Table Of ContentTHEE SSENCEO F Ti\C1H IC H'UAN
TheL iterTarrya dition
TranslaatneddE dited
by
BenjaPmainn}g e nLgo
UniverTs'aalCi h iC h'uaAns sociation
MartIinnn
RobeArmta cker
SusaFno e
InneRre searIcnhs titute
SchooolfT 'aCih iC h'uan
NortAht lanBtoiock s
RichmonCda,l ifornia
1979
THE ESSENCEO F T'ACIH I CH'AUN :Th e Litarye rTradition
Copyrig19h7t9b yB enjamPiann gJ enLgo ,M artiInn nS,u saFno e,
RoberAtm ackerA.l lr ighrtess ervNeod .p arotf t hibso okm ay
ber eproduicnew dr itienxgc,e psth orpta ssagfeosrt hep urpeo s
ofr eviewwi,t howurti ttpeenr missfiroonmt hea uthors.
UniverTs'aalCi h iC h'uaAns sociation
2901C lemenStt reet
SanF ranciCsacloi,f or9n4i1a21
InneRre searIcnhs titute
1135M issiSotnr eet
SanF rancisCcaol,i for9n4i10a3
CoverL:e gendafroyu ndoefrT a'iC hiC hu'anC,h angS an-feng
CalligrbaypB heyn jamPiann gJ enLgo
PhotogrbaypM hi chaJealn g
Graphpirco ductbiyoA nn drewM ain
TypesientP atibnyat heO penS tudiPori nSth o,pR hinebeNc.kY,.
Publisher: NortAht lantBioco ks
635A madorS treet
RichmonCda,l ifor9n4i8a05
FundamenDtoaclt riinneH se alinVgo,l um2e
Princidpiaslt ributorB ookP eople
forr esale: 2940S evenStthr eet
BerkelCeayl,i for9n4i7a10
Publicaptairotni aslulpyp ortbeydt heN ewY orkS tatCeo uncoinl
theA rtasn dt heN ationEanld owmenfto rth eA rts
.
Printientd h eU niteSdt ates oefric a Am ISBN0 -913028-63-0
SeconPdr inting
CONTENTS
PrefaScues aFno. e . . . .. . .. ... ... . .... . . 7
IntroducBteinojna Pmai�n!1 egn Lgo 13
. . . . . . . . .
T'aCih iC h'uanC hingC ltaSnagn -feng
17
. . . . . . . .
T'aCih iC h'uaLnu n WangT sung-yueh 29
. . . . . . . .
ExpositioofnI sn sigihntst toh e
Practiocfet heT hirteen PosWtuur Yesu -shia.ng.4 1
.
Songo fth e ThirtePeons turesU nknoAwunt h.or6.1
UnkonwnA utohr
Songo fH and-Pushing 67
. . . . . .
L 1i- yu
FivCeh aracSteecrre t 71
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Essentioaflth se Practice
ofF orma ndP ush-HandLs i1 -yu. 79
. . . . . . . . . . .
YangsT' enI mportanPto ints YanCgh engu- f
CommnetabryyC h' eWne i-Ming 83
. . . . .
Songo fF orma ndF unctionC henMgan -c'hing
91
. . .
Glossary 95
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PREFACE
Translasthiooubnlebsd o tpho etaincdl iteyretaf Lr e
quenotlnye imduesabtle s acritfoit cheoedt heIrn.
transllaittienrgla itktuehr Tee' iaC hi ChC'luaacsnss ,i
whicihsa collecoftw iroint isnpgasn nailnmgo osnte
thoaunsdy eatrshe,e rrae mapnryo blFeomorsn .te h ing,
classicailts e Crhesivene,ten es el egrMaapnhyci hca.r ac
terhsa vbeo th coanncdar bestter maecatn isnoge sv en
simpsleen ternecseosu wnidta hl lusainodin msa gery.
Eacahp horeicshmo ienst he remaidnedrc,'r se ating
overtwonheisc h stniemwui ldaetaaens d a mplioflyd
ones.
