TIt
is our belief that every one interested in the history of
Tai Chi Chuan, and really the history of Kung Fu in general,
should be familiar with the writings of Chang Nai Zhou.
It will not change significantly anyone's practice but it
will show a key point - one we often make along with other
instructor's - and one that may indeed change one's attitutdes
substantially. This key point is that Tai Chi, for instance,
is in no way divorced from the general history of the Chinese
Martial Arts. It is simply another branch of that history.
Change
Nai Zhou was a scholar who worked around 1750. He not only
practiced martial arts but left key writings on the subject.
In this book Mr. Wells, a highly educated and knowledgeable
writer, has translated Chang's work and added commentary.
Many of Chang's writings are so similar - and predate -
the Tai Chi Classics that there are those who believe Chang's
work may have been the forerunner for Tai Chi's acknowledged
Bible. Contained within this text we have:
Introduction:
Towards a martial philosophy
Chang's writings: Nourishing Central Energy
Chang's writings: Martial Defense
Boxing Laws
24 Word theoy
Rising and Springing Explained
Spear Laws
In
addition the original illustrations, charming and basic,
are reproduced along with pictures of living members of
the Chang family performing and some other correlative historical
works. Overall a major volume on a crucial part of Chinese
martial history. Marnix Wells has done a fine job. If he
had not, some other translation of this text would necessarily
be in our libraries. Chang's work is that important to grasping
the general schema of Wushu.
See
the movements of the actual Chang
Family style
