Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey
Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader.

Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture.
1111614961
Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey
Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader.

Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture.
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Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey

Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey

Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey

Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: A Historical Survey

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Overview

Secret training manuals, magic swords, and flying kung fu masters—these are staples of Chinese martial arts movies and novels, but only secret manuals have a basis in reality. Chinese martial arts masters of the past did indeed write such works, along with manuals for the general public. This collection introduces Western readers to the rich and diverse tradition of these influential texts, rarely available to the English-speaking reader.

Authors Brian Kennedy and Elizabeth Guo, who coauthor a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine, showcase illustrated manuals from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the Republican period. Aimed at fans, students, and practitioners, the book explains the principles, techniques, and forms of each system while also placing them in the wider cultural context of Chinese martial arts. Individual chapters cover the history of the manuals, Taiwanese martial arts, the lives and livelihoods of the masters, the Imperial military exams, the significance of the Shaolin Temple, and more. Featuring a wealth of rare photographs of great masters as well as original drawings depicting the intended forms of each discipline, this book offers a multifaceted portrait of Chinese martial arts and their place in Chinese culture.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781583941942
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Publication date: 01/08/2008
Edition description: Revised
Pages: 344
Product dimensions: 6.01(w) x 8.99(h) x 0.84(d)

About the Author

Brian L. Kennedy, an attorney, has practiced Chinese martial arts since 1976 and has recently begun studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His previous books, which appeared in Chinese, include Witness Examination Skills, the official reference for Taiwan’s prosecutors and trial judges, and Legal Ethics.

Elizabeth Nai-Jia Guo is a professional translator living in Taiwan. She is a practitioner of qi gong and hatha yoga. She has translated a wide range of books into Chinese including titles on church architecture, the history of science, and criminal law. Guo and Kennedy co-author a regular column for Classical Fighting Arts magazine.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgmentsxii
Prefacexiii
Part IBackground
1Introduction: Sources for Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals3
Romanization and Chinese names4
2The Chinese Martial Arts: An Overview7
Chinese Martial Arts Systems7
Martial Arts Culture: Old and New14
The Goals of Chinese Martial Arts16
How Chinese Martial Arts Are Practiced17
The Weird and the Wonderful26
3A Caveat about Chinese Martial Arts History34
4Chinese Martial Arts Historians38
Tang Hao38
Xu Zhen60
Matsuda Ryuchi61
Chou Chi Chun62
Ma Ming Da63
Kang Ge Wu64
5Westerners Researching Chinese Martial Arts History65
6Shaolin Temple, Wudang Mountain, and Other Storied Places69
Stories, Storybooks, and Public Images74
7Chinese Martial Arts Classification Schemes: Internal and External, Northern and Southern, Shaolin and Wudang78
Internal versus External78
Northern versus Southern80
Shaolin versus Wudang83
Religion, Morality, and Martial Arts84
8Imperial Military Examinations88
Government Appointments92
9Professor Kang Ge Wu's Top Twelve Chinese Martial Arts Classics94
10The History of Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals96
Legendary Period96
Early Woodblock Period99
Hand Copies Period101
Republican Period102
Modern Period113
11Authorship, Various Editions, Content of Training Manuals, and the Audience115
The Problem of Authorship115
Different Editions118
Content of the Manuals119
Training Manuals as Fine Art120
The Audience121
12Liu Kang Yi: Keeping the Traditions Alive (or at least in print)123
13Boxing Manuals in Translation: Problems and Perils128
Good Chinese Essay = Bad English Essay128
The Perfect Team130
Overly Great Expectations131
14How Did Chinese Martial Artists Make a Living?133
15Taiwan Martial Arts History148
Taiwan's Importance148
The Qing Dynasty149
Koxinga, Ming Soldiers, and Fraternal Organizations150
Martial Arts of Qing-Era Taiwan152
Militias and Martial Arts155
The Sung Chiang Battle Array159
The Japanese Era in Taiwan161
The Righteous Thief163
Politics and Martial Arts166
Important Modern Figures168
Part IIThe Books
A Note on Sources175
General Qi Ji Guang (1528-1587)176
New Book on Effective Military Techniques
Sun Lu Tang (1861-1933)182
The Study of Xingyi Boxing
The Study of Bagua Boxing
The Study of Taiji Boxing
The True Essence of Boxing
The Study of Bagua Sword
Jiang Rong Qiao (1891-1974)188
Xingyi Mother Fists
Mizongquan and numerous others
Xie Dien, Gao Zhi Jen, Chiang Xin Shan (editors)198
Xingyi Training Materials
Shaolin monk Xuan Ji (original author) Zhang Ming E and Zhang Kong Zhao (editors and compilers), Cao Huan Dou (editor, author, illustrator)204
Fist Classic; Fist Method
Wu Shu (1611-1695)209
Record of Arms
Chang Nai Zhou (1728-1783)212
The Book of Chang Style Martial Techniques
Chen Zi Ming (died 1951)214
Chen Family Taijiquan Passed Through Generations
Zhu Xia Tian218
Quan Sheng (Boxing Book)
Huang Yuan Xiou (editor) Li Jing Lin (teacher who provided source material)222
The Main Points of Wudang Sword
Wan Lai Sheng (1903-1995)226
The Common Basis of Martial Arts
Huang Bo Nien (1880-1954)232
Xingyi Fist and Weapons Instruction
Dragon Body Bagua
Huang Wen Shu237
The Essence of Yang Style Taijiquan
Miscellaneous Talks on Martial Arts
Jin Ing Zhong (1904-?)239
Shaolin 72 Arts Practice Method
Xu Yu Xin246
Fist Methods Study Textbook
Tong Zhong Yi (1878-1963)248
Chinese Wrestling
Li Cun Yi (1847-1921) Dong Xiu Sheng (1882-1939)254
Yue Fei's Intent Boxing
Yin Yu Zhang (1890-1950)257
A Brief Book of Baguazhang
Slashing Saber Practice
Huang Bao Ting261
Shun Hand Boxing
Yang Kui Yuan264
Complete Book of Guoshu
Sun Xi Kun (1883-1952)270
The Real Teaching of Bagua Quan
Ren Zhi Cheng Gao Zhi Kai273
Study of Yin-Yang Eight Coiling Palms
Lam Sai Wing (1861-1942)275
Taming the Tiger Fist
Tiger and Crane Fist
Iron Thread Form
Chen Wei Ming277
Taijiquan
Taiji Sword
Taijiquan Questions and Answers
Shanghai City Police Training Center282
Rope Techniques for Arrest
Tang Ji Ren (editor, compiler)285
Tang Family External Big Hong Fist
Jin Yi Ming288
The Basics of Boxing
Li Xian Wu291
Taijiquan
Xu Yi Qian293
Chuan Na Quan
Yan De Hua296
Wall-Breaking Shaolin (also known as Bagua Palm Methods)
Liu Jin Sheng Zhao Jiang298
Chin Na Methods
Wang Xian Bin301
A Detailed Explanation of Intent Qi Gong
Chen Ting Rui (translator and commentator)304
Western Boxing
Epilogue306
Glossary307
Index311
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