太极拳论
太极者，无极而生，动静之机，阴阳之母也。动之则分，静之则合。
Tai Chi is born out of infinity. It is the origin of the positive and the negative. When Tai Chi is in motion, the positive and the negative separate; when Tai Chi stops, the positive and negative integrate.
无过不及，随曲就伸。
When practicing Tai Chi, doing too much is the same as doing too little. When the body is in motion, it should follow the curve to extend the movements.
人刚我柔谓之“走”，我顺人背谓之“粘”。动急则急应，动缓则缓随。
If your opposite side is hard, change your own side to make it soft. This is called "following". If your opponent is moving and you adhere to him while following in the same direction, it is called "sticking". Then you are attached to your opponent when he moves faster, you as move faster; when he moves slower, you move slower, thereby matching his movement.
虽变化万端，而理为一贯。由着熟而渐悟懂劲，由懂劲而阶及神明。
Regardless of your opponent's actions, the principle of your response remains the same. Once this type of movement has become your own, you will understand internal power. After coming to an understanding of the internal power of movement, you can approach the theory of natural awareness.
然非用力日久，不能豁然贯通焉！
Natural awareness is developed through practice over a long period of time; you cannot reach a sudden understanding of natural awareness without proper practice for an extended length of time!
虚领顶劲，气沉丹田，不偏不倚，忽隐忽现。左重则左虚，右重则右杳。
When you practice Tai Chi, you should relax the neck and suspend the head, as if from a height above you. Internal power should sink to the lower part of the abdomen. Your posture should keep to the center. Do not lean in any direction. Your movements should be constantly changing from the substantial to the insubstantial. If your left side feels heavy, you should make your left side light. If your right side feels heavy, you should make your right side disappear.
仰之则弥高，俯之则弥深。进之则愈长，退之则愈促。
Make your opponent feel that when he looks upward, you are much taller, and when he looks downward, you are much lower. When he moves forward, he should feel that he canot reach you, and when he retreats, he should feel that he has nowhere to escape to.
一羽不能加，蝇虫不能落。人不知我，我独知人。英雄所向无敌，盖皆由此而及也！
Your body's sensitivity should be such that you are aware of the tiniest feather brushing against your skin. Even the mosquito finds no place to land on you without causing you to move. Then there will be no way for your opponent to detect or control you, but you will be aware of your opponent and control him.If you achieve this level of sensitivity, there is no force that will defeat you!
斯技旁门甚多，虽势有区别，概不外壮欺弱，慢让快耳！有力打无力，手慢让手快，是皆先天自然之能，非关学力而有为也！
There are thousands of methods and techniques in the martial arts. Regardless of the techniques and postures employed, most depend on physical condition (strong destroys weak) and speed (fast defeats slow), so that the weak must fall to the strong and the slow must lose to the fast. This, however, is dependent on physical ability and does not relate to the discipline that we now discuss!
察“四两拨千斤”之句，显非力胜；
Look into the technique of using four ounces of energy to control the force of a thousand pounds. Such techniques do not depend on brute force to overcome.
观耄耋能御众之形，快何能为？
Observe the ability of the old man who can successfully defend himself against many opponents at once. This proves that speed does not determine victory.
立如平准，活似车轮。
When you practice Tai Chi, you should stand with your posture balanced like a scale. When you move, your movements should revolve as effortlessly as the turning of a wheel.
偏沉则随，双重则滞。每见数年纯功，不能运化者，率皆自为人制，双重之病未悟耳！
Following the changing situation, you move as is necessary. If you are unable to respond in this way, you will become double-weighted. Often martial artists who have practiced for years still cannot move properly and so cannot follow the flow of their opponent's movement. This is essentially because they are hindered by their mistake of double-weightedness.
欲避此病，须知阴阳：粘即是走，走即是粘；阴不离阳，阳不离阴；阴阳相济，方为懂劲。懂劲后愈练愈精，默识揣摩，渐至从心所欲。
To avoid double-weightedness you should further understand that positive and negative must complement each other. Then you will understand the flow of internal power, and, having repeatedly practiced and refined your technique and explored your own awareness, you can use and control your internal power at will.
本是“舍己从人”，多误“舍近求远”。所谓“差之毫厘，谬之千里”，学者不可不详辨焉！是为论。
The Tai Chi principle is as simple as this: yield yourself and follow the external forces. Instead of doing this, most people ignore such obvious and simple principles and search for a more remote and impractical method. This is the so-called inches mistake, which, when allowed to develop, becomes the distance of thousands of miles.All disciples of Tai Chi should be aware of this and study diligently.
王宗岳
王宗岳，明朝万历人，内家拳名家。精通拳法、剑法、枪法，研究数十年，颇有心得。所著《太极拳谱》中之《太极拳论》，被视为太极拳经典理论。
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