Masters Talk About Tai Chi PENG JING
Translated by David Chen, 1998

Yes, all names are labels on things. Lao-Tzu said in the Tao Teh Ching:"....there is a chaotic thing, born before heaven and earth, I do not know its name. If forced to, I reluctantly call it "Tao"....." (Chapter 25)

The meaning of names on Taiji Chuan postures doesn't have to match what they are.

For the research point of view, finding out what's there and what's missing, will help me understand and appreciate more of what we have and what we need in the future.

The following is what I found lately, since I'm not a lingustic expert, please take it as for your information only. And, as in all translations, a second or even a third opinion may help you to understand more. THere will be many places in my Chinese translations just purly common sense by being a native Chinese, it is impossible to provide sources on every opinions.

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Master George Xu wrote a research artical on Peng Jing, published in Chinese "Tai Chi Chuan Journal" issue no.108, dated December 1996.

"....the word PENG, according from KONG-SHEE Grand Dictionary, it pronounced "Ling". PENG is an empty bamboo container for holding arrows or wine. So we can see the word PENG in ancient Chinese is totally diferent sound and meaning from Taiji Chuan's Peng...."

"....the word LU, can not be found in any dictionary. both PENG and LU are professional terms from ancient Chinese martial arts, there are many similar types of special terms(names) in opera and arts as well as in every business, these names contain special definitions, their pronounciation might also be different from the dictionary...."

"....in Southern East of China, people netting the bamboo strings in a wooden frame as their matress, they call it PENG bed. The bamboo strings were netted very tight but feels alittle bouncing, when sleep on it, the body will not feel any hard resistance.... and this "PENG bed" and Taiji "PENG jing", I found similarities in both pronounciation and meaning...."

"....in CHEN STYLE TAIJI CHUAN, it defines Taiji Chuan is PENGjing Chuan. They(the book) say Pengjing is the most foundamental jing among Taiji 8 Jings( David Chen notes: they didn't use the term 8 POSTURES).....PENGjing comes from elastic energe, this kind of elastic energe not only generated by the muscle groups but resulted from the extension of the bone joins, tendon, sinew, and the muscle together. PENG jing can only be produced by long time practice, not naturally within our body. Based on their(CHEN TAIJI) definition on PENGJING, "PENG jing"-IS- "Elastic jing"(Bouncing, Springing)....PENGjing requires high skill to apply, PENGjing is a flexible jing, is a changable jing based on the moment, and this technique can only be sharpen from long time Push-hands practice, I don't think those people who have not learnt push-hands can comprehand this jing, no matter how detailed you explain to him....."

note: George Xu is a Chen style and Wu style msater in USA.

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Auther Mr. Chang Yi-Jing wrote a book: PASSING THE TRUTH ON TAIJI CHUAN MEANING. First published in 1986 in Simplified Chinese characters in Shanghai. Mr. Benjamin Lo translated it into traditional Chinese version in 1989, published by Taipei Shr-Jung School. Mr. Chang currently living in Southern China in his early 70's. He is a senior student of Grand master Lee Yah-Shuan who studied under YCF. CMC had high compliments on Lee's skills.

Page 128, ON JING.

"....how many Jings in Taiji Chuan? every one has their own definitions on each Jing. Because Internal Jing is abstract, and consisted with complex movements, each of us has our own understanding on the parts, indeed, very difficult to define a clear meaning. For instance, what is Peng Jing?.... some said---Peng jing is a jing through long time practice with form and push-hands, generating a kind of energe that is seems SUNG(relaxed) but not really SUNG, SOFTNESS contains HARDNESS(powerful), LIGHT(nimble) but heavy SINKING, rich in ELASTIC and BOUNCING qualities, has the functions of ADHESIVE, NEUTRALIZE, FORCING-IN,and WRAP-AROUND in application. Also named NEI JING(Internal Jing)."

".....if some say PENG is "seem SUNG but not really SUNG", and "HEAVY SINKING", then, when I was pushing-hands with my teacher Mr.Lee, why did I feel he was BIG SUNG and BIG SOFT? there was nothing in his body for me to push with. Is that lightly-touching-the-skin a Peng Jing? I did not sense Mr.Lee has any ELASTIC quality nor SINKING HEAVY, I only felt it was empty, insubstantial, and untouchable. Is that Peng Jing? If that's not Pengjing, why couldn't I push him, and he won every time?..."

".....some say Taiji Chuan IS PENG Jing, I disagree, how can a PENG Jing covers Taiji Chuan? I rather call it SINKING Jing....."

".....say PENG Jing is ALSO call NAI JING(Internal Jing). Does that mean LU,JI,AN are EXTERNAL Jing?...."

"......so,it took me many days of long thinking, I came up a definition of PENG Jing:"Peng Jing is an ADHESIVE Jing that is NIMBLELY, CURVED, not only can NEUTRALIZE the incoming force but able to softly BOUNCE(rebound) it back.".... I know many people will shake their heads when they read my Western-styled sentence, I'm not satisfy with my grammar, but this is the best definition I can come up for PENG Jing........." (page 129~~130)

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