The dialogue between Zheng Manqing and Miss Li's disciples

by langrentoh1 on 2012-02-16 14:55:08

The Dialogue between Zheng Manqing and Mr. Smith, a Famous Western Martial Artist

Mr. Smith is 59 years old, an American, and one of the renowned martial artists in the Western world. He has authored ten books on various martial arts. Since 1959, he has been studying Tai Chi under Master Zheng Manqing. Since then, he has practiced and taught Tai Chi diligently. He believes that Tai Chi has given him a humble self and a healthy physique. He worked as a government official in the United States for 25 years and retired in 1978 to become a literary critic. His works have been published in major media outlets.

This article is excerpted from the book "Tai Chi" co-authored by him and Mr. Zheng. Due to its unique anecdotes and special depth, it has been translated and published here with his permission. Readers are kindly requested not to overlook it.

We were sitting there, and the master was smiling. Someone told me that when he was in the right mood, he would answer any question. He said, "If you hit the bell with a small pebble, the sound will be small. If you hit it with a large wooden hammer, the sound will be big. Similarly, if you ask me big questions, the answers will also be important." This made me realize where to start. So I asked:

Student: In most martial arts, students' skills often approach or even surpass their teachers. Why is it that none of your students can come close to you? No matter how fast they progress, their level is far below yours. Is there any secret?

Master: Yes, there is a secret. But this secret is so simple that it almost seems unbelievable. However, you must believe it; otherwise, you won't succeed. The secret is: you must relax both body and mind. You must endure failure for a long time. You must invest in failure; otherwise, you cannot succeed. My achievements today are because I set aside my pride, believed in my teacher's words, relaxed my body, calmed my mind, and let the Qi flow freely. At the beginning, I often got hurt all over. Sometimes I was hit so hard that I lost consciousness. Still, I persisted. I listened to my teacher, paid attention to my Qi. In times of terrible defeat, I forgot my pride, anxiety, and self. I emptied myself completely and gave way to Qi. Gradually, my skills improved. Only then did my reactions become sensitive, allowing me to complete defense and attack instantly. My students either don't believe this, or though they believe, they lack enthusiasm to pursue it, hence they fail.

Student: It sounds easy when you say it - correct intention and relaxed body lead to improvement. But without hard training, regular practice, and continuous effort, can one succeed?

Master: To master this art, you must rely on the elements you mentioned earlier. You must work hard every day, but you must also note that Tai Chi should not be confused with Shaolin Kung Fu. The latter emphasizes muscle and strength training, while practicing Tai Chi requires constant remembrance of the Tai Chi classics. It's not about practicing for one or two hours daily to achieve success; the practice must be correct, otherwise, it's all wasted effort. My teacher, Yang Chengfu, was personally instructed by his famous father, Yang Jianhou. At the age of thirty, he taught in a wealthy family's mansion in Shandong. There, he lived comfortably, becoming obese and lazy. Later, he returned to Beijing and led a dissolute life. When his father learned of this, he made him resign and confined him in an empty room, prohibiting any contact with the outside world. For four years, apart from his father coming daily to practice Tai Chi, push hands, and Tai Chi weapons with him, no one else was allowed to see him. During this period, his achievements far exceeded everything he had learned before. After four years, when he left the confinement, he could easily defeat his father's best disciples, whom he used to lose to frequently. Now, he had become a great boxer, and his greatness lasted a lifetime. For many years after, even without much practice, he could maintain his effectiveness. This is an inevitable characteristic of Tai Chi - if a person keeps improving, they will reach a state where further practice is unnecessary because they have attained mastery. I won't elaborate on this anymore.

Student: How do you know if you are truly relaxed during practice?

Master: Knowing is subjective, while relaxation is objective. I'd like to say that when a person practices the entire set of movements, and their mind is completely undisturbed by external influences, this is a good start towards relaxation. However, this is just the first step. The next step is that you must practice earnestly. After practice, you'll feel exhausted. When your shoulders feel heavy, you know you're approaching true relaxation. This is the result of "land swimming."

Student: But doesn't the Tai Chi classic tell us that our bodies must be so light that we can feel the addition of a feather? How do you reconcile this lightness with the supposed resistance leading to exhaustion?

