AN INTERVIEW WITH MR. WANG XIANGZHAI ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF COMBAT SCIENCE
The founding master of
‘Dachengquan, Wang Xiangzhai, who is famous in the North and South, and
praised by the martial arts circles of the whole country, has recently moved to
Beijing. For the exchange of knowledge and opinions among the practitioners of
different martial arts, he has arranged a meeting time every Sunday afternoon
from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at Dayangyibin Alley, where he acts as the host, and
exchanges opinions with other famous experts of boxing, carrying forward and
promoting the martial spirit of our nation as his sincere wish. A reporter
interviewed Mr. Wang yesterday, having the following discussion with him.
[1] Interviewer: I have always
admired and respected your superb boxing skills, may I ask what is your
aspiration with regard to the combat science?
Wang Xiangzhai: Being praised
as the representative of ‘Dachengquan’ by my friends really makes me
embarrassed. I left my teacher in the 33rd year of the Reign of Guang Xu of the
Qing Dynasty (1907), and since then, I have travelled all around the country,
and thus I have seen much and learned much about life, left my footprints on
uncountable places, both north and south of the Yangtze River, met many famous
masters and veteran boxers, and experienced untold hardships.
My biggest gain during these
more than thirty years has been meeting many good teachers and helpful friends
to compare skills and knowledge with, thus I am confident that I, as a veteran
boxer, am on the right path of combat science. A few days ago, Mr. Zhang Yuheng
repeatedly made some comments in newspapers. Fearing that people of different
circles have not clearly understood his meaning, and thus have had some
misunderstandings, I wholeheartedly want to let people know what I have in
mind. My remaining years are gradually waning away, life itself is enough,
there is no room for fame and gain to occupy my mind, thus I am so anxious to,
while this body of mine has not yet decayed, join forces with prominent
compatriots to advocate the full development of natural instincts and martial virtue,
and get rid of heresies. I do not want to be praised in vain, like those
deceiving the public in order to gain fame.
[2] Interviewer: What is the
basis of combat science?
Wang Xiangzhai: What is, after
all, the basic principle of combat science? Different people have different
answers to this question, but studying boxing routines, forms of movements, fixed
techniques, and training hits and beats, all fall into the category of
superficial, and although the boxing routines and forms of movements have been
popular already for a long time, they are, indeed, extremely harmful to the
people.
[3] Interviewer: ‘Xingyi’, ‘Taiji’,
‘Bagua’, and ‘Tongbei’ are considered to be schools of internal boxing, what
are the differences of all these branches?
Wang Xiangzhai: People often
say that ‘Xingyi’, ‘Taiji’, ‘Bagua’ and ‘Tongbei’ are internal styles, I do not
know how the names of internal and external came about, so I cannot comment on
that. By observing the past famous masters, one can see a part of it though. The
original ‘Xingyi’, and the ‘Xinyiba’ and ‘Liuhebu’ of Henan province, are of
the same school. When tracing the lineage of Mr. Li Daidong (who was known as
Old Dai) of Henan , you can find out that he is Mr. Li Zhihe's great-grandson,
Mr. Li Zhihe was the teacher of the old gentleman Dai Longbang. The Yuan family
of Jiyuan in fact followed the school of Mr. Li , although they named the art
differently. Mr. Dai, although he changed the name ‘Xinyi’ into ‘Xingyi’, was
not in contrary with the original meaning, and in that boxing the word ‘boxing’
carried the meaning of most faithfully adhering to it.
One should know that the
original ‘Xingyi’ completely lacked the training method of the twelve forms,
but the whole body was meant to express the essence of all these twelve forms.
It did not have the theory of the mutual promotion and restraint of the five
elements, there were just the five elements representing five kinds of forces.
It did not have any fixed techniques, boxing routines or forms of movements
either. I remember well the words of my late teacher about the five elements:
Metal means the strength
contained in the bones and the muscles, the mind being firm like iron or stone,
being able to cut gold and steel.
Wood has the meaning of the
bending but rooted posture of a tree.
Water means force like the
waves of the vast sea, lively like a dragon or a snake, when used, it is able
to pervade everything.
Fire means strength being like
gunpowder, fists being like bullets shot out, having the strength to burn the
opponent’s body by the first touch.
Earth means exerting strength
heavy, deep, solid, and perfectly round, the qi being strong, having the force
of oneness with heaven and earth.
This is the syncretism of the
five elements. It has nothing to do with one technique overcoming another
technique as the modern people claim. If one first sees with the eyes, then
thinks of it again in the mind, and then launches the counter-attack towards
the enemy, it is very seldom that one will not get beaten up.
‘Bagua’ was originally known as
‘Chuanzhang’. In my childhood I met Mr. Cheng Tinghua, I remember he seemed to
be like a divine dragon roaming in the sky, changing infinitely, it is hardly
possible for the modern person to reach such skill and strength. I distantly
remember Mr. Dong Haichuan, it is even harder to understand how profound was
his insight into the Sea of Law and attainment of the Tao. Mr. Liu Fengchun is
a friend of mine, his skills are really profound, but his attainments are
slightly inferior, but still those studying the sixty four palms and
seventy-two steps cannot compare with him.
I wish that the people practising
‘Bagua’ would concentrate on the double and single ‘chuanzhang’, paying special
attention to intuitively perceiving every movement, doing their best to take a
more advanced course of training, and earnestly enter into the theory, putting it
all into practise for a long time, then they could get close to approaching its
essence.
As masters of the original
‘Taijiquan’, I should recommend the Yang brothers Shaohou and Chengfu. They are
also old friends of mine, thus I know that this boxing really has some knowledge
of mechanics, but out of one hundred persons not even one gains its essence, and
even if one can gain it, it is still one-sided, because the basic skills of
intuitive perception already died out a long time ago, thus their lower bodies
have no real strength to speak of.
Originally this boxing
consisted of three fists, also called the "old three cuts", Mr. Wang
Zongyue changed it into thirteen postures", and it was later changed into
as much as one hundred and forty or fifty postures, this is the major reason
for the distortion.
