Alturism Critical Thinking Empathy Environmentalism Ethical Development Global Awareness Humility Peace and Social Justice Responsibility Service and Participation
This
popular webpage includes a comprehensive bibliography, scores of
links to webpages; an extensive listing of the names and name
variations for each movement in English, Chinese, French, German, and
Spanish; a detailed analysis of each posture and movement sequence with
explanations and numbered illustrations and detailed instructions;
selected quotations; comments on 20 Taijiquan sword techniques; a
comprehensive media bibliography; a chart of performance times;
recommendations for starting to learn this form at home one your own
with instructional DVDs, books and practice methods; and, a comparison
of the 32 and 55 sword forms in the Yang style.
This is the standard, simplified, orthodox, 1957, 32 Taiji Sword Form, in the Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
32 Sword Form Pamphlet by Geoffrey Hugh Miller. Adapted from
information and graphics found on the
32 Sword Form webpage
by Michael P. Garofalo. 22 pages, 9/7/2015, PDF Format. Excellent job by Mr. Miller. This is a handy practice tool.
Read about the Taoist magical sword finger hand sign: "The sword finger hand sign is to draw your own magic power to the fingers
and output a beam of energy for doing Taoist magic. This beam of
magical power isn’t just an imaginary thing, it’s a real visible beam if
you can see it. Some of my students can see the beam of energy beams
out like a long laser from the tip of the finger and extend all the way
to the wall or somewhere far away. The beam is a beam a the magic power
from one doing the handsign. This beam of power can be used for drawing
FUs in the air, killing evils, doing magic in magic battles, healing or
even saving lives! This is like a multi-usage tool, which can be a pen,
a chisel, a phone, or even a drill, it all depends on how you use it
and what adaptor you put on it to make it function differently. The most
commonly seen usage of this handsign in Tin Yat Lineage is by drawing
Taoism FU in the air or on the incense. This allow you to “carve” the
Taoism FU into the object or in the air to perform magic."
"Mike, I wonder if you could give your
thoughts on something. For years I’ve been practicing 3. The
Swallow Skims Across the Water with the left hand moving in a similar
fashion to 5. Block and Sweep to the Left i.e. the little finger side
of the hand brushing the left hip before raising above the head. I’ve recently got a book by
Li Deyin which has
his daughter Faye Yip performing it slightly differently. She points her fingers backwards with the back
of the hand brushing the hip and mentions it in the essential points for the
movement. Looking at videos on the internet they all
seem to be similar to Faye Yip. Would you mind if I asked how you practice?" - A question from Simon Ellis, UK, 9/2/2015
Simon, I have found that the details of bodily positions for any
Taijiquan movement vary somewhat according to the following standards:
1. Competition standards. If you are preparing to compete in
a Taijiquan event, then carefully study the standards for the forms you are
performing. In the case of the 32 sword form, check
out books and DVDs by Li Deyin or his heirs.
2. Your teacher's standards. If you are working closely with
a Taijiquan teacher, then follow their instructions. This simplifies your
learning, and shows respect for the teacher. Since I learned the 32
sword from
Dr.
Paul Lam, I practice this form in a manner fairly close to his
instructions.
3. Your personal standards. If you have been practicing for
many years, mostly alone, then more variations in bodily positions will
likely emerge. Sensibly, as we age, we make adaptations in our
Taijiquan form work to safely accommodate our declining physical abilities.
As for how I practice, I'm rather unconcerned about details, a bit careless,
playful, free, and seldom do things exactly the same way. I just like
skimming across the water, and leave the details about how to flap my wings
to others. Call me a lazy dilettante Daoist, with a penchant for
ziran. I don't even practice with a sword or saber anymore─ I only
wield my sturdy cane.
As I recall, the front of my left hand crosses my waist while going to 3c; and, more important, I still make that
magical Taoist
sword finger hand sign with my left hand while doing this form.
I think that modeling your performance on the standards set by Master Faye Yip's
32 Sword form instructions and
demonstration would result in much grace,
improved strength, and
a beautiful style.
Best wishes! Mike. 9/8/2015
For Tai Chi Chuan players:
I often take a section of a long Taijiquan form and restudy and carefully practice only that section many times. I look up that section in books to learn more from master teachers. I also use instructional DVDs and UTube for sectional reviews. Smaller bites assists with better chewing and digestion.
