Xing Yi

Xing-Yi Liang Yi Xue
Xing-Yi Two Polarity Study

by Sun LuTang 孙禄堂
translated by Bob Lau
Translator’s Introduction:
Sun Lu-tang was a famous martial art master in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He is
the creator of a martial art that bears his name, Sun Style Taijiquan (Sun Shi Taijiquan). Before
learning Taijiquan, he intensively studied another internal martial arts called Xing Yi Quan 形意
拳. (Form-Intent Boxing).
San Ti is a form of standing meditation a form of stationary training that strengthens the
body by unifying it. It is said that Sun only practiced San Ti for 6 months to a year before he
learned anything else. An in turn, Sun Lu Tang had a student who only practice San Ti for 3
years thereby becoming Sun Lu Tang best student.
San Ti 三体 can be literally translated as the three bodies represents Heaven, Humanity,
and Earth; it is from these three bodies that the Ten Thousand Things arise. However, before
the three bodies can arise, Yin and Yang 阴阳 arise and be separated. The practice of San Ti is a
concrete study of Yin Yang change. Whereas, Taijiquan 太极拳, is the practice of the change
from yin and yang and back again: yin yang xiang ji 阴阳相济.
The translation below is limited in that it does not instruct or is even able to reveal all of
the aspects of this type of practice. However, what it can provide is initial guidance and
consistent practice will lead to more understanding of the original text and beyond.
Translation of the text:
Liang Yi Xue 两仪学
Liang Yi 两仪 Two Polarity is the principle that within boxing there is, movement and
stillness, there is rising and sinking, there is reaching and withdrawing. Humans possess limbs
and a skeleton, reaching is Yang, withdrawing is Yin.
The two hands act as if they are holding or embracing, the head pushed upward, you first
step forward with the left leg. The two hands slowly separate from each other, the left hand
pushes forward, the right hand pulls backward, it is as if you have the intention of tearing a
cotton [cloth].
The left hand goes out straight, the position of the left hand is no higher than the mouth,
the left hand extending to the extreme. The thumb is level with the mouth, the arm appears
straight but is not straight, appears bent but is not bent. The wrist to the elbow is level.
The right hand pulls down arriving and ending at the pit of the stomach, with the root of
the thumb 1 placed closely against the pit of the stomach.
The left foot and left hand are both even in their rising and sinking, the rear foot remains
unmoving. The five fingers of the left and right hands spread open, do not bring the fingers
together, the thumb of the left hand is level, the forefinger extends to the front, the thumbs and
forefingers, i.e., the tiger’s mouths, of both hands form semicircles, the two eyes look at the tip
of the forefinger of the left hand.
The two shoulders are released2, they evenly draw jing,3 the inside root of the two hips4
also evenly draw strength, this is the joining/combining of the shoulders and the hips.
The two elbows have hanging downward jing, but do not reveal the downward jing, the
rear elbow is curved, but not extremely bent, it must be round and full like a half moon. The two
knees has a inward wrapping jing, do not reveal the inward jing, this is the joining of the elbows
and knees.
The heels of the two feet have evenly twisting toward the outside jing, do not reveal this
twisting jing, this is the joining of the feet and the hands. This is called the outer three
harmonies [shoulders and hips; elbows and knees; and feet and hands].
The shoulders should urge the elbows, the elbows should urge (press) the hand. The waist
should urge the hips, the hips should urge the knees, the knees should urge the feet.
The body still must remain upright, do not lean to the left or right. The mind is steady and
stable, seeing Yang but having Yin, seeing Yin but having Yang. Yin Yang mutually combining,
up down mutually connecting, inside-outside are as if unified, this its call the Six Directions.5
Although it is called the Six Directions, in fact it is inside and outside mutually combining,
although it is called inside and outside mutually combining, in fact it is Yin and Yang mutually
combining. Because of Yin and Yang mutually combining the three bodies SanTi6 are born.
1
Thumb root inside pit close to the pit of the stomach.
2
Song kai 松开 loose open.
3
Jing 劲 1）vigor; energy; strength; 2) interest air; manner; expression
4
Gua 胯 Hips
5
Liu He 六合
6
San Ti 三体 . The three bodies, Heaven, Human, Earth.
(c) Robert K. Lau 2006-7-20

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Xing-Yi Liang Yi Xue

Xing-Yi Two Polarity Study

Translation of the text:

Liang Yi Xue 两仪学

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