Tai Chi Touchstones: Yang Family Secret Transmissions (Paperback)

by Douglas Wile (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Sweet Ch'i Press; 8th edition (June 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 091205901X
• ISBN-13: 978-0912059013
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #199,156 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A scholarly compilation of early Yang oral and written works, April 27, 2002

By	"hythlodayr" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Though "secret transmissions" is somewhat of a misnomer, what the author presents is a collection of early published taiji material--mostly by Yang Cheng Fu, though there is one work
indirectly attributed to Yang Ban Hou.

These early works are not a step-by-step manual, but guides to the practicing student to help gain insight into what they're practicing. What any reader should immediately pick-up, however, is that these guides were written for someone learning how to fight.

Though much of the material is by (and thus, oriented towards) a Yang-stylist, the fundamental principles of taiji remain the same in all styles, so there is enough material that all taiji practitioners can benefit by. In fact, this book was recommended to me by a Chen-style practitioner.

The other part of this book, the author's foreword, gives the colorful (and sometimes conflicting) historical background and accounts of the Yang family, which is in of itself a fascinating read.

This book is definitely recommended for any serious taiji student.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, October 21, 1998

By A Customer

This book passes along much history and workings of the Tai Chi Style. As time goes on, these writings are be re-interpreted and the original translation or meanings are getting lost or clouded. It was good the see this book which commented and had explanations from the Yang Family founders and Masters

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!!! Highly recommend., October 20, 1998

By A Customer

I've searched through, and read, quite a number of books on tai chi. This compilation of translations is excellent. It is clear, and has the resonance of true classics.