The Taijiquan Classics: An Annotated Translation (Paperback)

~ (Author), Chen Wei-Ming (Commentary) "Nineteenth-century China was in severe crisis..." (more)
Key Phrases: Zhang Sanfeng, Wang Zongyue, Taijiquan Classics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Along with Chinese art, medicine, and philosophy, taijiquan has left the confines of its original culture, and offers health, relaxation, and a method of self-defense to people around the globe. Using the early texts now known as the Taijiquan Classics which have served as a touchstone for t’ai chi practitioners for 150 years, this book explores the fundamental ideas and what they mean to practitioners, students, and scholars. It also incorporates newly discovered sources that address the history of taijiquan and newly translated commentaries by Chen Weiming.

About the Author

Barbara Davis is editor of the Taijiquan Journal and international quarterly. She has a master's degree in East Asian Studies, and is translator of Taiji Sword by Chen Weiming. Davis is director of Great River T'ai Chi Ch'uan in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; annotated edition edition (February 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556434316
• ISBN-13: 978-1556434310
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #478,853 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read - T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classics, March 16, 2004

By	"sjacobse15" (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

I think that this book is a must-read for anyone who loves taijiquan, or who is intrigued with China. It's a wonderful exploration of the T'ai Chi Ch'uan Classics. It has a wealth of detail and new discoveries about taiji history. Chen Weiming's comments to the Taijiquan Classics are incredibly valuable and the additional notes of the author gave me a whole new perspective. Barbara Davis, the author and translator, has done a great job of making this information accessible and an enjoyable read. The serious reader will want to dig into the plentiful footnotes and references, as well as the original text in Chinese in the back. I wish I'd had this book when I started studying twenty years ago!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too much personal touch, October 5, 2007

By	David Lenkovitzki "Tai Chi Chuan dude" (AR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While reading the book I noticed way too much of the author's take about TCC in what I would have liked to be a presentation source material.

And, I have large misgivings about this take, 2 examples follow.

Using such generics as 'energy' to correspond to specifics such as chi or jin is not acceptable.

Not differentiating between physical structures such as the yao and the chi organ ming men is another blunder.

I'll finish reading it, in time, I hope, but the original joy of reading a new book is gone for me.

David L.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific translation, February 26, 2006

By	Chris Rhoads (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great translation of a important foundational works of Taijiquan. Barbara does a great job of ensuring complete understanding of the underlying concepts.