Chinese Language Martial Arts Books
TRADITIONAL Chinese Characters Page 13:
Bagua Zhang Books
Traditional Chinese |
| Lion Books |
Simplified Chinese |
| NOTE: Please be aware that we only have one or two copies of some of these. Many aren't even in print any more. Even if it is listed here it may already be out of stock (we'll try to keep it updated but they may go fast). | |
 A537 Bagua Rubbing Bagua linked Palms CompiledBy Zhang YuKai 340 Pages, Profusely illustrated, mostly with color photos $42.95 Traditional Chinese Characters Click image to see inside
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We are lucky to have a short excerpt from Joseph Crandall, published in his translated text on Yin Style Baguazhang, about the rather rare Cao branch. The majority of Crandall's book consists of illustrations and narration on the 64 form movements of Cao Zhong Sheng's branch of Yin style Ba Gua Zhang. This style consists of an eight section, 64 form routine. Along with the illustration and explanation of all of the 64 forms, the author also provides narration pertaining to the main application, or "chief functional method," of each of the 64 forms. We reprint Crandall's excerpt below with his permission. If you are interested in this English language translation on Bagua (or any of his English translations on BaguaZhang, click HERE. Cao Style Branch of Yin Style Ba Gua Zhang
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Various section Prefaces and forewords: Dai Shi-Zhe, Chen WeiShen, Chi ChaoHua, Hsu DingAn, Chen Ming-De, Huang ChinYin This is a beautifully designed book about Bagua Zhang and one of its most famous teachers, Liu Yun Chiao. Liu Sifu had the distinction of studying with top-notch teachers famous in styles such as Baji Quan, PiGua Zhang, Tang Lang Quan and others.
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The Chinese Bagua Ruyi Kung focuses on practicing the central meridian, unites body and mind, and combines movement and static. In the practice, it can quickly and unbiasedly achieve the potential functions of curing diseases, fitness, brain strengthening, fitness, and improving people's body. And spiritual qualities. This book introduces the movement, static and principles of Chinese Bagua Ruyi Gong in order, and appends answers to several questions for the reference of qigong circles and readers.
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Another branch of the ever-spreading style of Bagua Zhang is here represented. Liu Fengchun is a disciple of Dong Haichuan, the founder of Baguazhang. This book includes Liu Fengchun's Bagua Palm Basic Boxing Skills, Routines, Gongfa, Boxing Scores and Tricks, Health Preservation, Skills and Strategies, etc. Applications for this branch run more to pushing than striking, though that is also part of this art. Liu Feng Chun, a student of Cheng Ting Hua, and some traits bridge over. The Fa Jing is well concealed in small actions. The photos are good though each model was surrounded, I think, with a short “glow” wrapping his body, just an easy way of floating the images and no indication of special powers. Main form starts with Eight Big Palms. Good posture, better than most in my opinion. All of this shows how consistent Bagua has remained, even given over a hundred variations and “styles.” |
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A compendium of the rules and observations from the Liang branch of Ba Gua. Much of this information is presented in what some people call “poems” offering the essence of the style from the technical to the theoretical. Some sketchy drawings (of a character a little like an alien) showing different palm changes. Here for an English version of Liang’s writing.
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The famous and generally accepted “New” Bagua, from one of the major writers breaking into a more modern approach. Beautifully illustrated this rendition of the Eight Changes favors medium stances, and one of the best layouts and clearest illustrations of the breakdown, along with detailed postures. This is a Bagua to start your training. NOTE: We have a new edition in English and Chinese of this text. And some video renditions of the form.
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This may be one of the first Bagua swords developed. Sun Lu Tang was an acknowledged expert in Xing Yi and later added Bagua and Tai Chi to his accomplishments. The straight sword is a weapon dependent on footwork even to a higher degree than most weapons. The sword of Bagua is a “one step, one sword movement” form of training. The photographs certainly aren’t perfect, but they clearly show Sun Lu Tang’s postures and actions. His vision of Bagua sword emphasizes change over everything else. There is a good translation into English of Joseph Crandall’s very popular text of this form complete with Sun’s Bagua Palm. Here is a facsimile of the original published work, a hallmark in martial history.
