I’m penning this as a form of observe as much as my earlier article on 3 views of qi in Tai Chi. That article contained the three various things I believe folks actually meant after they discuss qi in Tai Chi. This text goals to do the identical factor with yi. I don’t contemplate myself an authority on both matter, however I’ve had some pores and skin within the Tai Chi sport for some time now, and I’ve learn sufficient of different folks’s writings to come back to some conclusions about what I believe they’re speaking about. Hopefully you’ll discover these definitions useful, and I’d have an interest to listen to your ideas within the feedback part.
Yi will get just a few mentions within the Tai Chi Classics, and is normally translated into English as “intent”, or “mind-intent”, a translation which I believe may be problematic as a result of there are not less than 3 various things that individuals imply after they say “intent” in Tai Chi, and whereas the three are clearly associated, they’re additionally fairly distinct from one another.
Earlier than we get into the definitions, let’s take a look at what the Tai Chi Classics should say about yi:
Essentially the most quoted line concerning Yi is within the Tai Chi Basic: “All actions are motivated by yi, not exterior type”, which may also be translated as “use the thoughts, not drive”. In no.6 of Yang Cheng-Fu’s 10 necessary factors he says:
“6.) Use the thoughts as a substitute of drive. The T’ai Chi Ch’uan Classics say, “all of this implies use I [mind-intent] and never li.” In working towards T’ai Chi Ch’uan the entire physique relaxes. Don’t let one ounce of drive stay within the blood vessels, bones, and ligaments to tie your self up. Then you definitely may be agile and in a position to change. It is possible for you to to turn freely and simply. Doubting this, how are you going to enhance your energy?”
So, right here the emphasis is on enjoyable and never utilizing “drive”, however why? And What does that imply? I’ll clarify later.
Apparently, proper after that line, the Tai Chi Basic then goes on to say:
“If there may be up, there may be down;
when advancing, have regard for withdrawing;
when putting left, take note of the proper.
If the yi needs to maneuver upward,
it should concurrently have intent downward. “
Definition 1: Martial intent
Given the traces quoted within the Tai Chi classics above I discover it unusual that the most typical interpretation of yi in Tai Chi is as a form of martial intent. Right here intent is “your intent to do one thing”, and in Tai Chi folks usually imply a martial intention that must be contained inside each explicit posture or motion. So, for instance, once you do the beat back motion, it is advisable have the intention of deflecting a blow away. In the event you motion lacks that intention, it’s mentioned to be empty.
Now this may occasionally all be true, and never realizing the martial functions of a motion inevitably results in it turning into too summary and unfocused, however this understanding of ‘intent’ is clearly not what’s being talked about within the Tai Chi Classics when it admonishes us to “use the thoughts, not drive”. If all it meant was to have a martial intention behind the actions, then it’s unimaginable to see how that may match up with traces from the classics like:
“If the yi needs to maneuver upward,
it should concurrently have intent downward.”
What has that acquired to do with martial intent?
Clearly that is speaking about one thing else. Sure, a martial spirit is clearly necessary for Tai Chi, and a few Chinese language lecturers check with an “eye spirit” which his ensuring you might be focussed and searching in the precise place in type efficiency, and also you seem like your actions are martially proficient, however I don’t actually suppose that is what’s particularly meant by yi within the Tai Chi classics.
Definition 2: A line of intent from the bottom up
The second manner that individuals check with intent in Tai Chi is as a line of drive, normally from the bottom to the purpose of contact with the opponent. The concept in Tai Chi is to convey the solidity of the bottom to your level of contact with the opponent. How do you do that? Properly, firstly by enjoyable, in order that your physique can perform as a complete, related, unit, after which by feeling a line of connection from the purpose the place you contact your opponent (in push fingers that will be your palm or wrist) on to your foot (the a part of you that’s closest to the bottom). By imagining the drive of your opponent going straight all the way down to the bottom in a straight line out of your palm to your foot then you can also make use of jin – which is a drive obtained from bringing the solidity of the bottom to the purpose of contact along with your opponent. This jin drive stands in distinction to the traditional drive of the physique produced by exerting your muscle groups, which the Chinese language name li. After all, muscle groups are concerned in producing jin (in any other case you’d collapse not he floor), however they stored as impartial and relaxed as attainable, in order that extra drive is prevented.
