Commemorating the First Anniversary of Master Wang Zhuang-Hong’s Passing: Water-Style T'aiChi Setting Roots in the United States

Translated by: 龔振勝

(Reprinted from: 武魂雜誌 Martial Spirit Magazine, February, 2010)

Appendix: Recommendation Letter from Dan Lee (李愷)

編者：2009年7月，美國的李愷先生，以李小龍第一代弟子、李小龍教育基金會振藩截拳道顧問委員會成員的身份，遠渡重洋來華開辦首屆李小龍截拳道講習班。期間，李先生與本刊有所接觸，曾談及本刊登載有關王壯弘老師與王氏水性太極拳的幾篇文章。今年11月，李先生自美國向本刊推薦一稿，他在推薦信中說： Editor: In July 2009, Dan Lee (李愷) from the United States, in his capacity as a first-generation disciple of Bruce Lee (李小龍) and a member of the Jeet Kune Do Advisory Committee of the Bruce Lee Educational Foundation, traveled across the ocean to China to hold the first Jeet Kune Do seminar. During his stay, Mr. Lee had some contact with our magazine and mentioned several articles we had published about Master Wang Zhuang-Hong (王壯弘) and his Water-Style T'aiChi (水性太極拳). In November of this year, Mr. Lee sent a recommendation letter from the United States, in which he wrote:

「在返美國前，蒙鍾海明先生安排與北京武術界的先進以及報社、武術雜志負責先生們歡聚一堂，交流切磋拳藝，熱鬧的場合，記憶猶鮮。我曾提到貴社登刊有關王壯弘老師與王氏水性太極拳的幾篇文章。因為時間太短，沒有談我在美國也有緣份學習王氏水性太極拳。我跟隨張希榮和張雲義兩位老師已有好幾年了。他們兩位是在70年代在上海跟隨王壯弘老師學習他新創的水性太極拳。是得到王老師親自教導，修改拳架的早期學生。他們也在王老師嚴格的訓練下學到了推手技巧及應用。經過了近四十年的鍛煉及教學，他們都具有深厚的功力，無論在拳架上，推手應用上都能充分發揮王老師所傳的八門五步，飄浮量，沉重 量，固體變流體，水性太極拳的特點。由他們兩位悉心的教導，我對水性太極拳有了清楚的認識，在太極拳剛柔相濟的技巧上有了很大的進步。李小龍宗師常提醒學習截拳道的學生們『要像水』，可惜他沒有留下如何『像水』的訓練方法。我感到幸運的是從這兩位老師多年學習王氏水性太極拳，我獲得了具體『要像水』的訓練方法。使我的武功又有了進步。」

"Before returning to the United States, thanks to Mr. Zhong Haiming (鍾海明) arranging a gathering with senior figures of the Beijing martial arts community, as well as the leaders of newspapers and martial arts magazines, we exchanged and discussed martial arts in a lively setting, which remains vivid in my memory. I had mentioned your prestigious magazine's articles regarding Master Wang Zhuang-Hong (王壯弘) and his Water-Style T'aiChi (水性太極拳). Due to time constraints, I did not mention that I had the good fortune to study Wang's Water-Style T'aiChi in the United States. I have been following two teachers, Charlie Chang (張希榮) and Zhang Yun-yi (張雲義), for several years. They both studied Wang's newly created Water-Style T'aiChi under Master Wang, Zhuang-Hong in Shanghai during the 1970s. As early students personally instructed by Master Wang, they received instructions to their forms and learned Push Hands(推手) techniques and applications under his strict training. After nearly 40 years of practice and teaching, they have developed profound skill, fully embodying the characteristics of Wang's teachings—such as the Eight Gates & Five Steps (八門五步), floating force, sinking force, the transformation from solid to fluid, and the distinctive qualities of Water-Style T'aiChi . With their dedicated teaching, I have gained a clear understanding of Water-Style T'aiChi and made significant progress in mastering the balance of hardness and softness in T'aiChi techniques. Bruce Lee (李小龍) often reminded his Jeet Kune Do students to 'be like water,' but unfortunately, he did not leave behind a method for how to 'be like water.' I feel fortunate to have learned Wang’s Water-Style T'aiChi from these two teachers, gaining a concrete training method for 'being like water,' which has further improved my martial skills."