I use the fine books by Fu Zhongwen, Li Deyin, T.T. Liang/Stuart Olson, and Gordon Muir for review. All have photographs or line illustrations of the movements and much commentary.
Here are some UTube demonstrations of the Third Section (Movements 56-108) of the Traditional Long Form of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan:
In 2023, my Daily Body-Mind-Spirit Practices include:
Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement. In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 65Kb. In the HTML format provided below in this document.
Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement. In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 63Kb. In the HTML format provided below in this document.
Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement. In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 53Kb. In the HTML format provided below in this document.
Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement. In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 48Kb. In the HTML format provided below in this document.
Long Form, 108 Movements, Second Section
18. Carry Tiger to the Mountain
19. Grasping the Sparrow’s Tail
20. Fist Under Elbow
21. Repulse Monkey – Right
22. Repulse Monkey – Left
23. Repulse Monkey – Right
24. Diagonal Slant Flying
25. Raise Hands, Shoulder Stroke
26. White Crane Spreads Its Wings
27. Brush Left Knee, Push
28. Needle at Sea Bottom
29. Fan Through the Back
30. Turn, Chop with Fist
31. Step Forward, Parry, Punch
32. Ward-Off Left
33. Grasping the Sparrow’s Tail
34. Single Whip
35. Wave Hands Like Clouds
36. Single Whip
37. High Pat on Horse
38. Kick with Right Toe
39. Kick with Left Toe
40. Turn, Kick with Left Sole
41. Brush Left Knee, Push
42. Brush Right Knee, Push
43. Step Up, Punch Downward
44. Turn, Chop with Fist
45. Step Forward, Parry, Punch
46. Kick with Right Sole
47. Strike Tiger, Left Side
48. Strike Tiger, Right Side
49. Kick with Right Sole
50. Box Ears with Fists
51. Kick with Left Sole
52. Pivot, Kick with Right Sole
53. Deflect, Parry and Punch
54. Apparent Withdraw Cross Hands
Provides a list with the number of the movement, the direction one is facing at the end of that movement, the name of the movement, and a brief description or notes about the movement. In the PDF format (print only), 1 page, 48Kb.
Yang Family Style Tai Chi Chuan Traditional 108 Long Form By Michael P. Garofalo. This webpage provides a list and brief description of the 108 movements of the Yang Style Taijiquan Long Form divided into five sections for teaching (.html and .pdf versions available). The webpage includes an extensive bibliography on the subject, scores of Internet links, historical notes, and quotations. The Yang Long Form discussed on this webpage conforms to the form developed by Yang Cheng-Fu (1883-1936) and documented in books by Bu Fu Zongwen (1903-1994) and Yang Zhenduo. The numbering of the movements varies from author to author, but the essential sequence and moves remains the same. Doing some research on the Yang style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan (85 and 24). Two books have caught me eye: Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan. Bu Fu Zongwen (1903-1994). Translated by Louis Swaim. Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1999. Glossary, bibliography, 226 pages. Translations of many Tai Chi classics are included. A list of the 85 movement long form and detailed notes and descriptions of each movement are provided. 251 movement analysis illustrations. Over 76 of the illustrations are traced and drawn from photographs of Yang Cheng-Fu. Detailed descriptions of the long form, pp. 26-162. Push hands information. Yang Tai Chi essentials. ISBN: 1556433182. I have found this to be an excellent book! This book was first published in 1963 in China as "Yang Shi Taijiquan". An informative introduction and good translation by Louis Swaim. VSCL.
Taijiquan. By Li Deyin. London, Singing Dragon, 2004, 2008. In English. 402 pages. ISBN: 9781848190047, 1848190042. Includes a complimentary DVD. Includes descriptions, with photographs, of the 81 Yang Taijiquan form, Simplified 24 Taijiquan, Competition 42 Taijiquan, Competition 42 Taiji Sword, and the 32 Taiji Sword. The Yang long form (81 Steps) includes photographs of Li Yulin performing the Yang long form in 1931. Li Yulin and Li Jinglin, under the supervision of Yang Chengfu, were preparing a book on the subject later published under the title "Textbook of Taijiquan." The 81 form is described in detail in this new book by Li Deyin.
Zen Master Raven: The Teachings of a Wise Old Bird. Compiled and annotated by Robert Aitken. Illustrated by Jennifer Rain Crosby. Foreword by Nelson Foster. Wisdom, 2002, 2017, 229 pages. VSCL, Hardbound. 183 Brief Koans.