For health preservation, it
restrains the spirit and mettle, and brings discomfort to the practitioner. For
combat, it harms the practitioner’s limbs and trunk, and causes the useful body
to become a mechanical and stiff thing, it also disturbs the student’s nerves,
and is nothing more than wasting one’s time. As for its method of training, a
punch with a fist here, a slap with the palm there, a kick to the left, and
another one to the right, that is pitiful and laughable. As for dealing with an
enemy in a fight, against a master-hand, please do not even consider it, if the
adversary is not stiff and sluggish, even the famous masters of this boxing
have no chance to apply their skills. These abuses are so big that ‘Taijiquan’
might soon become just a mere form comparable to a chess manual. For the last
twenty years, most people who have studied this boxing have not been able to
differentiate right and wrong, even if someone has been able to differentiate
them, he has not been capable of putting it into practice.
As for common students, most of
them use their ears instead of their eyes. So ruined is this boxing that it has
become useless, this is really deplorable. I wish that the powerful members of
this school would promptly and strictly clean it up, and attempt to develop it
in the future. When the day of success comes, they will be held as the bosom friends
of all the boxing fans. I dare to say that I understand ‘Taijiquan’ deeply,
those who do not agree, can notify me or lay the blame on me, only the wise
ones might understand. At the same time, I suppose those who have really gained
something in their study of ‘Taijiquan’, when they read this, they will nod in
agreement and cannot help laughing.
‘Tongbeiquan’ is popular in
northern China , especially in Beijing . The practitioners I have met were
mostly out of shape, however, some were also holding a theory that was close to
being right, but when checking their skills, they were very far from it. Most
probably their predecessors were not like that, but the later generations have
lost the essence. Although occasionally there were some who had deep and great
skills in some one-sided parts of it, eventually they will have no hope of
walking down the right path of combat science.
‘Meihuaquan’, which is also
known as ‘Wushizhuang’, has a direct lineage that has been passed down
generation by generation, especially in Henan and Sichuan provinces. Their way
is different in approach but equally satisfactory in results with that of the
practitioners of ‘Wujisanshou’ of Fuzhou , Xinghua, Quanzhou, Shantou , and
other places. They also have their special and profound strong points for
dealing with the enemy, but unfortunately most of them are one-sided and only
very few are complete.
‘Bafan’, ‘Mianzhang’, ‘Pigua’,
‘Baji’, ‘Dagongli’, ‘Sanhuangpao’, ‘Niantui’, and ‘Lianquan’, all have their
strong and weak points, most are one-sidedly inclined to hardness and a few to softness,
they lack the internal skill of gathering the spirit. As for ‘Dahongquan’, ‘Xiaohongquan’,
‘Tantui’, ‘Chuojiao’, long boxing, short boxing, and the other various schools,
I would rather not discuss them.
[4] Interviewer: What is your
opinion on preserving the national arts?
Wang Xiangzhai: The boxing arts
of our nation are in a chaotic state, thus the people cannot know what course
to take. Summed up, they have abandoned the quintessence and kept only the
scum, nothing more. Although the martial arts of Japan and the boxing of
Western Europe are one-sided, they all have their original points. In
comparison to an ordinary boxer of our nation, they are countless miles ahead.
The people should be very ashamed of this. So we should clean up and carry
forward the old knowledge. Except for us, who else is there left to do it?
Despite my meagreness, I call for action to advocate it, only for this purpose.
[5] Interviewer: Sir, you have
fixed a time to play host to the martial artists of various circles, this has
proved that you are very modest and enthusiastic for the martial way, but why
do you do all this?
Wang Xiangzhai: The way of
learning builds up from comparison, this applies to boxing as well. When
comparing skills, there is victory or defeat, but one’s personality is not
harmed by it, on the contrary, it may improve one’s personality and increase
one’s morals. If everyone could inspect and learn from each other’s
experiences, the dispute between different schools could be avoided, and
furthermore, it could stop the irresponsible talking. I wish that those who
pursue the same things as I, will not take these words as empty talk, and if
the prominent personage and the wise hermits of this country will be willing to
make a journey to grant me instruction, they are very welcome.
If you do not wish to come to
visit me, please just send me a note and I will surely and wholeheartedly pay
you a visit and respectfully listen to all you have to say. To sum up, I only
seek to improve the boxing art, I do not bother about anything else.
[6] Interviewer: Sir, you are
the founding master of ‘Dachengquan’, you must have some judicious views about
this school, would you please tell us some details about it.
Wang Xiangzhai: The way of
combat science is extremely complicated and difficult to unravel. Extremely
complicated and difficult, yet it is extremely simple when its gist has been
grasped. Thus when we study boxing, we should first know what we study it for.
When we know that, we can surely gain something. Most people study boxing
mainly for health, and then secondly for selfdefence. Good health is the basis
of all the human activities, so the ways of health preservation and protecting
one’s body really cannot be neglected.
If one learns the method of
exercise properly, then the benefits will be great, but learning it improperly
can even lead to death. Only very few of the sportsmen doing strenuous exercise
can enjoy longevity. The boxers who have lost their lives or injured their
bodies because of improper exercise are uncountable. That kind of boxing is
indeed pitiful and also laughable.
Knowing the advantages and
disadvantages of studying boxing, one should experience and observe the states
of movement and stillness with special care while exercising, not only the external
movement of the body, but also the moving state of the spirit.
One should use the spirit and
mind to observe the whole body inside and outside, and whether every action is
in accord with the requirements of health preservation and self defence or not.
Why move? Why be still? What are the results? What is the phenomenon in the
middle of the process? Thus perceive by intuition, and you will be approaching
the truth!
As for the profound and subtle
essence of the Tao, one can only keep on studying and searching, otherwise it
is not easily gained. Now here is a brief summation of the be-all and end-all
of ‘Dachengquan’ to be questioned by the various fellow martial artists, so
that an open discussion on combat science can be started.
