Pages

Monday, February 26, 2018

Taiji Sword by Chen Weiming - translation by Scott M. Rodell



觀此比劍專中腕臂與太極劍之用
合顧其法皆不傳
世之能劍者大抵皆舞劍之
類如風捲如電馳如鳥落如龍翔
容觀雖美未必適於用也
《太極劍》陳微明

Guān cǐ bǐ jiàn zhuān zhōng wàn bì yǔ tàijí jiàn zhī yòng
Hé gù qí fǎ jiē bù chuán
shì zhī néng jiàn zhě dàdǐ jiē wǔ jiàn zhī
lèi rú fēng juǎn rú diàn chí rú niǎo luò rú lóng xiáng róng guān suī
měi wèibì shì yú yòng yě

Demonstrations of sword matches that focus on (striking) the wrist and arm are used the same in taiji sword. (I’ve) noticed that this has not been passed down. 
Generally speaking, those practicing the sword dance today are like a rolling wind, very fast like a swooping bird, and with an appearance like a soaring dragon; it looks beautiful but is not necessarily of any use.

Quoted from the introduction to Taiji Sword by Chen Weiming (1929)
trans: Scott M. Rodell

No comments:

Post a Comment