Rootless_Tree_24Chapter#2・Enlarged image of the painting
Enlarged image of the poem below as Xieyi
Chapter 20
▶Original Text
無根樹，花正奇，月裏栽培片晌時。挐雲手，步雲梯，採取先天第一枝。飲酒帶花神氣爽，笑煞仙翁醉似泥。託心知，謹護持，惟恐爐中火候飛。
▶Modern Translation
The flower blooming on the rootless tree is mysterious—cultivated in a moment under the moonlight.
One reaches for the cloud and climbs its ladder, picking the first innate branch.
Drinking wine and adorned with blossoms, the spirit is refreshed, intoxicated like an immortal.
Entrust your heart, remain vigilant, and be cautious not to let the fire in the furnace scatter.
▶Interpretation
• “Reaching for the cloud” symbolizes mastery of the intangible.
• “First innate branch” represents the primary innate power one must recover.
• “Entrusting the heart” means surrendering to natural spontaneity and intuition.
▶Interpretation related to Tai Chi
This chapter illustrates the practitioner’s journey into intangible, cloud-like force—the invisible qi.
The caution to not scatter the furnace’s fire parallels the principle of avoiding overexertion or intentional tension in Tai Chi.
True cultivation leads back to “pre-heavenly” origin—Wuji, the source of all.
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