Most koans feature Master Raven giving answers or comments, and asking follow up questions; therefore, I choose to use the character Master Raven is talking to for the Student/Learner/Responder/Questioner under the index heading of "Master, Teacher, Responder." Otherwise, nearly all 183 koans would have been listed under Master Raven. Just automatically assume the central teacher in nearly all of these koans is Zen Master Raven.
Subject Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 28 pages.
Case Titles Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 7 pages.
Case Number Index to Zen Master Raven's 183 Koans Collection. PDF, November 21, 2023, 7 pages.
Returning to the Source, Great Mother, Soft and Small, Avoiding Misfortune, Study Origins, Humility, Listening, Seeds, Undying Nature, Examine Relationships, æ¸å…ƒ
"All under Heaven has a generatrix, which we regard as the mother of all under Heaven.
Once one has access to the mother, through it he can know the child.
Once one knows the child, if he again holds on to the mother, as long as he lives, no danger shall befall him.
Block up your apertures; close your door,
And to the end of your life you will never be exhausted.
But if you open your apertures and deal consciously with things, to the end of your life you will never have relief.
To see the small is called "perspicacious."
To hold on to softness is called "strength."
Make use of its brightness,
But always let its brightness revert.
Never let one's person be exposed to disaster: this is a matter of practicing constancy."
- Translation by Richard Lynn, Chapter 52
"The world (t'ien hsia) has an origin (shih),
Which is the world's (t'ien hsia) mother (mu).
Having reached the mother,
(We) know her child.
Having known the child,
Return and abide by its mother.
(In this way) one loses the body without becoming exhausted.
Stop the apertures (tui),
Close the doors,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) is without toil (ch'in).
Open the apertures,
Going about the affairs,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) cannot be saved.
To see the small is called illumination (ming).
To abide by the soft is called strength.
Use the bright light (kuang),
But return to the dim light (ming),
Do not expose your life (shen) to perils,
Such is to follow (hsi) the everlasting (ch'ang)."
- Translated by Ellen M. Chen, Chapter 52
"If you trace problems in your relationship
back to the beginning
you will find their seeds
were sown and then ignored.
They grew unnoticed until their fruit
ripened and surprised you.
But if you can find
where the seeds were sown,
there you will find the roots as well.
And if you remove the roots
your problems will wither."
- Translated by William Martin, Chapter 52
"When creation began, Tao became the world's mother.
When one knows one's mother he will m turn know that he is her son.
When he recognizes his sonship, he will in turn keep to his mother and to the end of life will be free from danger.
He who closes his mouth and shuts his sense gates will be free from trouble to the end of life.
He who opens his mouth and meddles with affairs cannot be free from trouble even to the end of life.
To recognize one's insignificance is called enlightenment.
To keep one's sympathy is called strength.
He who uses Tao's light returns to Tao's enlightenment and does not surrender his person to perdition.
This is called practicing the eternal."
- Translation by Dwight Goddard, Chapter 52
"The beginning of the universe, when materialized, is considered to be a mother.
When a man finds the mother, he will know the children, accordingly.
Even though he knows the children, he still clings to the mother:
Therefore, although his body wanes, he never perishes.
The person who shuts his mouth and closes his doors
Will never perish.
If he opens his mouth and increases his affairs,
He will never be saved.
The person who sees the tiniest thing possesses clear vision,
The person who adheres to the weak possesses strength.
Use your light, but dim your brightness,
In this way you will not do yourself any harm.
This is called following the eternal Tao."
- Translated by Chou-Wing Chohan, Chapter 52
"Everything begins with the Tao and ends with the Tao.
To know it retrace the steps of your life.
When you reach back to the beginning, the Tao lies herein.
Then you will realise there is no death.
Without desire your heart is at peace.
Without judgment your mind is clear.
See who it is that sees.
Witness thoughts come and go.
Turn the light around and find its source.
Practicing this leads to enlightenment."
- Translated by David Bullen, Chapter 52
"This world must have begun in certain way;
We may thenceforth consider it the origin (mother) of our world;
Once we manage to ascertain the origin, we could [apply it] to study its offsprings;
After we learn more about the offsprings, we may reciprocally eke out our knowledge about the mother (the origin);
This is my never-ending life-long quest.
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are blocked, he will never be aroused to do anything in life;
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are unlocked and he is properly motivated, he will never cease [from the quest described above].
