Intent
Intent. In a number of places the Classics talk about 'where' movement occurs first (translations: Barbara Davis): "first in the xin [heart-mind], then in the body" and "xin is the commander". (Wu Yuxiang, 'Exposition of Insights into the Thirteen Postures'.). "In all these cases, it is yi [intent], and not from externalities." ('Taijiquan jing'.) "Yi and qi are the lord, the bones and flesh are the subjects." ('Shisan shi ge'/'Thirteen Postures Song'.) This got me thinking about the process and the relationship between Xin (心, heart-mind) and Yi (意, Intention). Fortunately there's a fairly succinct explanation offered by Chen Yan-ling's (1943) 'Taiji Compiled: Boxing, Saber, Sword, Pole and Sparring' (Ch.5: On Intention and Energy): "As for intention, some say the intention is the same as mind and mind is the same as intention, but there is actually a slight distinction between mind a...