First I shall talk about the
stages in the stude of boxing. As I said before, health preservation and
self-defence are inseparable from each other, if one is lost, then abuses are
created and one will enter the wrong path.
First of all, one should train
and foster the spirit, the temperament, and the natural instincts, and only
after that start talking about bringing the fine instinctive strength of the
nerves, the limbs, and the trunk into play.
The first step in studying
boxing is exercising the nerves as the basic training method, and intuitively perceiving
the peristalsis of the whole body.
The second step is training the
trial of strength (shili) and the trial of voice (shisheng).
The third step is self-defence.
They are separately narrated below:
Basic training: in daily life,
in order to gain results from training all the time, while walking, standing,
sitting, and reclining, one must start the training from the pile standing (zhanzhuang)
method. Arrange the posture of the whole body properly, keep the body upright,
have no thoughts, strengthen the nerves in stillness, adjust the breath, warm
up and nourish the muscles, let every cell activate naturally. The strength
comes from the inside and reaches the outside smoothly in the whole body. Thus,
one does not train the bones and the muscles, yet they get trained by
themselves, one does not nourish the nerves but they get nourished by
themselves, one should especially experience and observe their barely
perceptible movement and activity. When one has done it for long enough time,
one will know that standing brings many inexhaustible wonders. One who wants to
achieve wonders in his boxing skills, should first dedicate his time to pile standing.
Trial of strength and trial of
voice: after having the basic training in boxing, one’s natural instincts have
been strengthened. In applying them one must take strict precautions against the
predominance of human desire, or else the misapplication of the illusory will
arise. Sometimes, because of the predominance of desire, the natural
instinctive strength becomes something that has nothing to do with exercising
the natural instincts.
Therefore the scholars of the
past told us not to try helping the shoots grow faster by pulling them up. The
way of applying the natural instincts can be suited to personal needs, but
first, one must understand the moving state of strength, only then can one
continue to the second phase. Trial of strength is the most important thing in
learning the basis of boxing skills, with trial of strength one gains strength.
The strength is gained and realised by trying it, and one will realise how to
use the strength too.
First one must make the
strength equal all over the body, the muscles agile, and the bones supporting
the frame of the body, so that the muscles can contract, stretch, relax, and
tense in harmony. Strength should come from inside and be issued outside. In
movement, slow excels over quick, be relaxed rather than impatient, the
movement should be slight and the spirit full. When one wants to move one will
stop, when one wants to stop one will move, furthermore, when moving one cannot
help but stop, when stopped, one cannot help but move.
In trial of strength, one
should not have unilateral strength, furthermore, one should not have sheer
strength. First of all, one should perceive by intuition whether the strength
of the whole body is all-pervading or not, whether the strength can be issued
out at any moment or not, and whether one can react to the atmosphere or not,
furthermore, one must not let the mind break and the spirit disperse. Have light
and heavy forces ready to be issued out, when one part of the body moves, the
whole body moves. The strength is consistent, resulting in nimble and heavy
insubstantiality, and round and whole substantiality. Up and down, left and
right, front and back, do not forget them. To sum up, what cannot lead to comfort,
happiness, and gaining strength does not deserve to be called boxing.
The trial of voice is a
supplement for the insufficiencies of trial of strength. All people have physiological
differences due to the congenital, so everyone’s body has parts difficult to connect,
thus trial of voice is namely complementary internal breath work. It is also
called inner breath, or brain [abdomen]-back breath.
Self-defence: namely combat.
One should know that a big movement is not as good as a small movement, a small
movement is not as good as stillness, one must know that only stillness is the
endless movement. If the body moves, that is just an expression of immobility and
lack of strength, what is called movement in stillness, is moving as if one was
not moving, the movement and stillness are the basis of each other, and the
wonders of their application mostly depend on the nervous system being
connected, the mind leading, the big and small joints and ligaments extending
and contracting mutually, the fulcrum being firm like iron, having twisting and
opposite strengths,rotating around the pivot point, moving the centre in a
balanced way, and issuing the explosive power together with the breath. If one
can exert it properly, one has the basis of combat.
What was said above was mostly
abstract, but much of its meaning cannot be described in words. If one can keep
practising unceasingly, then it is naturally not difficult to realise. What is
the distinction between the so called big movement and small movement, in fact,
depends on individual basic skills, and whether all kinds of strengths are
being gained by the body and understood by the mind or not. If one can raise
the hands and move the feet with
the whole body having
mechanical skills everywhere, then a big movement is fine, a small movement is
fine as well, and a movement that is neither big nor small is also equally
fine.
If one does not have the basic
mechanical ability, then no matter what the movement is like, it is all wrong.
The same applies to using strength and not using strength. The movements of an
ordinary person cannot have strength without constant unilateral tension that
disturbs the blood circulation. Every kind of strength based on constant unilateral
tension is stiff and inharmonious, and besides that, harmful to health. Having
strength without constant unilateral tension is namely
having strength without using strength, and when using it, one gains strength.
That is what the natural
instinctive strength is like. It is like seeking all kinds of real things from
the unreal, which is hardly possible to express in words. Anyway, ‘Dachengquan’
is beyond the external form of being good or bad, it actually depends on
dealing with the mind. In a nutshell, having a fixed form and fixed techniques
are all false, skills reaching the level of no-mind are getting very rare, this
is what the above means.
[7] Interviewer: I think there
must have been many visitors calling on you since the last time your views
appeared in a newspaper. Were there any brilliant persons of unusual ability?
Wang Xiangzhai: I’m very
gratified that you care and introduce me to the readers. Among the martial
artists of Beijing , there still was not a single person willing to come and
grant me instruction. But the numerous letters coming from all quarters of the
country expressed that there are many people who hold me in favour and esteem.
Moreover, there were some people from some places who came here to bargain,
wishing to be appointed to the position of an instructor. Furthermore there was
an incident that I can tell you about. Recently, there were very many people
who were seriously researching combat science and seeking for advice. Most came
to ask for instruction by their own initiative and there were also those who
were introduced by someone else. That is the only reason I advocate combat
science.