One who perceives subtleties is brilliant;
One who maintains humility is strong.
One who would use [the light of Tao] to illuminate his [potential] brilliance will thus leave behind nothing that could cause misfortune to later generations.
A person, who achieves all of the above described fulfillment, is what I called the person with embodiment of the perpetual [Te]."
- Translated by Lee Org, Chapter 52
"The world had a beginning
And this beginning could be the mother of the world.
When you know the mother
Go on to know the child.
After you have known the child
Go back to holding fast to the mother,
And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger.
Block the openings,
Shut the doors,
And all your life you will not run dry.
Unblock the openings,
Add to your troubles,
And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation.
To see the small is called discernment;
To hold fast to the submissive is called strength.
Use the light
But give up the discernment.
Bring not misfortune upon yourself.
This is known as following the constant."
- Translation by D. C. Lau, Chapter 52
“Realizing the interplay of the Tao way of life
and the virtue of nuturing all things under heaven
will introduce you to the primal mother
The mother of the world
resting peacefully with the mother
will introduce you to her sons and daughters
The sons and daughters of the world
these children can be exhausting
and though they mean no harm
trying to follow or control them
will only bring great danger to you
To be safe
rest peacefully with the mother
gently close your eyes
and look inward
softly direct your eyes
to listen within
lightly close your mouth
raise your tongue to its roof
and quietly savor the interior
gently lift your crown
sit firm with a relaxed hold
on your bodymind
and let her love
fill you up
you will never be empty
again
remember
chasing children
brings calamity
no matter
how hard
you try
to follow
or grasp them
the whole universe is in the palm
of your hand
but without
illumination
you cannot see it
the real world is not open
to the rational mind
the ancient child asks
when you have rested sufficiently
in the arms of the primal mother
and you vision begins to clear
what occurs
it is an unexpected sense of making
that first arises within the bodymind
then you are engulfed in a benevolent flame
that outlines rather than burns
and I do not know if I am
the source or the witness
the senses play
leaping to and fro
mischievously acting against their nature
emotions of comfort and satisfaction swell
so that even the harshest rain
feels like a lover’s kiss
resting deeper
you fell as if an unseen enemy
has been vanquished
and life courses through you limbs
as the warrior’s belt collects you
the connection to the Tao source and way of life
becomes punctuated and definite
possessed of a wholly benevolent clarity
language leaves you
and a light and sensitive energy collects at your
crown
visions cascade upon you so rapidly
that it becomes impossible
to divide or discern
what we normally regard as real
death becomes impossible
fire and force penetrate deeply
within you bodymind
and a new truth shapes you
into someone altogether different
you begin to breathe
the Tao way of life
as true respiration
within a quickening
that shines out
for all to see
spinning out of the quickening
you understand the mother’s children
you sing and dance
you paint and play
you look at the palm of your hand and
you see
you can still make mistakes
you can still be confused
you can still misstep
but you will always have the eyes of the Tao however
should you ever see yourself as separate from it
you will cease
to see
altogether”
- Translation and Interpretation by the Reverend Venerable John Bright-Fey, Chapter 52
“All the universal things have a common origin. We regard it as the “Mother” of all things.
Gaining the mother, we can know its children,
Knowing how the children come into being, we can return to hold onto the mother.
Thus ensuring nor danger to life.
Closing the eyes and shutting up the mouth,
One can keep from sickness forever.
Opening the eyes to chase after desires and passions,
One can be helpless forever.
Watching less and less can be enlightened.
Holding onto the weak can be mighty.
Using the outgoing eyesight,
To turn to illuminate the inward,
Thus, there can be no disaster to the body.
This is called practicing enduring Tao.”
