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T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan
"This book, T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen, was written sixty years ago by Professor Ch'en Wei-ming, who was a famous exponent of the Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan and a student of the great master, Yang Cheng-fu. In 1927 he established the Chih Jou School in Shanghai where he taught many students. At that time he saw how popular T'ai Chi Ch'uan was becoming and he was concerned that if it became a fad it would lose its original spirit. In the process of its being spread, its principles would be forgotten or mixed with other forms, thus leading to the loss of an important part of its essence. Therefore, this book is based only on what Professor Ch'en heard in his teacher's classes. The questions are his own personal questions."
-Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo, from the Introduction
-Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo, from the Introduction
- GenresNonfictionMartial Arts
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 11, 2023
Nice and short introduction, contains at the end Liu I-Yu's 5 "Character secret" text (Calm, Agility, Breath, Internal Force, Spirit)
Quote from the conclusion :
- Q: There are many different schools of martial arts and they often criticize each other. If they don't test one another how do you decide which is best? A: Even by testing it is difficult to tell. If A, with three years of practice of one martial art, opposes B, with five years of practice of another martial art, and B prevails in the contest, it may be because of A's lower level of achieve-ment rather than his martial art. Age, physique, strength, intelligence, the school—all these ingredients go into eval-uating a contestant. Such a test may be valid after five or six years if the students are both at a high enough level and taught by famous teachers of different martial arts. Q: When Taichi is practiced it should be slow but when it is demonstrated it is so slow that it often bores onlookers. It is not "flashy" like external schools. How can it be made more interesting? A: The spirit of Taichi is gathered internally. Those who know this can appreciate it, but it is not good for demonstra-tions. Taichi is for the cultivation of one's self, not for ap-plause. But because Taichi is for health and longevity and we want to promote it, when we demonstrate we must not be too slow. The old-timers would do the form at different speeds and would use moving push-hands with turns and so on in order to interest and stimulate the audience. Q: If I aspire to mastery in Taichi how should I practice? A: Five things are necessary:
1 - You must believe in it, allowing no doubt to creep in;
2- Once you've selected a teacher, respect him and what he teaches;
3. Without perseverance, you can do nothing;
4. Be patient so that if five years doesn't work, use ten; if in ten years you don't succeed, use twenty years. If you are not brilliant, you may not quickly succeed, but if you have great patience, you will inevitably get it.
5. You must be humble. Even if you have some achievement don't be proud. Every martial art is unique. You must be humble in order to study and then you can know yourself and others. Do not let pride underwrite your failure.,
Q: Can you practice orthodox meditation and Taichi at the same time?
A: Doing them at the same time might be good for your health, but you also might err on the side of meditation and hurt yourself. If you want to do both but have no teacher, use Taichi principles always, keep erect sitting, your eyes closed, hands folded at your navel, your ears listening, and concentrate.
Q: When you practice Taichi are you in a trance?
A: Perhaps, but in orthodox meditation it is more difficult to concentrate the mind than in Taichi. When your inside is peacful and your breath cam everything and everyone outside is forgotten? It is so wonderful I can't describe it."
Quote from the conclusion :
- Q: There are many different schools of martial arts and they often criticize each other. If they don't test one another how do you decide which is best? A: Even by testing it is difficult to tell. If A, with three years of practice of one martial art, opposes B, with five years of practice of another martial art, and B prevails in the contest, it may be because of A's lower level of achieve-ment rather than his martial art. Age, physique, strength, intelligence, the school—all these ingredients go into eval-uating a contestant. Such a test may be valid after five or six years if the students are both at a high enough level and taught by famous teachers of different martial arts. Q: When Taichi is practiced it should be slow but when it is demonstrated it is so slow that it often bores onlookers. It is not "flashy" like external schools. How can it be made more interesting? A: The spirit of Taichi is gathered internally. Those who know this can appreciate it, but it is not good for demonstra-tions. Taichi is for the cultivation of one's self, not for ap-plause. But because Taichi is for health and longevity and we want to promote it, when we demonstrate we must not be too slow. The old-timers would do the form at different speeds and would use moving push-hands with turns and so on in order to interest and stimulate the audience. Q: If I aspire to mastery in Taichi how should I practice? A: Five things are necessary:
1 - You must believe in it, allowing no doubt to creep in;
2- Once you've selected a teacher, respect him and what he teaches;
3. Without perseverance, you can do nothing;
4. Be patient so that if five years doesn't work, use ten; if in ten years you don't succeed, use twenty years. If you are not brilliant, you may not quickly succeed, but if you have great patience, you will inevitably get it.
5. You must be humble. Even if you have some achievement don't be proud. Every martial art is unique. You must be humble in order to study and then you can know yourself and others. Do not let pride underwrite your failure.,
Q: Can you practice orthodox meditation and Taichi at the same time?
A: Doing them at the same time might be good for your health, but you also might err on the side of meditation and hurt yourself. If you want to do both but have no teacher, use Taichi principles always, keep erect sitting, your eyes closed, hands folded at your navel, your ears listening, and concentrate.
Q: When you practice Taichi are you in a trance?
A: Perhaps, but in orthodox meditation it is more difficult to concentrate the mind than in Taichi. When your inside is peacful and your breath cam everything and everyone outside is forgotten? It is so wonderful I can't describe it."
June 15, 2017
Interesting read and insightful from one of the earlier promoters of Yang Tai Chi.
November 21, 2016
Very interesting read. Getting to a "How To" on Tai Chi.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews