T’ai-chi Touchstones compiled and
translated by Douglas Wile
Song of Advance
When it is time to advance,
advance without hesitation.
If you meet no obstacle,
continue to advance.
Failing to advance when the time
is right
is a lost opportunity.
Seizing the opportunity to
advance,
you will surely be the victor.
Song of Retreat
If our steps follow the changes of
our body,
then our technique will be perfect.
We must avoid fullness and
emphasize
emptiness so that our opponent
lands
on nothing.
To fail to retreat when retreat is
called for
is neither wise nor courageous.
A retreat is really an advance if
we can turn it to a counter-attack.
Song of Gaze-Left
To the left, to the right, yin and
yang
change according to the situation.
We evade to the left and strike
from the right
with strong sure steps.
The hands and feet work together
and
likewise the knees, elbows and
waist
Our opponent cannot fathom our
movements
and has no defense against us.
Song of Look-Right
Feigning to the left, we attack to
the right
with perfect steps.
Striking left and attacking right,
we follow the opportunities.
We avoid the frontal and advance
from the side,
seizing changing conditions.
Left and right, full and empty,
our technique must be faultless.
Song of Central-Equilibrium
We are centered, stable and still
as a mountain.
Our ch’i sinks to the tan-t’ien and we are
as if suspended from above.
Our spirit is concentrated within
and our
outward manner perfectly composed.
Receiving and issuing energy are
both
the work of an instant.