Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Words of Jou Tsung Hwa



The late Tai Chi Master Jou Tsung Hwa wrote the absolute best book on Tai Chi Chuan I have ever read. In his book "The Tao of Tai Chi Chuan; The way to Rejuvenation", Master Jou writes:

"Finally, when one has acquired Ching, or lightness, Man, or slowness, Yuan, or complete circularity of motion, and Yun, or constant rate, one will have completed the human stage. How can one verify this accomplishment? One will have followed the rules in the human stage when the practice of Tai Chi Chuan outdoors does not disturb flocks of birds or other animals".

Master Jou is discussing the various stages of mastering Tai Chi Chuan, the "human" stage being the first.
This notion is something that makes Tai Chi Chuan so much different than hard-style martial arts. Jou suggests a learning curve that mimics and strives to actually become part of the natural world.

It's almost embarrassing to relate this story, but it fits the topic. Years ago I had to fill in and help out at a dog kennel. It was at a time when I was really, really trying hard to prepare for a Tae Kwon Do belt test. While I was doing my chores at the kennel, I absent-mindedly slipped into a few movements of a form; block, punch etc.
Well, as expected, the animals in the kennel did not like it at all, and when they became frightened, I stopped my movement immediately.

This is what Jou is talking about. Not only was my martial movement snappy and aggressive, I was nowhere near the enlightened stage Jou claims to seek.

Lightness, slowness, circularity of motion, and constant rate is what makes Tai Chi Chuan a martial art of the natural world.

5 comments:

hermann said...

Well, his books I also read very early in my training (since Jan.1983), it was a nice reading and made me curious to search for my selft.
Later I heared a lot about Jou Tsung Hwa's TJ farm, not too much positive stuff about his actual practice, and when I look at the pic you posted, I really must wonder how much he in fact understood?! Maybe more a scholar than a practitioner?

Dojo Rat said...

Well, as far as that picture, he is practicing chan su jin, or spiral energy. My instructor learned this and a lot of other stuff from Jou, including the two-person forms.
The book is great, Jou must have done pretty good because he had a huge following.
Scholar? For sure.

Stuart Shaw said...

Thanks for the recommendation ... I will be sure to add that book to my wishlist.

Dojo Rat said...

Stuart;

I got a couple of good copies, including a very nice hardcover, for just a few dollars off Amazon used.

You have a nice website, by the way!

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