八卦掌九宫說/Baguazhang Jiu Gong Shuo – Baguazhang Nine Palaces Theory

(一)九字訣/(1) Nine Character Secret

九宫者,順勇直巧妙連狠急功九字也。順者,自然也;勇者,果決也;直者,發必中也;巧者,千斤不費力也;妙者,出手不見形也;連者,沾連不停也;狠者,動手不容情也;急者,緊捷也;功者,心一動由内發出也。九宫明,則上乘法得矣。上法者以手足為奇,進法者以手足為妙,起手錄丹鳳朝陽,起步以搶步采打。總之,三節要明,四梢要齊,五行要備,六合要合,身法要活,手足要連随其遠近一動而至也。

The Nine Palaces are Shun/Smooth, Yong/Brave, Zhi/Straight, Qiao/Clever, Miao/Subtle, Lian/Link, Hen/Fierce, Ji/Quick, Gong/Merit; these are the Nine Characters. Smooth is natural; Brave is unwavering; Straight is sure to hit the mark when issued; Clever is a thousand jin doesn’t expend much effort; Subtle is the shape of the outgoing hand isn’t seen; Link is touch & link without end; Fierce is hitting people can’t have emotions; Quick is victory is close at hand; Merit is as soon as the Xin moves the inside issues. When the Nine Palaces are understood then the first class method has been obtained. The Superior Method uses the hands & feet unorthodoxly, the Advancing Method uses the hands & feet subtly, the rising hand copies a Red Phoenix facing the sun, the rising step uses Stealing Step Plucking Strike. In short, the Three Sections must be clear, the Four Tips must be even, the Five Phases must be ready, the Six Harmonies must join, the Body Method must be lively, the Hands & Feet must Link & vary according to the distance so that they arrive in a single move. 

(二)走九宫要訣/(2) Walking the Nine Palaces Essential Secret

每樁畫一直徑約五尺的圈,按八步一圈走轉,每步一卦,可使步法僵滯者通靈,身法拘拗者順暢。要訣有九:艮頂圆,松墜探,緊空滿,溜疊恬,溜臀直,呼吸貫,縮提掩,平坐彎,斜擰轉。

Each stake marks off a verticle with a diameter of approximately five chi around it, according to the Eight Steps one should Turn throughout Circle Walking, each step being a single Gua, it can cause Footwork that is rigid & sluggish to become sensitive, a Body Method that is inflexible & stiff to become smooth & unhindered. There are nine essential secrets: bluntly thrust up against the circle, relax & drop to stretch forward, strictly empty & fill, calmly slip away repeatedly, slide the buttocks erect, inhale & exhale thread together, contract to lift or cover, level sits & bends, inclined twists & turns.