I have no intention of
contending with others, moreover, I scorn contention. I wish to help all the
countrymen who are interested in combat science to understand it, and also hope
that the combat science legislation will be reformed completely. Victory or
defeat should not be taken as honour or disgrace. I wish that other boxers
would not consider themselves to always be right just by studying blindly and
practising recklessly. I especially hope that all boxers will become healthy
pugilists. I do not wish them to become martial artists wandering from place to
place making a living with their tricks. But nowadays, out of one hundred boxers,
not even one has anything right at all.
Looking at them, I mostly get
the feeling that it is all completely wrong. As for the boxers who rely on
boxing to make their living, they just should not feel ashamed of studying
again from others after they have started teaching. They should not be hard on
themselves in spirit, but try hard to follow those who excel over them. They
must keep in mind that they should not mislead and harm their students.
Nowadays, boxers do not know where the spirit of combat science is. While they
have no alternative but to make their living with it, surely they should not
instruct people with mystery and violence. That way they might not commit the
great error of going as far from the truth as the heaven is from the deep sea. But
then again, the weaknesses of these men are too numerous and they cannot be
easily influenced over a short period of time. I only hope that they will
become conscious of the truth and start to self-examine themselves bit by bit,
nothing more.
[8] Interviewer: Since the
martial way arose, many schools have been born, each advocating its own way so
that eventually the students end up with a feeling of ignorance. What is legitimate
after all?
Wang Xiangzhai: All learning in
the world depends on comparison, only that way can good and bad be
distinguished, otherwise every school will claim to be right, and the laymen
will have difficulties distinguishing right and wrong. The correctness of
boxing cannot be judged merely by the criterion of victory or defeat, it must
be judged by whether it is reasonable and suitable to the human needs or not.
What is reasonable is achieving comfort, gaining strength, and getting zest
into one’s life. If one does not achieve comfort, gain strength, and if the
study does not bring zest into one’s life, then it cannot be called boxing.
Whether one knows of the
history of boxing or not does not matter at all, one should only see whether
there is any value in regard to learning and whether it accords with the requirements
of life. But speaking of the combat science of our nation, it has a
centuries-old history. It began revealing its brilliance in the Warring States
Period (403 BC - 221 BC), and gradually advanced and evolved. During the times
of the Tang and Song dynasties, boxing started to turn into technical skills
and different styles started to evolve. During the Yuan, Ming, and early Qing
dynasties, the different schools were most popular.
There were very many
practitioners, and only because their strength, skill, and attainments were
different and some being wise and others stupid, boxing broke into different
schools, each claiming its teachings as correct. Those schools are namely what
are now called the various styles. During the reigns of Kangxi and Yongzheng of
the Qing dynasty (1662 - 1735), firearms were not yet prevalent. The emperors
feared that the martial arts would be
used against the government,
therefore they wanted to destroy them for good and so that they could never
recover.
Therefore they started to
influence the people to think highly of the civil arts and look down upon
everything martial. On one hand they advocated flying immortal swordsmen and taught
the mystical on purpose, on the other hand they praised the boxing forms and
fixed techniques in order to lead the martial arts astray. The middle road and
the great Tao could not be asked about, and they used opera and storybooks to
serve as their tools of propaganda. Furthermore they made the people who
practised martial arts to be despised by the scholar-bureaucrats, so the
situation went from bad to even worse. All kinds of ugly performances emerged,
what a great pity and tragedy.
Luckily our combat science
predecessors secretly had successors, and they succeeded in having a gleam of
light survive. Although training halls were set up all over the country to advocate
the martial arts during the last twenty years, the more they were advocated,
the sooner they would be lost, never being able to return to the right path of
combat science. In fact, learning boxing is not difficult, but because the
brains of the ordinary people are tormented by the storybooks, and furthermore,
because the boxers of modern times mostly do it for living, the combat science
is completely at loss. Even if some people are conscious of that, they are
still too ashamed to study from others, and thus have no way out.
During the last half of the
year, the other boxers have come to me to compare their skills in combat. I
will not point out who they were, in order to let them keep their ways of
making a living. Now they mostly understand that they were wrong, but why do
they not agree to come and discuss the martial arts openly, and furthermore,
why are they not willing to compare their skills in combat, in order to improve
their learning? On the contrary, they go against their conscience and claim
others to be wrong. They do nothing but secretly create absurd tales, and still
they pretend being ignorant of those tales. What do they do that for? As for
the non-professional martial artists, they want to become mysterious boxers by
creating these tales, being like theatregoers not well versed in drama, they
are not able to do anything but throw punches at random to show off their skills.
That is really something to be
despised. In case my words are considered erroneous, can the nonprofessional
boxing students agree to grant me instruction? Furthermore, I wish to have small
friendly tests of skills in combat, and even if the people who come to me have
no martial skills at all, I will not insult them, and I will not tell about
them to other people in order not to harm their business. If one cannot come to
visit me to grant me instruction, then please tell me the place and the time,
and I will come to pay my respects on time. If one has even a tiny strong
point, I will do my utmost to give him publicity, and if one has no strong
points at all, I will keep my mouth shut. If one always considers oneself as a
top boxer behind closed doors, that is not worth a penny.
[9] Interviewer: I have heard
your discussion pointing out the right path of our national arts. You have
introduced something new, and a fresh approach in seeking the good of everyone pursuing
the same things, but I think you went a bit too far in some of your critique
towards ‘Taijiquan’.
Wang Xiangzhai: My
understanding of the Tao is still shallow, I do not dare to say that I have introduced
something new, I just follow and spread the tradition of the predecessors, nothing
more. There are many more things, but I feel embarrassed to say them because I have
many good friends practising ‘Taiji’. Also, this boxing is less abused than
most of the others, and has more sensible practitioners, thus I freely
criticise it. I would have already stopped discussing about it a long time ago
otherwise.
