Shi San Shi Xing Gong Ge Jue (Song of Secrets for Training in the 13 Techniques)

[YunXiang]

Images depicting Chinese characters for the Taijiquan classic, "Song of Secrets for Training in the 13 Techniques" (or "Song of Thirteen Techniques" for short) can be found below. The simplified and traditional Chinese version can be found in the first and second images respectively.

Reference to this classic can be found in Grandmaster Wong's April 2007 (part 2) webpage under Q&A no. 2:

http://shaolin.org/answers/ans07a/apr07-2.html

A translation of this classic can be found after this post. The translation is sourced from Grandmaster Wong's book, The Complete Book of Tai Chi Chuan, under pages 30-31. For the each of the following posts, please note that the first and second set of characters are the traditional and simplified characters respectively.

[YunXiang]

Shi San Shi Xing Gong Ge Jue
Song of Secrets for Training in the 13 Techniques
十三勢行功歌訣
十三势行功歌诀
Cantonese: sap sam sai harng kung kor kiut
Cantonese (Yale): sap6 saam1 sai3 haang4 gung1 go1 kyut3
Mandarin (Pinyin): shi2 san1 shi4 xing2 gong1 ge1 jue2

[YunXiang]

First Line

Shi San Zong Shi Mo Qing Shi, Ming Yi Yuan Tou Zai Yao Xi
Don't underestimate the thirteen techniques, the source of life is at the waist.
十三總勢莫輕識，命意源頭在腰隙。
十三总势莫轻识，命意源头在腰隙。
Cantonese: sap sam chong sai mok heng shik, meng yi yun tow choi yiew kwik
Cantonese (Yale): sap6 saam1 jung2 sai3 mok6 hing1 sik1, ming4 yi3 yun4 tau4 joi6 yiu1 gwik1
Mandarin (Pinyin): shi2 san1 zong3 shi4 mo4 qing1 shi5, ming4 yi4 yuan2 tou2 zai4 yao1 xi4

[YunXiang]

Second Line

Bian Zhuan Xu Shi Xu Liu Yi, Qi Bian Shen Qu Bu Shao Chi
Pay attention to 'apparent' and 'solid', without hindrance chi flows with grace.
變轉虛實須留意，氣遍身軀不梢癡。
变转虚实须留意，气遍身躯不梢痴。
Cantonese: phin chiun hui sat sheui lau yi, hei phin kwoon keui but sau chi
Cantonese (Yale): bin3 jyun2 heui1 sat6 seui1 lau4 yi3, hei3 bin3 gyun1 keui1 bat1 saau1 chi1
Mandarin (Pinyin): bian4 zhuan3 xu1 shi2 xu1 liu2 yi4, qi4 bian4 shen1 qu1 bu4 shao1 chi1

[YunXiang]

Third Line

Jing Zhong Chu Dong Dong You Jing, Yin Di Bian Hua Shi Shen Qi
Stillness in movement, movement in stillness, adjust according to what the situation is.
靜中觸動動猶靜，因敵變化是神奇。
静中触动动犹静，因敌变化是神奇。
Cantonese: cheng chong chook doong doong yau cheng, yian tik phin fa si san kei
Cantonese (Yale): jing6 jung1 chuk1 dung6 dung6 yau4 jing6, yan1 dik6 bin3 fa3 si6 san1 gei4
Mandarin (Pinyin): jing4 zhong1 chu4 dong4 dong4 you2 jing4, yin1 di2 bian4 hua4 shi4 shen2 qi2

[YunXiang]

Fourth Line

Shi Shi Cun Xin Kui Yong Yi, De Lai Bu Jue Fei Gong Fu.
Every technique must be guided by will, combat efficiency will be achieved with ease.
勢勢存心揆用意，得來不覺費工夫。
势势存心揆用意，得来不觉费工夫。
Cantonese: sai sai chiun kwai yoong yi, tak lai but gau bei kung fu
Cantonese (Yale): sai3 sai3 chyun4 sam1 kwai4 yung6 yi3, dak1 lai4 bat1 gaau3 bei3 gung1 fu1
Mandarin (Pinyin): shi4 shi4 cun2 xin1 kui2 yong4 yi4, de2 lai2 bu4 jue2 fei4 gong1 fu1

[YunXiang]

Fifth Line

Ke Ke Liu Xin Zai Yao Jian, Fu Nei Song Jing Qi Teng Ran
All the time pay attention to your waist, the abdomen is charge with chi and might.
刻刻留心在腰間，腹內鬆靜氣騰然。
刻刻留心在腰间，腹内松静气腾然。
Cantonese: hak hak lau sam choi yiew kan, fook nap soong cheng hei thang yen
Cantonese (Yale): haak1 haak1 lau4 sam1 joi6 yiu1 gaan1, fuk1 naap6 sung1 jing6 hei3 tang4 yin4
Mandarin (Pinyin): ke4 ke4 liu2 xin1 zai4 yao1 jian1, fu4 nei4 song1 jing4 qi4 teng2 ran2

