The T'ai Chi Boxing Chronicle: Lien-Ying, Kuo, Guttmann: 9781556431777: Amazon.com: Books (original) (raw)
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Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2019
When I first read this book 14 years ago, I asked my guang ping instructor what Kuo meant in various passages. Invariably I got an "I don't know" response. I continue to re-read "Tai Chi Boxing Chronicles" on an annual basis, and slowly more of the book becomes understandable.
What many of the other reviewers said about this book is true. It's not a how-to manual. There is not an attempt to explain many topics the book brings up (e.g. 72 energies of tai chi are only listed). I don't believe this is only derived from Chen family classics. Chapter 5 states this material was taken from the Li family. It appears to be Kuo's attempt to review the various tai chi classics and add commentary. Unfortunately, there are few if any references to sources and it is often difficult to distinguish between the actual classic or the commentary unless you are familiar with the original classic under discussion.
With these difficulties in mind, let's discuss a few of the positives.
As mentioned before, chapter 5 describes 9 levels of development according to the Li family. Level 3 discusses the 8 energies of tai chi, yet the bulk of the discussion is on peng. Kuo lists 12 steps to understanding peng/structure. I know there are different interpretations on what peng means in English, but Kuo's 12 steps address underlying structural alignments. This is worth the purchase price of the book, and one of the few sections that an intermediate practitioner can understand.
I use chapter 5 to gage what level my tai chi is at and what I need to work on next. For example, at level 2, he identifies 12 methods of silk reeling and associates a movement in the form that represents that method. My problem is that different people interpret the tai chi movements differently. I found a Guang Ping Silk Reeling instructional video at the Chinahand website. Hopefully, this methodology closely follows Kuo's intent.
As time goes by, I am understanding more. I do believe Kuo purposefully did not describe everything, because he was using it as a checklist under the tutelage of an experienced "master".
I may never completely understand this book, but it has added to my insight into how I practice tai chi.
2 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2009
If you are looking for a step-by-step form book, this is not for you. This is not intended for a beginner. The author assumes you are already familiar with the basics.
Contained in Guttman's text is the essense of the practice, the sensations you should feel during the movement, the weight distribution, etc. with heavy emphasis on peng-ching (uprooting.) While Kuo Lien-Ying is supposedly citing the Chen family chronicle, it is highly unlikely that any actual Chen document mentions Wudang, Zheng Sanfeng (who only began to be associated with martial arts in the Epitaph of Wang Cheng Nan as early as the 1600's,) or a Wang Zhongyue, so that part of the book I find highly dubious. Regardless, the information here is still very valuable for anyone practicing Taiji Quan, even outside the Quangping Yang style. The text covers the philosophy and the energies (forces) of Taijiquan, the foot movements and their intricacies, as well as the postures which they are implemented in, explaining each in painstaking detail.
In a market oversaturated with picture books, this one has special meaning as it attempts to explain the finer details in the movements, as a teacher would. Not an easy read, but you will not walk away empty-handed by any means.
8 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2012
This is a great read for the novice and, the experienced practitioner, I think. You can receive the health benefits of Tai Chi by going through the movements; but if your like me, understanding the original intent and inner workings - the theory - is the icing on any cake. Tai Chi classes didn't give me that. But this book rounds it all out. Understanding these principals and insights from the very beginning cannot help but improve your speed of learning, appreciation, and effectiveness as a practitioner of Tai Chi: health, spiritual, or martial.
3 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2002
This is really a good book.
Absolutely not for beginners.
It is very deep in the analysis of almost all the Tai Chi aspects as you can see in the Book Summary listed by other reviewers. It really gave you material to think and work on.
Anyway sometime there are terms not explained that could really mislead the meaning of the matter. That's the reason why only 4 stars. I really and strongly recommend this book to all the instructors and advanced practitioners whatever style they practice. This is a book that will forever give you Tai Chi insights each time you read it.
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2016
This is excellent background for the serious Tai Chi student, providing the conceptual underpinnings of this art and of its movements. This is not so much a "How To" manual as it is an explanation of "Why", the purpose and aim of the Forms' movements. There is a lot of good material here, constructed in such a way that one may go to it often and profitably sample a few pages.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016
Guang Ping Yang Tai chi. Must read if you do this style. Lots of excellent information.
Will be useful to me for many years.
One person found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars Obra Excelente
Reviewed in Brazil on July 24, 2023
Estou muito satisfeito com o produto e com o processo
5.0 out of 5 stars Tai Chi, WTF is going on?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2019
"Is the T'ai Chi method soft and without strength? Can The internal energy come out this way? From ancient times it has been asked whether T'ai Chi boxing has only this soft practice method, or are the teachers generally unwilling to teach the secrets? We need to study and research these questions. Don't hesitate to raise questions for all to discuss. From the beginning until now, one question continues to come up. Is the T'ai Chi boxing method completely soft? Or is it hard and soft?
