|
 Taijiquan enthusiasts have used the Taijiquan Classics as a touchstone for almost two centuries -- yet much about them has remained mysterious and unexamined. The Taijiquan Classics: An Annotated Translation takes the reader on a journey through the colorful history of taijiquan (t'ai chi ch'uan), its personalities and controversies, as well as the Taijiquan Classics' authorship, dating, contents, and transmission. Author Barbara Davis offers a fresh translation and thorough annotation of the five core texts of the Yang Family Classics, with Chen Weiming's commentary from the 1920s (Chen's commentary appears here for the first time in English). Using these as a springboard, Davis explores the meaning of the Classics -- and how they can help people deepen their practice. Author and translator Barbara Davis holds a master's degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Minnesota. She is the editor of Taijiquan Journal and is director of Great River T'ai Chi Ch'uan in Minneapolis, Minnesota. |
|
 "The Taiji Sword form never fails to delight audiences. Its dramatic leaps and turns,
its shining blade sweeping through the air, and swirling red tassel capture the attention of young and old alike.
Taiji Sword, a subset of Taijiquan, is based on the principles of relaxation, yielding, and use of softness to
overcome force. Taijiquan practitioners cherish the Taiji Sword for its unique exploration of body-mind focus and
powerful lessons for Taijiquan practice." Chen Weiming's book Taiji Sword was published in 1928 and was one of the earliest books about taijiquan or taiji sword. Chen was a senior disciple of the famous Yang Chengfu and wrote several influential taijiquan books, including Questions and Answers on Taijiquan (published as T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen). This translation, Taiji Sword and Other Writings, details Yang's solo sword form, illustrating it with photos of Chen Weiming, and includes stories of the great Yang Family masters. |