Taijiquan's Eye Method

The concerted action and appropriate use of the “eye method” (yan fa) should be present in all aspects of training,  be it taolu, tuishou, sanshou or weapons training; in fact, the eyes should accompany all kinetic movements either externally manifested or internally presented eg. jing (essence), qi, shen (spirit) and yi (intention).

The Yang family’s  “Deciphering Taiji Word by Word” alluded to this aspect of training:  “Look Forward-Glance Backward-Guard Left-Anticipate Right relates to the eyes and crucially involves the spirit”.

Yang family’s “Taiji Interpretation of the Human Body” also stated:

“The heart is the master of the body; the eyes are the sprouting shoots of the heart”

“The spirit originates in the heart and expresses through the eyes”“ The spirit kindles, intention follows, eyes reveal.”

“The eyes lead the hand, the eyes follows the hands, working in conjunction’’

Chen family’s Chen Xin in "Taijiquan’s Push Hands Original Explanation" said: "Hands and eyes are alive; do not move them randomly."  In movements, the eyes are in a dynamic state and closely match the actions of  "look forward-glance backwards-guard left-anticipate right" whilst fulfilling principles and are not random and without focus.  It must be consistent with the direction of the rotation of the body, so that the "hands-eyes-body-step" are in all aspects of the movement.   "When one part moves everything moves; when one part stops everything stops.” 

Yang Chengfu said in "Talk on Taijiquan Practice":  “Although the gaze is level and the line of sight is empty, it stays alive and in times of  critical change complements and compensates the hand and body methods”

The direction of the eyes in movements is varied.  Some people advocate "look forward through the forefinger or fingertip of the forehand."  Or "pay attention to the front hand, the upper hand," etc. Some people think that "an enemy takes the main gaze, while the peripheral vision guards left and anticipates right. Yang Taijiquan advocates that  “Under normal circumstances, the eye is looking forward, looking forward at and through the hand in front of the eyes, but not dead at the hand. The eyes also look forward and down, their direction determined by specific action of the dominant hand.” 

There are actually two methods. The first method is the level eye method: the eyes look naturally forward, without exhibiting any expression or emotion.  The other is the three-point method: "the eyes (the starting point) look through the fingertips of one hand or both hands (the midpoint) and forward at the imaginary opponent (the end point)." This is in accordance with what Chen Xin said, "eyes look forward, light radiates outwards in four directions."  Do not stare at one’s own hand, or looking at the right and left hands in turn.  Staring at the hands instead of following the direction of the body impedes flexibility of the intention and the extension of the far vision.  The liveliness of the eyes,  “like a cat stalking a mouse" makes boxing lively and full of vitality.  

After a certain period of time, the distance in front becomes a point in the distance, so that the distance is formed according to the degree of concentration of each person. Thus, how far each person is likely to concentrate is determined.  It enables Taijiquan to fully show its concentrated yet abundant strength, to achieve the characteristic upper level “penetrating and piercing strength," and illustrates "action stops but intention continues; intention stops but the spirit continues.”