FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON

COMPREHENDING THE METHOD OF

UNDERSTANDING YIQUAN
Mr. Wang Xiangzhai founded Yiquan over half a century ago. During these very long
years, because of its abundant meaning and tremendous cultural value, Yiquan has
been attracting increasing numbers of people who throw themselves into it. But, I
also find that in the course of studying and practising Yiquan, there are many wrong
roads, and people are unable to decide which is right. To this day some seek blindly
and others go astray. What a pity! From childhood, I have learned Yiquan from my
father, Han Qiao, and up to now; it has been more than forty years. By my personal
experience of learning, practising, teaching and researching Yiquan, I feel deeply
that if one doesnt have a clear comprehension of the method of understanding
Yiquan, then it is impossible to walk up the right path of Yiquan. In 1997, during the
first national Yiquan science convention, I published "Theory of Combat Science
The Second Course of Yiquan" together with Mr. Han Jingsheng after having done
some research on the matter. Mr. Wang Xiangzhai once told us: "The way of science
is to understand fundamental principles." Because of this, all martial arts students
can share the benefits of Mr. Wang Xiangzhais combat science as quickly as
possible; carry forward the combat science career founded by him; and allow it to
benefit all humanity. I clearly realize that my knowledge is not as abundant as it
could be, but for the above reason, I do my utmost to further clear up the method
of understanding Yiquan. I hope to bring together all kinds of specific training
methods on the theory. Thus, it can be of better service as a physical exercise. I also
hope to offer here, a few commonplace remarks by way of introduction, so that
others may come up with their valuable opinions and together with all experts within
and outside the country, clarify the right path of Yiquan. I. WHAT IS YIQUAN?
Literally speaking, Yiquan is a word group consisting of a modifier and the word it
modifies, "quan" (pugilism) is the main word and "yi" (mind) is the adjective that
describes quan. Then what is "quan" essentially? In fact, Mr. Wang Xiangzhai
already talked about it very clearly a long time ago: "In the way of combat science,
this punch or that kick do not carry the meaning of pugilism, giving three punches
and taking two is not called pugilism either, even less does a series of skills and
tricks stand for pugilism. It is every action engraved on ones mind that is called
pugilism." What is meant by every action engraved on ones mind? It is the response
of the human body to the objective world. Under this definition, it includes the
conscious response action and unconscious response action of the human body, the
doer of action, the object of action, the conditions of action, the manner of action,
the range of action, and their mutual relationships.
Then what is called "yi" (mind)? This is a scientific determination on the nature of
boxing by Mr. Wang Xiangzhai after long practise, research and pondering the
science of Chinese martial arts. It is based on every persons perception of this

objective world and every persons spontaneity. These are approached by way of
consciousness as a prerequisite starting point. Based on this profound philosophic
thought, we then put martial arts on the plate of consciousness for investigation and
examination in order to grasp it accordingly. So we say: "Yiquan is a combat science.
It is a science that takes the law of movement of the human body as the subject to
be researched." Talking in this fashion, Yiquan can encompass all kinds of martial
arts. Consequently, any motion of the human body can be put on this plate to
understand. So the aim of Yiquan is to seek a complete understanding of the laws of
motion of the human body, and its practitioners complete grasp of their vital
activities only. After having reached the above two goals, only then can one rightly
claim to have satisfactorily succeeded in the study of martial arts. II. THE GENERAL
FORMAT OF A HUMAN BEINGS METHOD OF UNDERSTANDING Everybody has an
independent consciousness as soon as they are born. For human beings to be
"human beings," it rests on them having an independent consciousness. So all
human beings cognition, knowledge, and activity, down to all cultural values, are all
covered by a humans independent consciousness. Without consciousness, we
cannot talk about any of them since none of them can exist without it. When one
has consciousness, how does one realize and grasp this objective world and yet also
include himself? For this problem, our predecessors have already done much
exploration, and by their own words, they all expressed a common recognition. In
Hetuvidya (a system of Hindu logic), it is called xianliang (direct) and biliang
(indirect). In Mingbian (a system of Chinese logic), it is called Name and Truth.
Neoteric Mr. Feng Qi called it, "The Field of Logion and The Field of Exceeding
Logion." Mr. Mou Zongsan called it "phenomenon and the thing itself." Mr. Kashel
called it "The Intellectual Symbolic World and The Direct Experience World." Mr.
Wang Xiangzhai also said: "One must know that Name and Truth cant be mentioned
in the same breath at all." In summary, we are told that human beings realize the
objective world mainly in two ways: one is through the intellect and the other is
comprehension via intuition. The cognitive process of reasoning is through a
persons senses, first sensing the information of the objective world, and then by
way of the nerves, which pass it on to brain. Next, an image comes into being and
then a memory in the brain. This is marked by notions and symbols, and then
followed by fixed vocalisms, and finally language that we use to communicate with
each other. Based on this, at thesame time, the method of logic deduces the
correlation between objective things in the brain and results in a subjective
judgment. Accordingly, this results in our understanding and grasp of the objective
world. Therefore, an important point must be pointed out: as soon as a person is
aware of theinformation of the objective things via ones senses, this information
already has some differences with the noumenon of the objective things. This is just
like people taking a photo: the photo is an image of a person and others can find the
person by the photo, but the photo isnt the person himself. Furthermore, just as
people introduce a boy or girl friend via a photo, one may know the circumstances of
the other side. The actual person in the photo may be tall or short, beautiful or ugly,
but absolutely no one would marry the photo. So we say that when humans accept
the information of the objective world, there comes into being a subjective concept.
This concept is the reflection of objective things within subjective thought.
Phenomenon and the thing itself are two entirely different things. They are
associated as well as differentiated. Within this cognitive process, a

But whether it is all in gear or not on earth. this results in two response modes of
the human body to the world. The cognitive action takes place between the main
body and the object. it is said that "sense" is self-awareness. Thus we say that this
way of cognition has the distinction of "being able to know" and "being known. So it
is said that the way of intellectual cognition is indirect and is the cause of this
remoteness. Just as it is a part of the objective world. and then decides how to act.
it shows that the subjective cognizance was right. This estimation is a reflection of
the objective thing within subjective cognizance. Because of the above two ways of
perceiving the world. this means that the cognition was wrong. Once an action has
occurred. This is called the Main and Object interacting with each other. Wang
Xiangzhai also always said." the object of consciousness is also "me. Therefore. such
answer is deferred it is broken and delayed by the slow and complicated course of
thinking. Only when people subjectively think that all things are in gear will they
press the ignition button. the answer to environmental stimuli is direct and rapid.
they are directed by consciousness and encompass the understanding of the
objective social world of human beings. because if thinking controls the response.
under the second condition (human controls action by thinking). These two things
are also unequal. "One cant take the time to consider when in combat. Because
these two methods of response are different. After a human comes into conscious
being. only when it rises into the sky can it be known if it is or is not. so it is said
that "sense" is not divisible into "being able to" and "being. Another is the need by
way of thinking." After the brain suggests its conceptions. how they respond to a
change in ones objective environment is also different. Together. this will cause the
response action to be delayed. Active response and passive response usually exist at
the same time. So we repeatedly stress that Yiquan is the science of exerting
instinct. An object is the target of cognition. Kashel said in "Talking About
Humanity": "Under the first condition (the animal instinct). a direct active response
to the objective environment. A human has the ability of cognition." it is direct
awareness of oneself. it creates reality. This is namely called being "between the
intentional and the unconscious" in Yiquan. he is said to be able to know. just
another part of the movement of the objective world and this is an ultimate fact. by
manner of introspection. The subjective and objective are one: the course of
movement. So we say that practice is the only standard to prove the truth. If the
satellite runs in gear. of itself.human acts as the main body of cognition and the
objective thing as the object of perception. One is by animal instinct. if it runs
abnormally. all must still accept the inspection of the objective actual world after all.
The above points out the differences between the cognitive mode and the reactive
mode." This also takes place during the vital activities. the result of cognition must
first convey a proper validation in the objective world. Since it takes place during
vital activities. become aware of self-being and the movement of ones life. The
cognitive process of intuition rests with the human body itself. it is said to be able to
be known." Mr. is also namely the course of validation. The brain does a logical
evaluation of the objective environment." This also means to have a clear
recognition of this result in combat. This is just like launching an artificial satellite.
we also find that it is impossible to clearly separate these two reactive modes. The
appeal for developing a natural instinctive ability has been made. consideration is
useless. This reality is the only one of its kind in the world and beyond being right or
not. that is the course of the senses. it can. This sense is a sort of apperception with