Talking of criticism, I am
afraid that among the ‘Taiji’ practitioners, those who will never understand
combat science are fearfully many, and those who are far from being learned masters
are even more numerous. In my childhood I heard of the fame of the Taoist Zhang
Sanfeng. Having grown up, I travelled all around the country, so I know that
among all the schools of boxing, ‘Taiji’ has the biggest amount of
practitioners. I had already been doubtful of this boxing for a long time. I
heard this boxing was handed down from Mr. Zhang Sanfeng, thus I had despised
Sanfeng for a long time. Later I read the collected edition of Mr. Sanfeng’s
teachings, and began to realise that he had advanced all along the great Tao.
He had already gone deep into
the Sea of Law and profoundly realised absolute truth. However, I even more
deeply believe that such boxing was not handed down from him. Actually, if it
was or was not does not matter at all, because, even if one was the descendant of
Sanfeng, one is not worthy to talk about his art if one has not gained its
essence. I do not know who were the successors of Mr. Sanfeng, but I suppose
they were inferior to Sanfeng.
If they had been capable, why
would they have misled others? Whether the teachings gained by the students are
true or false is the key.
Moreover, nowadays the
practitioners of this boxing are different from each other and the theories
vary. It is all random and false! I remember that Mr. Sanfeng said: Leaving
one’s own body is wrong, but clinging to one’s own body is much worse.
‘Taijiquan’ has one hundred and forty or fifty postures, is there any posture
or method that is not being clung to? What are these postures for? Moreover,
the spirit is firmly bound and cannot be liberated. It is indeed harmful to the
freedom of the nerves, the limbs, and the trunk. Remembering how wise Mr.
Sanfeng was, he should not have gone so far as to hand down ‘Taijiquan’ that is
so improper.
Discussing the wordy content of
the ‘Theory of Taijiquan’, the single and double weighting and even weighting,
and all such profound things are also nothing more than a part of the rudiments
of combat science. May I ask the famous ‘Taiji’ masters to examine their conscience,
whether there can be even a single posture or method in accord with the theories
of this boxing guide? Since they claim it to be supreme combat science, why
does it not produce any results in practice? Furthermore, the practitioners of
this boxing believe that they can gain good boxing skills with superstitious
practises. This is even more absurd.
Even if all the methods of this
boxing would excel over the others, and the skills would tower above the
ordinary, there is no doubt that it would still be wrong on the spiritual side,
and besides, that is not the case. Although ‘Taijiquan’ is practised by a huge
amount of people, which has given it much publicity, the sensible people have
long known that it has collapsed of itself. Perhaps there was something
improper in my words, I really hope that the other martial artists will question
me without any hesitation, if there is someone who can instruct me, I will
sweep the pathway to welcome him.
[10] Interviewer: Sir, you
criticised the shortcomings of ‘Taijiquan’, I certainly have to admit, but I
also have many friends who have gained good health by practising this boxing, I
am afraid that your critique is somewhat inappropriate.
Wang Xiangzhai: The value of
combat science is not only in relaxation and other trifling achievements. One
must know that combat science is persistent learning, which is a human need and
one cannot learn it thoroughly in a very short time.
Therefore Zhuangzi said:
Martial arts do indeed enter
the Tao. They are the basis of culture and arts, they are the lifeblood of Zen
and philosophy. If just a tiny result could represent boxing, then there would be
no need to observe and study combat science. If one sticks to the practice of
boxing in the way you said, it will produce some results. Furthermore, one
should know that if one can take the time to practise boxing, do it without any
method, freely and slowly perceiving by intuition, then the results will be
great. I dare to say they will be much more than what you mentioned .
[11] Interviewer: The different
schools of boxing are extremely numerous and their theories differ. Among my
good friends there are many who practise boxing. Some of them practice according
to books, but none of them has gained any results. What kind of a book should they
adopt?
Wang Xiangzhai: Combat science
cannot be divided into schools, and the boxing theory does not have the
distinction of Chinese or foreign, and new or old. Do nothing but examine whether
it is right or wrong, and suitable or unsuitable, that is enough. At large, the
numerous schools of our society, generally take the approach of forms and
techniques to learn boxing. One must know that this kind practice is just
forgery conducted by the later generations, it is not the original essence of
combat science. Even though a few people by chance realise some side-mechanics
and one-sided techniques, they have not, however, left the methods and forms
after all, so it is without avail in the
end.
As for the writers of the
martial arts guide books, they cannot exceed this boundary either. Although
this doctrine is very easy to study, it is still not as simple as following
others like sheep. Sometimes those who are taught by a famous master who passed
the knowledge orally and from the heart, still cannot differentiate between
right and wrong after dozens of years. How could these writings then be of any
use? In any kind of learning, one should first
understand the fundamental
principle, and bit by bit intuitively perceive the skills, starting from the
basics. In addition to that, one should ponder carefully, making a clear distinction
between right and wrong, and proving one’s perceptions by experimenting in many
ways. Only then can one move on to study those technical skills.
One should avoid training in
front of a mirror, because this way one can easily become similar in form but
untrue in spirit. Those training according to books are really the blind being
led by the blind. Then again, by reading a book one can collect the
crystallization of all sorts of theories, not paying any attention to the
postures and form. According to the survey of my thirty years of teaching, this
branch of learning is extremely difficult yet also extremely easy. A gifted
student, in less than one hundred days of exercise, has the hope to become a
great learned master, but among one hundred students there is not even one or two
of them, and in most cases the talented sagacious people lack honesty and
tolerance, some of them are even shams and cheaters.
Therefore most are abandoned
halfway by their teachers, this is also a pity! As for the common students of
our society, their difficulties are really lamentable. Most people always believe
their ears instead of their eyes. The two words, fame and fact, cannot be
mentioned in the same sentence. Even though the amount of boxers in the world
is uncountable, those who have gained the essence are rare like a unicorn’s
horn. All of those who have gained the essence are very different from the
ordinary people in character. They cannot be enticed by fame or attracted by
benefit, and they would never associate with the hypocrites!