- Translated by Hu Huezhi, Chapter 52
Chapter 50 The Value Set on Life, Value Life, Esteem Life, Become Invulnerable, Followers of Life, Accept Death, Esteem Life, Out of Harms Way, 貴生
Chapter 51 The Nourishment of the Tao, Virtue as a Nurse, Guiding, Creativity, Mystical Power, Freedom, Nature, Follow the Tao, Harmony, Honor Virtue, 養德
Chapter 52 Returning to the Source, Great Mother, Soft and Small, Avoiding Misfortune, Study Origins, Humility, Listening, Seeds, Undying Nature, Examine Relationships, æ¸å…ƒ
Chapter 53 Follow the Way, Avoid Shortcuts, Disadvantages of Wealth, Avoid Greed, Work, Be Diligent, Gaining Insight, Look at the Facts, Appearances, Thieves, 益証
Chapter 54 Cultivating Insight and Intuition, Person, Family, Village, State, Cultivation, Views, Virtue, Observing the Tao, As Below So Above, 修觀
Chapter 55 Mysterious Virtue, Sign of the Mysterious, 玄符
6. The Crane Opens and Closes Its Wings Begin in the basic Crane stance with the hands at the
waist. The legs are separated with a shoulder's width. Stretch the fingers open. Inhale as you lift both hands up
the center of the body, fingers pointing forward, arms about 24" apart.
As the hands reach the neck begin to move both hands to the side, upwards, and
backwards. Spread the arms as far apart as you can and to either side of
the body as you lift both arms high above the head. Draw the arms up and
back as you gently bend backwards.
At the same time as the arms are lifted up and back, try to lift both heels off
the ground, and come up on your toes. Look up at the sky with your head
drawn back.
As you begin to exhale, gently draw the arms forward and down, straighten the
back, look forward, and move the arms down to the waist.
Repeat for 4 to 8 repetitions in a gentle, slow, calm, deliberate, and smooth manner.
This movement is found in the
Wild Goose Qigong
(Dayan Chi Kung) routine.
Refer to "Wild Goose Qigong" by Hong-Chao Zhang, pp.20-21.
Back-bending while standing with the arms lifted above the head and with the
hands touching is a commonly used hatha yoga posture called Anyvittasana.
This exercise is a hyperextension of the back, stretching of the
latissimus
dorsi muscles of sides of the upper back, a stretching of the upper
rectus abdominis, engaging the pectoralis major, and a tensing of the
trapezius muscles
in the upper back and neck.
This movement opens and fills with Qi (Chi, Energy) the Middle Dan Tien (i.e., ä¸ä¸¹ç”°, Zhong Dantian,middle elixir fields, cauldron) of the esoteric body system explained in
Chinese
Qigong (Yoga); or, analogously, opens the Heart Chakra (Anhata) of Hatha Yoga.
Exercise of this area in the front of the body helps heal disturbed emotions,
calms the spirit, strengthens the heart and lungs, and opens the Heart-Soul to the grace of
light
energy.
The wide-spread arms held up high help establish a feeling of opening up,
freeing oneself, and uplifting one's mood and spirit.
You often see this ritual body posture in Christian revival meetings as a kind of
"Saying Hallelujah" posture.
If the movement was done forcefully and with power and quickly it would be the
flapping of the wings of a powerful bird like a Crane or wild Goose or for a
human bodybuilder the performance of incline dumbbell flys.
Crane Frolic Qigong Exercise Set
The
webpages for the eight specific animals will also have photographs of me or others doing
these exercises. There are also five, eight or twelve animals in Shaolin Kung Fu, Ba Gua Zhang, Taijiquan, and Xing Yi Quan. Movements or postures called a "crane" or "hawk" or "rooster" are found in most of these mind-body internal arts.
Chinese
exercises recommended for improving fitness, maintaining good health,
overcoming diseases, increasing energy and vitality, contributing to
good mental health, and improving one's chances for longevity have a
very long documented
history going back to as early as 160 BCE in the Daoyin Tu.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Dao De Jing by Laozi Concordance, Selected Translations, Bibliography, Commentaries Compilation and Indexing by Michael P. Garofalo
Tao Te Ching Chapter Number Index Standard Traditional Chapter Arrangement of the Tao Te ChingChapter Order in Wang Bi's Daodejing Commentary in246 CE Chart by Mike Garofalo Subject Index
A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo for each one of the 81 Chapters (Verses, Sections) of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes 25 or more different English language translations or interpolations for that Chapter, 5 or more Spanish language translations for that Chapter, the Chinese characters for that Chapter, the Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin transliterations (Romanization) of the Mandarin Chinese words for that Chapter, and 2 German and 1 French translation of that Chapter.
Each webpage for each one of the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching includes extensive indexing by key words, phrases, and terms for that Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization. An electronic Concordance for all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching is provided.
Each webpage on a Chapter of the Daodejing includes recommended reading in books and websites, a detailed bibliography, some commentary, research leads, translation sources, a Google Translate drop down menu, and other resources for that Chapter. Chapter 7, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