Master: There is no conflict here. Although it may seem contradictory, you can certainly practice lightly for five minutes without feeling tired, but this won't help you relax. When you practice slowly and correctly, assuming there is resistance ahead, you will get tired. However, in real combat, your body frees itself from the mental resistance, making you feel incredibly light and agile.

Student: As you know, I have studied Tai Chi under several other teachers. Please don't misunderstand me as disrespectful. Because our time is limited, and I want to write books about Tai Chi, I think it's best to learn as much as possible. Most other schools add auxiliary exercises to enhance breathing, vitality, and martial arts skills. Do you think these exercises are beneficial?

Master: I am very glad that you try different schools. Because I know you will find that in this art, you will only have one teacher. The Tai Chi form itself is already varied, comprehensive, and highly beneficial. Additional exercises will only distract you and hinder your progress.

Student: Isn't Shaolin Kung Fu an excellent fitness exercise and self-defense martial art?

Master: If I thought so, I would choose Shaolin over Tai Chi. In terms of exercise, it focuses on muscle tension and brute force rather than health. In combat, since you never go beyond relying on strength and techniques, you won't gain a real advantage. I'm not boasting. When I was young in mainland China, I was often challenged by people from various schools, and my art has never failed.

Student: Can someone just watch and learn?

Master: They can learn something, but not everything, including the cultivation of Tai Chi. Practice is essential. Here's a story about Yang Jianhou's neighbor. He secretly watched them practice for months from his house, then called one of Yang's students to attack him. The student agreed but was thrown down hard. Yang saw this and asked where he had learned the art. The neighbor laughed and replied, "From you!" A better story involves Yang Luchan, who might be the greatest Tai Chi master of all. He was employed by a pharmacy owner who hired the famous master Chen Changxing to teach his disciples. Yang Luchan learned secretly and was eventually accepted as a formal disciple.

Student: How important is push hands?

Master: Very important. Without push hands, you won't make progress. But note, I'm telling you now, it's best to push hands with a child. Pushing hands with a skilled adult, he will use force, and you will follow suit. Pushing hands with a child, treat him as an adult. Pushing hands with an adult, treat him as a child. This may sound contradictory, but it isn't. A child will provide you with a relaxed practice partner. When you benefit from his "relaxed nature," you can treat him as equal, pretending he is an adult. This elevates the practice to the "application" aspect. Now, let's reverse it. Why treat an adult as a child? This is a method of belittling to remove fear, but this does not mean that this "courage" can really overcome fear. When we remove fear, we also remove arrogance.

Student: In push hands, is it dangerous to let the opponent touch your body? Would such a situation lead to failure in real combat?

Master: Push hands is mainly a method to achieve a goal. It teaches tactile sensitivity and discernment (i.e., listening to energy and understanding energy). It also teaches you to judge distance. In real combat, avoid letting the opponent touch you. But you should get as close as possible to facilitate attacks. Some masters possess what we call "receiving energy." This energy not only neutralizes the opponent's attack but also counters it simultaneously. Some higher-level masters control this ability subconsciously. If you attack them from behind, they can use the opponent's force to rebound them a yard away without even noticing. Such people naturally have no difficulty in real combat. General boxers, although lacking this ability, can still develop their senses through push hands practice, enabling them to approach the opponent without being touched.

Student: Zhuangzi once said, "A drunkard is not harmed because his spirit remains firm." Is this the state Tai Chi seeks? If Zhuangzi's statement is true, wouldn't it be simpler to become an alcoholic?

Master: Emptying oneself is to overcome fear, which is one of the main purposes of "non-action" (wu wei). This is why Taoists, upon death, can generate fierce flames and calmly walk through water. (Here I say, this fearless character is not exclusive to China. Japanese samurais also seek the beauty of death. Not to mention St. Lawrence, who, while being roasted, told his executioners, "Turn me over, this side is done.") The master smiled in agreement and continued, "Yes, a drunkard is free from concerns. His muscles are not tense, and his body is relaxed. But it's not entirely so, because a drunkard always knows the way home. A drunkard loses his intention and is swayed by the environment. Conversely, in Tai Chi, while we relax our bodies, we maintain a flexible and clear mind."

Student: Why didn't Yang Chengfu come to the West to teach?

Master: Once, a Chinese doctor returned from America to Guangzhou. He persuaded Yang to return to the U.S. with him, saying they could make a lot of money, but Yang refused. Neither the West nor money was attractive to Yang. He was very satisfied with his environment and did not want to change it.