Moving Clouds and Flowing Water

 Although the expression “Xing Yun Liu Shui” (Moving Clouds and Flowing Water) is mainly used in literary writings and language expressions, the term is frequently used to conceptualise Taijiquan.  

Xing Yun Liu Shui came from the poet/writer Su Shi in the Song Dynasty: "the study of books, poems and essays makes sense gradually; much like moving clouds and flowing water, that seem aimless, but they do what they must do, and cease when they must cease." 

Taijiquan should be played like clouds and water, but players should also be as clouds and water. Taijiquan integrated with the Daoist cultural ideology: “the highest virtue is to be like water" (Shang Shan Ru Shui).  Chen Xin said when talking about Taijiquan: "In movement flow like water, in stillness be steadfast like a mountain.”

To become like "moving clouds", first distinguish between substantial and insubstantial, so that the conversion of the body's centre is clear; secondly is to be light and nimble, the body to be loose and empty, moving as a whole, the steps to be light; and thirdly is to be stable and connected, moving evenly, uniformly and continuously.  

The ankles are relaxed, the Yongquan points are gently lifted, the body’s centre sinks and becomes stable as a mountain, steps are as light as feathers. At a higher level, there must be "mental immersion” whereby the mind becomes highly concentrated and completely zoned in to the artistic conception of performing on soft clouds.   

The comparison of taijiquan to water permeates its philosophy.   “Flowing water” is in sync with its natural environment.  It can be a gentle trickle, and it can also be an overwhelming force.  As with the nature of water - weight and not strength; flow and not shift;  go with and not drive.  Taijiquan does not advocate the initiation and use of brute force, by using mental intentions and one’s own innate strength to achieve defence and attack capabilities by actual situations.

The first point: weight not strength. Strength is imposed by the body, weight is a downward force due to earth’s gravity.  It is the power of nature, like water cascading down a waterfall by its own weight without adding any external force.  

The second point: in the process of position change movements are not actively and physically forced but flow energetically and naturally from one to another. 

The third point: to go with and not to initiate. Taijiquan does not make random movements.  The characteristics of taijiquan are also the characteristics of water.  Water does not determine whether it flows urgently or slowly, but in accordance to external conditions, and merges with external shapes and momentum.  

The essence of Taijiquan possesses the quality of "Xingyun" and "Liushui".  It is up to practitioners to realise and express the essence in their own practice.