According to Wang Chiao Yu, the famous teacher, there were two branches of T'ai Chi boxing. One was called Guang Ping and the other was called Pei Ching. Both are from the teachings of Yang Pan Hou. The Guang Ping school's most famous descendent was Ch'en Hsiu Feng . Ch'en Hsiu Feng served Pan Hou in the city of Pei Ching. He observed the Pei Ching school and the Guang Ping school. They are not in the least alike. He confidentially asked Pan Hou to differentiate between the schools. The Guang Ping school has hard and soft. Is the Pei Ching school completely soft?
Yang Pan Hou first smiled and said, "Among the Pei Ching school there are many honorable men, but they practice boxing out of curiosity and play. Compared to the Mongol the nature and constitution of the body is different. The Mongol is not a Han. Do you understand?" Ch'en Hsiu Feng gave his deepest regards for this talk and he didn't dare to ask more. In those days the Manchus ruled China. They oppressed and killed and took everything to its most bitter extreme. All were men of China. Who could not bear a grudge in the heart? But there were those clear-headed men who know how to make use of the Manchus. In those days the Yang family was employed in the service of the Ch'ing dynasty. They managed the practice and teaching of the war arts for the Manchus. Who could believe that the Yang family should teach compatriots to kill each other? But Pan Hou did not teach them everything -- only enough to learn T'ai Chi boxing's form. He did not teach them the T'ai Chi boxing method or Achievement. He taught them to be soft as cotton but not how to acquire the astounding skill, so that they would not kill each other. He put them in a passive mode and compelled the royal families to get absorbed in mysticism so they would endlessly pursue an mental achievement.
In those days, the Yang family did teach some villagers the Guang Ping style. Then during training they used the hard and soft method at the same time. Pan Hou trained their strength properly in accordance with T'ai Chi boxing's "Kung Hsin Chieh", which says: Extreme softness and afterwards extreme hardness. First to expand and then contract. This answered Ch'en Hsiu Feng's uncertainty. This helped him to search out the meaning. The Yang family said, "In Pei Ching there are many honourable men but they practice boxing out of curiosity and play. You can see that the royal families have bodies like golden cups and jade leaves. They have not tasted hardship! They practice with the intention of showing off their fashionable inner strength and that is all". Pan Hou also said: "Mongols are not Han, do you understand? The distinction between these men is very clear. One type of man learned the difficult way, properly. Can you distinguish?" So, the Pei Ching school is completely soft, and the Guang Ping school has hard and soft. The practice methods are different. We can believe and rely on Yang Pan Hou's explanations to Ch'en Hsiu Feng. The advice of Pei Ching's Wang Chiao Yu and Yang Pan Hou is recorded, because they were masters. Let them explain T'ai Chi boxing from their records. If you don't receive the real teaching of T'ai Chi boxing, then you can only get a strong body. You can practice boxing for ten or more years and in the end only be confused. You can assume that the real teaching is hard to get. If you practice in accordance with ordinary methods, you will cultivate a strong body, which is more than enough, but if you want to succeed in the real power of T'ai Chi and become perfect, then you must receive the real teaching. You must define this mysterious method; otherwise you will practice for years and in the end still be confused, because you couldn't practice out the real skill, your heart must look into a clear mirror. That way, in addition to T'ai Chi boxing's soft outer form you can completely understand the method. Now we will continue to discuss how to practice.
We already introduced Yang Pan Hou. Pan Hou and his brother Yang Chien Hou followed their father Yang Lu Chan and his boxing practice from early childhood. It was toilsome and difficult and they wanted to escape. They were tired and discouraged and thought about becoming Buddhist monks. The two of them just could not stand the pain and suffering of practice. In those days to practice was to endure hardship and to be determined. It was not just a soft boxing style.
Regarding the question of the hard and soft, Master Wang Chiao Yu once gave an explanation: "If you only desire to cultivate a healthy body then do a soft practice. It will give vitality and benefit the body and mind. If you want martial arts, on one hand you must know how to be soft to neutralize the enemy, and on the other hand you must know how to be hard to attack the enemy". Hard and soft must be combined to attain this function. If you want to attain this skill, then you must do a bitter practice, and receive instruction from a qualified teacher. Mr. Wang Chiao Yu and his teacher Yang Pan Hou, taught boxing in a way which was at first very bitter. But in the present day it is different. It is made easy. Ordinary men just can't stand the old way of learning. You must practice boxing like you want to succeed in getting the real skill and create a perfect body. If you only rely on the soft and don't use strength, like duckweed floating on water, the practice method is not going to succeed."
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2017
Clear something to read if on the research on tai chi quan
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, very interesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2004
Read it through and feel that I will leave it on the shelf and re-read it in a couple of years time. There is a lot to think about in this book. It's great in that is does not depend on a particular style. It is the sort of book that you will understand more each time you read it.