Foerx ampilnte h,"e T' iaC hCi h'uanC hign",w hicihs
onoef t hoel dewsrti tianpgpse,ta hrsese nte"ntchceeh', i
(breasthho)ub lede xcittehdse,p isrhiotu bledi nter
nalglayt he"r Ientd h.icso ntetxhtew ordw hicwhe
transalsa" teex cihtaestd h"i cso nnotaitfai lotlnh :e
oceainnts h weo rlwde rgea thereadb oixan ntdto h e
boxw asj iggtlheweda ,t weor ulsdl obsahc akn df orth.
Thiishs owt hceh' cii rcuilnta htbeeo sd Yye.tt r anslating
thiass" thber eath sslhoousilhsmd" i sleaadnidn g
awkward.
Thipsr obloeftm r anslaantdi nign tehrperC elatsisnigc st
haesx isatlealdl onfgoe,rv eonn et hounsdya eaargso ,
classCihcianble osrele i trtellea ttoio ornd insapreye. ch
AfttehreF ouBro obkesc aemnetn rcheeda sl iterary
modemloss,wt r iteimnugl atthesedt yolf4e 0 0B. C.T he
reamlo deolft h"eT' aCih iCh 'uCahni nhgo,weviesr ,
"
SunT zeA'rsot fW arT.h iwsa sa lswor itten4 0a0b out
B.C.a,d remaitnhsem oscto ncainsdei lluminating
n
boookfm ilitsatrrya teevgewyrr it.tW ehnaStu nT zse '
trea(tainsidetc so mmentadriifdeo msri) l itbaartyt les,
thTe' aCihC ih 'uan Cdloaf soisrni dcisv icdoumabla t
toa uthitoartivdeelfyia nneda naltyhzfeea cttohrast
brisnugc ceIsnas d.d ittihoCenl ,a sseixpcosun da p ath
ofd evelopfmoterhn beto dymi,n da,n dsp irit.
Becauosfie t lso yf gtoaalnsd pr ofoundi nsightthse
T'aiC hC'huiCa lna ssisic cosn sidearb eodo ko fw isdom.
Int hOer ieinfatb oowkh icahdd resistesse tlopf h ilo
sophiqcuaels thiaosnm se rit, sclhaotlaeardrsd t heir
ownc ommentaOrvieterhs ce.e nturaisec so,m mentary
isa ddetdoc ommenttahreycyo, m et ob ea cceptaesd
parotft hweo rikt sNeelwfi .de aasr ea ddeadn do ldo nes
are draospt phteexed tc o meusn detrh es crutoifne ya ch
succeegdenienrga tTihoinos.r gacn piroceosfsa ddition
andd eletteiontndo gs l eaonu tt hei deas ftooub nedt he
wisesta ndm osuts efsuot lh aeta chp roverb ias like
telegram froCmh iCp ha'sutpa rnaT c'taiit ioTnheer s.
presgeennte ramtuisotb nr intgo t hew orkt hes ame
seahrigcna ppraiasnadcl r eativity.
Thawteh avteh eC lassaitac lisls a nh istoraicccaild ent.
Int he midCe-n1t9utarhnyo ldm anuscriwpatsf ounidn
as aslhto bpya s cholwahro t ooki tt oh isb rotheWru,
Yu-hsiWaun (g1.8 12-1w8a8sa0 s )t udeonftt h fea mous
TaiC hif amitlhye, Cchleanon fn orthCehrinn Wau.
showetdh em anuscrtiohp itfs r ieannddt eacYhaenrg
Lu-sh(a1n8 00-.1 8aY7n3gc) onfirtmhewedi sdoomft he
epigraanmdsi nterptrheettmeo dW u,w hol atwerro te
th"eE xposiatnidIo nnssi ghBtostm.ha" d et heC lascssi
thlei terfaoruyn idoanto ft hetiaerch ingsa ndf ounded
schowohlisc shu rvitvote h per esdeanyt.
Althoutgehh a ctuaault horsohfti hpe" Chinigs"
imposstiobd leet ermtihneeep ,i graarmaest tributed to
ChangS an-fetnheg l,e gendfaoruyn doefrT 'a iC hi
Ch'uaHnei. sb elietvohe adv bee eanT aoimsotn kw ho
livferdo 1m2 79-1A3.6D8.a ,l thosuogmhe b elihevee
livedm ofroterh a2n5 0y earHse.s tudbioexdi antgt he
ShaolTiemnp laen dt ehnr efortmheedmi orv ementtos
confowrimt thh Tea oisitd eoafss oftnaensdsy i lednig
ness. The oroingt ihnema aln ucnsrotisepa ti "dT:h is
calsswiacsl ebfytt hpea rtaircChh angS an-foefWn ug
TangM ountaHiend .e sirtehdwe h olweo rltdoa ttain
longevaintdny o,to nlmya ritatle cnhqiues.