*前排右一為李愷先生，右三為張雲義先生，右四為張希榮先生。 Front row first on the right is Dan Lee, third from the right is Mr. Zhang, Yan-Yi, Fourth from the right is Mr. Charlie Chang

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謹以此文紀念王壯弘老師逝世一周年，銘記老師的教誨，以實際行動來回答他對我們的關愛。 This article is dedicated to commemorating the first anniversary of Master Wang Zhuanghong’s passing, remembering his teachings, and responding to his care for us through our actions.

——Charlie Chang (張希榮), Zhang, Yun-yi (張雲義)

　　王壯弘老師離開我們已經一年了。我們倆作為追隨老師三四十年的學生，深深感受到老師留給我們以及後人的一筆財富是如此豐厚，需要我們花極大的努力才能消化。

It has been a year since Master Wang Zhuang-Hong (王壯弘) left us. As students who followed him for three to four decades, both of us deeply feel that the wealth of knowledge he left us and future generations is vast and requires great effort to fully absorb.  

　　王壯弘老師以畢生的精力創建的王氏水性太極拳，是以王宗岳《太極拳論》為藍本，參照楊式太極拳拳譜而創建的。他在生前所出版的《上善若水——王氏水性太極拳講記》中，系統地闡述了太極拳的理論，更給我們指明了應該如何去修學太極拳。

Master Wang Zhuang-Hong devoted his life to creating Wang's Water-Style T'aiChi (王氏水性太極拳), which he based on Wang Zong-Yue’s (王宗岳) "T'aiChi Ch'üan Treatise"(太極拳論) and the principles of Yang-Style T'aiChi (楊式太極拳). In his lifetime, he published Highest Form of Goodness is Like Water—Notes on Wang's Water-Style T'aiChi (上善若水——王氏水性太極拳講記), where he systematically explained the theory of T'aiChi and pointed out how we should study and practice T'aiChi.

*王壯弘老師與張希榮的合照。 A group photo of Master Wang, Zhuang-Hong with Charlie Chang

　　王老師指出，太極拳是太極思維的產物，是中華文化彙聚的深層產物，是中國人智慧結晶。因此要想真正學好太極拳是要下一番苦功的。而我們學習的拳架只不過是到達太極至高境界的一個工具，一個過程，一艘幫你駛向彼岸的船隻。所以我們需要全身心地投入進去，學好拳，駕駛好這艘船，永無止境地去完善和提高我們的水準。

　　王老師曾一再強調，他只不過是引我們進入太極殿堂的“指月手”、引路人。路還是要我們自己走。要我們師法自然，去掉自身多年養成的種種不良習慣。要用意不用力，要完全不用力，要學會借力（包括借他人之力和借地心吸力的反作用力）打力。

Master Wang emphasized that T'aiChi is a product of T'aiChi philosophy, a deep cultural synthesis of Chinese thought, and a crystallization of Chinese wisdom. Thus, to truly master T'aiChi requires diligent effort. The forms we practice are merely tools, a process, a boat to carry us to the other shore of T'aiChi’s highest realm. Therefore, we need to devote ourselves wholeheartedly, mastering the forms, steering the boat well, and constantly striving to perfect and improve our abilities.