[YunXiang]

Sixth Line

Wei Lu Zhong Zheng Quan Ding, Man Shen Qing Li Ding Tou Xuan
The spine is straight and full of spirit, the whole body is relaxed with head upright.
尾閭中正神貫頂，滿身輕利頂頭懸。
尾闾中正神贯顶，满身轻利顶头悬。
Cantonese: mei lui choong cheng san koon deng, moon khuen heng deng tau yun
Cantonese (Yale): mei5 leui4 jung1 jeng3 san1 gun3 deng2, mun5 gyun1 heng1 lei6 deng2 tau4 yun4
Mandarin (Pinyin): wei3 lu2 zhong1 zheng4 shen2 quan4 ding3, man3 shen1 qing1 li4 ding3 tou2 xuan2

[YunXiang]

Seventh Line

Zi Xi Liu Xin Xiang Tui Qiu, Qu Shen Kai He Ting Zi You
Be attentive to details in every move, spontaneous let your movements be.
仔細留心向推求，屈伸開合聽自由。
仔细留心向推求，屈伸开合听自由。
Cantonese: zhai sai lau sam heong chui kau, wat san hoi kap teng tzi yau
Cantonese (Yale): jai2 sai3 lau4 sam1 heung3 cheui1 kau4, wat1 san1 hoi1 gap3 teng1 ji6 yau4
Mandarin (Pinyin): zi3 xi4 liu2 xin1 xiang4 tui1 qiu2, qu1 shen1 kai1 he2 ting1 zi4 you2

[YunXiang]

Eighth Line

Ru Men Yin Lu Xu Kou Shou, Gong Yong Wu Xi Fa Zi Xiu
A teacher's guidance is needed to enter the way, when accomplished, unrestricted the rules is he.
入門引路須口授，工用無息法自休。
入门引路须口授，工用无息法自休。
Cantonese: yiap moon yian lou sheui hau sau, kung yoong mou shik fatt tzi yau
Cantonese (Yale): yap6 mun4 yan5 lou6 seui1 hau2 sau6, gung1 yung6 mou4 sik1 faat3 ji6 yau1
Mandarin (Pinyin): ru4 men2 yin3 lu4 xu1 kou3 shou4, gong1 yong4 wu2 xi1 fa3 zi4 xiu1

[YunXiang]

Ninth Line

Ruo Yan Ti Yong He Wei Zhun, Yi Qi Jun Lai Gu Rou Chen
What is so difficult about the form? Mind and energy are the king.
若言體用何為準，意氣君來骨肉臣。
若言体用何为准，意气君来骨肉臣。
Cantonese: ye yin thai yoong hou wai cheun, yi hei gwan lai kwat yoke san
Cantonese (Yale): ye5 yin4 tai2 yung6 ho4 wai4 jeun2, yi3 hei3 gwan1 lai4 gwat1 yuk6 san4
Mandarin (Pinyin): ruo4 yan2 ti3 yong4 he2 wei4 zhun3, yi4 qi4 jun1 lai2 gu3 rou4 chen2

[YunXiang]

Tenth Line

Xiang Tui Yong Yi Zhong He Zai, Yi Shou Yan Nian Shi Lao Chun
What is the aim of Tai Chi Chuan practice? Health and vitality and eternal spring.
詳推用意終何在，益壽延年示老春。
详推用意终何在，益寿延年示老春。
Cantonese: cheong cheui yoong yi choong hou joi, yik sau yin lin si lou chiun
Cantonese (Yale): cheung4 cheui1 yung6 yi3 jung1 ho4 joi6, yik1 sau6 yin4 nin4 si6 lou5 cheun1
Mandarin (Pinyin): xiang2 tui1 yong4 yi4 zhong1 he2 zai4, yi4 shou4 yan2 nian2 shi4 lao3 chun1

[joko]

Thanks, Michael Sihing.

Especially, my edition is the Indonesian translation of 'The Complete Book of Taichichuan'. Which means the translation from the English has additional further loss from the original. Now that I see the English original translation by Sifu, I can understand deeper.

I am grateful and appreciate your effort.

Joko

[YunXiang]

Thank you, Joko, for your kind feedback. I've found that Sifu's translations of the classics to be the best and I'm grateful and impressed by his openness in sharing deep understanding.

By the way, I made a mistake in originally stating that this was the "Insight into Training the Thirteen Techniques" which Sifu has refered to in his April 2007 Q&A (part 2) webpage. The text I've shown here is "Song of Secrets for Training in the Thirteen Techniques" or, in short, "Song of Thirteen Techniques". I apologise for the confusion.

Many thanks,
Mike

[Ray]

Dear Sifu Michael,
Thank you so much for posting this in Chinese.

m(_ _)m

Thank you, thank you, thank you!