WING CHUN KUEN KUNG FU MARTIAL ARTS UK WCDKA™ - KNOWLEDGE
PHILOSOPHY
YIN - YANG, MALE - FEMALE
The Female principle
"The female principle, in its largeness, supports and contains all things. Its excellent capacity matches the power of the male principle.
Yin, the female life force of the universe. Its approach is down-to hearth and moderate, it pervades all things through gentle penetration rather than by overt force. It is symbolised by the mare, the beautiful and fertile animal that moves gracefully and is capable of great achievement.
The female principle is alive in all creatures and in every human being. Underneath our conscious everyday activities there is an unconscious power at work that sustains our effort and brings about their completion, if we know how to co-operate with it. Without this Yin energy our thoughts and actions would be limited to a superficial level and we would accomplish little. While the Yang, the male life force, tends to initiate development through bold effort, the Yin usually accomplishes their gradual and natural completion.
The Yin force is at work during quite periods and during sleep, when it heals and rejuvenates the organism and gives it the new life energy that it needs during the day. Unlike the Yang force it tends to fulfil its vital function unobtrusively, without demanding attention and recognition. But it thrives on love and appreciation. Because of its gentle and peaceful nature the Yin force can easily be swayed or hurt by external influences".
The Male Principle
While the Ying nourishes all things and maintains a life-supporting environment, the Yang shapes the world in accordance with the cosmic order. The Yang power is active within us and around us. During busy periods we can use it to initiate great projects, and in quite times it can help us to build up our strength and develop our characters. It gives our life meaning, direction and the creative spark. Without it we would vegetate and lose our initiative.
While the Yin approach tends to be patient, forgiving and down to earth, the Yang approach is more demanding and aggressive. In our daily life we need to make use of both approaches, just as we use two hands and walk on two legs. People who overstress either principle are using only half of their potential. The male principle is capable of attaining great heights of creativity, power and fame. But when it loses touch with the moderating female principle, it soon becomes one sided, arrogant or even brutal. In this way it often brings about its downfall.
QI
QI is sometimes described as the cosmic breath, or as the vital principle. It is the essence of the principles of heaven and earth, of time and space, and therefore of all relative phenomena, it is the force of change and transformation.
QI is displayed in the circles of the heavens, the seasons and the weather patterns, the undulations of the land and the tides of the sea, the changes in our bodies, emotions, and thoughts, and the changes of our affairs and fortunes. Everything breathes and move in accord with it. Everything comes from it, exists through it, and returns to it.
The cycle of QI, of arising and vanishing, is common to everything, even to solid rock. Although it appears unchanging to man, over the life span of the universe, it appears and disappears in a flash.
A place has sheng QI when it feels fresh and bright, the animals are healthy, the people are prosperous and happy, and when it overlooks a beautiful park, a garden, the woods, mountains, a field, a lake, or the ocean. You have sheng QI when you feel positive aspiration. The moon approaching full is sheng.
Si QI
A place has Si QI if it feels dilapidated and disorderly, if the earth is depleted and the vegetation is poor, the animals are sick, and the people are weak and impoverished. You have si QI when you are depressed. The moon approaching new is si.
Sha QI
You have sha QI when you are extremely angry. A place has sha QI when it feels strange or dangerous. Sha comes from negative conditions both above and below ground. Sha is the breath that takes life away.
