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Posture 4. Play Guitar to Right

(1) [Continuing] from the previous movement, relax the waist and sit solidly on the right leg. Turn the body approximately 90 degrees to the right until facing west. At the same time, turn the left toes inward approximately 60 degrees. Also, drop both hands down in front of the right knee, and then separate [the hands] open to the left and right. The hands are at [shoulder] level height with the center of the hands facing forward. Look [towards the west] with the eye gaze level, as in Figure 8.

(2) [Continuing] from the previous movement, shift the body's weight to sit on the left leg. Adjust the right foot [by moving it] inward and [pointing it] straight to the west, ending in a center setting stance [zhōng dìng bù] . At the same time, close and embrace both arms up in front of the chest [i.e., as if wrapping one's arms around a tree]. Both hands end in standing palms with the center of the hands facing one another. The right index finger is directly across from the tip of the nose, and the center of the left hand is opposite the right elbow. Sink the Qi to the dan-tian, and then pass [the Qi] into the two palms. The body is upright in appearance and facing the west. Look at the right palm, as in Figure 9.

[Note: The phase 中定步 is translated in the Chen Panling Curruther's book (the red book) as "center equilibrium stance", although the characters really mean "center setting stance" (with setting being used as in "jello sets and becomes firm when refrigerated, but does not hardened"). On page 76 of this book ("The Complete Works of Chen Pan Ling's Chinese Martial Arts Teaching Teachings"), it states that "the center setting stance is also known as the 4-6 stance. Whether you are advancing or retreating, turning or shifting, you always start in center setting stance". I don't think that it is an exact 50-50 stance.]

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