Master Wang frequently stressed that he was merely the "finger pointing to the moon," guiding us into the halls of T'aiChi, but we must walk the path ourselves. He urged us to follow nature, eliminate the bad habits we have cultivated over the years, use intention rather than force, and eventually learn to use no force at all  

　　老師曾提醒我們，要牢記十三總勢。即舉手投足都含有八門五步十三勢；要有上下，左右，裏外，前後，開合。要有螺旋的放大，縮小；有沉重量，飄浮量，同時還有一個空中心。這就是太極拳的智慧，是太極拳與任何其他拳種不同的標誌。

 Master Wang (王壯弘) reminded us to always remember the Thirteen Postures (十三勢), which means that every movement of our hands and feet contains the Eight Gates & Five steps (八門五步十三勢). There should be coordination between upper and lower, left and right, inside and outside, front and back, and opening and closing. There should also be a spiral expansion and contraction, with both sinking and floating forces, all while maintaining an empty center. This is the wisdom of T'aiChi, and it is what distinguishes T'aiChi from any other martial arts style.

　　老師還教誨我們，要做到鬆空圓滿。化僵體為柔軟體；化固體為流體。要打出水性。只有這樣，才能借到地心引力及其反作用力，才能做到真正的不頂不丟。

Master Wang also taught us to achieve relaxation and fullness (鬆空圓滿). We must transform rigid bodies into soft ones, and convert solid states into fluid states. We must embody the water-like quality. Only by doing so can we borrow the force of gravity and its counteracting force, enabling us to truly achieve the concept of "neither resisting nor disengaging" (不頂不丟).

　　老師說過，太極拳的最高境界為“無為法”。你生什麼心，我生什麼法。但要從有為法到無為法，需要我們一絲不苟地練好拳架子，吃透老師教給我們的要點與精神，並在練習時，處處時時地加以驗證。 Master Wang said that the highest state of T'aiChi is the "method of non-action" (無為法). This means that "whatever intention you have, I will respond with the appropriate method." However, to reach the state of non-action, we must first diligently practice the "method of action" (有為法) and meticulously master the form. We need to fully digest the key points and spirit that Master Wang taught us, and constantly verify them through practice.

　　老師還教育我們，要有佛心。把學到的好東西與人分享。要消除門戶之見，改革過去太極拳不傳女，不傳外人之弊端。具體來說，要把我們學到的王氏太極拳發揚光大，加以推廣。將這套凝聚了老師畢生精力而創建的王氏水性太極拳傳授給有志學習的人，使它能更好的發展，不斷地進步，這也是我們對老師最好的答謝。 Master Wang also educated us on having a "Buddhist citta" (佛心). This means sharing the valuable knowledge we have learned with others. We must eliminate sectarianism and reform the past restrictive practices that prohibited teaching T'aiChi to women or outsiders. Specifically, we should work to promote and expand Wang's Water T'aiChi, passing on this system that embodies Master Wang's lifelong effort to anyone who is eager to learn. In doing so, we will ensure its further development and continuous progress, which is the best way to repay Master Wang for his kindness.

　　我們紀念老師，更要學習他的為人，我們跟隨老師幾十年，深知他一貫反對把門下學生分成什麼“入室弟子”，“室外弟子”等等做法。他對學生一視同仁，不分厚薄。他曾說過，他以佛心觀照著他所有的學生，而作為他的學生，也應該以弘揚他所創建的事業為己任，不斷加深對太極拳的理解，提高太極拳的水準。 In commemorating Master Wang, we must also learn from his character. Having followed him for decades, we deeply understand that he consistently opposed dividing students into categories such as "in-door disciples" (入室弟子) and "out-door disciples" (室外弟子). He treated all his students equally, without favoritism. He once said that he viewed all his students with a "Buddhist citta" and as his students, we should take it upon ourselves to carry forward the work he created, continually deepening our understanding of T'aiChi and improving our skill level.

　　我們兩人願意和全體同門師兄弟，及太極愛好者共同努力，繼承和發揚太極文化，以實際行動來紀念和答謝我們敬愛的王壯弘老師對我們的關愛。 The two of us are willing to join hands with all of our fellow students and T'aiChi enthusiasts to carry on and promote T'aiChi culture. Through our actions, we will commemorate and express our gratitude for the care and love that our beloved Master Wang Zhuang-Hong showed us.