Product Description

A longtime student of the taiji grand master Yang Cheng-Fu, Chen Wei-Ming became famous himself as a scholar, martial artist, and proponent of the Yang style of t'ai chi. In the 1920s, he wrote a number of influential books on taiji, among them Taiji Sword (1927), which detailed a rare method of fencing. Translated here for the first time, this book serves as both a historical document and a training manual for an increasingly popular sport.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129307 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-26
• Released on: 2000-06-26
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 100 pages

About the Author
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.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
"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. Taijiqua practitioners cherish the Taiji Sword for its unique exploration of body-mind focus and powerful lessons for Taijiquan practice."
-Translator's Introduction

Customer Reviews

Worthwhile to have

This is a very interesting book and very worthwhile to have if you are interested in Tai Chi Sword. Other reviewers have pointed out the limitation of detail in movement descriptions and grainy pictures. However, much more important is that it is a glimpse into the deeper moral and spiritual value that these great practioners held for the sword and how closely they were connected to the inner meanings of Taoist philosophy. It won't be a great resource for learning the form, but reading the words of these dedicated practioners from the past has a great and lasting value for anyone trying to gleen the meaning and value of Tai Chi Sword.

a charming history
I wish the pictures weren't so scratchy, but this is a facinating read for anyone studying Taichi sword.

Don't waste your money
I bought this book along with a video on T'ai Chi sword. I bought the book for some stories not for instruction. There are a few stories which were fun to read but there is no reason to own this book. The only redeeming quality of this book is the old time T'ai Chi pictures which are cool! But not worth spending any money on.