In the event you ship drive from the bottom to your level of contact along with your opponent, utilizing jin, you’ll be able to bounce them again off you.
After all, you can’t be pondering of the bottom if you wish to mission any individual away from you. Your work in creating the trail to the bottom is already executed – within the bow analogy that is the drawing of the bow. All that continues to be now’s to repair a path and launch the arrow:
Because it says within the classics:
“Launch the chin like releasing the arrow.
To fajin [discharge energy],
sink,
loosen up utterly,
and goal in a single path!”
This use of Jin matches in higher with the traces within the traditional that say
“If the yi needs to maneuver upward (i.e. bounce your opponent again)
it should concurrently have intent downward. (i.e. you think about a line of drive to the bottom).
(N.B. this straight line of drive clearly goes by empty house, so it’s not the precise line any drive from the bottom will take, however it’s a case of your thoughts having the general aim in thoughts, and your physique filling within the particulars on a form of unconscious degree.)
Definition 3: Part of the thoughts
This definition is about yi being part of your thoughts and the toughest to place into phrases. Clearly, definitions 1 and a pair of additionally contain utilizing the thoughts, so you’ll be able to see how all 3 definitions are form of wrapped up in one another.
In on a regular basis life once you wish to do one thing, like say choose up a pen or convey a cup of tea to your lips, the thought to do it seems in your head earlier than the bodily motion takes place.
In inner arts the 6 harmonies get a number of press. Of those 3 relate to the bodily physique, and three relate to the interior make up of the particular person. Within the West we are inclined to have one phrase “thoughts” to narrate to all of the completely different and distinct elements that the Chinese language have phrases for, like xin, shen and yi, however the three inner harmonies (san nei he) are:
1) The center (Xin) harmonises with the intention (yi).
2) The intention (yi) harmonises with the chi.
3) The chi harmonises with the motion (li).
The center thoughts (Xin) is said to our need to do one thing, the yi (intent-mind) is the a part of our thoughts that makes issues occur on a unconscious degree. Once you choose up the cup to convey it to your lips you don’t suppose “hand transfer to cup, fingers wrap round deal with”, and so forth.. It simply occurs as a result of your intent-mind is taking on, based mostly on what you desired to occur. The intent-mind is subsequently a form of unconscious course of.
Now, going together with the concept there are these completely different elements of our thoughts that exist as separate entities comes the concept we are able to prepare these separate entities in isolation to realize a deeper capability with them. So, for instance, by repeated observe of a Tai Chi type (or Zhan Zhuang standing observe), by which we try to entry the unconscious intent-mind, fairly than brute drive, to carry out motion we would, in actual fact, get higher at it and develop some capability that ‘regular’ individuals who lack this cultivation don’t have. It’s an attention-grabbing thought!
A very good start line for creating this intent-mind is Zhang Zhuang standing observe. One frequent observe is to face within the ‘hugging a tree’ posture and try to get the psychological sense that your fingers are increasing outwards, but with out bodily shifting them. You might be cultivating your intent-mind once you do that. That is beginning with only one path, however in standing observe folks typically discuss coaching 6 instructions without delay.
When performing a Tai Chi type it’s apparent that you’re coping with shifting power (in a bodily sense) in numerous instructions. In the event you can utilise your thoughts to “suppose” in these instructions then you can begin to coach your yi, and it could possibly begin to really feel like your actions are generated by yi and never by bodily drive.
Conclusions
It’s not straightforward to speak about what is supposed by yi in Tai Chi, however hopefully I’ve supplied you with some good beginning factors and concepts. I’ll repeat once more my assertion that the three definitions I’ve given are all necessary elements of the observe that makes up Tai Chi Chuan and all inter-related. And whereas yi could also be difficult to explain, it’s of utmost significance to all the interior arts. There’s a line from the Xing Yi classics that goes:
“There’s nothing however buildings and nothing by qi”
On listening to this line I keep in mind my Tai Chi instructor saying “Oh, that’s good, I like that, however I’d change it to:
There’s nothing however buildings and nothing by yi”.
Construction and intent. When it comes proper all the way down to it, that’s all the interior arts are made up of. That’s how necessary yi is.