Finding a master is very
difficult indeed. Even if you meet a wise master how can you differentiate
whether he is wise or not, and then he is not necessarily willing to teach you.
Even if he agrees to teach you, he does not necessarily have a good method of
teaching. Be it that he has a good teaching method, it is still not certain
that one can realise the essence of his teachings. There exist a variety of difficulties
that an inexperienced person cannot know. Then again, nowadays it is easier to study
than before, because the science is flourishing. It helps very much in
understanding the principles of combat science, but still, combat science
cannot be limited to this.
If it is explained with the
hierarchy of science and local anatomy, then it should be the one and the only
way and phase of studying. But there are still many principles in our combat science
that cannot be explained, but after some years they might be proved by science.
Learning knows no limits, perhaps there are no means to ever explain it, this
cannot be known. Summed up, if discussed under the conditions and knowledge of
today, one should add a scientific method to the spirit of combat science, then
it will not be difficult to solve the problems in combat science.
[12] Interviewer: Repeatedly in
their comments, the readers did not deny your theory, but they felt uneasy
studying without forms and routines, especially the beginners!
Wang Xiangzhai: The human body
has all kinds of functions; no wise man can exhaust them all even if practising
all his life. What is the reason to abandon the essence and study the scum? The
more one studies the methods of forms and routines the farther one will be from
the truth. That is like binding the feet of the women, the more profound one’s
skill is, the more difficult it is to extend the feet, therefore the beginners
advance much faster than the veterans. This argument has been proved by many
irrefutable examples. The theory created by the later generations where a
certain posture breeds a certain strength, and a certain method overcomes a
certain boxing skill is real magniloquence resulting in deceiving the people. I
am afraid that the one who claims such things has no understanding of boxing at
all.
[13] Interviewer: What you
said, Sir, is very right, and the martial arts are indeed at a loss. Would you
teach everybody a simple and convenient way to succeed, that people could easily
produce results with?
Wang Xiangzhai: A general idea
of health preservation was already outlined above. If one is willing to do as
advised, then one has already advanced halfway on the path of health preservation.
If one wants to study the profound skills of combat, then one must also go through
that, but if one is not an extremely foolish person or great sage, one will not
be willing to do so. If one is a genius or has a character close to that of the
sages, then there is no need to study all those methods. Also the methods of
combat have pile standing (zhanzhuang) and trial of strength (shili) as the
basis. I already narrated their general ideas above. The methods of trial of
strength are too numerous, and besides, after all kinds of strengths are gained
by the body, one should not think that the way of combat has been completed.
At that point one has just
begun to have the possibility of studying combat. For example, how to gain the
mastery of "interaction of relaxation and tension never not being correct,
and the interaction of void and solid coming to equilibrium" is another
problem. Anyway, after finding a teacher, the profundity or shallowness of
one’s attainments indeed depend on one’s individual talent, strength, and
skill, and whether one can grasp the right timing to be able to launch an
attack at any moment, but without much experience in actual combat, it is hardly
possible to gain it.
[14] Interviewer: I have heard
many martial artists saying: "If you do not use strength, how can you
increase it? None of the ancient and modern masters neglected the enriching of
the dantian qi, and only because of that, could they be successful."
Wang Xiangzhai: The theory of
using strength is the talk of laymen. There are also those who speciously
support the theory of not using strength, but do not know what it means after
all. One must know that not to use strength is correct, but not to use the mind
is incorrect. If one uses strength then the internal organs die, the body
becomes ineffective, stiff, stupid, and easy to be taken advantage of by
others. In other words, it is just a disguised form of passive resistance. The
idea of resisting is produced by the fear of being hit by the adversary, but in
this way one is completely ignorant of the fact that the spirit has already
accepted to be hit. How could one then not get hit by the adversary? Therefore,
using strength is a great taboo in combat science.
As for the theory of the
dantian qi, from the theoretical point of view, field tests, and my own
perception from experience and observation, this theory does not seem proper.
Within the abdomen there are the intestines, the stomach, and the liver, there
is no place to fill with the qi. As for the functions of force, they are all
effects of the opposite power, the explosive power, and the power of the
universe combined, and exerted together with breath that makes the body bulge
and undulate, open and close, and the body and spirit being integrated with the
atmosphere in one's mind.
That has nothing to do with
what the people call the qi of qigong. They always take a pot belly as dantian
qi, that is just extremely wrong. One must know that when exerted, the strength
must be issued evenly and completely. In order to be entirely free from worry
and to gain strength, one should also be at leisure and natural, that is just
being reasonable. The students of modern times do not understand this truth,
they spend dozens of years working
hard, and instead of gaining
lively bodies and minds from the training, they become machines. Is that not a
great pity!
[15] Interviewer: Although your
critique is appropriate, it is still always the same combat arena, and if you,
in the long run, accidentally misstep in one of the challenge fights, then what?
Wang Xiangzhai: How would I
dare to give an open challenge, I do not even dare to act as the ringleader for
challenge. I just wish that my fellow boxers would be willing to advocate, discuss,
and investigate combat science like this, then it would not be difficult to
carry it forward in the future. However, if nobody does this, I wish to start
from myself, with nothing else other than advising the others with earnest
words and good intentions, and often
injecting cardiotonic shots
into the arms of the other boxers of our country in order to little by little
cure their illness of paralysis, I offer a few commonplace remarks by way of introduction
so that others may come up with valuable opinions. Even if my body be full of cuts
and bruises, my utmost wish will come true if combat science can be promoted.
[16] Interviewer: People
generally accepted your talks, but there were still some who were liberal in
their condemnation of you.
Wang Xiangzhai: Those who
understand me are wise people, those who condemn me should sit alone in the
still of night to listen to their hearts. Anyhow, let them laugh who will, I
will not mind. If the true essence of combat science will prosper again, how
could personal praise or blame make any difference?
[17] Interviewer: How can the
ordinary people dare to disagree with your knowledge and virtue?
