{"id":2612,"date":"2011-05-23T13:50:35","date_gmt":"2011-05-23T17:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2612"},"modified":"2012-02-13T21:30:35","modified_gmt":"2012-02-14T02:30:35","slug":"from-you-wei-to-wu-wei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2612","title":{"rendered":"From You Wei to Wu Wei"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the Master<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

From You Wei to Wu Wei <\/strong><\/h2>\n

by Chun Man Sit<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Wu Wei \u65e0\u4e3a<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wu wei is a Daoism term. It can be translated as non-doing. Even though wu wei is not as glamourous as enlightenment, a word much loved by the Zen practitioners, it\u2019s good enough for taiji and qigong practitioners. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

While enlightenment is easy to understand (but difficult to achieve), wu wei is not. It is not easy to cultivate something that you don\u2019t have a clear idea of what it is. <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Here is my interpretation of wu wei: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Chinese character \u201cwei\u201d means action with a purpo\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>se, or to do something. The word \u201cwu\u201d means no, non or without. Wu wei together means without action, or non-doing. Wu wei is difficult to explain because it is a Daoism and Chinese concept. It doesn\u2019t mean \u201cnot to do\u201d or \u201cdon\u2019t do it\u201d. In fact, it can be explained as to do something so naturally and effortlessly as if you\u2019re not doing it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You Wei\u00a0 \u6709\u4e3a
\n<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>The word \u201cyou\u201d means to have, or to own. \u201cYou wei\u201d means to pursue something actively, or to have some outstanding achievement. It generally means worldly achievements such as money, fame and skill. You wei is a positive term and a compliment to anybody. We can translate it as \u201cdoing\u201d.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

You Wei vs. Wu Wei<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>Many people think that \u201cyou wei\u201d- doing, is the opposite of \u201cwu wei\u201d non-doing. They chase after \u201cwu wei\u201d and avoid \u201cyou wei\u201d thinking they are on the right path towards the Dao. But according to my understanding, this is not true. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just like yin and yang, \u201cyou wei\u201d and \u201cwu wei\u201d are the opposite sides of the same thing.\u00a0 Many Daoism students who look down on \u201cyou wei\u201d are making a big mistake. By avoiding \u201cyou wei\u201d one will never achieve \u201cwu wei\u201d; because a coin has two sides, not one. And \u201cyou wei\u201d and \u201cwu wei\u201d are the opposite sides of the same coin.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Training in Circle<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take the example of taijiquan (tai chi chuan) training. At the beginning, you learn the basic stances and hand moves; then you learn the taiji form, the body-structures and the applications, etc. You are learning to increase your knowledge of taiji. You have to work hard both mentally and physically, paying great attention to the details. You may have to learn for 2 to 3 years until you can get things right. But you should understand that all these hard trainings, all these careful studies are actually \u201cyou wei\u201d in nature. Think about it. You are increasing your knowledge of taiji. And you are working hard mentally and physically on your forms and push-hand. Is this\u00a0 not \u201cyou wei\u201d?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After you have developed a strong jin (energy), and your taiji forms are looking good, you are still at the mid level. You have finished only half of the circle, which is the level of \u201cyou wei\u201d. Now you are ready to begin the training of \u201cwu wei\u201d, the other half of the circle. This is where the real taiji training begins.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From \u201cyou wei\u201d to \u201cwu wei\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>The key of this training is to decrease, to cut down and\u00a0 to use less. You need to use less physical force but maintain the same motion. Use more yi (intention) to perform the form; cut back on physical strength. Try to be as soft and gentle as possible. Sometimes it takes\u00a0 several thousand form repetitions to reach this goal. Then you should try to use less yi (mind) while practicing the form. Because focusing too much on yi can create tension in the mind. Using less yi gives you space to think. In the art of taiji, less is always better. It gives you room to move, in other words, freedom! After lots of using less yi you will reach the stage of practicing taiji forms with your intuition. Then everything will become effortless. You can follow the rules but still be completely free. This is called \u201cwei wu wei\u201d \u2013 do the non-doing. The Dao De Jin said, \u201cDo the non-doing and there\u2019s nothing you can\u2019t do.\u201d At this point you have completed the other half of the circle.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion <\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What are the examples of people who have achieved the \u201cwu wei\u201d level? Well, nowadays you can check out the taiji postings on you-tube. But beware of the fake masters. Great taiji masters always perform in a soft and gentle manner. Their applications should appear to be effortless, at times even seem to be quite weak.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Observe Fred Astair in his dancing performance and you can see that no matter how complicated and difficult the moves, he is always at ease, his steps light and nimble. Watch Jimmy Hendrix playing his guitar and you can understand what is \u201cwei wu wei\u201d \u2013 or do the non-doing. Hendrix played his best songs as if he\u2019s not ever touching his guitar; you can almost feel the freedom. Those are the true masters of \u201cwu wei\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>If you are not free, you haven\u2019t reach \u201cwu wei\u201d. And if you want to attain \u201cwu wei\u201d, you must first attain \u201cyou wei\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/address>\n
\"yang<\/a>[Master Chun Man Sit was born in 1951\u00a0in southern China. His family moved to Hong Kong when he was six. He lived in Hong Kong for twenty years. In 1976 he moved to the United State. He lives in Overland Park, Ks. with his wife Mary Ann.\u00a0\u00a0 Master Sit began his martial art training in 1969. He has learned and practiced continually for forty years, learning many styles, such as: Karate, Tai Chi, Qigong and Kungfu. He is the expert on Wu style Taiji, Tai Hui Six Elbows Kungfu, and many Qigong methods, including 6 Healing Sounds, Drifting Cloud Moving Qigong, Nei Gong, Silk-reeling Gong, etc.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Master Sit has been a chief judge in many national Tai Chi and Kungfu tournaments in the USA for the last 18 years. He has taught workshops on Tai Chi, Qingong and Kungfu. His articles appear regularly in Tai Chi and Kungfu magazines. He is currently writing a book on Tai Chi.]<\/span><\/span><\/address>\n
Do you like this? Please share it:<\/div>
Tweet<\/a>