its object of realization being ones entire life. however. a humans vital activities are.
The subject of consciousness is "I. So if talking about intellectual cognition. it again
links these in a logical manner and an estimate comes into being. as well as decide
response reactions to the . Mr. In actuality. and then it can become a truth. and they
complement each other.
Only by practising oneself. it will make the breath and heartbeat quicken
automatically. Yiquan also follows along this line. the human body will automatically
blink so as to avoid harm from this outside situation. "the art and skill of realization.
For example when a small insect flies into the eyelid. the ability for running will
increase. These instinctive reactions have all become manifested thru the interaction
of main body and object. that martial arts are the response of the human body to
the objective world. The catchphrase of modern Olympic games. unitary whole. we
find that one who runs often will be able to run faster. DISTINGUISHING FIRST
COURSE AND THE SECOND COURSE The First Course The Second Course Definition
The didactics of form The didactics of action Cognition mode Intellectual cognition
Intuitive cognition Theoretical basis Atomic theory. humans have gained knowledge
of the potentiality of the human bodys instinct. no unity problem Transmission mode
Concept transmission Feeling transmission Cognitive process Need transformation
and transition. and attempt to allow breath and heartbeat to return to normalcy. but
also they discover their own natural instinct. faster and stronger. In Yiquan training.
as community affairs change." also has this meaning. but in practical life. THE
SECOND COURSE OF YIQUAN IS A METHOD OF COGNITION AND METHOD OF
TEACHING WHICH DIRECTLY POINT TO THE ESSENCE OF THE MARTIAL ARTS It
has already been pointed out above. and know that one can explore ones own
potentiality better by training. "higher. After the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen
increases. consists of parts. Wang Xiangzhai said. For instance.objective world. III.
indirect Direct accomplishment Process of learning Conducted consciously From
consciousness to unconsciousness BETWEEN THE . the bodys oxygen consumption
increases." he had this meaning in mind. After mankind evolved to a certain degree
of consciousness. By way of increasing the number of times one runs. humans will
incur a natural emotional response in order to fulfill the needs of the spirit and body.
Therefore. "hunyuan li" (primordial strength) is sought. it has already been explained
what is the essence of martial arts. so martial arts are practiced to develop better
vital instincts and respond to the objective world better. an example being ones
heartbeat or breath. A martial art is the art of ones own body. When a person
moves violently. That is to say. in other words: seeking a plenary grasp of the
physical potentialities of the human body. this instinct has an abundant and latent
potential. one must realize and grasp the martial arts through practice. by observing
life. This kind of reactive ability is the life instinct of the human body. Herein before.
only practice will allow ones own body to gain more mobility. and one will be able to
run faster than others. Furthermore. the Second Course proposes that one must
devote oneself in order to understand. When Mr. For example: humans are able to
both walk and run. Under this intellectual demand. we call it instinct. seeking to
grasp this potential. Namely. the human body can respond to inner and outer
circumstances (including societal) unconsciously. there emerged the need for
knowing the world and grasping the world at the same time. and since they are
achieved spontaneously. human beings are not only cognizant that one can control

facts via consciousness itself. will one realize the essence of martial arts. Again. has
a unity problem Monistic theory. This will improve the exchange of gases to
accommodate the internal change. It is the motor movement ability of the body.
on no account make the mistake that the Second Course negates or surpasses the
First Course. the understanding of martial arts. everyone can clearly see the
differences between the First Course and the Second Course. come into being
cognizant of his own noumenon motive state. FOUR SENTENCES OF THE GENERAL
PROGRAMME OF THE SECOND COURSE "Producing a feeling with a fixed method"
"Giving up the method after getting the feeling" "Letting the feeling follow into
everything" "Personal feeling leads to complete awareness" "Producing a feeling with
a fixed method" means that in order to help a student realize a sort of motive state
from his body. certain concepts or rules that you try to realize while training) Actions
mold students physique(ie. let everybody have a clearer understanding of the
method to comprehend Yiquan. and is a primal and natural action. and at the same
time. "Letting the feeling follow into everything" is based on realizing that everything
from the movement process on up to the process of life. one cannot have one
without the other. By doing this action. which course do you see now? Wise readers
will come out and understandably smile. no Do (brings success or not) Passively
receives teaching Actively grasp intuitively From the above analyses. Just like the
two wheels of a vehicle or the two wings of a bird. one can achieve passing from
teacher to student. it is therefore called a "feeling transmission. these two courses
are two cognitive processes commandeered by consciousness. By this method.
"Giving up the method after getting the feeling" means after gaining the feeling that
was transmitted. This action exists in the human body itself. Becoming conscious of
the feeling. having predetermined thoughts and having a standardized method. is
taking place in the interplay between the . certain actions are used so thatyou will
naturally learn to do thingsin a correct manner and they will unconsciously transfer
into other training/actions) Teach student to practise martial arts Teach student the
method of realizing martial arts Tell students what martial arts are and what it is like
Lead students to realize what is martial arts themselves Is. He must extend the
noumenon of boxing which was passed down to him with the method of "producing
a feeling" to any time and any place. the student mustnt rely on this fixed method
taught by his teacher for producing the feeling." To have "a fixed method" means
this action of passing from teacher to student is fixed. the teaching method of
Yiquan will become much more full and complete. but please. so as to let the
student wake up and clearly understand that martial arts is comprised of ones true
vital activities. (ie. the student lets his body come into this motive state. In the
process of passing from teacher to student. It belongs to the stage of having a
patterned form. By means of this distinction. Consequently.Physique training Content
taught Concretely carry out Teaching form Students position Concepts normalize
students physique. IV. The two courses were brought forward to help distinguish
the two cognitive modes that exist within the Yiquan science itself. That would
neglect the value of the First Course. Everyone should think about this. This
sentence is moving and clears up the teaching process. the body is primarily the
motivating state for the martial arts. the teacher sets up a fixed action. isnt. As I
have already said above. yes.

the foot is at position YYY. you not only realize how the objective world. in addition.
V. or a fixed action to deal with the moving world. UNDERSTANDING THE YIQUAN
JIAJIE METHOD In the teaching process of Yiquan. "the body feels like XXX."
"Personal feeling leads to complete awareness" means that the highest state of
understanding martial arts is achieved after one devotes oneself to it and
understands the above training process. and advancing they together. If humans
use a fixed reference point to view the moving world. for example: one might say.
Therefore. Subjective and objective interact and fit each other in the motion process.
It has manifold ways of expression. Furthermore. is. you can understand that the
Second Course of Yiquan is the scientific teaching method which aims at fostering a
humans meta-cognition. They are not at all the noumenon of martial arts. and the
accomplishment of the meta-cognition symbolizes the highest development of ones
cognitive ability and also is the self-realization of ones intellectuality. We have
already talked above of how the symbolic concept comes into being and the
elements of its application. the state of matter in space and time is always in a
process of motion. they are all the indirect reflection of the martial art noumenon
using a conceptual symbol and from a specific point of view. For example.subjective
and objective. "the real controlled by the artificial. Hereafter. as well as philosophical
analysis. Namely. so all are artificial methods. then this would bring about
unconformity between the subjective and the objective. understand and grasp actual
objective things indirectly by means of conceptual symbols. "Letting the feeling
follow into everything" means in the process of action (including the activity of
thinking). the subjective cant have its own action beforehand. which includes
yourself. The objective world is moving matter. This is what is stated in Yiquan
as:"Boxing without fixed form. and then turn them into reality in your actual life. we
have another further explanation. The word "moving" means ceaseless.
psychological analysis. you must keep yourself in a state of motion at any given
time. mechanical analysis. . a character in the written Chinese language (or letter in
the western languages) is a sort of conceptual symbol. we often come up against
the cognition and training method of jiajie (using something unreal to produce real
results). that is to say. no fixed form and no fixed thoughts. When one says.
biological analysis. Although these ways of expression are diverse. In order to settle
this problem of unconformity between the subjective and objective. chemical
analysis. mind without fixed thoughts. the variety of the symbolic world will be
further explained. The subjective action must change with the changes in the
objective world. that is awakening to the truth. I will offer an explanation from
several viewpoints." this is a metaphor of the whole state of motion during this
period of time and it is also a metaphor of the thing being said. this method of
cognition is called. Nothing but the moving body is the martial art itself and that is
the noumenon of martial arts." Mathematics is a sort of way of expressing symbolic
concepts." this is describing ones feeling during the training process. Since man can
express. Therefore. we say that symbols are artificial and that only the thing being
symbolized is true. but also realize that you are able to understand the possibilities
of the objective world. When one says. Now. but it has an abstract and pure
expressionistic ability. First." This is expressing the position of the human body in
space during a specific unit time of training. there is also mathematical analysis. You
have the ability by your own actions to actively grasp these possibilities. "like XXX.
By the above paraphrases of the four sentences of the general programme of the

