Hello,

What are the things that we should do to incorporate the three internal harmonies into our Hsing Yi practice? I've read about these but never seen anything that says "do this and you're developing your three internal harmonies".

Thanks,
Frank

Hi Frank,
Basically, the Three Internal Harmonies are about having a clear purpose and controlling the movements of the body with the intent. If you pay attention to each movement and posture of the forms or techniques you are practicing, you are coordinating the Three Internal (unity of mind and body) and External Harmonies (coordination of body movement).

Well, if that's all there is to it, then wouldn't you say that paying attention to each movement and posture, etc., etc., of Chang Quan or Northern Mantis would also be coordinating the 3 internal and the 3 external harmonies? In other words, the idea of 6 harmonies is just sort of a rhetorical device that doesn't mean much?

Thank you for the response Tim. I think I've read one of your books about Nei Gung. It's a great book.

Also thanking you Will. Although I kinda hope you're wrong about this. I want the coordination of the harmonies to have some arcane meaning that once understood allows us Hsing-Yi folks to ride the backs of cranes and such!

Will,
Yes, if you pay attention to each movement and posture, and coordinate your mind and body while doing Chang Quan or Northern Mantis, you would be coordinating the Three Internal and Three External Harmonies. But if it would make you feel better, you could call these arts "Xing Yi Chang Quan" and "Xing Yi Northern Mantis."

Since the Six Harmonies are the foundation of the art you supposedly study (Xing Yi Quan), I'd be interested to know why you feel the ability to maintain absolute focus, mind body unity and integrated coordination amounts to a "rhetorical device that doesen't mean much."

Well for sure we "pay attention to each movement and posture" in any art, unless it's just contemporary wushu, I guess. The key probably comes down to the general sounding phrase of "coordinating mind and body". If there is no special or defined way to do that then there is no difference between Xingyi and Northern Mantis and therefore all the talk about six harmonies in Xingyi and Bagua and Tai Chi are wasted. In other words, if there is nothing you can point out that is actually different about six harmonies, then either (1.) we are missing something or (2.) the distinction about six harmonies is trivial and putting it in the classical literature was just a waste of space. That's my reasoning, anyway.

Will,

I'm betting on #1.
Rather than 'reasoning' that all the talk about six harmonies in xingyi, Bagua and Tai-Ji is "wasted"; maybe a more 'reasonable' approach would be to wonder if Northern Mantis is missing out on the concepts of relaxation, alighnment and full body power... rather than the other way around.

Or maybe they have it and just don't call it anything.

Those who observed/developed Liu/He were real smart.Video analysis of many sporting actions reveals that Liu/He is very valid,basically unavoidable if most any given action is executed efficiently

As one example many good hitters in baseball drive their back knee down and in-while simultaneously counter rotating torso with elbow flexing back and up.This creates torque/twist setting the stage for an explosive/sequential rotational release.

Chinese Olympians have also incorporated this into their training philosophy

I very much understand the attention of every movement and posture, but what are the internal harmonies and external harmonies? I have never before heard of them.

Firefrost

The Three Internal Harmonies are the Xin ("heart" or desire for action) harmonizes with the Yi ("intent" or conscious control); the Yi harmonizes with the Qi ("Energy" which transmits the intent to move to the muscles which move); and the Qi harmonizes with the Li ("power" or the actual physical force of movement).

The Three External Harmonies are the hands harmonize (coordinate) with the feet; the elbows harmonize with the knees; and the shoulders harmonize with the hips.

Thanks Tim!

Firefrost