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Two New Books on the Ma Gui branch of Bagua Zhang
Other than some good work by Andrea Falk, very few people are doing much to bring the work of Ma Gui onto the Bagua scene. Those who have tried the style have much praise, but it is still, unfortunately, relatively little known in the overall field. This book by Tu Xing Jian offers a big presentation of this branch. Topics covered are the Dragon Shaped Palm, which is the first form presented photographically in the book. Next comes coverage of the “remaining palmsn” including the Moon position, Yin Yang Fish, Lion, Single Hook and more, with some applications shown. The middle bulk of the book is Chinese text without pictures. However, the Linked Palms section contains good breakdowns, including partnered Push Hands-like actions with a few single training exercises. Following that are representative photographs on Bagua Saber and the Elk Horn Knives specific to this style. The MaGui style particularly emphasizes Bear energy, which is evident throughout and from the patterns taught in the book. Like Beng energy in the Yang Tai Chi, the Bear energy is basically everywhere in Ma Gui movements. A worthy entry and addition to the Bagua Zhang canon.
Having mentioned above that there are few books on the Ma Gui branch of Bagua, another one arrives! This, also by Tu Xing Jian, is a high quality production on heavy coated matte paper, so that the book is actually heavy for its size. Overall, this is a nicely done, expensive production. It does not duplicate the information of the other book and even promises to be volume 1 of a series. In this text, there is more concentration on the fundamentals and basics. The color photographs show instructor modeling for form, some pushing practice and, of course, many historical shots, some of them rare. If you don’t read much Chinese this book is text heavy, but if you are collecting or are particularly interested in this little-known Bagua style, the color photographs are not miserly and the book overall is a handsome presentation. The text relates to the photos, showing important exercises even from “up river” styles like Cheng Pai Bagua Zhang. Both of these texts, we believe, have historical importance for students immersed in a bit more advanced Bagua study.
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A surprisingly strong performance of a mixed set of Bagua by a national champion. This medium sized set is a solid compilation of many aspects of Bagua besides the Palm Changes. It also blends the Bagua Animals as well as some Old Palms positions. Additionally kicking methods are shown within the form and capturing the flavor of the style. A good performance set for about intermediate level and one that is clean enough that whichever style you might practice can be displayed here. Though often less than 100 pages, these books offer both simplified Chinese and English face to face. In addition, they include a VCD with the form in question demonstrated, often by top performers. The narration in both the Chinese and English are minimal leaving it pretty much up to you to figure out how to move but the photographys is quite clear and the English helpful. If you are interested in the form, it is a good price.
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Mr. Zhang, one of our most popular Bagua demonstrators, studied under the famous Li Zi Ming who himself studied under Liang Zhen Pu, practicing and promoting the Liang style of the Bagua Zhang. This makes Mr. Zhang the third generation inheritor of the Liang mantle. This book concentrates on tight, strong applications. There is not a lot of whirling around or trying to “sneak around” the opponent but Zhang’s structure is strong and clear. Almost every application ends as a throw even if some of the projectile appearance of his assistant’s body looks like there might be a little assist happening. Normally applications texts are relatively self-explanatory but, without some knowledge of power issuance, these rather unusual angles of counter attack might not be that easy to duplicate. |
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Here is exactly what is advertised, 64 self defense variations built on the Bagua of Wang Pei Sheng. This is a nicely done text. The photos are clear and in every case Wang Sifu shows the "form" version before applying it in fighting. This is handy because the fighting version is not always that similar to the form. Relatively direct applications but not stupid ones. An introductory section on philosophy and principles, a long end section on the names involved in all of Wang's Bagua. Wang learned his art from Gao Ke Xing, a student of Li De Kuan, who developed these 64 linear applications. |
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Bagua Continuous Changing Palm by Liu De Kuan, yes, Liu De Kuan. An early book on Bagua by a famous instructor. These illustrations are what we often call “charming” but in this case they approach the |
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The Way of Bagua - A523X NOTE:This one has been going fast! We also may have some hurts at a discount... This is a book from a grand student of the famous teacher, Cheng Ting Hua. Besides some good photos of the turns in this style there are interesting text sections of Li's teacher, Lu Xue Xi and grand teacher Cheng. (see translation below) Other features include: Pictures of Lu Xue Xi Photographs of Single Change Palm, Double Change Palm, Comfortable Change Palm, Turn Body Change Palm, Rotate Body Change Palm, Twirling Change Palm,Fist Spinning Palm, Spinning Change Palm Comments on Bagua Patterns Three Threads Palm, Millstone Palm Free forms: Even Holding Palm, Round Ball Palm, Holding Ball Palm, Holding Palm, Penetrate the Forest Palm, Horizontal Opening Palm, Driving Stake Palm, Double Flapping Palm, Searching Palm, Slanting Palm About Cheng Ting Hua Li Ren Ping also talks about Wushu's origins and Bagua's Dao 1.First get a master who understands the principles whether you start early or late.
