I have a documentuary on the first emperor that is pretty good. In it, there is an English scholar of Taoism who claims that there are people in the Chinese government who are afraid of opening the tomb/pyramid. I think that the emperor is supposed to be angry at anyone who “disturbs his tomb” and would cause such terror and what not…something like that. Eh, I guess it makes sense for someone who ate jade and gold to say. Poor guy–maybe he would not have been such a ******* to the people had he avoided such a high-risk diet. But would Atkins have been better for him? I don’t see anyone trying to excavate the burial grounds of the late and EVIL Dr. Atkins…
I totally agree about the fingers. If I had a sword, the last thing I would be thinking is I should poke him in the eye.
My presenet hypothesis is that the jianzi is actually a throwback to mudras. It’s mysticism. Interestingly enough, I just read a paper that discussed the use of qi in the martial arts. Apparently there is no hard evidence of any historical documentation of qi being connected to empty-hand combat until the 16th/17th century. However, there IS mention of it connected with jian practice, and that goes back much earlier. I can’t remember when exactly, but I could look it up if you’re interested. Of course, jian has deep roots in Taoism, as does qigong, so there could be a significant connection. I haven’t been able to map it on to a mudra that makes any sense yet though. The closest is one finger - tarjani in Tibetan Buddhism - which is a warning or threat, pointed at an opponent. That makes sense in a way. I’ve been trying to find the earliest example of jianzi but haven’t been having too much luck so far.
Can you post some (or all if you do not mind) of the sources you use for your theory on tassels/sashes? I am particularly interested in the “sidebar” you mentioned above.
Which issue did you talk about this in? I hope I did not miss it recently.
My sifu was talking about this last week while we were doing a sword form. He also said that tassels can be used as a distraction and a weapon. Our practice swords have little wood balls embedded in the tassels. He said to imagine a heavier metal ball, and to think about how that might be used to both hit someone with and how it could be used for sword balance.
I think the heavier ball could be used to add power if you were trying swoosh somone in the eyes with the tassel ends maybe? Although I don’t know if that’s really feasible.
Also I was wondering, with the sword finger issue, aren’t you really supposed to be holding a scabard?
Originally posted by littlelaugh My sifu was talking about this last week while we were doing a sword form. He also said that tassels can be used as a distraction and a weapon. Our practice swords have little wood balls embedded in the tassels. He said to imagine a heavier metal ball, and to think about how that might be used to both hit someone with and how it could be used for sword balance.
Interesting. Could you say more about these–how heavy are they? How heavy would the metal balls be? To what degree have you found that you need to control them, and, using your estimation, how much would you need to compensate for metal ones?
I think the heavier ball could be used to add power if you were trying swoosh somone in the eyes with the tassel ends maybe? Although I don’t know if that’s really feasible.
This was my concern upon reading this. I have thought of this as well (I thought I was the only person fantasizing about this stuff), but I know that the extra weight at the end would have to be controlled in order to keep the strain from the sword (which might mean that a longer tassel would be needed to wrap around the other hand for control–I don’t know).
Also I was wondering, with the sword finger issue, aren’t you really supposed to be holding a scabard?
Well, you could be, but do not have to. The fingers could be striking implements on their own–not the focus of attack but an accessory for the person skilled in “finger skills.” Certainly, a scabbard is a nice alternative. It would explain why most antique dao and jian are without scabbards. I will try to post some art that depicts Koreans using sword and scabbard when fighting the Japanese from the invasion of Korea.
I was taught the following, (although many of you may disagree)
the tassel is a training tool. The sword is Yang, and the tassel is Yin. The power of the sword is generated by the Yin. During training, the RED colour of the tassel helps in focusing the intention. In a real fight, the tassel may or may not be there (real fights are ugly and chaotic and never ideal and you may not have all the right equipment at that moment!) but the power is generated the same way even if the tassel is not there.
The sword finger may be used for attacking, but it’s main purpose is for the triangulation. Next time you practice the sword, try to project the sword to a target, while at the same time projecting the sword finger on the other hand to the same target, and generating the striking power through the finger and not the sword (again, Yin vs Yang) and you will find you can generate this soft power that you desire for your Tai Chi training.
If anyone wishes to discuss the methods with me, send me a private message; as many may disagree and I’d just be clogging up forum message spaces.
I don’t really have much to expand upon because I am a newbie. But, IIRC, another student asked a similar question about the metal balls. My teacher responded that the metal ball wouldn’t be too heavy because you wouldn’t upset the balance of the sword.
I’ve only practiced with the wooden ones in the tassel on our swords. They are light. I never even noticed it until he pointed it out. I will ask further about it at my next class.
We do Yang style and I was looking at the Yang family website the other day. I noticed that the swords they sell have scabards. Do you know if this is true for other styles?
I would like to see the art that you’ve described.
Originally posted by GeneChing
[B]I totally agree about the fingers. If I had a sword, the last thing I would be thinking is I should poke him in the eye.
[/B]
This probably should be the case, as soon as you start thinking of your attack or defense, you then have too much intention and will not be as effective.
But, lets say you have just deflected/parried your opponent’s right arm to his left/your right with your sword? You have opened their right side to attack. If you have turned your body to the right to deflect/parry and are close enough, where might your left hand naturally come to? An ideal finger strike to the side of the throat if the deflection/parry is slightly down to your right. If the defletion /parry is upwards to the right then the armpit or underside of the upper arm may be open for a finger strike. It is there, why not take advantage to use a finger strike while your sword is parrying/deflecting?
Originally posted by littlelaugh I don’t really have much to expand upon because I am a newbie.
That does not matter. Don’t let that intimidate you into silence if you have something to say.
But, IIRC, another student asked a similar question about the metal balls. My teacher responded that the metal ball wouldn’t be too heavy because you wouldn’t upset the balance of the sword.
Really? Because the jian is balanced on its own, and adding metal balls to the end–adding weight to one end of the weapon–will throw the balance off. Specifically, how would the balance not be upset? Does the user do something to neutralize this? How heavy would the metal balls be?
We do Yang style and I was looking at the Yang family website the other day. I noticed that the swords they sell have scabards. Do you know if this is true for other styles?
Most swords sold today do have scabbards with them.