Thanks for the feedback. Here's a thought that has been lurking in the back of my head: The leaves on the sagging branches seem to be acting sort of like a parachute or sail--such that they now catch even the weaker gusts of wind. Conseuqently, the sagging branches seem to be getting tossed and turned more and more easily these days. At this point, do you think I can minimize further damage by trimming some of the leaves from the sagging branches? ...or, is that just a ridiculous idea, and are my branches NOT weakened? (Feel free to be brutally blunt with your feedback--I have pretty much zero experience with tree care.) Thanks again. P.S. One more question: If I do nothing, will my sagging branches eventually become erect/upright on their own again, or are they going to remain arcing downwards from now on?

i hear ya horster ... you are correct.. i have no experience in this particular tree .. he said he is willing to kill it .. all i am saying.. is play with it.. learn something new .. if it works.. whatever it is.. he learns something .. and then kills it.. lol ... if it doesnt work.. he learns something.. and then he kills it.. lol ... no need to simply chuck it in the burn pile.. w/o learning something ... i had a redbud.. that refused all attempts at structure... actually dad bought it for me.. for my first house ... and they also .... dont like to conform to the tree norm .. so he came over.. once a year.. and chopped it to a straight trunk ... and then kept coming back all summer.. and messing with it ... and i swear he chopped it to the ground 3 years running ... i really didnt care what he did with his tree.. as mom brought her bachelor son left over dinner, when they came over.. lol ... and eventually.. he got what he wanted out of it.. and i got fed 'mom's cookin' .... and we left a 20 foot beautifully formed redbud.. when i moved out 10 years later ... what did i know.. i though he was nuts.. but he was having fun.. learning ... ken ps: if you do cut to straight trunk.. the cut is not flat.. its at a 45 degree angle.. with.. if you can find one.. a bud within about a half inch of the top edge ... this sheds water.. and will allow for healing when the trunk grows to many more inches thick ...

but I know I don't want a big lollipop beginning at six feet! ...... what sort of shape will the tree develop into? ====>>>> what shape do you want?? ... set a goal.. and work towards it ... you told us what you dont want.. tell us what you do want ... here is how you look at them.. when they arent around: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Chinese+Pistache&t=ffcm&ia=images&iax=images your red marks are not in proper pruning places.. i presume that the marks are just to get your point across ... the tree will develop in tree time .... and pruning for the ages.. takes a long time ... you just have to have faith .. that if you remove what you dont like ... that the tree will evolve into a more natural shape.. that will please you.. and if it doesnt .... you keep guiding it ... do you know all about pruning.. and what a good pruning saw is.. etc??? ken

Cut off a few bottom branches. This will soon thereafter contribute more growth to the top as stored energy is redirected. Search out the main trunk. If other side branches start growing upward near the trunk, cut them back or off so you don't end up with the tree splitting into multiple trunks, unless you want multiple trunks.