Lutang Sun - The Study of Bagua Sword

The Study of

Bagua Sword

Bagua Jian Xue

Sun Lutang

Translated by Franklin Fick

Shen Long Publishing

shenlongpub.com

Shen Long Publishing

shenlongpub.com

Bagua Jian Xue by Sun Lutang 1927

English Translation Copyright 2018 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 Fuquan (Sun Lutang)

Army Infantry Lieutenant Commander

6th Rank Literary Tiger Order

Preface

In ancient times there was no such thing as sword arts. When Duke Yuan taught young girls to stab and hit, this is when sword skills started to appear in the records. Other books such as Yi Liaos Nong Wan and Weibos Qu He seem like they are related to sword skills, but they do not actually talk about the skill, so there is nothing to comment on.

As a young person, I was interested in martial arts. But, I had the hardship of having no teacher. At the end of the Qing dynasty, I was searching for understanding. I found what is called San Cai Jian (Three Powers Sword), Chun Yang Sword (Pure Yang Sword), Liu He Jian (Six Harmony Sword), Taiji Jian (Taiji Sword), and Qing Long Jian (Green Dragon Sword). My heart was happy, but in the end did not reach (achievement). Then I was personally taught by Master Sun Lutang and I started to see the art call Bagua Jian (Bagua Sword). I humbly think it is the most refined.

Because this sword skill arises from the Bagua boxing art, circling to the left is Yang and circling to the right is Yin. From the opening, closing, and changing you can see the intricate mysterious interplay. When it is still, it is Taiji. When it is moving, it is the changing lines of the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). To examine the location of the Shen (spirit), when it is not moving, it already contains the utmost quietness, which gives rise to the mysterious movement. Is it not what is called Yin and Yang combined together?

Master Sun Lutang recently revealed the Bagua Sword Skill through his book. Even though it only has eight principle (forms), people who learn the eight principle (forms) are like enlightened immortals. The changing lines of the 64 hexagrams, is it not just the Eight Principle Sword? The same as the solid lines of Qian (Heaven Trigram) being the true origin of Bagua (Eight Trigrams). Practitioners experience this.

I am embarrassed that I only know a little and can not explain Master Sun Lutangs meaning (completely). I can only roughly describe what I know. I dont like to broadcast that I am so lucky to have such a famous teacher.

Respectfully Wu Xinggu in Dongtai, December 1925

Author's Preface

The name of the person who passed on the Bagua Sword Method is lost. After Master Dong Haichuan came to Beijing, he taught many people and it was known as Bagua Sword.

I was personally taught by Master Cheng Tinghua. Master Cheng Tinghua received the transmission from Grandmaster Dong Haichuan. I received this transmission from Master Cheng Tinghua and was asked to make this book to explain the art.

In accordance with Bagua starting from Taiji: Taiji gives rise to Liang Yi, which births the Si Xiang, which generates the Bagua. So actually Bagua is just Taiji. For all people, each person is Taiji. Because of this, in the Sword, the circling left and circling right is Yin and Yang generating each other. This is the true mysterious usage of Taiji.

Each time we move or stop in stillness, it does not leave the changing of the Yao (lines of the Trigrams). The pinnacle of mysterious skill is change. Ultimately it is, none other then, the theory of joining together and interplay (crossing). That is why the outside is round and the inside is square. The circular represents Heaven and the square represents Earth. Fuxis Bagua arrangement is Pre-Heaven. King Wens Bagua arrangement is Post-Heaven.

Pre-Heaven is the body. Post-Heaven is the usage. The basic method and training of the sword is Taiji or Pre-Heaven. The up and down, left and right, and the separating and combining (of the basic methods) is Post-Heaven. Only using Pre-Heaven by itself, you are not able to change. But with the skill of Post-Heaven, change is unpredictable. It is separated into 8 (forms), but combining the 8 you get 64. The skill (although complex) is actually Taiji. There are endless variations, but they all come from one root. To talk about usage, it is Bagua Jian (Bagua Sword). To talk about the training of the body, it is Taiji Jian (Taiji Sword). The practitioner understands that their body is Taiji.

If you follow my book you will naturally understand. To understand follow the sequence of the pictures. The path is shown. A person with good understanding will be able to learn one thing and understand many. Very few people can become an enlightened immortal.

Introduction

The title of this book is The Study of Bagua Sword. It truly comes from Bagua Quan (boxing). Practitioners should use Bagau Quan as the foundation. Bagua Sword is supplementary. This is not unique. All sword methods use boxing as the foundation. It is said, One who is an expert in boxing is not always an expert in the sword method, but an expert in the sword method is always an expert in boxing skill. These words are true.

The main purpose of this Sword is to cultivate and nourish Zheng Qi (Upright Qi). The strange names merely follow the postures and (the postures) all conform to the principles of Dao. And, all the ingenious methods and changes come from this.

This book on Sword method is not devoted to external appearance, but seeks the true Dao, aspiring for the movements, application, and winding to follow the Yi (intention).

This book was written about the Sword Skill. It is the same as the Pre-Heaven Bagua, Post-Heaven Baguas 64 Gua, the 385 Yao (changing lines), and the theories of endless change that are found inside the Yijing (Book of Changes).

This book only covers the 8 Principles of the Sword Skill. The 8 Principles are the Eight Trigrams: Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Zhen, Gen, Xun, and Dui. They are the 8 main sword (forms). As for the Changing Sword, it does not go outside of the 8 Principles, and the 8 Principles arise from the 2 Trigrams of Qian (Heaven) an Kun (Earth). Inside the book, there are 10 sections. Even though the 8 Principles have a sequence, actually they come from the 2 Trigrams of Qian (Heaven) and Kun (Earth).

When practicing the sword skill, the footwork is nothing more then the theory of the mathematics of the 8 sides of the circle. The postures are connected (strung together) like a bow string. The hand method is also nothing more then that, inside the 8 lines, it is like the way an arrow is on a drawn bow. When practicing, the practitioner should not adhere to it too rigidly. To speak about it, the core of it is that no part of the body is not one , nothing more.

The practice method, even though it is walking the circle, has square and round, sharp and flat, bent and straight. Each posture contains all of these. Practice until you are very proficient and One Qi is connected in the vertical and horizontal, the diagonal and wrapping, up and down, inside and outside, and (you can) do as you like. If you are not conforming with this and not being natural, and if you are not going towards this (conforming with this and being natural), then it is the wrong path.