知 – Zhi) “Shade-Bright” (阴阳 – Yin Yang). “Adhering” (粘 – Zhan) and “Immediately” (即 – Ji) “Shifting” (走 – Zou) - “Shifting” (走 – Zou) is “Immediately” (即 – Ji) “Adhering” (粘 – Zhan). “Shade” (阴 – Yin) cannot be “Separated” (离 – Li) from “Bright” (阳 – Yang) – “Bright” (阳 – Yang) cannot be “Separated” (离 – Li) from “Shade” (阴 – Yin). “Shade” (阴 – Yin) and “Bright” (阳 – Yang) are “Integrated” (相 – Xiang) “Multitudinously” (济 – Ji) – this “Law” (方 – Fang) “Serves” (方 – Wei) in the “Comprehending” (懂 – Dong) of “Cutting-Power” (劲 – Jin). “Comprehending” (懂 – Dong) the “Cutting-Power” (劲 – Jin) thereafter – the more there is [disciplined] “Drill” (练 – Lian) – the greater is the [development of] the “Essential-Nature” (精 – Jing). “Silently” (默 – Mo) “Contemplate” (识 – Shi) to “Accumulate” (揣 – Chuai) a “Body-of-Knowledge” (摩 – Mo) – which “Gradually” (渐 – Jian) “Arrives” (至 – Zhi) at a “Consolidation” (从 – Cong) [of mind-body ability] - so that the “Mind-Heart” (心 – Xin) achieves everything it “Desires” (欲 – Yu).
Originally (本 – Ben), there was “Selflessness” (舍己 – She Ji) when “Submitting” (从 – Cong) [to other] “People” (人 – Ren) – with many making the mistake of “Abandoning-the-Near” (舍近 – She Jin) whilst “Seeking-the-Distant” (求远 – Qiu Yuan). The assumed “Difference” (差 – Cha) is like a “Fine-Hair’s ” (毫 – Hao) width – but this is a “Falsehood” (谬 – Miu) that leads a “Thousand-Chinese-Miles” (千里 – Qian Li) [off-target]. For the “Practitioner” (学者 – Xue Zhe) it is “Necessary to Study the Details” (不可不详 – Bu Ke Bu Xiang) [of this teaching] so as to “Distingush” (辨 – Bian) “How” (焉 – Yan) [this method works] – this is the “Discourse” (论 – Lun). 本是舍己从人，多误舍近求远。所谓差之毫厘，谬之千里。学者不可不详辨焉，是为论。