Second Course. the subjective viewpoint and the subjective actionmust follow the
motion of the objective world. "the hand is at position XXX.
This memory is radically different for a real tree or great mountain. Thought is used
to pull or push them. This now leads us to the famous number theory proposition
(Goldbachs conjecture) that every even number N greater than 2 is the sum of two
prime numbers. one feels the weight against oneself. it brings the change of spatial
position for the heavy object. This is just like the relationship between zhanzhuang
and walking zhuang (i. there is stillness within movement and movement within
stillness. or viper and beast of prey. The zhanzhuang ("standing like a wooden post"
postures) in Yiquan. In the same way. human beings are still dissatisfied with
calculus. It is said that. and as a result. However. such as imagining there is a big
tree. we can see that it is the thought making use of the brain to remember this real
action and visualization. However human intellectuality wants to understand the
objective world and there is also the need for people to communicate with each
other. our brains issue the order of movement. everybody will come into contact
with the method of making use of thought. because if you say it is here. a number is
originally a flow of quantitative change at the same time and space in the field of
movement of matter.e. muscles have been built up and the strength of human body
has been increased. In spite of this. One must realize that the object of this action is
the memory. These lead to calculus and thru calculus. We know that Goldbachs
conjecture hasnt been completely proven yet. Therefore. time and space. This
abstract expression can only be held within the subjective world. regarding it as a
sort of cognition method. people are not satisfied with the ossified separation of a
natural number. it is already there. Let motion lead to stillness to ascertain the
transitions. And the mathematical way of expression is also a model for "the real
controlled by the artificial. Ones action of moving thing is achieved and the objective
world has changed. postures). right in front of themselves. But we should also
realize that the reality of . At the same time. decimal fractions. it cant be regarded
as entering the fortress of science. This is objective reality. Yiquan requires
responding to every feeling in order to react to infinitude. resulting in a natural
number. the laws of motion during a period of time can be displayed. We know in
real life that if we move a heavy object or see the object with our eyes. This
impresses the information on the nerves and so the muscles contract to produce
strength in order to affect the heavy object. but in 1966. Within the Yiquan training
process. which show the specific state of the process of the motion.Mathematics is
the most scientific and high-level method of expression used by man to describe the
movement relationships between objective things. hence it is the language of
science. are parts of motion. and in the meanwhile. It has kinetic properties. it cant
be expressed by in a fixed way. time and space are also a flow of quantitative
change. and eventually one day. Therefore. issues an order directing the muscles to
work. The action is then reproduced in the brain and accordingly. when a thing cant
be expressed through mathematical language. they are indivisible from moving
matter. As a flow of movement. mathematician Chen Jingrun proved the conjecture
for certain large numbers. or great mountain. In the process of cognition of a
number. therefore there are fractions. This action of moving a thing is factiously
completed. So motion itself cant be expressed by language. which is retained in the
brain from the experience. someone will prove it for even higher numbers.

logarithms and so on. space has extensiveness. Time has continuity. There is a
radical difference when comparing it to the objective world. etc." For example. The
flow of numbers is factitiously chopped into sections. or manipulate them in some
other fashion. so it is also a method of the real controlled by the artificial. By going
through this sort of practice over and over again. the memory of the action of
moving thing in the brain has been strengthened. mathematics is still an indirect
method of expression. However. It forms and enhances the cumulative finalized
impetus. they adopt the method of the real controlled by the artificial. which cant
express all motions in all time and space yet.
This is the true meaning of "seek the true from the unreal" which was said by Mr. all
cognition methods are artificial methods. if the action is incorrect.thinking isnt the
same as that of actuality. If the action is right. By his actions. the many kinds of
artificial methods are also true methods. your spontaneous vital activities and
actions are just as true. one will gain the rewards of nature. It is also through this
process of seeking that man achieves realization of his true self. Not every sport
method. such as relaxation. When in accord. Yiquan is namely understood and
taught through the method of controlling the real by means of the artificial. and not
get carried away. Mr." It is this fundamental fact for a human that is a noumenon of
nature when the norm of action is posed. Nature lets the superior ones win and
eliminates the inferior ones in judgment over the animals. In the Yiquan teaching
process. and when in discord. As for animals. we must not lose touch with reality
and should ceaselessly get verification from the real. The same can be said for
sports. This is to say that all laws of motion. I tell you. In the end. That is to say.
However. and in the end. the ability to react will be strengthened and victory will be
achieved in the sport. these series of actions are just your actual vital activities.
However. Wang Xiangzhai pointed out such phenomena in the world of sports
before. and others will develop in a bad direction. tension. All down throughout the
process of learning Yiquan and achieving the completion of self-awareness. it is
necessary to pass through each training course taught. If the method of exercise is
right. TO GAIN STRENGTH AND TO BE HAPPY (FEEL WELL BEING AND
CONTENTMENT) IS THE NORM OF ACTION Mr. This way it keeps progressing and
developing. since the human body itself is a part of nature and the essential
principle of nature is unified and harmonious. But while using this method. That is to
say that a human being has an independent and free consciousness. Among the
many possibilities. Each step points to this real from artificial method. you now study
Yiquan. practise Yiquan. VI. "to gain strength and to be happy is an enduring
principle. To sum things up. you will cruelly harm your own life. moving from
relaxation to tension. directly points to the vital activities. Accordingly. It is only a
sort of training method or means of training. some will develop in a good direction.
adjust yourself to this motion of action. However. through practice you will make the
body healthy. Xiangzhai always said. talking about this meaning. human beings.
because they have a subjective consciousness. one will feel oneself gaining in
strength and happiness. and understand Yiquan. Wang Xiangzhai. If the method of
exercise is incorrect. and by this consciousness is able to control his own actions.
Human beings exert this method of the real controlled by the artificial to realize and
grasp this world. one goes on to choose from a good many possibilities. They are all
artificial methods as well and when you use this sort of ability of exerting the

response activity over the actual world then it is true. In fact. which are manifested
in the human body. which are offered up by nature and makes it become reality.
These series of courses are all set up for students to gain the ability over reactions
and control of his body. everyone who has the ability to observe and capability to
analyze will discover this and realize this from life and sports practice. also have an
independent spirit. one will feel very unwell and very unnatural. Whether ones
motion of action accords with the laws of nature or not. then one . An animal
responds to the change of nature by instinct. and so on. one can still be conscious of
it themselves through introspection. physical training and sports program will benefit
all people. are the same thing as the laws of motion in nature. It is seeking to
sufficiently grasp the possibility of the limitlessness of imagination. this relationship
between the individual and nature is accomplished naturally.
neither this way nor that way. contradiction exists everywhere. So we say that as a
concept is arising in germination. Accordingly. Furthermore. then at the same time.
we must use a definite standard to differentiate between two things. If we want to
understand something. because any proposition has a negative proposition at the
same time. hence intellectuality. is this way and is also that way. As soon as a man
had consciousness. The most valuable thing is for a human being to be convinced of
this. if strength and happiness are gained. we will meet many contradictory
problems. not this not that. there is also something other than one. we say that a
human beings motile creativity becomes true in the range of possibility of nature.
thus the production of a fundamental contradiction. so we say. a contradiction is
arising along with knowledge. and with your actions change the possibilities of the
objective world into reality. Our predecessors also explored this theory. Therefore.
no theoretical knowledge can work out a positive solution for you in the end. in this
reality. This gets to the endpoint and we cant seek any more. once we start talking
about understanding. you must confront the reality yourself and bring into play your
decision. Then how to settle such a contradiction? This creates a weighty
philosophical problem. What is the reason for this? It is because scientific knowledge
is established on the basis of taxology. When the possibility comes true. however.
and so on. In Hetu-vidya science. then one must differentiate it with other things. if
we say good. there is also solid. it is a recognizable signal given to the human
consciousness by nature. which means existing depends on each other. all principles
come into existence of course. etc. in the end a human being wakes up to the
following: use nothing other than ones own life to confront this world and the use of
action to resolve. Which is to say. we end up talking about the unity of opposites:
namely this namely that. Through innumerable confrontations with this contradictory
world. If we say we have one. let people wake up to the brilliance of their own
transcendental wisdom. he began to have cognitive action. if we say void. therefore
we cannot use a fixed standard to differentiate them. all things in true-life are
contiguous and ever changing. That is to say. This was so much the case that Mr.
ACTION TEACHING CLEARS UP THE CONTRADICTIONS OF UNDERSTANDING At any
given time during the process of learning martial arts. However. it is called biliang
(indirect). Like whether a posture is good if it is big or small. and that human beings
achieve free will within this range. This is namely the effect of a humans motile
action clearing up contradictions in understanding. Immanuel Kant put forward the
idea of antinomy (the law of contraries). More philosophers have pursued the

