Book Review: The Essence of T’ai Chi Ch’uan: The Literary Tradition
The Essence of T’ai Chi Ch’uan: The Literary Tradition
This is a must have book for anyone interested in Tai Chi. This book covers the Tai Chi Classics. The Tai Chi Classics are like the bible of Tai Chi practice. Everything you need is contained in these treatises.
They are not how to but instead share experience. As you refer back to these texts over the years your understanding of what they contain will change. This is because the texts speak from experience. Once you have the experience then you understand the meaning of the text. The texts function like signposts along the way of your Tai Chi journey.
My instructor recommended this text when I was just starting out. Over the years I keep referring back to my copy and keep gaining insights that help my Tai Chi practice. Recently there are many different translations of the Tai Chi Classics available. When I first started that just was not the case. Even though there were fewer translations when I started this particular translation of the Tai Chi Classics is one of my favorites for a number of reasons.
First the layout is very nice. The translations are broken up so that only a portion of text is on each page. I think this is important because it give the text the importance and the impact that it needs to be fully digested as you read. Each Classic is really very short but they contain a lot of meaning. If the text is presented as a solid paragraph it is hard to really contemplate the meaning of each line because our natural tendency while reading is to scan ahead for continuity. In this text the layout emphasizes the importance of each line.
Another aspect of this translation that is very nice is that it is a collaboration by people with experience with both Chinese and Tai Chi Chuan. This is very important.
The text contains:
- Tai Chi Chuan Ching by Chang San-Feng
- Tai Chi Chuan Lun by Wang Tsung-Yueh
- Exposition and Insights into the Practice of the Thirteen Posture by Wu Yu-Hsiang
- Song of the Thirteen Posture by Unknown Author
- Song of Hang-Pushing by Unknown Author
- Five Character Secret by Li I-Yu
- Essentials of the Practice of Form and Push-Hands by Li I-Yu
- Yang’s Ten Important Points by Yang Chen-Fu and commentary by Chen Wei-Ming
- Song of Form and Function by Chang Man-Ching
Although you should read as many translations of the Classics as possible to give yourself a more well rounded understanding, I believe that this translation is a must have for any Tai Chi student or practitioner.
It has remained one of my favorite over the years and has brought me great insight. I hope it does for you too.
You can get a copy of the book here.