" ·
Oneo ft hema jro goalosf T aoisims h ealth and
longev"iTtoly i:vf eo revaendr b ef oreyvoeurn" gT .o
achieveo ntemh uissft,o lltohwe (TWaaooy r P ath),
whicmhe anhasrm oniinzgw ith nattuhrueen iavnedr se.
Thihsa rmonizmautsbiteo b no th exatnedir nntaelr nal.
T'aCih iC hu'ani sa m ethboydw hich external affairs
arereg uatlde (self-dwehfieltnehs ece h)( 'bir eaitsh )
cultiv(ayto)eg.Tda h e Classricfeesr t ob otohf t hese
ideYaesst.i ntchefe r amewoofTr 'kaC ih iC h'uaints h at
oft hmea rtairatelsv ,e rytihnTi 'naCgih im usstt and
up
tot hemo srti gormoaurst ainaall yTshiesT .'a Cihi
9
Ch'uCalna sissia cnas t tetmops tt a(tsee lecetvievne ly,
arbiitylr,aa nrdb yn om eanesx hausttihvieer lvryoe)
cabplrei ncoifpT laeosii snmt eromsfm artairatlNs o.
oncea tnr uslayty h euyn derstthaCenl da susnitctishl e y
canno otn ly soofmfieene rtr ptraetiooftn hs et atetm,se n
bucta dne fetnhdes iinrgi cfainicnet hsep ecioffci hc'su an
orb oxiAnsgt .hu en derstoafnT d'iaCnihg iC h u'anh as
changoevdet rh cee nitsue,er acphr actihtaiasod ndeerd
his sokwinal nldw idsom.
Sicnet heirsen ow ayo fd etermihnoiwmn ugc h
alteroactciuornr ed gednuerrinansotg fi t ohTe' aCih i
line,a fgaee wo ft heep igrmaamysb ei nnaccuFroart e.
exapmlein,W u'"sE xposiotfIi nosnis"g a hptpasertsh e
statem"eThnelt ii: sr eleatsherdo utghbhea cakn,dt he
stefposl ltohbweo diclhya n"gL eios .re xrtnaels trtehn g
(seGelo srys)a isc onsiduenrdeeds ibrayTb 'laeCi h i
boxeIrnts h.ci osn tieitxas tl monsotn senasnidhc iaglh ly
suspTehcetir.cse o nsidesrcahbolloeapi rnliyto hnat th is
charawcatsoe rri gincahli(lnniyt erfnoarl,c w eh)icihs
thset reonfgtt hshen i ewtse,dn onasn,dm usclCehsiin.s
ac ompclheaxr aIcttrsea rdi.ca anli ,d enticfyoimnpgo nent,
itsh ceha racltwie hre inst t anadlso nSei.ni cnae ddition,
thdei stinbcettiwoelneia n n dc hiinso new hicmha ny
studefnitndsdi ffiicnum laktniyg i nt ermosfa ctual
praicctteh,e mya yh avbee etno toi moird contfou sed
questiYoentt o ri etf.ut sode o s oi st ol osteh vea loufe
thCel assaisca sl ivwionkrg.
Thec haptientr hsi bso ok aarrrega endi nc hrono
logiocradleT rh.ea phroismisnt h"eT a'i C hiC h'uan
Chinagr"te r atdiionaalslsyi gtnoeC dha ngS an-feng
(1279-1386T hA.e"D T.')Ca.h iCi h 'uLaunn a"r et hought
10
toh avbee ewnr itbtyeW na ngT sung-ywuheowh ,a sth e
firksnto wsnu ccetsosC ohra nSga n-feHneign t.or duced
T'aCih iC h'uiannH onan Provinc1e7 3b6e-t1w7e9e5n.