contradiction problem to the end. at the same time. This is also reflected in the basic
contradiction of understanding. Every theory there is has or is a contradiction. high
or low. All contradictions are all solved in this reality. telling everybody it is
impossible to search after the solution of a problem by the method of reasoning.
insubstantial or substantial. This is also reflected in the area of cognition. this just
produce its opposite. nobody can teach you how to do something. Wang Xiangzhai
called himself "The Old Man of Contradiction" during his later years. and go on to
adjust their actions with their own initiative in order to be close to nature. relaxed or
tensed. We know all learning needs to be able to be put into action eventually in
order to solve the concrete problems of reality. then there is also bad. VII. Having
said is equivalent to having not said.will draw natures retaliation. Videlicet. to create
and to change this world is the one and only outlet. Intellectuality requires that
humans should completely know and actively . Mr. in order to understand a piece of
something. but can only give a dialectic and paradoxical result. which uses this to
normalize human action.
How is one to remember these zhaoshi and pass these zhaoshi on to others? Under
this requirement. along with the development of understanding. and then there
arises neijiaquan (internal martial arts). Nothing but combat science is the historical
end-result of Chinese martial arts.grasp this world. First of all we must research the
problem of attack and defense. The whole process assumes the cognition of selfawareness as the final endpoint. too. Yiquan states that researching and
understanding martial arts must start from consciousness. human beings began the
journey of illuminating the whole world by the light of their own transcendental
wisdom. This namely means to understand ones own body. Now it needs to
research health preservation and jiji (skills of combat) or in other words. cant think
lightly of the response problem between ourselves and the enemy. the need for
combat skills is the most pressing. All go through zhaoshi. In the process of struggle
for survival in nature. these zhaoshi become more and more numerous. there
naturally came the desire of how to optimize a method of understanding. zhaoshi
(fixed techniques of attack or defense) were created. Then came a demand for a
martial art science and so Yiquan came into being. Since that time. This is a kind of
improvement as a method of comprehension. So zhaoshi is the prerequisite for
knowing the opponent. MARTIAL ART SCIENCE IS A HISTORICAL END-RESULT As
soon as a human being has consciousness. you have reached the level of the
understanding of combat science. Consequently. know yourself. This then brings
about the understanding of the functional state of ones body. It is the beginning
toward knowing the objective world. This way falls into three stages: know the
objective. also know as forms or kata in Japanese) are contrived. If you want to
resolve the response problem. Entrance to and advancement within every stage are
all through this process: needs -> understanding-> conclusions-> advanced
cognition. After learning. Afterward. by way of the zhanzhuang method to
understand the laws of motion and realize the state of motion by sensing with ones
body. VIII. After the above two kinds of understanding developed. a demand arises
to fully bring into play the effect of the zhaoshi. Every branch of learning is this way
and the process of developing understanding in Yiquan also is no exception. how to
keep the body healthy and how to protect oneself against outside aggression.
Between these two things. In the end. When a human being expressly awakens to

this transcendental wisdom. It is a crystallization of the Chinese nations learning

about life science. and is also a part of the Chinese national culture. This is a
humans transcendental wisdom. intellectuality moves forward in an inevitable way
toward understanding. Zhaoshi is for solving the problem of how to respond to the
opponent. These three cognitive stages organically constitute the content of martial
art science. you must know the opponent in order to determine your own action.
When you have this understanding. Furthermore. Pi Yajies theory of stages of
cognitive development. and know the method of understanding. including
themselves. physical performance and understanding. Taolu is the aggregate of
zhaoshi. This is a common cognitive process. taolu (a series of skills and tricks. and
we also cant think lightly of the physical performance problem. what human beings
meet first is the need to defend its own existence. then intellectuality also reaches
its brilliant acme. Neijiaquan strives for vigour. So we say Yiquan is a martial art
science (or combat science) and it is the knowledge of the method of understanding
martial arts. spirit and strength. Once a greater and greater amount of zhaoshi and
taolu have been created. practicing and researching martial arts for a long time.
what the author found amazing is that an individuals cognitive process of martial
arts is just like a miniature of the cognitive process of martial arts for the entire
human race. intrinsic energy. so we say that Yiquan. the development of metacognition (or transcendent understanding) exemplifies the maturity of development
of an . this process of developing understanding accords well with Mr.
Wang Xiangzhai named it the science of ones nature and life. human health
problems and the desire of humans to understand their own bodies and their pursuit
to achieve selffulfillment by understanding themselves are just the directions that
people are making unremitting efforts toward. February 15. all are developing
according to the demands of human life. especially because the era of cold weapons
has already progressed into todays hot weapons. Engels said: "The parallel
relationship between a human beings individuality and history = the relationship
between embryology and paleontology. which is namely a question of health. does
the evolution of Yiquan always follow the development of combat skills? So
invariably. a place of life and death. some people misunderstand and think that
Yiquan only emphasizes fighting others. we can see that Yiquan is the study of
essential human nature and vital activities. in its occurrence and developmental
process.individuals cognition." Here and now. A human beings demand for survival
is the most fundamental one. YIQUAN IS THE SCIENCE OF ONES NATURE AND LIFE
Summing up the above. This is because no matter whether we take cognition. next.
or progress. there is nothing left to talk of. This is the same principle as the
development of human science and technology following the development of war
and weapons. IX. After resolving these two problems. So Sunzi in his "Art of War"
says: "War is an event of utmost importance to a nation. what a human being must
solve first is the question of combat skills. then can we refer to other problems. Han
Jingyu In beautiful Zhuhai. The social meaning of combat skills using the human
body has already changed. The value of Yiquan simply rests with offering a most
direct way for peoples self-understanding and self-fulfillment." Therefore. These
again are all in accord with the inevitability of "thing" development which is
expressed by what Mr. is to let life exist normally. Why. However. The rivalry
between people is the most pressing menace to human life. Once one has lost his

life. or culture. Mr. and a way of life and death it cannot be ignored. But human
intellectuality isnt limited in this. 2001 . I have written of my own learning
experience for everybody to compare and verify during the process of studying and
learning martial art science in the future.
' -----------------------------------------------------------------------Producing a feeling with
a fixed method Giving up the method after getting the feeling Letting the feeling
follow into everything Personal feeling leads to complete awareness I. by the
processes of studying and applying yiquan. The second is combat. neither is it a
school of thought or a style.'THEORY OF COMBAT SCIENCE THE SECOND
COURSE OF YIQUAN' Authors: Han Jingyu. The first one is health. from an even
higher state. Only when you are in good health. can . since it originated. Summed
up. can you deal with another person in combat and only then can you compete
victoriously. Yiquan is study of life. Yiquan is not a collection of boxing routines or
fixed techniques and postures. can you live a normal life and do all the things you
want to. The difference between yiquan and other martial arts can be seen from that
statement. The third is the pursuit of an interesting and meaningful life. Concretely it
can be divided into three aspects. This is the highest reflection of man's primordial
spirit. That means. yiquan makes clear that its subject of research is the whole
movement process of life of the human body. which includes both physiology and
psychology. getting zest into one's life gaining knowledge of the law of the
movement of life (1) of the human body. and then. This issue must be met with the
principles of science and the law of the movement of life must be the subject of
research. who has tacitly devoted herself to yiquan. it could be called man's pursuit
of a healthy mind and body. WHAT IS YIQUAN? Yiquan. To achieve this goal. Only
when you are in good health. realizing the primordial spirit in one's life.'combat
science'. and these natural instinctive abilities bring one's physical and mental
functions into full play. Lady Wang Qun. Han Jingsheng Translator: Timo Heikkil ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 'This writing is sincerely
dedicated to our mother. That could be called 'understanding tacitly by intuitive
perception'. Only after having understood this. Thereby it is established that yiquan
is a branch of science . nor can it assume as a criterion that the correctness of
boxing could be judged merely by victory or defeat. has aimed at training and
cultivating the practitioner by developing the natural instinctive abilities of the
human body and mind as its goal.
trial of force (shili) and issuing of force (fali) are used to make up most of the
content of its training system. while doing zhanzhuang one feels very good and
strong. I think everybody else might have realized the same too. This is the opposite
of the traditional martial arts training method of movement patterns and fixed
techniques. in fact . Not being clear about the fact that the subject of research of
yiquan is the whole process of the movement of life. At the same time the defects of
the time of the learning process being too long also exist. Yiquan has personal
intuitive perception as its means and pile standing (zhanzhuang). it becomes
onesided at once'. When talking about zhanzhuang. Wang Xiangzhai. Actually that is
just the opposite of yiquan. so I am afraid that the possibility of someone using
dozens of years for pursuing yiquan. on the basis of the yiquan that our
predecessors started. take the way of learning one step forward. yet no method

non-exists'. In today's society the rhythm of life is gradually getting faster and
faster. C. III. and in this way bring one's natural instinctive abilities into full play and
thus reach the goal of yiquan. At present this kind of training system is widely used
in the yiquan circles. concrete statements are one-sided. THE PROBLEMS THAT
NEED TO BE SOLVED IN THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF YIQUAN 1. Also. the
attention must be put towards the human body both in theory and in practice. D.
For instance. The fundamental concept of yiquan not being understood clearly A.
there is no concrete integrated training process for the student to step by step enter
the highest state of 'not a single method exists. But we have gradually. noticed that
in order to grasp the law of one's movement of life. At the same time yiquan starts
to spread its influence towards other sports. As a result of the two above mentioned
points. Merely seeking this law from an external form is not enough. a fish in the
waves' etc. there are requirements on how to position the head. How could a
student enter such a state? B. the waist. found out that insufficiencies can still be
found in this kind of teaching method. but beyond reach. The abstract description of
yiquan's final state is within sight. the neck. making it even more perfect and
completing what our predecessors started. 'once something concrete is being told.
thus being fully ready for combat'. in the process of practising and researching
yiquan for years. II. It is a mistake to study how to beat the opponent. like we did.
According to Mr. the legs.the true meaning of yiquan be considered to have been
grasped. gets smaller and smaller and the difficulty of teaching yiquan gets bigger
and bigger. is that maybe after ten years one still has not reached that state. but the
whole shatters immediately when one starts moving freely. What was mentioned
above is the reality that we cannot evade. our predecessors spoke about things such
as 'a flag in the wind. mainly in the following few aspects: A. Commonly that is
called 'loss of unity'. Only then can yiquan indeed be considered to have been
understood. which finally causes what we call the unity problem. THE PRESENT
TRAINING METHOD STILL HAS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT The predecessors who
developed yiquan. We can assume that in the near future it will certainly change into
a treasure of the common culture of all the people in the whole world. What we
have experienced ourselves. For example. When one does a singlemovement it is
very solid. therefore we feel it as our duty to. etc. it takes ten years before one is
able to 'issue maximum power. but the whole vanishes once one moves.
Only in sports is the difference of victory and defeat between individuals used as a
standard. keeping in close touch with Nature. Wang Xiangzhai said that. etc.' So
does yiquan have fixed thoughts after all? Mr. this explains that within another
period of time Tyson's skills were not the best ones. 'Everything said is a
contradiction of a contradiction'. a publicly-owned master. In practice they do not
scrupulously seek the truth. This is the only way leading to success. So is it onesided or not after all? Finally Mr.already a long time ago Mr. Wang Xiangzhai once
said. Not being able to completely solve the already known contradictions From the
theoretical point of view. All this is the predecessor's understanding of objective
reality. Following the predecessors refers to predecessor's experiences. Therefore
Mr.. so do we need to study it or not after all? Mr.' He also said. Wang summed it up
by saying. that is awakening to the truth. But the everlasting and unchanging truth
only lies in objective reality. Not understanding the difference between Nature and
knowledge learned from others. Wang Xiangzhai once said. 'The Essential Way of

