八卦掌四正四隅八卦說/Baguazhang Si Zheng Si Yu Bagua Shuo – Baguazhang’s Four Sides, Four Corners, Eight Signs Theory

出手里裹,外開,上穿,下立為四正也;上截,下攔,里領,外領為四隅。四正四隅合為八卦。出手有四正四隅,動手有四陰四陽。出手如牛舌,打來入虎口,手去如鋼銼,手回如鉤杆。神出鬼沒,奧妙無窮。

The Outgoing Hand Wraps Inward, Opens Outward, Penetrates Above, Stands Below, these are the Four Sides; Intercepting Above, Blocking Below, Leading Inward, Leading Outward, these are the Four Corners. The Four Sides & Four Corners combine to become the Eight Signs. The Outgoing Hand has Four Sides & Four Corners, the Moving Hand has Four Yin & Four Yang. The Outgoing Hand is like an Ox Tongue, Striking arrives like entering the tiger’s den, the hand goes like a steel file, the hand returns like a hooked pole. Appearing & disappearing rapidly is marvelous without end.