Xing
Yi translations
We are pleased to see a marked increase in
the number (and often quality) of translations from the Chinese
in the field of Ba Gua and Xing Yi. Here are a number of such
works excluding those by Joseph Crandall which are collected
on separate pages. We have attempted to keep your posted to
those translation for which we sell the original Chinese texts.
Some times you may want one of each, for their illustrations,
historical or collector's interest, or just for those little
extras that translators leave out.
We
have long supported and welcomed more and better translations.
There is a problem, however, in substituting the written word
for the experience. Though this is obvious in an art such
as ours bibliophilia attacks even the best translators who
are conviced that this or that translation gives the "essence
" of a particular art. Poppycock. Even in the case of
the Tai Chi classics this is not the truth. Often these translations,
even of the highly respected Sun Lu Tang, are, basically,
useless to those without and expience and tautological to
those with it. There are no secrets in these books, just admonitions
and reasons to continue practice.
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#EXY97 The
Science of Internal Strength
by Zhang
Nai Qi,
Translated by Marcus Brinkman
72 pages, US
$ 24.95
This
is a translation of a book originally published in 1933. It
is a thin but very interesting volume: essentially an essay
on the practice of internal arts. Most books in the martial
field are instructional but there are a few such as Adam Hsu's
and Daniel Furuya's which are reflective, based on an self-awareness
of the nature of practice. This book is one of the best we've
seen attempting to explain the rationale of standing practice,
relaxation, internal studies etc. It originally garnered some
ire from that other outspoken group, the Yi Quan members. But
many of the ideas have been adopted since its initial publication.
Still, there is much fresh and honest material here.
Excerpt:
"In fact, the so called dantian is neither a point of concentration
or a point of tension. Disciples of the Tung Shan sect, while
in sitting meditation concentrate upon the area between the
eyes, therefore their dantian is between the eyes. For others
who practice cultivating qi and internal
strength boxers who concentrate upon the tension of the abdomen,
it is therefore located below the navel...." |
 #EXY98 Xing
Yi Boxing Studies
by Sun
Lu Tang, Translated by Albert Liu
Compiled and Edited by Dan Miller
310 pages, US
$ 19.95
former
cover |
Sun
Lu Tang's treatise on
Xing Yi Boxing was published in 1915. His first book it is said
to be the first text published publically in China to integrate
the theories of martial arts with Chinese philosophy and Taoist
Ch'i cultivation. This started the designation of martial arts
into the so-called "internal" schools which some have
applauded and some deeply regretted. Nonetheless this is a true
classic. This translation has detailed instructions on the Five
Mother Fists and the Twelve Animal motions along with a linking
set. Mr. Miller has done a service to English speaking students
of Xing Yi by producing this work. Included are a detailed biography
of Sun and an interview with his daugher Sun Jian Yun.
The
collector's Chinese language reprint. |
#EXY95 The
Xing Yi Boxing manual
Hebei
Style Five Principles and Seven Words
Edited by Jin Yun Ting: Translated by John Groschwitz
68 pages, US $
16.95
Order
"Written
in the 1920's, published in 1931, and now available for the
first time in English, {this book} clearly explains the concepts
and images behind the five elements of XingYi. Compiled by Jun
Yun Ting, student of Shang Yun Xiang and Sun Lu Tang and a grand-student
of Li Cun Yi, the true boxing classic provides a wealth of information
for practically every practitioner including:
Images of each posture • Songs and images of the five elements
• the guidelines for practice contained in Xing Yi's "Seven
Words" • Essential points of the Six Harmonies and
the extremities • Historical notes and biographies..."
A
decent translation and introduction with many textural notes
on the art of Xing Yi. If you are familiar with much translated
so far the "head erect" and "six harmonies"
explanations are pretty redundant. On the other hand no one
translates a book because they feel it's unimportant. The many
introductions, though, make this an essential to a well rounded
Xing Yi library. Also the inclusion of the original Chinese
is a plus. Groschwitz's translation is good. We just want people
to understand that much of the writings in Kung Fu from the
Qing are not really as important as they are made out to be.
This is the shift from experiential to academic. A good tendency
only if well tempered.
See
this in the collector's Chinese reprint series. |
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