Boxing'. he also called himself 'Old Man Contradiction'. not to follow blindly. Wang
told to hit like this and that. but this kind of understanding might be incorrect. We
are talking about Nature.. Wang said that once something concrete is said it
becomes one-sided at once. or maybe partly correct and partly incorrect. which can
be the direct teachings of one's master or the knowledge gained from the books of
the predecessors. the feet. which explains that within a certain period of time his
skills were better than those of the other boxers. and not to echo what others say.
but not its philosophical theory is the . That is called following like sheep. This
requires us to have skills to observe.' That expression of learning spirit could not be
any clearer. 'It is the origin of right and wrong. Today Evander Holyfield beat him
up. Mr. it is even more important to respect and learn from the Nature. We have to
verify their experiences in real practice. Wang once said. B. The progress in a branch
of science must be examined within a wide process of practice to see whether it is
positive or not. it might be correct.' Advancing in any subject must be judged by the
progress in understanding the law of objective reality.' So do the numerous treatises
the predecessors wrote have a fixed method or not? Mr. it is the sole noumenon (3)
of knowledge. So neither their victory nor defeat can explain whether their
understanding of the boxing sport is correct or incorrect. We should know that they
were working hard expressing their personal understanding of the objective. Wang
Xiangzhai in his book. ' I only know the difference of right and wrong in my study of
boxing and ignore the sectarianism (2). He already saw clearly that the entire
processes of exercise and teaching included contradictions.' Finally he said.
'Correctness of boxing cannot be judged merely by victory or defeat.' In this
statement he brought up that one should not follow the predecessors blindly. This
resembles Mike Tyson having knocked many opponents down yesterday. So we say
that. but follow what others do and echo what others say. What is researched
scientifically is the law of movement of nature. and brought up this problem saying:
'To study boxing. 'Boxing without fixed form. There is only one law of nature. Mr.
But in another article he told how to position the head. including what our direct
teachers have said and what the predecessors have written. but that is not a school
of thought. but in the end he said again that a clever person does not need to study
that. no fixed form and no fixed thoughts.. think and perceive independently. wrote
about the reasons why many boxing practitioners mistakenly enter the wrong path:
'Mostly their teacher teaches badly. causes following blindly. 'Only the objective truth
is universally sacred. 2. The scientific attributes of yiquan not being understood
clearly. although one has to learn from one's teacher. 'Boxing has no fixed method
at all. mind without fixed thoughts. the waist. C.
actually is a way of discussing how a person can attain the highest state of yiquan.
Because Mr. Then by means of a concept.e. the unity problem appears in the
process of practice. Wang has said that everything comes from zhanzhuang. We call
them concepts. Wang spoke about. It does not matter how it is obtained and
expressed. THINKING. it becomes one-sided at once. Above we have already spoken
about the contradictions in the theory and training. which is the commonly used
method of knowing and expressing. 'Once something concrete is being told.in theory
and practice from a philosophical level.' This points out the importance of solving the
contradictions of theory and practice from a philosophical level. thinking that yiquan
is zhanzhuang. they stand like dead piles. pile standing dies away (4). The original

training system is divided into three phases: zhanzhuang. fali. a conclusion is made
and then expressed by means of spoken and written languages. great many people
have misunderstood. But how to solve them remained an issue for us in the later
generations. Wang said. zhanzhuang being its core. This will be discussed in the
later chapters. it is also exactly the main problem this writing wants to solve. and the
question of methodness (5) and methodlessness (6) is about discussing how a
person who has already reached this state could express his perception to lead
others to step into the same excellent state. Because formal logic would not exist
without its strictness and thoroughness. which they think is the inevitable outcome
of objective reality. without being aware of it. Yiquan's true meaning has been
absolutely destroyed. The student must understand this truth. The unity problem As
a result of not having solved the main problem .' This is what it means. which then
form the images of the objective things in the brain. AND EXPRESSING YIQUAN'S
CONTENT The question of having a fixed form or not discussed above. the concept
is used as the basic component in every case. Here only obtaining it matters. We
know that all kinds of knowledge possessed by people is made of subjective
personally sensed feelings of objective things. shili. Because of not seeing the limits
of the formal logic in understanding and expressing the content of yiquan. eventually
nothing succeeds. in a certain way.the contradictions . entered the category of
formal logic. THE LIMITS OF FORMAL LOGIC IN UNDERSTANDING. Here we have
already. etc. the difference between objective reality and one's knowledge gets
bigger and bigger and finally . makes them mistakenly think that the concept is the
complete reflection of the objective thing. Finally what was expressed by the
concept cannot be anything but the objective truth to them.back to life? This is what
is currently called 'the unity problem'. But how could we bring the achievements of
all the different parts of the training . . etc.same as embracing a stone egg in a hope
that it will hatch a chick. That means complete dismemberment of yiquan. So Mr. IV.
shili. so the inertia created by people by regularly doing certain things. so here you
will surely ask me: Does what you are talking here have a fixed method or not? Does
the training system you recommend have a fixed form or not? How do you express
methodlessness? How do you exercise formlessness? This is exactly the
contradiction of a contradiction Mr.i. Thus the concept gained in the brain is passed
on to another person in the form of the conclusion. and fali. zhanzhuang. legs. not
how you obtain it. So some people jokingly say: the dead-like people do pile
standing. waist. that in the process of zhanzhuang a student is required to position
his head. and they go on to make a conclusion about it by means of the concept. 3.
shape. he has to gather the information together in his brain. temperature. You
answer that it is sour. let us take one specific pear as an example. or as sour as
vinegar. understanding and expressing its feeling with a concept is also very difficult.
is it possible to pass our experience to another person using a concept? The
following story can answer this question. Why do we call it general impression? That
is because there is still much information that has not been received. Maybe there is
also much other information that we are incapable to sense. This resembles our
eyes. you cannot at once pass on the whole general information of the pear to
another person. etc. only after that can he get the general impression of this pear.
and was told by the .' The blind man still did not understand. it becomes one-sided
at once' and afterwards this creates what is called the unity problem. weight. that

gives birth to the perception of distance. This sense of distance is a result of the
whole being in possession and integrated. you have just eaten a grape and another
person asks you what it tastes like. Everybody knows that actually every kind of
sourness is different. An experience must precede a concept In the process of
teaching yiquan. but it cannot reflect the whole condition We know that the
objective things consist of many kinds of information.there is no way to grasp the
true meaning of yiquan. is it sour like an apricot or sour like a plum. What is called
one by one means that within one unit of time you can represent this pear only from
one aspect and one point of view. but he himself did not know what was white.
therefore he asked again: 'what kind of colour is it?' The clear-sighted man told him
again: 'it is white like a white swan. flavour. That means. Because yiquan is a kind of
understanding of the human body's whole process of life. so the other person asks
you again what kind of sourness it is. 2. so he went to ask a clear-sighted man.
reflecting the objective reality of the grape by the means of the concept of sour is
very difficult. so he went on asking what kind of white is the whiteness of a white
swan. when the two eyes work together. it cannot be expressed by the parts. 3. the
sourness of this grape can only be its own taste. The clear-sighted man answered
him right away: 'white is one kind of a colour'. we can only go through the concept
describing it one by one. the whole includes the content of every part and it also
expresses the synthesis of the content. because there is a difference between the
concept and reality. therefore it is said that 'once something concrete is being told.
This concept of 'sour' cannot express the sourness of this grape. Below we will
explain this problem from several aspects. the blind person still did not understand.
For example. When we want to tell other people what this pear is like. The
summation of this information expresses this pear's existence. colour. A concept can
only describe a single aspect of something. it cannot be expressed and understood
part by part. it can only tell that it belongs to the category of sourness. The
difference between a concept and reality First of all we have to check whether a
concept can perfectly reflect objective reality. Naturally it is not like any of those.
After the other person has one by one got the information. the information it is
made of includes size. because the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts. they
both are capable of perceiving form and colour. The same applies to yiquan. 1.
smell. There was a blind man who had always heard other people saying: how white
is this and that.
'is'. But we want to explain boxing.. Deducing from the preceding thing leads to a
conclusion. time and space have no limits. we want to talk about boxing. If you do
not obey the logical laws you cannot advance. Mr. The difficulty in explaining a
concept When we do not understand one concept. And if the logic is not strict. This
also tells us that judging something by the means of a concept just using the simple
method of formal logic to prove one truth is impossible. the existence of the world
has no reason. he can keep on asking no matter how carefully you explain.. that is
what it means. Wang also said. . This story tells us that the things expressed by a
concept must be passed on using facts both parties have experienced. When I say
'white' you know what it means right away. 2. 4. Time and space have limits. can
you understand the meaning that the concept of 'white' expresses. The flaws of
contemplating and demonstrating something using a concept We know that when
we ponder something and when we want to pass on the knowledge of something to

