On learning from books

What we understand by observation is only outward form and colour, name and sound (or image in one’s memory) and we think that we have got it (Dao or anything else). Form, colour, name and sound, or mental images, don’t reach to reality. That is why – “ he who knows, does not say; he who says, does not know”. So by reading and copying the photo image, or video moving image, to learn Nei Jia Wu Shu (near Dao) is a farce … yet a person as I am, not able to write in any language, is qualified to convey this truth!

A learned person and a learning person means two different persons to me (this is the way I understand the English language - I create my own way of understanding!)

I recall: with my eyes closed I can visualize my teacher sitting there with a pipe, and watching me practicing. He sometimes stood up and gave me a push and shake, or twist, or anything, to correct me. He knew if he would explain, perhaps I couldn’t know, because of our age difference. Now it took me a long time before I knew where my leg was, even though he often praised me that I had a strong back and legs! Yet his teaching is still correcting me.

I’m afraid if we try to learn from words or video images, many of them will contradict one another and make confusing images in the learner’s mind – the more the better ... confusion! The modern world might call me narrow minded and limited, but with what written records we have, unless one has the basic knowledge and understanding, plus the technique and knowledge of research, the written records will cause disaster instead of blessing to the Art.

 

On my teacher

I started taking tuition under my late Master Deng Yunfeng when I was eight years old. At that time in Beijing the Nei Jia Wu Shu masters were not few, but the “Complete Hand” ones were rare to find. Tai Ji has been widely spreading in the West, but still few know about the existence of its two other sister arts Ba Gua and Xing Yi.

It was my late Master’s taste and wish that we value "the Art for the Art’s sake", so no mystified tales or any tales with the nature of individual character glorification will be narrated in my writings. I endeavour to use direct and simple language, in sincerity and truth, to try to introduce these arts to the West, in order not to fail those who begin to take a genuine interest in the Nei Jia Wu Shu of my culture.

Deng Yunfeng was born in 1873 in Dengzhou, Shantung Province. He had two sons and a daughter – all married. His wife died several years before him. Unfortunately, his two sons both died young, though the second son was survived by an heir. Later nobody knew his daughter’s whereabouts. His elder son, Deng Wenying, was extremely skilful in Xing Yi; but his second son, Deng Wenshun, was a playboy and his daughter, Deng Wencheh, was never interested in Wu Shu at all.

Master Deng was outstanding in character and skill. His achievements did not rest only on martial arts skill, as a Nei Jia “Complete Hand”, but he also attracted many officials and scholars towards a transcendental direction in Wu Shu. It’s a great pity and loss to Nei Jia Wu Shu that Master Deng was not able to write down in letters, as Sun Lutang did, his experiences and achievements, knowledge and interpretation of the arts.

Among his pupil-sons there were many outstanding people such as bank managers and army generals, Christians and Daoists, street sweepers and Qing eunuchs alike. His People’s Martial Arts Society was situated in the Temple of the Fire God on Di'anmen Street, and I believe the temple is still there. The abbot was his pupil, a very outstanding one. Master Deng died from cancer of the stomach in the guest room of the abbot’s quarters in 1941. His funeral was held in the third courtyard of the temple. He is survived by many loyal pupil-sons, mostly in China, and the only pupil-daughter, an exile in the West. They all of them cherish his memory with devotion and love.

“Wherever his way may take him, the pupil, though he may lose sight of his teacher, can never forget him. With a gratitude as great as the uncritical veneration of the beginner, as strong as the saving faith of the artist, he now takes his Master’s place, ready for any sacrifice. Countless examples down to the recent past testify that this gratitude far exceeds the measure of what is customary among mankind.”

In Remembrance of my Teacher Deng Yunfeng:

Gao shan yang zhi, jing xing xing zhi,

Sui bu neng qu, xin xiang wang zhi.

Looking up to the high mountain, stopping for a view on my journey,

Even though I cannot reach there, my heart is longing for it.