Interview
Interview with Master Ming Wong C.Y. conducted by Gaetano Ruvolo
(page 2 of 3)
D.: The mythical history of Tai Ki Kung goes back to Chang Sam Fung as originator, but you say that it is more ancient.
Ming Wong: Chang Sam Fung created Tai Ki Kung by combining different forms, of very ancient origins, that were practiced by Taoist masters in the Mountains of China. One of these forms, named Siu Kao Tin ( Nine Little Heavens), we mentioned before, also refered to by the name of Kao Lun Kun ( "power or work of nine wheels") associates the relation of these nine wheels to nine little heavens ( i.e. the nine groups of joints in human body). To these forms Chang Sam Fung added Five Elements Forms in their earthly manifestations (such as clouds, mountains, animals) as well as more social forms : The "Mother Form" called Sab Sam Sae (" the thirteen base movements) and "Children Forms", called Kao Zi Lin Uan Kin ( "nine Sons constantly moving").
This system of movements in its original shape remained as the style we practice now, while over the centuries some mutations of these forms emerged, because some masters paid more attention to those aspects of practice that suited them more, instead of maintaining the richness and completeness of the original practice. Advancing from mountains to lowlands, Tai Ki Kung was gaining more social dimension, was developing its martial aspect. The specialization was directed into combat applications or more emphasis was put into dance or gimnastics aspects of the forms. Eventually, in the process of separating Tai Ki Kung into different styles, the overall vision of this art was lost, being the cost of developing only those aspects that would excite, interest, give immediate pleasure. The "Father Form, described as dull, is not practised in any other school, because it lacks the beauty that the Mother Form possesses or the combat aspect that the Children Form has.
D.: So Tai Ki Kung is part of more comprehensive teaching?
Ming Wong: Chang Sam Fung systematized movement forms, called Tai Ki Kung, in order to clearly show the movements of Yin and of Yang, specially in a way of movement that is both Yin and Yang. It is not easy to keep the balance in combination of Yin and Yang. For example some nutritional systems are based on static contrast between Yin and Yang, without consideration to its constant and natural (almost inborn) interchanging of one of this polarized forces into another. This line of reasoning leads to development of lists of activities that should be done and others that must not be done. Black and white, bad and good. The taoist world vision, created on the base of constant interpenetration and unceasing transformation between the forces of Yin and Yang, is more comprehensive and plainly combines all aspects of nature and life, unlimited by ideological and rigid clasification of their manifestations.
D.: Are there any rules and rituals specifying the way style Chang Sam Fung should be taught?
Ming Wong: There are rules and rituals that help the practitiones to follow the way proposed by Chang Sam Fung and other taoist alchemists.
D.: Does it mean some secret teachings? How is it passes on?
Ming Wong: As in other systems also in taoism there is more internal teaching, leading to deeper aspects of human nature, not met with widespread interest in the society. It is surrounded with aura of banality, sometimes disguising the "simplicity" of these, very deep teachings. Usually people want to gain pleasure and something palpable from their practice instantly and they are not happy with teaching systems in which, like in Tai Ki Kung, teacher repeats the same movements for ten long years and never explains anything, never tells what he is doing. And even when he does say something, it is obscure, symbolic and mystical.
One of my students, who lived in India many years ago, told me that once he met a little-known teacher of Yoga, who taught a small group of followers. (…). The young man from Milan asked the master for his tutoring and wanted to join the small group of his pupils. But the teacher talked little or kept silent, he only smiled and asked the young man whether he slept well and ate enough. After some time, the young man, growing more and more surprised with the behaviour of the teacher, asked other, more experienced students of this group for explanation (..). They xplained to him, laughingly, that it is very important for a human being to find harmony in very simple activities, but fundamental for life, such as eating and sleeping (..) In this regard Taoism resembles the original, devoid of routine, Zen, where the master stimulated student to be opened to the present moment, to life surrounding him. Similarly taoist master could demontrate the Tai Ki Kung movements in silence or travell with his followers like ordinary tourists, turning their attention occasionally to some landscape detail, explaining some architecture detail of a building they are visiting or a shrine, or asking his students about some nature fenomena such as a branch of a tree, animal movements or the structure of a seashell.
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