岳飛三要論/Yue Fei San Yao Lun – Yue Fei’s Third Essential Thesis

夫氣本諸身，而身之節無定處，三節上中下也，以身言之，頭為上節，身為中節，腿為下節，以上節言之，天庭為上節，鼻為中節，海底為下節，以中節言之，胸為上節，腹為中節，丹田為下節，以下節言之，足為梢節，膝為中節，胯為根節，以肱言之，手為梢節，肘為中節，肩為根節，以手言之，指為梢節，掌為中節，掌根為根節，觀于是，而足不必論矣，然則自頂至足，莫不各有三節，要之，若無三節之分，即無着意之處，蓋上節不明，無依無宗，中節不明，渾身是空，下節不明，自家吃跌，顧可忽乎哉，至于氣之發動，要皆梢節動，中節隨，根節催之而已，然此猶是節節而分言之者也，若夫合言之，則上自頭頂，下至足底，四體百骸統為一節，夫何三節之有哉，又何三節中之各有三節雲乎哉。

Qi is the root of the whole body, & the body’s sections lack any fixed positions. The “Three Sections,” are Upper, Middle, & Lower. Applying it to the body for discussion, the head is the Upper Section, the body is the Middle Section, & the legs are the Lower Section. If we only speak of the Upper Section, then Tian Ting serves as the Upper Section, the nose is the Middle Section, & the tongue is the Lower Section. If we only speak of the Middle Section, then the chest is the Upper Section, the abdomen is the Middle Section, & the Dan Tian is the Lower Section. If we only speak of the Lower Section, the feet are the Tip Section, the knees are the Middle Section, & the thighs are the Root Section. Using the arm, the hands are the Tip Section, the elbows are the Middle Section, & the shoulders are the Root Section. Using the hand, the fingers are the Tip Section, the palms are the Middle Section, & the wrists are the Root Section. We need not discuss the feet, since the concept is clear. In that case, from the crown to the feet, everything has Three Sections. In brief, if you don’t divide things with the Three Sections, you lack the discipline of deliberate, thoughtful action. If the Upper Section is not clear, there is nothing to depend on, & nothing to draw on. If the Middle Section is not clear, the whole body is empty. If the Lower Section is not clear, you’ll suffer a fall. This can not be overlooked! As for how the Qi is mobilized, essentially in all cases the Tip Section moves, the Middle Section follows, the Root Section urges it on, & nothing more. Thus, the Sections exist because we divide the body & discuss them. If we speak of the body as a whole, then from the top to the bottom, the four limbs and numerous bones are all One Section. How can there be Three Sections? Furthermore, how could each Section also contain another Three Sections?