Authored by Zhang Quanliang (张全亮) Translated by Joshua Hehr
Master Wang Peisheng, renowned martial artist and towering figure of Wu-style Taijiquan, though over eighty years old, remained sharp of hearing and sight, spirited and vigorous, healthy in body, and extraordinary in skill. Master Wang Peisheng was famous both at home and abroad for his mastery of Wu-style Taijiquan, but his martial knowledge was profound, with roots extending in all directions and a solid foundation. He entered the martial world at age 20, successively learning Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Tongbeiquan, Bajiquan, Tantuiquan, Xingyiquan and other boxing styles from renowned teachers. Master Wang's Wu-style Taijiquan came from Grand-teacher Yang Yuting, and he received personal instruction from Great Grand-teacher Wang Maozhai. Through decades of diligent daily practice and refinement, teaching practice, and combat experience, he organically integrated the essence of all the boxing styles he had learned, thereby forming a Wu-style Taijiquan with a unique style and complete system of its own.
I have practiced boxing under Master Wang Peisheng for many years. Through repeated observation, careful comprehension, and meticulous appreciation, I feel that Master Wang's Taijiquan has very high artistic value and extremely deep cultural significance. In summary, I believe there are five major characteristics: spirit, concealment, speed, danger, and vastness.
- Spirit—spirit itself, fullness of spirit and qi, mysterious and unfathomable.
When Master Wang performed the forms, observing them one saw spirit abundant; comprehending them one found them marvelous; they made one feel as if viewing a wondrous landscape, as if
entering a miraculous realm, making one's spirit clear and qi refreshed. His raising of hands and lifting of feet were relaxed and tranquil in comprehension, like spring wind caressing willows. When Master Wang issued against people, ingenious moves and extraordinary techniques emerged endlessly, and moreover were superb and magical, purely natural, with a flash of spiritual light, and those who encountered it immediately fell.
2. Concealment—hidden, empty and quiet, formless, neither displaying nor revealing.
When Master Wang performed the forms, they were quiet like the earth's revival, with myriad phenomena renewed. His mind was like still water, his form resembled a mountain peak, yet the four extremities issued together like spring giving birth to all things, movement within stillness, the mood harmonious, containing infinite vitality and vigor within, with enormous power operating latently. When Master Wang issued against people, it was like wind and lightning, formless and imageless, irresistible wherever directed, with falls and throws exquisitely marvelous, ethereal and difficult to convey in words. What appeared supremely soft was actually supremely hard; what appeared supremely hard was actually supremely soft. Hard and soft both present, yin and yang unified. Moving and still, slow and rapid, turning and shifting at will. Spirit knowing what is to come, wisdom concealing what has passed, spiritual intent stored within, not displaying external appearance—truly skill reaching the highest level.
- Speed—fast, swift. Like hitting the target, like lightning striking a person, extremely swift and rapid.
When Master Wang performed the forms, his movement was like torrents plunging downward, imposing in momentum, unstoppable. His body like a great river, his hands like drifting ice, movement within stillness, stillness within movement. When striking and issuing against people, the force was like wind toppling waves surging, quick as lightning and thunder, with no gap to escape, no strength to resist.
- Danger—dangerous, perilous situations and dangerous aspects approaching.
When Master Wang performed the forms, they were seamlessly traceless, his hands marvelously empty, containing light silently, coiling and circling, spirit multiplied a hundredfold, central qi truly abundant. Observing his movements, it was like treading on thin ice over a deep abyss, heart and courage both suspended; watching his actions, like a python threading through forest, alarming in speed and swiftness; viewing his spirit, like hearing a tiger's roar or ape's cry, hair standing on end with fear. When engaging with Master Wang, if he didn't move that was one thing, but once moving it was like facing a deep abyss, like stepping on a venomous snake, heart-stopping and terrifying, losing composure, with dangerous aspects emerging everywhere. Throughout Master Wang's entire body there was nowhere that wasn't an axis, nowhere that didn't generate furrows, nowhere that didn't flip and turn, nowhere that wasn't a mechanism. Supporting him he would topple, pressing him he would overturn, touching him he would issue.
- Vastness—vast, broad and profound.
Master Wang Peisheng's skill was unfathomably high, learned in both ancient and modern knowledge, erudite and multi-talented, drawing broadly from many sources. Through the combination of theory and practice, he developed Wu-style Taijiquan to an unprecedented new stage. He was skilled at discussing boxing through principle (physiological, physical, ethical, philosophical principles); through boxing clarifying methods (methods of being a person, methods of doing things, methods of combat); through methods demonstrating the Way (the Way of Heaven, the Way of Earth, the Way of Humanity, the Way of the unity of the three); through the Way cultivating people (people of civility and courtesy, people of broad learning and many talents, people of pioneering and progress, people dedicated to society). He was skilled at organically integrating eliminating illness and strengthening the body, combat against violence, excavating human potential, and conducting oneself with others into the Wu-style Taijiquan method. He developed Wu-style Taijiquan into a distinctive science like the Way of the Yijing—"encompassing everything," "unifying everything," "benefiting everyone"—a special culture, a supreme and venerable art, with boxing theory most simple yet most profound, most easy yet unchanging.
Master Wang Peisheng devoted his entire life single-mindedly, cultivating in the martial arena for nearly 70 years. The length of his martial career, the richness of his practical experience, the profundity of his skill, the breadth of his knowledge, the depth and penetration of his theory, and the multitude of his disciples are among the very few in today's martial world—one can say he stood alone in his glory, unrivaled in his time.
As one among Master Wang's disciples, one should naturally feel honored and proud, but even more should respect the teacher's instruction, constantly strive for self-improvement, not seek empty fame, not indulge in idle talk, not disgrace the teacher's school, wholeheartedly and unceasingly make new contributions to promoting the development of martial arts, advancing the national fitness movement, and revitalizing China.