Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 181

Section on Celestial Divination

Compilation of the Classic of the Hidden Stem Divination, Part 3

Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 181 Section on Celestial Divination Compilation of the Classic of the Hidden Stem Divination, Part 3

The Method of the Pace of Yu

Original: Yubu Fa. The "Pace of Yu" is a fundamental Taoist ritual dance. Legend says the Great Yu, the mythical tamer of floods, developed this dragging gait while laboring to save China. In esoteric practice, walking these patterns allows the practitioner to "tread the stars" and exert control over the spiritual world.

The first initial movement of a foot is not counted among the Nine StepsThe full ritual often involves a sequence of nine steps representing the Nine Stars of the Big Dipper.. However, they follow one another in succession. Each single pace is seven feet long, and three combined make twenty-one feet; thus, it is called "Seeing the Tracks." By performing the Pace of Yu, one successfully forms the Hexagram of Already FulfilledOriginal: Ji Ji. The 63rd hexagram of the I Ching (Book of Changes). It symbolizes a state where the balance of fire and water is perfect and an objective has been achieved..

Stand upright with the right foot in front and the left foot behind.

First, move the left foot forward. Next, move the right foot forward. Then, bring the left foot to meet the right foot so they are side-by-side. This constitutes one Pace of Yu.

Next, move the right foot forward again. Then, move the left and then the right, bringing them together. This constitutes two Paces of Yu.

Next, move the left foot forward again, then the right, and then bring the left and right feet together. This constitutes three Paces of Yu.

In all matters under heaven, it is appropriate to perform the Pace of Yu.