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Bagua Linked Palms 八卦連環掌 - TC 810 Very little has to be said about this famous instructor, who is still respected at his grave site twice a year in Taiwan. This is a nicely reproduced text with pictures of Wang himself demonstrating the title form. A good addition to a martial library as Wang was very famous indeed and is still well known.
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Here
is a very famous book in the Ba Gua Zhang world. This is the
first text written on the "Swimming Body" Ba Gua.
It was produced by the well known instructor Wang Shu Jin. These
old photos show Wang himself .
Wang was considered by some to be one of the best fighters in
Asia. His BaGua was extremely powerful and is recorded by a
number of martial artists, Asian and Western. Here is an edition
of his book with photographs of Wang himself posing for the
postures.
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This book has been reprinted many times. It is one of the first ever published on the art of BaGua. What's unusual about this thin by very nicely done edition is that, unlike so many of the others, this one contains the original PHOTOGRAPHS not the line drawings taken from them. And what's even better is that some of the photos are not even bad. This text is by Wang Bai Nien student of Li Cun Yi, a famous second generation student of Dong Hai Chuan.
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WuDang Bagua Palm- TC 204 These are collector's items for all those who used to hang around the Chinese bookstores collecting little editions of Kung Fu books. Yuan created a number of books like this on BaGua which have gone through countless editions. His most notable attribute is a horse stance that looks like two trees growing out of the soil. The photos are old, sometimes barely distinguishable but these little books take you back to early in the 20th century and the first attempts to really establish a popular library for students.
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Lion Books of Taiwan |
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  Classic
Reprint: LBRP-C002BaGua Fist Authentic Teachings by Sun Hsi Kun $13.95, 149 pages. This is a wonderful early BaGua text by Mr. Sun a student of Cheng YouLong the son of Cheng Ting Hua. This book shows the 8 classic Palm changes, then has sections on Standing, two person work, BaGua knives, BaGua sword, BaGua Big Knife, BaGua FangTian and more. Photographed in front of a hypnotic spiral design this is a famous text from the very early days of BaGua publishing. |
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A522X Cheng Branch Gao Style Bagua Palm Master Liu Feng Cai was a direct student of Gao Yi Sheng. He did a wonderfully organic and non-commercial Bagua. This is compiled of students of that style and is one of the major books on the Gao Branch of the larger Cheng style Bagua. This oversized edition is mostly line illustrations of the Pre Heaven Eight Circling Palms and the Post Heaven 64 "linear" Palms for which the Gao style is known. There are discussions of the style, lineage, fundamentals, weapons (not illustrated), notes on the "animal" palms, internal training and famous personages in the Bagua history. A nicely down book with front photos in color.
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Classic
Reprint: C007X BaGua
Palm Concise Course This 1932 edition was reprinted in 2002. If you are a BaGua enthusiast, this is an essential text for your shelf, as it contains photographs of Yin Fu's son performing BaGua. Classic photographs illustrate positions from the Eight Palm Changes. Circular diagrams with red annotation show corresponding stepping patterns. Textual notes include many key points about footwork. A thinner than usual book for this price, but Lion went to great effort to add the complementary text and diagrams mentioned above. Just a classic.
