岳飛一要論/Yue Fei Yi Yao Lun – Yue Fei’s First Essential Thesis

從來散之必有其統也，分之必有其合也，以故天壤間四面八方，紛紛者各有所屬，千頭萬緒，攘攘者自有其源，蓋一本散為萬殊，而萬殊成歸于一本，事有必然者，且武事之論，亦甚繁矣，而要之千變萬化，無往非勢，即無往非氣，勢雖不類，而氣歸于一，夫所謂一者，從上至足底，內而有臟腑筋骨，外而有肌肉皮膚五官之百骸，相連而一貫也，破之而不開，撞之而不散，上欲動而下自隨之，下欲動而上自領之，上下動而中節攻之，中節動而上下和之，內外相連，前后相需，所謂一貫者，其斯之謂歟，而要非勉強以致之，襲為之也，當時而靜，寂然湛然，居其所而穩如山岳，當時而動，如雷如塌，出乎爾而疾如閃電，且靜無不靜，表里上下，全無參差牽挂之意，動無不動左右前后，并無抽扯游移之形，洵乎若水之就下，沛然而莫之能御，若火之內攻，發之而不及掩耳，不假思索，不煩疑義，誠不期然而然，莫之致而至，是豈無所自而雲然乎，蓋氣以日積而有益，功以久練而始成，觀聖門一貫之傳，必俟多聞強識之后，豁然之境，不廢格物致知之功，是知事無難易，功惟自盡，不可躥等，不可急遽，按步就步，循次而進，夫而后官骸肢節，自有通貫，上下表里，不難聯絡，庶乎散者統之，分者合之，四體百骸，終歸于一氣而已矣。

At all times, what is scattered must be gathered, what is divided must be united. Therefore, because Heaven & Earth have separated into the various directions, each & every thing has its own place & its own origin. A single stem puts forth numerous branches, & numerous branches all belong to one root, this is a natural fact. Moreover, this theory is equally complex when applied to martial affairs. Namely, a thousand changes & ten thousand variations are nothing more than Patterns & Qi. The Patterns vary greatly in appearance, but the Qi is “One.” What does One mean? From the top to the bottom of the feet, inside there are the internal organs, muscle, & bone; outside there are the five sense organs, flesh, skin, & hundreds of bones, all linked together & “Threaded into One.” Break it & it won’t open, strike it & it won’t break up. If the Upper wishes to move, the Lower follows along. If the Lower wishes to move, the Upper leads the way. When the Upper & Lower move, the Middle Section attacks. When the Middle Section moves, the Upper & Lower harmonize with it. Inside & Outside mutually link, Front & Back need each other. This is what is called “Threaded into One.” It cannot be forced or imitated. When it is time to be still, be quiet & clear, standing in place as stable as a lofty mountain. When it is time to move, be as sudden as a thunderous collapse, emitting as quick as lightning. Yet when still nothing is without stillness, outside & inside, top & bottom, everything lacking stagnation & resistance. When moving nothing is without movement, Left & Right, Front & Back, without pulling & tearing, float & change form. Truly, it is like water flowing downward, so powerful that none can resist it, like an internal fire that, when emitted, no one is fast enough to react to. Without taking time to think, without taking time to plan, simply & unexpectedly arrive just by arriving. Build the Qi daily to accumulate & gain profit, the deep skill must be trained for a long time before it is complete. Follow the “Holy Gate” from start to finish to gain the transmission, you must listen carefully over a long time, strive to understand, & only then will you suddenly get it. Do not abandon studying the underlying principles of the Deep Skill, then you will know that there is no such thing as “difficult,” & “easy.” Deep Skill can only be develop over time. You must not skip stages, you must not rush through, restrain your pace & follow the proper sequence to advance. Afterwards, the organs, bones, & limb sections will be open & threaded above & below, inside & outside, with no gaps in communication. The numerous & dispersed are gathered, the divided are combined, & in the end the four limbs, & numerous bones all belong to “One Qi.”