another person. everything in the world is complex and indivisible. Only because of
that. But there is a German philosopher who came up with a philosophical
proposition . Then one kind of commonly agreed symbol is used to express this kind
of common feeling. and 'plant'. Here we have understood that the most basic
concept of any science is certainly created by the means of a direct feeling of this
process of movement. because there is no need to explain boxing to those who have
already understood it. Everything in the world is composed of single divisible parts.
What does that mean? That means if someone does not understand the concept of
'vegetable'.clear-sighted person that it is white like the white clouds. Immanuel Kant
pointed out... But the students have not experienced the understanding of boxing.
and even more importantly they understood the universal existence of a
contradiction.. we have to strictly obey the laws of logic.the Law of Contradiction. so
one can go on asking. it is obtained by the means of direct feeling from nature. 5.
Later many others took the theory a step further proving that not only the four
things Mr. you cannot but make a mistaken conclusion. and have had the same
feeling as I did. Ultimately the blind person did not understand. That is because
before I said it. then he adduced four ways to prove it: 1. 'edible'. deducing from
one thing leads to another thing. think a little... So we should not think that just
going through one argument confirms . The blind person did not understand and
asked him what kind of white is the whiteness of the white clouds. what is 'is'. you
explain: it is an edible plant. He revealed that there is a contradiction in judging and
knowing objective things using formal logic.. by the means of strict formal logical
reasoning can lead to two opposite conclusions without violating the laws of logic at
all. what is. This fact already makes us deeply trust and not suspect. 4. but also all
other things belong to the Law of Contradiction. it needs to be explained to us by
another person. 3. we want to tell the people who do not understand boxing what it
is. what is 'it'. The existence of the world has a reason. where does the first concept
already known come from? It is definitely not created by an explanation. So after
you have explained again. 'One cannot talk about something one has not
experienced'. Here appear the five concepts of 'it'. so everybody. but how to explain
a concept? One must put it among many other concepts. therefore it is impossible to
explain them what boxing is using a concept. you have already seen white things
with your own eyes. the clear sighted man answered. He found out that the same
concept. so you cannot pass on the idea you want to express. 'an'. This example
tells us: already known concepts must be used to explain unknown concepts.
But where does the universally accepted truth come from? Universally accepted truth
cannot be gained by the means of reasoning. it says that one year there was a solar
eclipse. After a while the historiographer still had not found out a suitable way to
express it. i. So yiquan emphasizes that 'one should not leave one's body'. unite the
concept and the action in your own body. after reading the notes. After all. solar
eclipse and a moon on the wane both lack one piece. in low spirits. thought it over
and over again. We also know that reasoning must start with correct premise. was
not satisfied with the description of the degree of the solar eclipse. Originally it can
be eaten. So using something often seen here which everybody already has an idea
of to express something seldom seen allows one to get an indirect feeling right
away. So the origin of genuine knowledge is in peoples daily practical activities and
in the direct perception of the objective reality. 1. it means that one's body is the

subject of research. and thereby reality and concept are united. In this process the
conclusion is not new knowledge. That means you must by yourself go forward to
directly feel this objective reality. and 2. a fruit is edible -> an apple is a fruit -> an
apple is edible. Similarly we run into this difficult problem . His son noticed that he
was worried so he asked why. 7. neither should we think that everything can by
negated just by the means of the opposite statement. it is already included in the
major premise. its movement process is one kind of objective reality. Actually it is
not. How come it was like that? Because the sun and the moon are of resembling
natures that can be compared. He told the historiographer to express it more
accurately. this premise is called universally accepted truth and the theorem is
deduced from it. This genuine knowledge is one kind of real existence in itself. even
less should we stick to theoretically discussing the concept. it has emerged in the
practical activities that people do again and again.everything. he gave his notes to
the emperor. 6. The emperor. They are both round. This is the value of using
illustrating substance. Therefore the historiographer. to pull is exactly to pull. but the
moon is full and on the wane every month and thus can often be seen. That means
the small concept of an apple is included in the overall concept of a fruit. to believe
that the judgement gained by the means of reasoning is new knowledge. Reasoning
cannot lead to new knowledge In real life we often use the method of logical
reasoning to obtain a conclusion and knowledge of a concrete thing. and after the
solar eclipse the emperor ordered a historiographer to record this incident. it is also
subjective knowledge of objective. The necessity and indirectness of expressing
something with illustrative substance There is an old story. Let us first take a look at
what is the normal form of reasoning: major premise -> minor premise ->
conclusion. who was more than satisfied with the new report. Solar eclipse's degree
cannot be directly measured. After the historiographer had finished. everybody
already has the general idea of it. For example. The historiographer understood
immediately and used this way to express the solar eclipse's degree when reporting
to the emperor. It also tells us: to push is exactly to push. so by the means of
reasoning no new knowledge is obtained. In the process of often using this kind of
method it is very easy to make a mistake. and thereby gain genuine knowledge.
After hearing the reason he suddenly got an idea and told his father that the degree
of yesterday's solar eclipse was like the crescent of the eighth day of every lunar
month. how high is the degree of a solar eclipse? You cannot go to measure its
degree. It is what everybody universally accepts as one kind of perception of
objective reality.e.
and then he tells the second student to turn around and passes this action on to the
second student (he is not allowed to talk). The moon and the sun in the end
certainly are not the same thing. monkey. then the teacher tells the first student to
turn around and does the action of frying food. This is what the Chinese idiom
'having found the moon. to solve it. should we not constantly confirm from reality.
This student looks carefully. that is. they surely could not have gone out of shape.
So think about our yiquan. forget the finger' means. green light = go'. As a result we
see that this action of frying food in the process of being passed from student to
student will gradually go out of shape. Wang Xiangzhai also stressed: 'Do not stick
to studying from your teacher only. 9. This kind of getting lost starts to pile up and
as a result it is impossible to express the original thing. never let it go out of shape.

Thus here we took a step forward and understood the method of understanding
yiquan. That resembles when you say 'red light = stop. for the sake of telling
somebody where the moon is. or manner of yiquan. 8. It does not say that the value
of the concept could be negated even though it has this kind of contradiction. Still in
the end. using another method is also fine. the way of using parables is just using a
concrete thing to express something behind it.' The study of yiquan is researching
and studying the life of the human body. and having got to the last student the
appearance is already totally wrong. and the mountains etc. The consequences of
breaking away from reality A few years ago I saw a TV program called 'Going Out of
Shape'. Here everybody must understand that the illustrating substance and reality
have differences. Nature refers to the objective reality of nature itself. and we also
introduce many parables like dragon. Like this it is passed on from student to
student. Of course one will first see the finger and then in the same direction as the
finger. just a tool. including me in writing this article. Although this is just a game.
nothing more. forget the words. Everybody knows that it is a traffic rule and if it
would not be obeyed. So here the location of the contradiction must be emphasized.
should we study from the predecessors or study from Nature? What the
predecessors refer to is the master or a writing left by him. That means. one sees
the moon. Mr. we can by means of the experience . Some things can be expressed
by a concept and some can not. state. In daily life we unceasingly use concepts as
tools to express thoughts. that can only be achieved by means of 'understanding
tacitly by intuitive perception'. The content of it was: ten students stand on the
stage side by side. it still shows information gradually getting lost in the process of
passing it on. use the finger to point to the right direction in the sky. We all have
one body. tiger. The ancients also have a description for this phenomenon. They are
all used so that one could feel and realize one's movement of life and personally
completely understand its law. the roads might turn into chaos. After you have
found the moon there is no use for the finger anymore. To express yiquan both
kinds of these things are required. I think if they had had a frying pan while
appearing on the stage.when expressing the feeling. so that everybody would pay
attention to the limits inherent in the method of formal logic when it is used to solve
the actual problems in yiquan. Therefore we have to be convinced that while the
parable method is also good. constantly having a real thing toconfirm from. Here the
finger is just one kind of a method. Knowing the limits of a concept The focal point
of the last few chapters were the limits of the actual application of the concept
method. backs towards the audience. the sea. It can be regarded as 'the finger
pointing to the moon'. Having understood the meaning.
Mr. it just requires a solution to the problem of how to practise so that the boxing
skills may enter everyone's body. a gate called the 'awakening'. while the road of
transcendental wisdom only has a beginning. The road of knowledge is a territory of
methodness. it can be explained by physics. as well as the work that we have to do.
In the end one achieves the state of syncretism of the subjective and the objective.
Wang Xiangzhai said about yiquan that. Maybe there are still many unsaid
ingredients. nothing more. vitamin. This is also the reason why Mr. Wang said: 'One
should not leave one's body. it can be explained using any science. 'Boxing has no
fixed method at all. Thereby our knowledge and understanding of yiquan will never
go out of shape. I can tell you how many per cents of it consist of water. A plain

