Lutang Sun - The Study of Bagua Quan: Bagua Quan Xue

The Study of

Bagua Quan

Bagua Quan Xue

Sun Lutang

Translated by Franklin Fick

Shen Long Publishing

www.shenlongpub.com

Shen Long Publishing

www.shenlongpub.com

Bagua Quan Xue by Sun Lutang 1917

English Translation Copyright 201 3 by Franklin Fick.

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book, expect for brief review, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means- electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise without permission in writing from the publisher or author.

Disclaimer

This book is intended for informational purposes only. The author (s), translator (s), and publisher of this book disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss , injury, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly from reading and or following the instructions contained herein.

Please consult your physician before starting any exercise program.

Table of Contents

Sun Lutang: Field Officer of the President's Office, Army Infantry Captain 7th Rank, Literary Tiger Order

I read Mr. Sun Lu Tang's Xing Yi Quan book and saw the philosophy and theory, how intricate and exact. That is why I went to visit him. He was happy to meet me and talk about the virtues of Xing Yi Quan. So, he taught me the basic methods.

He speaks of Xing Yi as reversing the natural flow of Pre-Heaven Qi. The Doctrine of the Mean is also called the Central Way, and this is the same as the Qi (energy) that Mengzi (Mencius) called Zhi Yang Er Wu Hai (cultivate the Upright and do no harm).

Today in the methods of Neijia Quan (Internal Style Boxing), the three styles of Taiji, Bagua, Xing Yi have nothing in common. My work for about thirty years is to combine into one all of the internal family boxing methods, seeking among them Taiji's empty center, Bagua changing center, and Xing Yi's straight center. Center means keeping upright without fail. Leaning means to have the chance to be defeated. Xing Yi attacks the strength of the person, not the deficiency. Bagua changes freely. Taiji is naturally continuous without gaps, responding so that the body does not break away or resist., using utmost softness in the center, the arms like holding a baby.

Using this, even if suddenly the opponent attacks there is no place for his bravery to penetrate. His force is transformed every time. Although practicing this, it is incorrect to desire to use the skill to defeat people. A virtuous person who aspires to benevolence wants to cultivate the Qi (energy). The ideal is to hope for enough power to attend to things and nothing more.

Showing the reason for this truth, in ancient times the sage rulers Yao, Shun, Yu, and Shang, civil and military, according to legend were fair and unbiased, the way was not to strive for victory and no one can be superior, just as this truth. The same as Zhuangzi said.

The skill to advance, I heard Mr. Sun say the real benefit is the true sage's Doctrine of the Mean. It is not easy. Mr Sun is a straight forward and generous person. He doesn't care if he just met you or you are an old friend, he will tell you everything he knows without a grudge. Even though the teachings are complete, there is the worry that only one or two people out of one hundred will be able to understand it, so I am afraid that this art will not be passed on.

Today Mr. Sun is composing Bagua Quan Xue. Mr. Wu from Yang Zhou wrote me to request an introduction for this book because I have heard of Mr. Sun. Even though I wrote a short description it doesn't represent 1/10,000 of its whole entirety.

Qi River

Written by Chen Zeng Ze

Bright Sacred Lake

Baptize the Heart Pavilion

Pu Yang, Mr Sun Lu Tang had written a book titled The Study of Xing Yi Quan. I have it and read it. I am very convinced that Mr Sun is hard working and diligent.

The path of Li (power) and Qi (energy) is pure and natural, and proceeds according to the Doctrine of the Mean. The Doctrine of the Mean is probably the best quality of Nei Jia Quan. This summer, the Study of Bagua Quan carefully reveals how to strengthen and protect the body as the goal. It benefits society, which is rare and precious.

To carefully decipher The Study of Bagua Quan, the meaning is to transform Post Heaven Li (power) and to use Pre Heaven Qi (energy). The body is soft and uses hardness, endless changes with the transmission from Emperor Fu Xi. The theory of full and empty and the method of change, Shun Ni (going with and going against), are connected. The techniques advance with the Dao. The theory and the postures are linked together as one.

I know that Mr. Sun is not only an expert at the techniques of fighting, he considers that our countrys study of boxing has been lost. From the biography of Sima Qian, a knight errand is not complete, but one must devote one's effort to his path. Even though Li Tang tired to make popular this practice and make it flourish, however it is merely a record of history.

The clear record of Zhang San Feng, the Chieftain of SiNan, and the ruler that went to the South shows they are all extremely capable, tower above others, and effect the north and south (everyone). However someone who is able too write and pass on this boxing study is quiet and unknown. That is why there are so few.

Now Mr Sun wants to correct this and sees it as his duty to write the book, tell the world, and make this skill known.

Endlessly helping and encouraging, his heart is honest and true, this is very rare since ancient times. That is why I wrote this, so at the beginning of this book there are a few words to present Mr Sun's many deeds.

Chinese Year 5, Month 7

Student Wu Xin Gu

Use change, numerous, profound and subtle, in oneself the study of the internal sage and the external strength. The names and forms are great in number. Favor no external ability. The skill to cultivate one's moral character and rule one's self is especially detailed and complete.

Heaven speaks, clouds and sky move strongly. A man of virtue makes constant efforts to improve so that he is healthy. Strive for self improvement, it is not nothingness and not the dim and distant, and not fortune telling.

Since childhood I have already studied Chinese boxing. Each time, I want to explain the meaning for each form of boxing. Thus after some years, I succeeded in coming to the capital to meet with Mr. Cheng Ting Hua and started to find out about Bagua Quan and thus receive instruction.

The boxing begins with Wuji and in the end Bagua. Divided in the middle, Liang Yi, Si Xiang, Pre and Post Heaven. Contracting power to follow the movement. Straight and interlocking mutually change to each other. There is nothing it doesn't have. It's usage is vast and profound and subtle. But Mr. Cheng only passed it on verbally and did not write a book. I am afraid that after a long time it could be lost. Hence I do not shirk from those that do not know the art. I illustrated each form and included a basic explanation of each one. I am not brave enough to praise myself for this one minor work or to merely spread Mr. Cheng story because his biography has already been finished.

It is not known who created Bagua Quan. I heard that Mr. Dong Hai Chuan perfected the art. He loved to travel and once passed through near Ji River in Anhui, and met one extraordinary person who passed on this skill.