Wang Xiangzhai: What you said
is right, I am very ashamed, but our countrymen have already become socially
reserved. Honesty and prudence are really the basis of the self cultivation of
learning and morals, in other words: being solid inside and void outside, or
firm outside and nimble inside. That is just the same principle as that of
Laozi, ”The desireless one can see the essence, while the desiring one only
sees its manifestation.”
But somehow it is made use of by the people. It has
already become the talisman of those who make their living by deceiving others.
Lies in the society are also created by such people. I have travelled all
around the country for almost forty years, often feeling that there is only the
art of ”opera acting” that does not put up with the society. Opera does not
allow the laymen to assume positions in it either, but there are many styles of
opera which all differ, I do not know all of them. As for what is called
honesty and prudence toward others, I think one should act according to the
other party, there should not be any unreasonable politeness. Like the sages of
the past, respectfully serve others and be honest and sincere, overcome your
desires and show love to others.
I am very glad to comply with
that as the teachings of the books of good intercourse and treating each other
with respect cannot be seen nowadays. I do not deserve praise for my learning
and morals. In studying morals I only put myself under the patronage of the important
people. What is called Tao is the truth that is all pervading and complex, and
the only proper course to take. In other words, is it reasonable or
unreasonable? Reasonable is namely the Tao and unreasonable is not the Tao.
It is not a mystical and
strange thing, it is not the poor superstitious chapters and verses of the
vulgar and pedantic literati either. It has especially nothing to do with the
eccentric people, who pretend insaneness, calling that the doctrine of Buddhism
and Taoism in order to look different, they cannot even dream about the gate to
the great Tao. If one does not understand the society, I have no choice but to
retain talking about other things with him.
[18] Interviewer: You said that
there are still many places in opera where the essence has not been lost, which
are far ahead of the average schools of boxing. I do not understand on what
ground you can say that, I feel that this comment is rather improper.
Wang Xiangzhai: Opera was
originally meant to subsidy the shortcomings of education, all of its martial
performances originated from the way of boxing. In boxing there was originally the
qiba (pulling the body) exercise, which is one of the skills of shili (trial of
strength). Qiba is seeking the pivoting strength of the barycentres of the
vertex and the two feet, making the whole body extend equally and completely,
becoming one with the universe, therefore named qiba exercise.
In opera it is mistakenly
called "rising of the domination", but watching their postures and the
meaning of their theories, although they are not proper, they are not far from
that either, thus we know that it has some essence. As for all kinds of
postures which try to please the eye and win people's adoration, they are all
forged. Of the postures of today’s boxers I have not seen a single one that
would have gained equilibrium, even the old veterans and younglites turn into
imitating the untruthful and childish ones, and some of them cannot even
succeed in that, how could they ever see the profundity of the martial way?
[19] Interviewer: I suppose
that recently there was no lack of people asking for advice. What is your
sentiment, Sir?
Wang Xiangzhai: Although there
were many people from all circles who came to see me these days, they were all
just curious people and what they talked about was not related to combat
science. As for the visitor pursuing the same way, none of them was the kind of
person I expected.
[20] Interviewer: What did you
expect then?
Wang Xiangzhai: Although I am
incompetent, I really expected the visitors to test me with difficult questions
to the best of their abilities. To discuss what is reasonable in combat science
and its important connection with life, and to pay attention to seeking the
true spirit of the martial way. Although combat is just a trifling skill,
without it the results cannot be proved, therefore I am also ready to have
friendly comparisons of skills in combat. These days there were many small
things, thus I could not personally meet all the visitors one by one. I am
ashamed of that, and thus from now on, I plan to also fix reception times for Wednesdays
and Fridays, from three o’clock to six o’clock .
[21] Interviewer: What do your
fellow boxers think of that?
Wang Xiangzhai: In order to
research the true essence of combat science in its entirety, I already cling to
disregarding derision and taunts, and will never promote the supernatural. I always
support altruism, I do not worry about there being no one coming to grant me instruction
or asking for advice. What I worry about is that the famous masters do not inspect
and learn from each other and discuss the problems. I fear it is hardly possible
to gain the hope of combat science succeeding. Anyway, I hope that combat
science will advance, polish up the goal of the martial way of our society, and
wash off the deep rooted bad habits. I am not concerned about other things.
[22] Interviewer: The
conversation with you that was published in a newspaper last time has caused
quite a stir. I suppose that there was no lack of visitors. Were there any
pursuing the same way as you?
Wang Xiangzhai: I was granted
the favour of not being abandoned by the society, there was indeed no lack of
visitors, but most of them came to learn from me, there were only two gentlemen pursuing the same way, Lu Zhijie
and Shao Zefen from Fengtai, who wanted to do push-hands (tuishou), which is
nothing more than what the experts call "listening to strength".
There were no others, furthermore no one agreed to enter into combat. The method
of push-hands is only a onesided part of the way of boxing, it is not what I
welcome.
As for the famous masters in
Beijing , there was not a single person willing to come to instruct me, that is
really not what I expected. I do not understand why the other boxers do not
want to contact me. What I have always respected are the martial morals,
therefore courtesy must come first, so there are also some limits, namely, the
old people I modestly decline, the modest and gentle people modestly decline,
the incompetent people I modestly decline.
If you do not believe in my
words, please ask those who came to visit me and you will know. When Mr. Lu
visited me for the first time, we did a little push-hands and he took my skill
only as such, and thus was not convinced. Later he started to visit frequently
and started to realise that there was a huge difference between our skills, and
now he has become a faithful disciple of mine.
[23] Interviewer: How many
people are there among our martial arts predecessors that you admire?
Wang Xiangzhai: Examining the
boxing predecessors of the last one hundred years, besides Dong Haichuan, Che
Yizhai, and Guo Yunshen, these three masters, all the others are of minor
importance, but our country is huge and has a big population, there are still
many people pursuing the martial way who I have not met. I do not dare to make
comments at random .
[24] Interviewer: The people often
mention Yang Luchan, how was his learning?
