fighting and will gradually lead the taiji practitioner to an understanding of the techniques and the ability to use them in a real fight. Chapter 5 will discuss taiji fighting strategy, which is very different from that of most of the external martial styles. Chapter 6 will conclude with some guidelines to help the reader select a qualified instructor.
Throughout these two books are quotations from various Chinese sources. The author has chosen not to make the translations polished English, but rather to make them as accurate as possible. Wherever feasible the Chinese idioms, and even the Chinese sentence structures, have been used. It is hoped that this contributes enough in flavor and clarity to compensate for the distraction that this approach can cause.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (楊俊敏)
1987
Preface by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (Second Edition, 1996)
Since this book was first published in 1987, more than thirty thousand copies have been sold. That implies two important things. First, taijiquan has become more and more popular in the last ten years. When I came to the USA in 1974, the concept of qi was almost unknown, and very few people practiced taijiquan. Today taijiquan has become quite popular and is recognized as one of the most effective meditative exercises for relaxation, and for maintaining physical and mental health.
Second, the general understanding of taijiquan’s essence has reached a deeper level. More and more taiji practitioners have realized that taijiquan practice goes beyond the forms. They have discovered that the philosophy and theory behind the practice may take a lifetime to master. This is because taijiquan is the product of thousands of years of Chinese culture. Taijiquan was developed in Daoist monasteries where the goal of practice was spiritual enlightenment. Once a practitioner enters the deeper places in taijiquan, he or she will be amazed by the abundance of spiritual cultivation training. This book was written to help Western taijiquan practitioners enter these deep places.
Unfortunately, when this book was written, the Chinese romanization system called Pinyin was not yet popular; therefore, an older system was used. However, Pinyin is now widely used in the West in both scholastic and lay societies. YMAA is updating our romanization system, and taking the opportunity to correct some of the translations that may have misled past readers. For example, kao (one of the “four corners” of the eight basic taijiquan fighting techniques) should be translated as “bump” instead of “shoulder stroke.” In addition, new typesetting has been done to make this book easier to read. Finally, the glossary and translation of Chinese terms have been combined, and an index has been added.
Since this book was first published, I have written thirteen more books about qigong and Chinese martial arts. Among them, a few titles are highly recommended to those readers who are interested in learning more about Chinese taijiquan and qigong. These titles are as follows:
1 Tai Chi Chuan Martial Applications, 2nd ed. In fact, this book can be considered as a companion book for the one you are now reading. The book you are reading now presents theories and practicing principles. Tai Chi Chuan Martial Applications demonstrates how taijiquan can be used for martial arts.
2 The Root of Chinese Qigong. A clear, in-depth study of Chinese qigong practice. From this book, you can develop a clear understanding of your taijiquan and qigong practice.
3 Tai Chi Qigong, 2nd ed. This book was written to help interested taijiquan practitioners understand the inner side of taijiquan practice. From this book you will be able to grasp the essence of taiji qigong practice.
4 Tai Chi Chin Na, 2nd ed. Never before revealed to Western society, the grabbing and seizing techniques (i.e., chin na) of taijiquan are presented. This book is for those taiji practitioners who want to know more about the martial applications of taijiquan.
5 The Essence of Shaolin White Crane. Though the title of this book does not appear to be related to taijiquan, in fact, this book contains the most complete theory of Chinese martial qigong training—from the hard styles to the very soft styles, such as taijiquan. This book is highly recommended.
I hope this new edition brings you a better understanding of the essence of taijiquan. In order to promote this art to its highest level, we need all of the talented and experienced taiji masters to open their minds and share their knowledge through publications and instruction. Only then will this profound art continue to grow and be assured a bright future.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (楊俊敏)
July 22, 1996
Preface by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (Third Edition, 2015)
One of the best decisions I ever made in my life is to learn Taijiquan. It is one thing that has always brought me great happiness. I cannot deny how much health I have gained, how balanced my mind has become, and how deeply I have pondered life since I began training it at 16 years old. Taijiquan enabled me to not only live a healthy life, but also a calm and peaceful one. My life would have been so different otherwise. However, what I appreciate most about Taijiquan is that through teaching it, I was able to make many, many friends around the world and travel to so many countries. This has made my life so fulfilling and meaningful.
When I first wrote this book in 1985, Taijiquan was just becoming popular in the United States. Nowadays, Taijiquan is commonly seen and taught in many locations worldwide. After years of studies and research, Taijiquan is now gaining recognition as a viable means of curing and alleviating many health problems, including high blood pressure, stress, and loss of balance. Thirty years ago, I thought I knew a lot about Taijiquan theory. Through my own practice, research, and teaching several decades later, I now realize that I was wrong. The more I learned, the less I knew. I will never forget the words of my White Crane master, Cheng, Gin-Gsao (曾金灶): “The taller the bamboo grows, the lower it bows (竹高愈躬).” Staying humble and constantly emptying my cup was the only way I was able to continue learning more. I have updated some of the information and statements in this book to reflect my new understanding. However, the basic theory of Taijiquan that was originally presented still remains the same.
I always tell everybody to put a question mark on everything I say. What I teach in books, videos, and seminars is based on only my own personal understanding and interpretations at any given moment in time. Actually, we should all always put a question mark on what we hear, read, and see. Only then will we be able to find real truth and substance through careful thought and study. We should always embrace the opportunity to research, develop, and improve upon the teachings we receive. In this manner, we will be able to achieve a comprehensive understanding of what we learn.
Since publishing the first edition of this book, I have also published several other books and videos on Taijiquan and Qigong. Many of them are available in print and now also in digital formats, such as DVDs, e-books, apps, and downloadable video clips. I sincerely believe that the use of modern technology will significantly enhance and simplify the learning process. It will allow you to focus more on the content and less on the teaching medium. If you are interested in other titles, please visit www.ymaa.com for more information.
In previous editions, to avoid confusion between jing (精) (i.e., essence) and jing (勁) (i.e., martial power), I changed the spelling of jing (勁) to jin. However, because the Chinese language has become more commonplace and the use of Pinyin more widespread, I have decided to change this word back to its original spelling: jing. Please be aware of this change as you read the book. This edition now also includes more Chinese characters accompanying the Pinyin. I hope this new format allows you to better learn and understand the content of the text.
Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming
YMAA CA Retreat Center
November 9, 2014