What is Tongbei?

Translation by Josh Capitanio
Reprinted here with permission

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Just a short excerpt from the introduction to Xiu Jianchi's 修劍痴 Five Element Tongbeiquan Manual, explaining what is meant by the name "tongbei." Most of the essay is a repetitive play on the term "tong" 通 which means to penetrate, pass through, or connect.

通背者何也? 通即通達之意、貫通之法；背乃人之脊背，動作之則。本由背，背通肩，肩通肘，肘通腕，腕通手掌，手通指；肩背向下通腰，腰通胯，胯通膝，膝通足，足通步， 步通身，身通手，身通于眼，眼通心，心通神，神通意，意通膽，膽通氣，氣通血，血通筋，筋通力。力由背發，根在于足，始由足，貫于背，由背貫于指掌全体， 內外貫通一氣，法則放長擊遠，此之謂通背。



What is “tongbei?” “Tong” means to thoroughly pass through; it refers to the method of threading together. “Bei” is the back of the body; it is the basis of movement. The root begins at the back; the back is connected [tong] to the shoulder, the shoulder is connected to the elbow, the elbow is connected to the wrist, the wrist is connected to the palm, the palm is connected to the fingers. Downwards, the back is connected to the waist, the waist is connected to the hips, the hips are connected to the knees, the knees are connected to the feet, the feet are connected to the steps, the steps are connected to the [whole] body, the body is connected to the hands, the body is connected to the eyes, the eyes are connected to the heart, the heart is connected to the spirit [shen], the spirit is connected to the intent [yi], the intent is connected to courage [dan, gall], courage is connected to qi, qi is connected to blood, blood is connected to tendons, and the tendons are connected to one’s power. Power is emitted from the back, and rooted in the feet; it begins at the feet, passes through the back, and from the back is passed through to the fingers and the rest of the body. Inside and outside the body the unitary qi penetrates thoroughly. This method is to loosen and extend so as to strike at a distance; this is what is meant by “tongbei.”