Wu Zhiqing. Authentic taiji 吳志青。太極正宗

Translation by Paul Brennan. — Posted on October 25, 2016; July 31, 2016 by Paul Brennan. — 286 p. — (Published by 大東書局 Great East Bookstore, Sep, 1936).弁言（一）凡百事物。單看不知優劣。不明眞偽。若集合多數同類之事物。陳列眼前。比較之下。誰 優誰劣。誰眞誰偽。是非立判。以此例彼。可不言而喻也。蓋近年學習太極拳者衆。出版物日增。一般熱心太極拳者。徬徨歧路。無所適從。所以本書集合各家之名著。作有統系之研究。將不 同之點。列表比較。使學者一望而知。各家太極拳略有不同意義之所在。考各家太極拳之源流。
均稱係丹士張三峯所傳授。按其名稱拳式。各有變更。或別為老式。或別為新派。或又別為折衷。或多幾手。或少幾式。亦有一式而分數式者。亦有式同而名異者。亦有名同而式殊者。循此以 往。再傳數十年。又不知變更至於如何程度也。推究其因。不外各各師傳。稍有出入。無關宏旨。然而初學者不知就裏。如墜五里霧中。眞偽莫辨。懷疑日深。本書集我國名家太極拳架式理論 與名稱。闡明眞相。俾研究斯學者有所區別。不為曲學者所蔽。則出奴入主之弊泯矣。
1. In all things, we each notice that at first we do not know what is superior or inferior, nor understand what is genuine or fake. But once we gather several similar examples before our eyes in order to compare which is superior or inferior, which is genuine or fake, differentiation will naturally be achieved by the way they contrast with each other.
Nowadays, practitioners of Taiji Boxing are numerous and publications are constantly on the increase. The common enthusiasm for it has led to all sorts of wrong paths and uncertainties. Therefore this book gathers together works by various experts who have made systematic studies [Part Two]. I also present distinctions between them by putting them into a comparative list so that you may understand at a glance where they have had slightly different ideas [Part One, Chapter One, Section Three].
Examining the origins of the various schools of Taiji Boxing, they all claim it was passed down from the elixirist Zhang Sanfeng. As for the names of the boxing postures, each school has it variations, sometimes older postures, sometimes newer versions, sometimes somewhere in between, some with many techniques, some with fewer techniques. Where one school has one posture, another school may consider it to be several. Postures may be the same but the names are different, or names may be the same but the postures are different. Something was formerly taught one way, but in the course of teaching over several decades, people became unaware of the extent to which changes had been made.
When we look for the reason for this, we find it is simply because variety of transmission leads to slight inconsistencies, unimportant ones for the most part. However, beginners will not know what lies within. It will be as though they have entered into miles of fog, unable to distinguish between what is real and what is fake, and their doubts will increase by the day. This book collects the postures, principles, and terminology of our nation’s notable Taiji Boxing experts in order to clarify the genuine art, giving students the ability to differentiate instead of misguiding students so as to keep the art inaccessible, and thereby eliminating the error of sectarian bias.
（二）編者於一九一八年。因緣識楊澄甫先生。得楊先生所授之太極拳。朝夕自修。輾轉研究。
將經驗所得。並集各家理論。分著上下兩編。上編為理論與實際。下編為各家論著。然理論以切
合科學與教育原理生理衞生為原則。不尚玄虛。不重考據。不立奇異為自高實際。附以圖說。並
以明顯之文字。說明動作。解釋應用。闡明要領。使學者閱之。心領神會。一目瞭然。
2. In 1918, I happened to meet Yang Chengfu. Receiving instruction from him in Taiji Boxing, I practiced day and night, making a thorough study of it. Now I have put what I have learned, as well as ideas I have collected from various teachers, into a book, which is divided into two parts, Part One covering theory and practice, Part Two comprised of essays by experts.
The theories within this book conform to the principles of health held by science and education. I do not seek to show off by being overly obscure, highly literate, or even particularly unique. Included are photographs and easily understandable text which describes the movements, explains applications, and clarifies essential requirements. This will enable you to readily understand as you read through it, everything clear at a glance.
（三）書之編配。先以理論。次及方法。集合近代研究太極拳名家宏論。作比較上之觀摩。俾學
者閱此一書。卽通各家之學。舉一反三。此之謂也。復以成套之太極拳。分為各個動作。使初學
易於問津。不致望洋興嘆。習練各個架式。俟動作純熟。姿勢正確。再連成一套。以不違太極拳
綿綿不斷一氣呵成之定律。又不違現代教學之方法。三為研究斯學者。創一新紀元。所以本書先
之以理論。使學者明白原理。識別畛域者此也。揣摩架式。然後乃學連貫成套。練習法由簡入繁
。循序演進。學者自能易於領悟。興趣油然而生。則斯學之普遍。可立而待也。
古歙吳志靑編著於潤州
3. This book is comprised of firstly theory [Part One, Chapter One] and then techniques [Chapter Two]. And then there is a collection of magnificent ideas from the recent studies of famous experts [Part Two], worthy of comparative study so that through this book you may understand the learning of various teachers. To examine one and end up understanding several is the idea.
Included is the complete Taiji Boxing solo set, divided into individual movements so that beginners may have an easy way into the art rather than feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. Practice each technique until the movement is skillful and the posture is accurate, then connect them into a complete set. Do not violate the cardinal Taiji Boxing principle of continuity without interruption from beginning to end, nor ignore modern teaching methods. Through repeated study of this material, we will found a new era.
This is why this book firstly presents some theory, so that you may understand the principles and discern the parameters of the art. Ponder the postures, then link them together. The practice method is to go from the simple to the complex, gradually progressing according to the right sequence, so that you will be able to organically and easily understand, and your interest will develop by itself. By such means, this learning is poised to spread everywhere.
– written by Wu Zhiqing of Guxi [in Anhui] while in Runzhou [in Jiangsu]