The eight Trigrams of the I Ching

The term Pa Kua literally means eight trigrams and refers to the eight trigrams found in the I Ching, or "Book of Changes" of ancient Chinese philosophy.  It is believed the I Ching was originally used as a method of fortune-telling but has expanded and developed into a storehouse of Chinese wisdom and Taoist philosophy.  The symbols are not static concepts but are transitional states which all things go through in life (and death) and the metaphors attached to them (sun, mountain, water, etc.) are guidelines and not concrete concepts.

The diagrams are imagined laid out in a circle (which is the core concept of Pa Kua), which the practitioner follows during practice.  Changes take place on each of the eight faces.  Thus, Pa Kua becomes a metaphorical reenactment of the constant change that drives the universe.

 

10:59:23 PM  #  

A discussion of the use and interpretation of the 8 trigrams of the I Ching.
10:49:53 PM  #  

When you learn Pa Kua you must initially take its form and structure into your movements, but the main aim is the total loss of form.  This is true of all the internal arts.  The Pa Kua form tends to be hard to learn in a precise manner, because the style strives to be as unpredictable as possible.  Anyone who relies upon preformed ways of moving is predictable, and thus, destroyable.  The Pa Kua master reacts to events as they unfold and constantly changes form, baffling his opponents.  Pa Kua strives for expression of the "true self."
10:48:06 PM  #  

The message of Pa Kua is profound:  Form is captivity, and the loss of form is freedom.
5:04:20 PM  #  

From "Shaolin Chin Na" by Yang Jwing-Ming (paraphrased):

Every Chin Na technique is based on certain principles.  Without these guidelines, the techniques become useless and even dangerous, turning the attack into a compromiseable position, making the attacker into the defender. 

The first principle: you must neutralize the opponents power.  You must take away some option of attack or defense before each move is executed.  In other words you must have control. 

The second principle: you must begin your attack from a stable base. You cannot be trying to achieve balance while the technique is being executed.  This also means not relying on your opponents ineptitude to deliver your technique for you. 

The third principle:  the technique should never be based on power or forcing your opponent.  Let your opponent destroy him or herself.  If you have to use more than half of your power to deliver a technique than it is either a poor technique or poor execution.

The fourth principle:  always cover your vital regions from a counter-attack.  Your techniques should never leave you vulnerable.

9:10:03 AM  #  

EmptyFlower is an incredible Hsing-I resource.
9:01:16 AM  #