Tim and all-
Curious what the XY heads think of Ji & Zheng as combative concepts. Reading through Mr. Crandall's translation of Li's "Lian Huan" text got me thinking about Ji and Zheng. Nothing of much use was found in the text, it is as if they expected everyone to have heard of such concepts.
Penny for thoughts.
Thanks
Jake

Nobody has any input on this?
Jake

Are you referring to the Xingyiquan concept of "zheng" (regular) and "chi" (irregular) as they apply to strategy?

If not, what does your "ji" refer to?

what the...

Tim
I have seen it in a copy of Crandall's Li Cun Yi text. He romanize's it as "ji" but your description sounds accurate. I have heard it refers to strategy, but no one has a very clear explanation.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Jake

"Zheng" refers to being "proper/regular," or "straightforward." "Chi" refers to the "strange/irregular" as opposed to the regular, or to being "clever." In military strategy, Chi refers to surprise attacks or unorthodox use of troops.

Applied to Xingyiquan, the strategy is to alternate between using straight forward tactics and surprise or unorthodox tactics when fighting. The Chi/Zheng strategy can also be adapted to the individual opponent.

For example, if you are larger, stronger and technically superior, you would employ the Zheng strategy and attack directly (keeping with the Xingyiquan example, you'd opt for driving through the opponent with the Tiger or Bear).

If you were smaller and weaker than your opponent, you could employ the Chi strategy and use feints, indirect attacks and hit and run tactics (Monkey techniques for example).

Thanks Tim. Simple explanation as always!
Jake

Tim,
I hereby publicly reiterate my suggestion for you to publish a non-nonsense version of Lao Tsu's 'Art of War'.

If you have some spare time on your hands.... it would be a dandy task.

Sure, there are numerous versions already in bookstores- but there are also so many websites, translators and martial arts teachers... the problem is- few have any real value or depth of understanding. Sooner or later- people will catch on and benefit.

Late,
Shane

Hey Shane,

Thanks for the vote of confidence (but it's "Sun Zi's" Art of War. Lao Zi was the Daoist librarian).

Qi/Zheng is a core concept of bing fa.

For some very good translation check out Ralph Sawyer's Seven Military Classics of Ancient China.

http://books.google.com/books?id=N3z6OwIIf-IC&dq=sawyer+seven+military+classics&pg=PP1&ots=mduUyn09dN&sig=ifQRA1SEpJu-7H3DvG0K6iocdGo&hl=en&prev=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sawyer+seven+military+classics&btnG=Google+Search&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail

Pretty much everything you read in martial arts stuff on strategy originally came from those works.


For some interesting contemporary discussion of it, check out Boyd's stuff.

Who says 'hereby' .... I mean, COME ON!

Bob#2

hmm... no wonder crackheads are so good at fighting.

anyone here ever fight a crackhead?

Not sure if it was crack or meth, buy yeah, back in my bouncing days.
Jake