explanation of yiquan is not enough. The road of knowledge has a beginning and an
end.' You have also used much space to explain the limits of using a method to learn
yiquan. The territory of methodness is called 'the territory of the intellect' in
philosophy. So when training yiquan you must earnestly practise it by yourself. salt.
As to the specific research target of the movement of life of the human body. A KEY
TO OPEN THE GATE OF 'AWAKENING' TO YIQUAN We know that the whole theory is
for solving problems in practice. It is a state that cannot be expressed by the . as
well as mathematics. V. yiquan must be perceived by intuition Today when science
flourishes. biology. but no end. they all are objective and correct. The purpose of
studying yiquan is to let every student to grasp the law of one's movement of life
and thus gain healthy body and mind. this road is divided into two parts. Studying
boxing requires people to be able to understand this law of movement from the
movement of one's own body. one obtains realization from one's inmost.
chemistry.gained from our own body. Please allow us to use formal language to
explain: the process of studying yiquan could be compared to a road. all of its
branches have developed to different extent. from awareness starts the way towards
the syncretism of the subjective and the objective. That is like if I would want to tell
you a specific pear's flavour. only then can you really understand it. but one must
understand that they only explain the theory. to realize the natural primordial spirit
and to enjoy a happy life. the road of transcendental wisdom is the territory of
methodlessness. so do you now want to tell us again that there is a method that is
not a method? Is this not very contradictory to you? Therefore here it is necessary
to elaborate a little the relationship of methodness and methodlessness. All that
knowledge and all these explanations are correct. grasp the law of movement of
objective reality. There is a gate between them. the first part is called knowledge
and the latter part is called transcendental wisdom. At the same time this law gains
evidence for itself in one's body. The territory of methodlessness is called 'the
territory of something that goes beyond the intellect' in philosophy. Entering
methodlessness from methodness Here everybody certainly might have a few
questions in his or her mind. etc. It is a state in which the method of concepts can
be used to express something. You must taste it by yourself to know what it tastes
like. 1. but by means of this knowledge you will never know what that pear tastes
like. so there are even more tools for us to know the world. a picture of a cake
cannot allay one's hunger. sugar. The starting point inside the gate of 'awakening' is
awareness. protein. Theory can be explained. So it does not require a more
advanced explanation. go to test it by yourself.' 10.
3. gain more transcendental wisdom. their knowledge getting greater and greater all
the time and their method getting more and more complex. Finally by the means of
the perceptions of the previous three stages. On this road everything can be
explained. This objective reality is the subject of research. because once something
is said. to build a connection between them. so one cannot peek out to see what the
area of methodlessness is like. nothing is contrary to what has been gained this way.
This is a common juncture and what we have to do now is to help you to go through
the last part of the road of methodness by giving the key to open the gate of
'awakening' into your own hand so that you can open it by yourself and enter the
state of methodlessness. Finally when one arrives at the gate of 'awakening'. At this
point some people stay at the gate without being able to continue going forward.

Becoming aware points to personal intuitive perception. The use of the 'feeling' . In
the process of advancing the knowledge gradually piles up and increases. to feel the
difference between them. it can only be approached gradually by the road of
transcendental wisdom. One cannot know the Way. So what do we want to feel after
all? We say that the first step is feeling objective reality with one's spirit and senses.
so one cannot talk about syncretism of the subjective and the objective. People start
from ignorance and due to the ignorance the teacher tells them the knowledge of all
kinds of methods. but the methods within the area of methodness cannot open the
gate of 'awakening'. The second step is feeling the meaning of certain concepts. that
is having a method. because the road has a method. it is your own body's process of
movement. 'Feeling' is the key to open the gate of 'awakening' Feeling is sensing
and thus becoming aware. there is no way to advance because one has not
experienced what is behind the gate. and push forward towards the direction of the
syncretism of the subjective and the objective. As a result of this. feel the primordial
spirit in one's own life. so this 'feeling' can be called the source of all knowledge.
from an even higher level. So the process of studying boxing. Sensing points to the
impulses of information received by human body's sensory organs. Therefore
'feeling' is where the core of studying yiquan is. While advancing on this road it is
possible to run into this juncture (i. receive the taste of awareness. means entering
awareness from ignorance and then going on towards the syncretism of the
objective and the subjective. Some people suddenly start to hesitate and go back to
the starting point of ignorance. The third step is feeling the comparative relation
between the concept and the reality. One has come from the road of methodness so
all the knowledge one has remains within the state of methodness.method of
concepts. 2. One must feel the state of movement of one's body and spirit. the gate
of 'awakening') in every process.e. entering the area of methodlessness gets even
more difficult. Some people search for a method in the state of methodness over
and over again. Those people who have already entered this area cannot come back
to help the others to advance one step forward. and in fact any studies. Yiquan
wants to perceive skill by intuition. because you are still in the territory of
methodness. so you must understand the meanings of the concepts told by the
teacher. In order to perceive the skill of boxing by intuition one must obtain this
'feeling'. so it is impossible to use a concept to pass information about it. that is the
subjective knowledge of the objective. All concepts and knowledge possessed by the
humankind come from this origin. because the knowledge of the territory of
methodness where one finds oneself differs from objective reality. it is not the state
they have achieved. not to disconnect them.
sitting.We already know that the core of yiquan is 'feeling' and the perception of
one's movement of life is achieved from this 'feeling'. all come to harmony.
unconsciously. that is awakening to the truth' and personally clearly realize and
grasp the primordial spirit in your life. After you have gained the 'feeling' stop using
the fixed method at once. a change in the training system of yiquan is given birth to.
In the yiquan circles that is called 'a state of never practising and never not
practising. Producing a feeling with a fixed method. Until now. every boxing method
and theory. the past unclear points immediately vanish and become obvious in one's
heart. we have already passed through the gate of 'awakening' and entered the
territory of methodlessness: the light of transcendental wisdom gradually appears. in

the process of unceasingly applying the feeling to everything. standing. all actions
return to the original purity and simplicity. THE REFORM OF YIQUAN'S TRAINING
SYSTEM As a result of the new knowledge of the theory and practice of yiquan.
Personally one has already realized the primordial spirit in one's life. By going
through the above mentioned four processes of using 'feeling'. B. First of all you
need to know that what Mr. With the above mentioned methods you have already
gained a perception of one state of the movement of life. yet no method non-exists.
he will feel something. Thus one gradually becomes conscious of oneself. and
reclining'. C. This kind of feeling is one kind of self-awareness. This refers to
personally. the method has been to break the entire process of movement down into
several representative points and then let the student to know his state of
movement by . all reactions become natural. it remains in walking. a state that
cannot be sought from external form and it cannot be passed on by means of a
concept either. and therefore gain one kind of 'feeling'. just reserve this 'feeling'. VI.
use it everywhere. Personal feeling leads to complete awareness. Letting the feeling
follow into everything. Giving up the method after getting the feeling. Here the four
concrete ways to use the 'feeling' in the teaching process are explained: Producing a
feeling with a fixed method Giving up the method after getting the feeling Letting
the feeling follow into everything Personal feeling leads to complete awareness A.
mind without fixed thought. how all kinds of knowledge is gradually dropped while.
all the time. D. the fixed method he used for it is just like the finger pointing to the
moon mentioned in the previous chapters. The goal of yiquan is to let the student to
grasp his state of movement of life. no fixed form and no fixed though. Wang
Xiangzhai did was passing on one kind of 'feeling'. we can realize how all methods
are gradually being brushed off from the body. while the student enters a certain
state of this movement by using a fixed method. To let the student feel this state
right away. you need to actively go to grasp it. Let the student enter this kind of
state by doing the movement and then affirm this kind of feeling. you should first
find the original and simplest shape of movement of this kind of state then teach
him a movement that has this shape. not a single method exists. Enter the state of
'boxing without fixed form. From now on one can ceaselessly go ahead towards the
syncretism of the subjective and the objective. feeling that one has a free will and
the ability to react instinctively to the world outside one's body.
Here the one who understands yiquan is the student himself and the subject of
research is one's own body. such as push. the student naturally enters and
completely realizes the primordial spirit in one's life. that is practising the use of the
power and finding out how it affects an object. So the first stage is to coach the
student to feel relaxation. That can concretely be divided into three processes.
method and steps of a certain exercise. After the student has understood one
concept. going towards the syncretism of the subjective and the objective with
maximum speed. using many directions. At the same time. shili and fali. this power
must be transmitted into the whole movement process and tried in every way. then
practise it over and over. The content of training is exploring both directions. VII. it
may be said that the old training system is an integral process. make it emerge into
a natural way of doing things. which settles the contradictions in theory and
practice. Looking their appearance they seem immobile. That means that both the
theory and the practice effectively guard against going from theory to the mistaken