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Lion
Books #B302 (Bagua Fighting) ( Break the wall) ShaoLin Po P'i. A famous text nicely reprinted. Though described in the title as "Shaolin Insights" this has for decades been considered one of the first illustrated manual of BaGua usage. The techniques here were reproduced in such well-known books as Li Ying-Arng's PaKua. A unique point: the explanation for each technique in its entirety is repeated completely at each step. Wonderful old fashioned illustrations and some rather trippy techniques... go to an English translation of this book
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#B304 Swimming
Body Continuous BaGua Palms A reprint of a 1936 text on BaGua. Eight changing palms are presented and then a number of secondary exercises with concentrations such as BaGua kicking and elbow work. Written by a student of Gao Yi Sheng the illustrations are primitive but delightful. This is an early text in BaGua history and one of the primary examples of the Gao influence ...
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Classic
Reprint: C028X True
Writings on the BaGua ChiMen Spear This is a wonderful early BaGua text by Mr. Sun a student of Cheng You-Long the son of Cheng Ting-Hua. The spear technique here is classic and well illustrated with these great old photographs. Originally published in 1930, this book shows solid technique. Movements with the staff correspond to aspects of the trigrams with actions of defense, attack, and sealing shown.
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Originally
published in February, 1937: Tian Jin. Ba Pan refers to "eight
flat things" like eight pans and thereby translates as 8 levels.
This lineage claims to come from another origin than Tung Hai Chuan
and is somewhat an item of controversy which has even created correspondence
with our friend, the esteemed martial historian, Professor Kang Ge Wu
of BeiJing. |
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f this branch, including short biographies of many of its past and current masters, including Ge Guo Liang, Zhang Zhi Bo, Wang Shu Sheng, and the Masters Dong Hai Chuan, Liu Feng Cai, and others. Vintage photos and original texts are reproduced, with footnotes added for explanation. 
The Post-Birth sections follows with several long linked series. These are all constructed to be lifted from the linked palms and performed in short sequences. 
C161 
Cao Zhong Sheng was from Cao Jia Village, Wu Cheng County, in Shandong Province. He was an apprentice in a jade store when he first came to Beijing at the age of 15. At that time he was weak and in poor health. To boost his strength he began studying martial arts with Fu Wen Yuan who also worked at the same store. Fu was a student of Ba Gua Zhang instructor 
s. In 1934, Cao led his students to participate in a martial arts fighting competition in Shandong and his student won the gold medal. In 1936, at the invitation of Tang Yu Lin ffi^M), the governor of Chahaier Province under the rule of the Guo Ming Dang, Cao went back to Beijing to teach Tang Yu Lin and his son. While in Beijing, he also accepted Zhang Ding Chen, Zhang Jin Chen, and Zhang Shu Tang as students.
A541 
TC437 
C091 
TC330 
TC637 
TC133 
TC322 
C087 
A528 
TC154 
SC534 
TC622 
TC732 
C128X 
Classic
Reprint: C034 
Whatever the exact lineage, this is one of the most flavorful
representations of BaGua you'll see. The twist are extreme and exciting.
The spirit of the BaGua a completely realized with tremendous monkey-like
actions. Just for the photographs, a treasure. Contents include: Explanation
of practice, Big BaGua, Ba Pan holds, Ba Pan Saber, Ba Pan Spear, practice
drills, four generations of Ba Pan. Special items mentioned are Monkey
and Chuan Lin (Forest Penetrating) movements. There are a number of
reasons for the "Ba Pan" designation which you will encounter
if you study BaGua long enough. One explanation is that the Ba Pan are
the parts of the body. Another is that the Pan are the essential 8 coiling
actions. Lineage: Ren Zhi Cheng learned from Li Zhen Qing who was supposedly
a co-student of Dong Hai Chuan under Dong Meng Lin.