Tīng (听), or Listening, is the foundational skill of the entire interaction framework. It is not an auditory process but the development of tactile sensitivity—the ability of your entire body structure to act as a receiver for the opponent's intention and force.

If Sōng is your state of being, Tīng is the direct function of that state.

The Zero-Resistance Receiver

True listening requires absolute, non-discriminating receptivity. This means your body must become a zero-resistance receiver. Any internal tension, muscular bracing, or conscious anticipation of attack creates noise that masks the subtle signals from the opponent.

• The Sōng Pre-Requisite: This is why perfect Sōng (loosening/releasing) is non-negotiable. Only when you have eliminated your own internal tension can you fully register the external tension of the opponent. This relates directly to the concept of "Quietude and Zero-point"—a state of internal stillness essential for sensing external motion.

• The Tactile Sensor: Your primary sensory apparatus becomes the skin and connective tissue (fascia), not just your hands. The goal is to feel the subtle pressures and changes transmitted through the point of contact, without applying any counter-force yourself.

Tīng and the Tension Line

The objective of Tīng is to instantly locate and feel the opponent’s tension line.

The tension line is a sign of the opponent's intent and structural attachment to the ground. When a person intends to push, strike, or resist, a line of muscular tension immediately forms, running through their limb, their core, and most critically, anchoring to their base (usually their feet).

• The Crux: The moment you feel tension—the muscular hardness—you have located their line of force. The goal is to feel this line all the way to its structural anchor, identifying how they are connected to the ground and where their effort originates.

• The Trap: If you apply force during Tīng, you initiate a struggle. The master practitioner's job is simply to feel and wait until the opponent commits or generates tension, providing the data needed for the next step: Dǒng.

Tīng provides the raw data; it is the sensor that feeds information to the analytical mind. You must successfully receive the tension line before you can begin to interpret it.