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Product Description
A handbook of the classical Chinese literature on which the art of t'ai chi is based. First English translation of the classic texts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. This is required reading for practitioners of every style.
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In motion all parts of the body must be light nimble and strung together. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
In motion all parts of the body must be light nimble and strung together. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The collection of writings that comprise the Tai Chi Classics make it a book of wisdom, rather than of tuition. One can read and reread it and re-examine the nuances of the prose each time. It is analagous to Sun Tze's art of war, but is more to do with individual combat, the application and understanding of Tai Chi Ch'uan, in terms of the integration of mind, body and spirit. It contains texts from the legendary Chang San-feng (1279 - 1368 A.D.) right up until the modern day writings of Cheng Man Ching. It has formed the literary foundation of both Yang and Wu styles of the art, and a basis for the teaching of the art. I consider it essential reading for any serious student of Tai Chi Ch'uan.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book carries the subtitle 'The Literary Tradition'. This is explained in the Preface, (written by Susan Foe), as a reference to a more literal and exact process of translation, rather than an emphasis upon a more poetically inspired translation. Foe points out that certain expressive Chinese words are very difficult to translate into compact English words or phrases, and that instead of trying match an often meandering (and bewildering) plethora of meaning, instead, the translators offer the most direct way of understanding the Chinese terms in English. The result is an easily accessible translation of various T'ai Chi Chuan texts that convey a mixture of technical advise and profound wisdom.
The paperback (1979) edition contains exactly 100 pages and is separated a Preface, an Introduction, a Glossary and nine chapters, which represent the following texts:
1) T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ching - Chang San-feng.
2) T'ai Chi Ch'uan Lun - Wang Tsung-yueh.
3) Expositions of Insights into the Practice of the Thirteen Postures - Wu-Yu-hsiang.
4) Song of the Thirteen Postures - Unknown Author.
5) Song of Hand-Pushing - Unknown Author.
6) Five Character Secret - Li I-yu.
7) Essentials of the Practice of Form and Push-Hands - Li I-yu.
8) Yang's Ten Important Points - Yang Cheng-fu - Commentary by Chen Wei-Ming.
9) Song of Form and Function - Cheng Man-Ch'ing.
Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo writes the calligraphy featured in the book, and provides a very interesting Introduction which discusses a number of theories about the origination of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, including the traditional and the modern ideas. Lo, of the Universal T'ai Chi Ch'uan Association, has been assisted in this translation by Susan Foe, Robert Amacker and Martin Inn, all members of the Inner Research Institute School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The stark simplicity of this book makes it a very compelling read, and something of a martial arts classic. The translators have produced a very popular work that has been used by many as a philosophical supplement to their T'ai Chi Ch'uan practise. More than this, however, this book conveys in reliable English, a deep Chinese system of holistic thought, and is literally a breath of fresh air in a world where materialism is taken for granted. Superb.
The paperback (1979) edition contains exactly 100 pages and is separated a Preface, an Introduction, a Glossary and nine chapters, which represent the following texts:
1) T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ching - Chang San-feng.
2) T'ai Chi Ch'uan Lun - Wang Tsung-yueh.
3) Expositions of Insights into the Practice of the Thirteen Postures - Wu-Yu-hsiang.
4) Song of the Thirteen Postures - Unknown Author.
5) Song of Hand-Pushing - Unknown Author.
6) Five Character Secret - Li I-yu.
7) Essentials of the Practice of Form and Push-Hands - Li I-yu.
8) Yang's Ten Important Points - Yang Cheng-fu - Commentary by Chen Wei-Ming.
9) Song of Form and Function - Cheng Man-Ch'ing.
Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo writes the calligraphy featured in the book, and provides a very interesting Introduction which discusses a number of theories about the origination of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, including the traditional and the modern ideas. Lo, of the Universal T'ai Chi Ch'uan Association, has been assisted in this translation by Susan Foe, Robert Amacker and Martin Inn, all members of the Inner Research Institute School of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The stark simplicity of this book makes it a very compelling read, and something of a martial arts classic. The translators have produced a very popular work that has been used by many as a philosophical supplement to their T'ai Chi Ch'uan practise. More than this, however, this book conveys in reliable English, a deep Chinese system of holistic thought, and is literally a breath of fresh air in a world where materialism is taken for granted. Superb.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
17 reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
A rich, timeless treatise on the principles of tai chi chuan
23 Sep 1999
Format:Paperback
This book has become a bible for me as a practitioner of tai chi chuan and push-hands for the past twenty years. It is a collection of brief, often poetic classic writings from the tai chi masters. I read it at least twice a year, and I consider it a must-read for any advanced practitioners of the internal martial arts.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
A great introduction to tai chi theory
4 Jan 2002
Format:Paperback
This book is a new translation of a number of classical tai chi texts. The translations are clear, and the language flows well. The translators also included brief explications of difficult terms withing the text itself so as not to disrupt the flow of words. The presentation of the book is well done, with many illustrations and pages of calligraphy. While fairly short, this book is very nice introduction to the classic Chinese texts on tai chi.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Great for Wing Chun Practitioners Too
14 Mar 2005
Format:Paperback
I found that this book contains the best writings on Wing Chun available. It was recommended to me by my teacher's teacher. I know it's about Tai Chi concepts but the astute Wing Chun practitioner will benefit immensely from it. No it doesn't show any forms. It's not a "how to" book. It's a "learn deeper things about what you already know" book.
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