Wang Xiangzhai: Mr. Luchan was
a combat science predecessor as well, he was skilled in ‘Taiji’, and now most
people follow his lineage. What I talk about has to be observed from every
aspect, Luchan only achieved a part of the Tao, even Mr. Wang Zongyue of the
Ming dynasty was not a complete expert. Mr. Zongyue obtained the one-sided part
of push-hands with both hands, originating from General Yue Fei, changed the
three fists into thirteen postures, and named it ‘Taiji’.
There is no way to do textual
research on what was handed down from Zhang Sanfeng and the people would just
draw wrong conclusions from it. As for the one hundred and forty or fifty
postures, I have no idea where they originated from. But talking of the
practice of this boxing, it does not only abuse the limbs and the trunk, but
also does infinite harm to the spirit, it is still very far from the art of
actual combat, they have nothing in common with each other.
[25] Interviewer: You have
frequently published commentary on boxing in the newspapers, how have others
pursuing the same path reacted to that? Have you ever heard?
Wang Xiangzhai: The sensible
people pursuing the same path accepted it without an exception. As for the
conservative people who cannot differentiate between right and wrong, I have no
choice but to let them have their own way. Even if one can understand, it is
still not easy to put it into practice, and it is even more difficult for those
who cannot differentiate between right or wrong at all. However, the ordinary
boxers still take exercising the body as the catchword and stop talking about
combat. Watching that, one can also know that the way of combat, compared to
health preservation, is a very trifling thing.
The way of health preservation
relies on concentrating one's spirit and nourishing one's nature. The mind
becomes empty and unified; that is called the art of one’s body and mind, life
and nature. With this movement and that posture, springing forward and jumping backward,
it is really difficult to even dream about entering the gate of health
preservation.
In fact health preservation is
simple and easy.
True human nature loves
naturalness and unrestricted free movement, the whole offshoot of the natural
instincts are the basis of that. Every morning in the fresh air, without any method,
just let the joints of the whole body be slightly bent, consider the sky, move
slowly and freely, experience and observe the intestinal qi and the flow of
blood. At the same time, intuitively perceive the external void and nimble
opposing strength. This is called the spirit resembles as if it was swimming.
The spirit and the body are
comfortable and natural, not only free and unrestricted, but also gradually
realising the echo of nature. After a long time of training, the instincts
unveil and the rays of the spirit will shine, one will have gained the basis of
combat even without having thought of them. If one always sticks to mechanical
movement, plays around with a staff and performs with a spear seeking beauty,
taking that as the glory of being good in martial arts, then one does not know
that if a man of insight sees that, he will feel sick for ten days. That is
terrible, such a person cannot comprehend boxing for life.
[26] Interviewer: Your purpose
is studying truth and developing the martial arts, why were there so few
visitors? Can you think of a reason?
Wang Xiangzhai: It is very
difficult to find an answer for this. According to my conjecture, in the
martial arts circles of our country there are no doubt many wise ones, but the
unworthy ones are especially numerous. Everyone studying a certain style of
martial arts, assiduously practises for many years and flatters oneself by
claiming that one alone has accomplished the profound skills, and then calls
oneself the successor of that school. This way one will even be respected by
the society, so one can solve the problem of making a living at the same time.
Once such people are told to abandon all their learning and start studying from
the beginning, it is really intolerable for them.
Perhaps their way of making a
living would also be affected by that, thus they consider their personal
advantages and disadvantages, and notice that the disadvantages would be huge, therefore
it is no wonder that the visitors were so sparse. The most fortunate thing in
the end is that there are some ignorant people, who do not dare to measure or
discuss right and wrong, and thus just make gossip at random, making
irresponsible remarks in order to hide their weak points. The people in our
society trust them and the people who have been deceived by them are really
numerous, this is a great pity. If we do not wipe out this obstacle, the
martial arts of our country will hardly have any hope of a quiet and great progress.
[27] Interviewer: Sir, you are
the forerunner in the martial arts, and you are holding thedecision in your
hands. Furthermore, I hope you will keep on working with perseverance, then the
martial arts will surely have no difficulties in seeing the days of glory and
progress.
Wang Xiangzhai: Your words
touch me deeply, naturally I shall do my utmost. Success or failure, praise or
blame, I do not dare to care for them. There is only one goal, namely to solve
the question of how combat science can advance. Therefore I tell other boxers
here: originally combat was just a minor skill, but the ordinary people mostly
judge one’s boxing skills by the relative superiority or inferiority in combat,
therefore there are two research methods.
If one is willing to research
the suitability of each action, then I immensely welcome him. If one wants to
enter into combat or do push-hands, they are both fine as well. The scope of researching
combat science is extensive. If the amount of visitors will increase, then
there will be no dilemma.
If the visitor has even tiny
strong points, I will certainly do my utmost to blazon forth and praise him. If
he has no strong points at all, I will certainly say nothing, because even
talking cannot make him understand. I really hope that the visitors will test
me with difficult questions to the best of their abilities, in order to compare
experiences with each other, aiming at the progress of combat science, everyone
pursuing the same way with me, all should shoulder the duty to develop combat
science.
This important prospect should
definitely not be weakened because of personal reasons, if it can really
benefit the general interest. Even if one has to suffer any personal
sacrifices, one should still give up something small to achieve something
great. I maintain this determination, if combat science can thereby progress,
it would not only be an individual gain, but also the whole world and our
descendants would benefit greatly.
The reporter and Mr. Wang
finished their conversation, and because it was already late, they bid farewell
to each other and left.
In the 1940's ‘Yiquan’ was
known as ‘Dachengquan’. Later Mr. Wang Xiangzhai dropped the name ‘Dachengquan’
and asked his students to return to the old name as well. All of Mr. Wang's top
students did that, but some people still kept using the name ‘Dachengquan’.
Thus ‘Yiquan’ and ‘Dachengquan’ are just two names for one art.
This interview is taken from
the book "Dacheng Quan" by Wang Xuanjie.