LAO TSU
The Ancient Sage, (6th century B.C.),
Calligraphy:Do/Tao - the Way
"Tao Teh Ching" (Excerpts)
"When the world has the Way
Running horses are retired to till the fields.
When the world lacks the Way,
War-horses are bred in the countryside.
No crime is greater than approving of greed,
No calamity is greater than discontent,
No fault is greater than possessiveness".
"Weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.
Therefore followers of the Way never use them.
They are not a wise man's tools.
[But] He uses them only when he has no choice.
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart,
and victory no cause for rejoicing.
If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;
if you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.
The war is conducted like a funeral.
When many people are being killed,
they should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral".
"Skilled warriors of old were subtle,
Mysterious, profound, responsive, powerful.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Just because they are unknowable, I will try to describe them:
Watchful, like men crossing a river in winter;
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved wood.
Open, like the valleys,
Inscrutable, like muddy pools".
"Nothing under heaven is softer
or more yielding than water,
but when it attacks things hard and resistant
there is not one that can prevail...
That the yielding conquers the resistant
and the soft conquers the hard
is a fact known by all man,
yet utilized by none".
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MASTER SUN TSU
(6th century B.C.)
"The Art of War" (Excerpts)
Calligraphy:Ai - Harmony, unity
"So it is said that victory can be made.
"In peace prepare for war, in war prepare for peace...
The true object of war is peace.
The art of war is vital importance to the state. It is the matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence under no circumstances can be neglected...
"To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting... The skilful warrior subdues the enemy without any fighting.
"There are five essentials for victory:
He will win who knows when to fight and when riot to fight.
He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.
He will win who prepares himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
If you knew yourself but riot the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
"The good warriors of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy... Hence, the skilful fighter puts himself into a position that makes defeat impossible and does not miss moment for defeating the enemy. Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first flights and afterwards looks for victory.
"When you have the force of momentum in war, even the timid can be courageous ... Therefore good warriors seek effectiveness in battle from the force of momentum ... they are able to choose people and let the force of momentum do its work...
Therefore, when people are skilfully led into battle, the momentum is like that of round rocks rolling down a high mountain - this is force!
"Use anger to throw them into disarray, use humility to make them proud.
Tire them by fire, cause division among them.
Attack when they are unprepared; make your move when they do not expect it.
Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate".
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UNKNOWN CHINESE WARRIOR
"Instead of the outer, the inner.
Instead of hardness, softness.
Instead of fire, water.
Instead of chivalry, strategy.
Instead of deception, inscrutability.
Instead of the folly of heroism, the reason of moderation.
Instead of fame, modesty.
Instead of glories of youth death, the pleasure of a long full life".
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CHANG SAN-FENG
(c.1200 AD.)
Grand Master of T'ai Chi
"Once you begin to move, the entire body must be light and limber. Each part of your body should be connected to every other part.
The internal energy (Ki/Chi) should be extended, vibrated like the beat of a drum. The spirit should be condensed in toward the center of your body.
When performing T'ai Chi, it should be perfect; allow no defect. The form should be smooth with no unevenness, and continuous, allowing no interruptions:"
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WONG CHUNG-YUA
(c.1600 AD.)
T'ai Chi Master
"Observe the ability of the old man who can successfully defend himself against many opponents at once. This proves that speed does not determine victory.
Look into the technique of using four ounces of energy to control the force of thousand pounds. Such techniques as these do not depend on brute force to overcome.
When to move, your movements should revolve as effortlessly as the turning of the wheel. Following the changing situation, you move as is necessary. If you are unable to respond in this way you will become double-weighted. Often martial artists who have practiced for years still cannot move properly and so cannot follow the flow of their opponent's movement. This is essentially because they are hindered by their mistake of double-weightedness".
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WU YU-HSIANG (1812-1880)
T'ai Chi Master
"In performing the forms, you should be like eagle which glides serenely on the wind, but which can swoop instantly to pluck a rabbit from the ground.
Your mind should be centred, like the placing cat - peaceful but able to respond instantly to the scurrying mouse.
First you should exercise your mind, and then discipline your body. Relax your abdomen and let internal energy (Ki/Chi) condenses into your bone marrow. Make your spirit peaceful and your body calm. Pay attention to your mind at all times.
Your entire body should be controlled by the mind and spirit.
When in stillness you should be as the mountain.
When in motion you should move like the water of the river. Bear in mind that once you move, everything should be in motion; when you are still, everything should be in stillness.
"When you are extremely soft, then you become extremely hard and strong.
"Be still as a mountain, move like a great river".
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MINAMOTO NO
YOSHIMITSU (11th century)
Founder of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jutsu
"When your opponent comes, greet him at once.
If he withdraws, immediately send him on his way.
When there is opposition, harmonize with it on the spot.
Utilize all principles to achieve harmonization.
There is nothing in the universe that cannot be harmonized.
Immediately
distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Know how to discern the hidden. Small
enters the tiniest particle.
Adjust to the vagaries of life and death.
Adapt to ceaseless change.
Remain unshaken regardless of the circumstances”.
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HOZOIN-RYU
(c.1600)
"Songs
of The Way of the Spear"
"If you feel that the teacher is a real teacher,
Then give up your own ideas, and learn...
The unskilled man does not know his own faults.
And yet dreams vainly of defeating another.
The Way is first of all about one's own defects;
After that, you can defeat others.
Don't think to win by force;
There is hard in the soft, there is soft in the hard.
'Softness is just weakness', some say;
But know there is a difference between softness and weakness.
The samurai who is gentle in his benevolence
and in his duty and in his bravery,
He is not burnt up in fire nor drowned in water.
In contest, first control your own mind;
Only after that think about technique.
If you have control of your mind,
be careful not lose it;
Hold the mind firm, and then make the thrust":
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MIYAMOTO
MUSASHI (1584-1645)
Great
Samurai
Do not violate the laws of society.
Do not seek comfort for yourself.
Do not play favorites (be free of bias).
Think lightly of yourself and deeply about worldly affairs.
Do not have many desires throughout your life.
Have no regrets regarding personal affairs.
Do not be jealous or envious of others.
Do not begrudge yourself or others.
Do not become infatuated with physical objects.
Do not take fine foods for yourself.
Do not pile up possessions.
Do not overvalue the things you have.
Do not become obsessed with having splendid weapons.
When following the Way, do not be afraid of dying.
Do not hoard money for your old age.
Venerate saints but do not rely on them.
Abandon self-interest, and do not seek fame or fortune.
Never separate yourself from the Way of a Warrior.
“The Book of Five Rings” – Musashi’s Nine Articles
1. Do not think dishonestly.
2. The Way is the training (Constantly forge body and mind).
3. Become acquitted with every art.
4. Know the ways of all professionals (crafts).
5. Distinguish between loss and gain in worldly matters.
6. Develop intuitive judgment and understanding for everything.
7. Perceive those things which cannot be seen.
8. Pay attention to the smallest details (even to trifles).
9. Do nothing which is of no use (don’t waste time on nonessential).
To be continued...
"The Way Of The Warrior Is To Stop Trouble Before It Starts"