theories. that is. in a nonmoving shape. etc. This is the true meaning of 'zhanzhuang
causes stillness to become movement'. In this way the entire sensing and
consciousness stay within one's body and it is easier to reduce the difference
between knowledge and objective reality. approach what is called 'endless
movement'. explain the goal. Having had this intuitive perception and having
grasped this state of body. Thus emerged a dialectical unity of two contraries. after
the simulated training processes of the previous states. from movement to stillness
and from stillness to movement. knowing that the theory and the practice have
melted into one.. Using mathematical language to express the above. then let the
student to get this feeling by this exercise. Finally comes the issuing of the power.
that we call piles (zhuang). Therefore within one pile. By the means of the above
three phases. naturally shape the finest body and movements. These points are split
seconds of the movement process. The second stage is to ask the student to
attempt to freely extend the already gained feeling in the three dimensional space to
any angle and direction. while the new current training system is based on this
integral process together with a differential process. let the student feel the moving
potential of this power towards any direction from static points. We know that man's
state of movement can be divided into three basic states: A 'relaxed'. Now due to
knowing that the subject of research in yiquan is the state of movement of the
whole body. first of all. C 'relaxed -> tense. B 'tense'. explain one principle.
intuitively perceive its moving potential. actually their target is to let student. lift up.
tense -> relaxed (the interaction of relaxation and tension)'. press down. SOME
EXAMPLES Now. what the preamble . These two mutually contrary processes are
grasped as a whole at the same time. In the third phase. Trying the power (shili) is
a movement process of the points in a line.intuitively perceiving these points one by
one. the subject and the object of learning become one. In this training process
theory and practice melt into one. comes actual combat. so the theory guides the
practise and the practise proves the theory. feel tension and feel the change
between relaxation and tension. Thus emerged the training system of zhanzhuang.
so from the beginning the aim is to learn the basic state of movement of the body
and mind directly from the whole body. pull. After having accomplished the intuitive
perception of the points and having this kind of movement ability and having
reached what is called having gained power. Realize the freedom of body's and
mind's ability to react to the changes of the objective environment and in the
process of reacting to the outside.
This is how being relaxed looks like to the outside. standing. you must feel the real
feeling by yourself in the process of this movement. only after that can they do
other thought activities. like pendulums. this is not the reality. the shoulder joints
are as if dislocated. obtain the feeling of 'relaxed'. Now everybody should give a try
to my method. Practising over and over. pass this 'feeling' on to your body. using
reality to verify the feasibility of the theory.e. imprint it into the whole body.
Naturally we are not able to make the audience understand the intent at once. no
matter what kind of postures are taught at the same time. With this method. this is
the principle of theory and practice having melted into one. After trying.' So the
meaning of what I am telling now is to let everybody drop the methods of ten years
and enter the naturalness at once. he can feel if your forearm is hanging loosely and
if after letting it free. the beginners need to relax. becoming pure and real.

everywhere and all the time. The third step is to 'let the feeling follow into
everything'. both hands naturally hanging down. it falls down at once. and they are
like two thick loose ropes. When you can achieve that. dropping freely and naturally.
then this 'relaxation' must be present in your whole body. Now the already relaxed
arms can resemble the two pendulums of a rattle-drum.e. the relaxed condition
should remain in walking. the arms have no power at all. then sway the body left
and right.' These words tell us that relaxation is the foundation of studying boxing.
what is emphasized. it has no use so you must stop doing it. We call this 'passing on
by body feeling'. Mr. . This is exactly what Mr. the feeling of 'relaxed' is passed on to
your body. i.has spoken about is still a 'method'. perceive the feeling of 'relaxed' by
intuition. Wang Xiangzhai once said: 'No matter what you do. that means you have
to use one kind of a concrete exercise to let the student to enter the state of
'relaxed'. put the pure and real into practice. On the basis of what I said before.
sitting. give you a personal intuitive perception. by words. Wang has said: 'This kind
of relaxed movements can be used as the basic thought activities of pile standing
work (zhanzhuanggong). Practising this movement is to give you a feeling. the first
step is 'producing a feeling with a fixed method'. The examples above are just to
express the intent of this method. After you have gained the feeling of 'relaxation'
you have to practise the skill of entering the 'relaxed' state by yourself. achieve the
state of never not being relaxed. then bend the waist 45 degrees forward. if looking
back at all the methods done for ten years. then turn the body left and right around
its central axis. try standing naturally both hands hanging down on the sides of the
body. they are not listed here one by one. apply it to everything. but that is not a
shape. drop them without hesitation. that means having gained the feeling of
'relaxation'. you can also use this kind of method to teach some students. experience
it in your own body. Pay attention to the fact that I am explaining it here by writing.
let both arms sway too. you can see they are all worthless. But you must not keep
doing the movement I taught you indefinitely. you have to 'give up the method after
getting the feeling'. Please follow me and try: stand naturally. it is all natural. so
here we have to use certain exercises to create a 'feeling' for every one. then the
feeling of 'relaxation' must be passed on to the whole body. and reclining.
Regardless of what kind of posture is adapted. i. flapping the body in the back and
front. Here. and understand the concept of 'relaxed'. it may become clear to your
mind what it is after all. is the body's condition of 'relaxation'. after having
completed this task. Finally examine yourself. Here you can feel it at once. you have
already understood what being 'relaxed' means. That explains that. Now it can be
said that you have already grasped the bodily condition of 'relaxed'. Now you can
ask another person to try to lift your forearm. only then can you know the real
meaning of what I am saying. that is. other contents of training can also be
reasoned by analogy.
which made the learning to take a long period of ten years. it does not matter
whether these three processes are processes of body's movement or processes of
thinking. have had this kind of perception. there were still some insufficiencies in the
training method. hoping that both theory and practice can give a concrete and
logical solution. Then. thus requiring us to understand again the method of
understanding yiquan. That means. can one better deal with the ever-changing
objective reality. From inmost we feel one kind of a joy of life. Secondly. Although

already very simple and practical. IX. and the old three punches (laosanquan).
thereby unceasing movement forward emerges and contradiction is just an internal
power within the movement. actually try it. he took the study of boxing a step
forward. on the basis of already understanding the objective. was made of five ways
to punch (wuxingquan). it still falls into the category of a fixed method. thirdly
understand the way of understanding. After Mr. he had not illustrated the
inevitability of these contradictions either. the process is unceasingly confirmed and
at the same time negated. thereby it is called the second course of yiquan. If it will.
all boxing forms have the opponent as the target of research. twelve forms
(shi'erxing). but take it in the light of neutral information. do not just take it as
accurate right away and do not declare it to be wrong right away either. We feel the
process of development of the knowledge and undertanding of yiquan in a lively way
reflects philosophy's dialectical rays of wisdom. with your own body. This writing is
exactly the result of working hard on this aspect. To sum up. THE PURPOSE OF THE
SECOND COURSE OF YIQUAN Before yiquan originated. We have this kind of
perspective and say it out to let everybody know. all kind of boxing styles consisted
of fixed forms. in other words they study how to beat the opponent and how not to
get beaten by one.VIII. All of them are kinds of movement processes for developing
total knowledge and understanding of the movement. advancing to understanding
tacitly by intuitive perception. in the process of studying yiquan. which of course
means intuitively perceiving one's own state. gain the understanding of this
information by feeling it with your own body. we. as time goes on. we can feel
extremely gratified. firstly understand the objective. This process of developing the
understanding of yiquan is in complete accord with the general understanding law of
the humankind. but had not yet found a way to solve them. and changed it into
researching oneself. be of any help to the people undertaking yiquan. in the longterm process of practice in the future. for example the predecessor of yiquan.
EPILOGUE The above was just our point of view. we hope the reader can 'read it
with devotion' with the attitude of 'moral neutrality'. This means already knowing
that only by completely grasping the state of one's body. From a philosophical point
of view. Wang Xiangzhai founded yiquan. xingyiquan. Generally speaking. That
means they all study objective things. secondly understand yourself. Although he
made sure of the goal. . he found the contradictions existing in theory and practice.
The changes of the objective are responded to with one's whole spirit (7). That is.
he had superhuman perspicacity.
Having a fixed method. (3) Noumenon: The thing in itself. (6) Methodlessness.
starting from the birth and lasting until the death. (4) This refers to people who
stand in fixed and ridig postures just doing what their teacher tells them to do
without understanding why.Zhuhai City. Han Jingsheng ----------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Movement of life: The non-stopping movement of
one's body and mind. not excluding the spirit. Having no fixed and rigid method. .
1997. but a 'lively' one. (7) This refers to using one's all capabilities. November 27th
Han Jingyu. (2) Sectarianism: Division into different styles (of martial arts). body.
and mind. (5) Methodness.