The" ExposiatnidIo nnssi gwhetrswe"r itbtyeW nu Yu
hsia(n1g8 12-1L8i18 y-0u),w. h ol iviendt hem id-19th
Centuwrryo,tt eh "eE ssenotfFi oarlamsn dP ush-Hands"
andt h"eF iCvhea racSteecrr eTthe.s"ae r dee sigtnoe d
bea practgiuciadlte oa cturaela lizoaftt ihoemn o re
philosotpehxibtcusait,ln f acotn lyyi etlhde sierc rtest o
advancperda ctitioners.
Then ameasn dd atoefst haeu thoorf"s S onogft he
ThirtePeons turaensdt" h "eS onogfH and-Pusahrien g"
lost. Incideanrtpeao lelmyas,n dnt ohtme esaen ttob e
sunYga.n Cgh eng-tfhaueu, t hoof"r Y anTge'nIs m portant
Pointwsa/sa' g randosfoY na ng Lu-Hselh iavnfe.rd o m
1838t o1 93a6n dw ast hfeo remTo'siatC hibo xeorfh is
dayf,a med throCuhgihnfoaouh rti s so ftnaensdms a rtial
proweHsiss.s tudeCnhte,n Mga n-ch'(i1n9g0 0-1975)
wasa M astoefrt hFei vEex cellepnoceetsrp:ya ,i nting,
calglraiphym,e diciannedT, ' iaC hiC hu'anH.i pso em
"Sonogf F orma ndF unctiiostn r" anslfartoehmdi s
ThirtCeheanp teTrhissi. s t hefir tst imieth asb een
publisihnEe ndg lish.
Becaoufst ehs ee emirnagnldyao rmr angeomfte hnet
"Lu"nw ,eh avseo mewhaaltt etrheoedr dteorf acilitate
understaonftd hienfsgre e quently cryptic aphorisms.
Ther eadmeurs bte c aretfonu olet ,h owevtehrat,th is
ordiensre ithhiesrt onroinrce acle sssoha erm yu satv oid
drawincgo nlcusiboanssoe ndt hper ogresosfii doenass
alonIent. e romfst hien divisdtuaatle mneonl tisc,e nse
wast akoefna nyk intdh,Ee n glbiesihtn hgbe e scth oice
11
ofw ordsw hicsht iflall wlist hitnh el itemreaaln ign of
thec haracters.
Iti st heh opeo ft hea uthotrhsa rte adewrisl nlo to nly
apprecitahteCe l assfiocrts he ibre autayn dw isdomb,u t
wilall sboe s timulattoce odn tintuheet raditoifao dnd ign
theoiwrn i nsigahntdsc ommentaries.
SusaFno e
INTRODUCTION
T'aCih Cih 'ubaeng ainnC hinsae vehruanld r�d years
agob,u tt heex adcatt iesu ncertIanai nnc.i teminets
teachtearusgs httu depnrtisv aatnedtl hyte e aicgnhw as
kepste crBeutot.v etrh yee atrhshe i stoarciccuarloa fc y
thtee achbiencga miem paiarsep de opfloer gsootm e
thinagnsda ddeodt heTrhsee. x aocrti goifTn a' i C hi
Ch'uwaans l osAtl.t houpgeho phlaev set udainedd
researtchohere idg oifTn a' i C hin,o etv eryone agrees.
Atp restehnetar rete w om aitnh eocroinecse rtnhien g
origoifTn ' aCih Cih 'uaOnn.el egeintsdh atthh ee rimt
ChanSga n-foefWn ug- taMnogu ntiavnienn tTea'di C hi
att heen do ft hYeu aann dt hbee ignnigno ft hMei gn
dynas(t1i3e6s7 -A1.D4.)0.S3 o meh,o wevdeoru,bt th e
existoefCn hcaen Sga n-fAennogt.ht ehre osrtya ttheast
T'aCihw ia sf ircsrte abtyeC dh 'Weann -gt'ianttg h een d
oft hMei nagn dt hbee ginonfit nhgCe h 'idnygns atsi e
(1628-A1.D7.)3H.6e f oundtehCdeh 'feanim ylT a'iC hi
dynasItnay d.d ittioto hnet swepo o putlhare oraineost,h er
ideiats h aTta' i C hcio mefsr otmh een odf Ltihaean ngd
thbee gingn oifnt heC hend ynas(t5i5e0s- A5.D6.)0.
Anothtehre oirstyh aittd a tferso tmh Te'a ngd ynasty
13
