An explanation of ‘Peng’

Many books about Tai Chi Chuan (especially English ones) copy the definition of Peng from each other. The definition of Peng Jin used in these books is ‘Ward off’, ie to parry and avoid. This definition is incorrect.

Peng Jin means pumped up energy. An example of this ‘pumped up’ energy can be seen when hitting a ball with a bat. When the ball is filled with air, the bat will bounce back when it hits the ball. In other words, the bat will not force its way through the ball. Here is another example of how Peng Jin should be used during Tai Chi Chuan training. Imagine a glass bottle inside a basketball that is only half-filled with air. When the bat hits the ball, the bottle will smash. If the ball were completely filled with air, the bottle would not break.

Peng Jin is also known as ‘Tai Chi Jin’ or ‘Nei Gong’. Yet another example to illustrate Peng Jin: place a ball in water. Press the ball under the surface. You will feel Peng Jin as the ball pushes itself back up out of the water. The harder you press the ball, the harder the ball comes back out of the water. This also explains a Tai Chi Chuan saying: ‘with an experienced Tai Chi Chuan player, the harder you push the farther back you will fall’

Peng Jin is the first of many expressions of energy; so the importance of Peng Jin is evident. A player cannot claim to have taken the first steps through the door to Tai Chi Chuan until he has understood the importance of Peng Jin. If the principles of Peng Jin are followed, its importance is self-evident when practising forms, Tui Shou (push hands), and San Shou. When a player is experienced in using Peng Jin, he has reached a stage in his training which can be characterised by three sayings:

1) Ji lai ji ying, man lai man ying, which, translated, means ‘Whatever arrives quickly must be met quickly (act with speed); ‘whatever arrives slowly must be met slowly’. In other words, if an opponent throws a fast punch at you, you must react quickly. This also means that you can alter your energy without your opponent being aware of it, or if he is aware, it will be too late for him to react to it.

2) Si xu fai xu, you xu you shi. This means: ‘when you can alter your energy, you can make it ‘appear empty’ without it being so. It is both empty and full.

3) Ren bu zhi wo, wo du zhi ren. ‘He does not know me, but I know him’. In other words, ‘my opponent knows nothing about me, but I know everything about him’. This means that Peng is a type of energy that cannot be seen from the outside, but one must be attentive to others’ energy. Because of this saying that explains the principles of Peng Jin, it is said that Peng Jin is half concealed and half visible.

Peng Jin is extremely important in self-defense. When moving to left or right, backwards or forwards, one must not lose Peng Jin. If the upper body is too full of Peng Jin, this will result in what is known as top-heavy; light below. When breathing out, Peng energy is pushed outwards. When the opponent loses his balance, I use all the qi in my body to push him. I use all the qi in my body by combining my pre-birth and post-birth qi. If I try to use the upper part of my body to push him, I will not succeed. The same is true of the lower part of the body. These two kinds of qi must be combined if I am to succeed in pushing him. Before I use Peng energy to push my opponent, I visualise where I want to send the energy. This focussing of the intention is very important, because ‘intention leads the qi’. When the qi is pushed out it becomes Peng.

Tai Chi Chuan can be compared to the production of steel. In this process the metal is placed in a fire until all impurities have been burned away. Steel is strongest when it is pure. When Peng Jin is stronger, the inner organs are stronger. By creating spirals, or by turning with qi and Peng Jin, greater flexibility is achieved. When training Tai Chi Chuan, one can picture oneself as a bicycle. The wheel is made of steel; around the wheel is the tyre. Air has been pumped between them. This is Peng Jin. For this reason is is imperative that one is centred. If the body and mind are centred it is easy to be flexible and to turn with one’s partner (opponent’s) movements.

One cannot claim to understand the principles of Tai Chi Chuan  before having an understanding of the principles of Peng Jin, along with an understanding - in theory and practice - ­­ of hardness and softness of the interior and exterior parts of the body.