Tai Chi Postural Mechanics

For a long time, I’ve struggled to understand the meaning behind the Wan San Hei, that is the three external harmonies. Namely the wan san hei are ankle harmonizes with the wrist, the knees harmonize with elbows and the shoulders harmonize with the hips. Most of the the descriptions we have in the west also depend on the quality of the translations from the Chinese. I will attempt to break down my current understanding of this concept of body mechanics into steps that can be easily understood.

Classic metaphors

Analogies can be used, the analogy of threading pearls is mentioned in the tai chi classics, the pearls being the joints and the thread being the tendons and facia. There are other descriptors such as the seven bows or seven stars and 3 points. These are all body mechanics methods with a connected core.

Think in twos and threes

If you are familiar with singing you will understand the concept of a three-part harmony. There are three different singers, and each one adds a different layer to the song. If you take away one of the singers, the two that are left are still in harmony but the sound will not be as strong.Wan San Hei is a three-part harmony, that requires coordination between the three ranges, separating, uniting opening closing. The reason there is three parts is so that you can get leverage. At first it is easier to get a two part harmony.

Modern day metaphor

Shifu Victor Chao sometimes used the metaphor of magnets to describe the connection of the joints in the three harmonies. This analogy is more helpful to me than the older metaphors in the classics such as threading pearls etc.

Two magnets not aligned well align have a weak attraction connecting them. Move them closer into alignment and they unite with a snap. If the magnets are both positively charged  they will separate with a springing force similar to peng jin. This is the feeling of opening and closing. 

Think of the first harmony, shoulders harmonize with the hips which is especially pronounced in forms like single whip. When making the hook hand the shoulders should unite with the hip. If you try and do that while slouching your back the alignment will form a weak connection and will have no power.