[Supple Push Hands Through Natural Action (自然而為的鬆柔推手)]

[Supple Push Hands Through Natural Action 

(自然而為的鬆柔推手)]

The Eight Methods of Tai Chi (太極八法) are natural phenomena that arise when the body’s various joints and connections are relaxed. This concept aligns with the "Wu Wei (無為)" philosophy of Laozi and Zhuangzi, emphasizing effortless action that arises naturally and unintentionally. Therefore, the application of supple techniques is characterized by independence, eternity, and unceasing movement (周行不殆).

Grandmaster Zheng Manqing (鄭曼青) once said:

"Tai Chi does not move first; to invest in loss is to gain an advantage."

This mirrors the principles in the Ten Essentials of Tai Chi (太極十要):

Sinking the shoulders (沉肩), dropping the elbows (墜肘), containing the chest (含胸), and lifting the back (拔背). On the surface, these seem like "Wu Wei" (無為)—effortless, useless, or even a loss—but in reality, they represent natural action (自然而為).

Through this process, they become pathways to "Wu Bu Wei" (無所不為)—achieving great utility and gaining advantage. The dynamics of loss and gain (吃虧與佔便宜), effortless action and boundless action (無為與無不為), and uselessness and great utility (無用與大用) cycle endlessly through the interplay of Yin and Yang (陰陽), forming a perpetual cycle of transformation and return.

太極八法是身體各環節放鬆後，所產生的自然現象，如同老莊的「無為」思考邏輯，是自然而為，是無心而為，故鬆柔招法的應用，是獨立永恆，周行不殆。

鄭曼青宗師言：「太極不動手、吃虧即是佔便宜」，如太極十要的沉肩墜肘、含胸拔背⋯，從表面上看似「無為」、「無用」、「吃虧」其實是自然而為，也是達到「無所不為」、「大用」及「佔便宜」的途徑。吃虧與佔便宜、無為與無不為、無用與大用，藉由陰陽之變，彼此循環往復。