Xieyi・The Rootless Tree:24 Chapters-Chapter 4#487
The poems of “The Rootless Tree” express a fundamental force rooted in harmony with heaven and earth, the cyclical flow of yin and yang, and the infinite potential of existence。
This painting is an expressive “Xieyi” in the tradition of “futu” (spiritual diagrams), passed down for generations in Wudang Mountain, China. It is drawn through a technique where energy flow (xingqi) channels the internal intention into visual form。
In the Taoist world, there exist spiritual and symbolic images called “futu”。
These are a type of talisman—not merely religious items, but expressive spiritual paintings that act directly on the mind of the viewer。
Since ancient times, many people have placed these Taoist-style “Xieyi” and futu in their homes, studies, or bedrooms, wishing for longevity, health, auspiciousness, and family harmony. Viewing such paintings was not just aesthetic appreciation, but an act of inviting the presence of the Dao into one’s life and tuning the body and mind。
Thus, “Xieyi” is more than artistic expression—it is a medium that bridges the spirit, life, and harmony with the universe。
This kind of artwork is not meant to be seen only with the eyes, but felt with the heart。
It communicates with the Dao, resonates with the qi of nature, and quietly stirs the viewer’s inner self。
Futu and “Xieyi” continue to live on from ancient times to this day as “sacred images that speak to the soul.”
Below, we present the original text of the philosophical poem “The Rootless Tree,” along with a modern Japanese translation and interpretation。
※ The author of “The Rootless Tree,” Zhang Sanfeng (1247–?), is also renowned as the founder of Tai Chi, and it is said that he applied the essence of this work to Tai Chi. As an additional note, we include an interpretation connecting this to the Tai Chi tradition of Wudang Mountain.
The Rootless Tree・Chapter 4
▶Original Text
無根樹，花正孤，借問陰陽得類無？雌雞卵，難抱雛，背了陰陽造化爐。女子無夫爲怨女，男子無妻是曠夫。嘆迷徒，太摸糊，靜坐孤修氣轉枯。
▶Modern Translation
A solitary blossom now blooms on the rootless tree.
Can anything truly grow without the union of yin and yang?
A hen’s egg cannot hatch without the rooster.
Without honoring the law of duality, the cosmic cauldron does not stir.
A woman without a husband may harbor resentment,
A man without a wife, loneliness.
Oh seeker of the Way,
To sit alone ignoring yin and yang will only lead your qi to wither.
▶Interpretation
• All creation needs yin and yang—opposing yet complementary forces.
• Solitary cultivation has limits and risks becoming stagnant.
• The metaphor of gender symbolizes cosmic polarity—inner/outer, receptive/active.
▶Interpretation related to Tai Chi
• Tai Chi is rooted in the union of yin and yang: opening/closing, attack/defense.
• Training must include interaction—feel the partner’s flow.
• Qi must move—stagnation leads to depletion.
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