SPECIAL EDITIONS
Lion Books prides itself on producing some of the finest reprint and special editions in the entire field of Kung Fu. Everything is done with a sense of design and special care. In some cases, such as the MOOK (Magazine/Book) series, these volumes bring together much information on a single topics such as the White Crane style Boxing along with beautiful photographs and more information on the single theme than has ever been assembled before. Definitely the kind of material for the serious collector!
A118 Liu Yun Chiao, Founder's Martial Studies
By Xu De Shun
From records and original notes Mr. Xu has created and compiled this collection of short writings on the teachings of Liu Yun Chiao. Do we need to say anything else? Short articles, NO illustrations, numerous topics such as Bagua, Baji, Qigong, Tai Chi and particular training methods and observations. Liu Yun Chiao left an inheritance of top quality Kung Fu and—almost rarer—many of his students have not only become teachers but original and significant thinkers, people who examine what they have learned and try to advance the art from there. A respectable inhertiance. This book, entirely in traditional Chinese, contains articles averaging just a few pages each. Oversized edition with clear type.
Special Issue "Mook": TWO IMPORTANT STYLES
MOOK#6 中州武術之萇家拳與猿仙通背拳
台灣武林 2008
by the Taiwan WuLin editorial department
This special magazine/book (mook) combines two historical and martial investigations of significant styles from the central plains (around Honan province). The first covered is of the scholar/kung fu expert named Chang Nai Zhou. Chang is certainly an important historical figure because he tried to simplify and unify the arts at a crucial time in the Qing Dynasty. He developed a 24 word/movement system which attempted to concentrate on the core of CMA. He also developed some special weapons such as Monkey Staff and Double Rods. His writings so much pre-date and resemble the famous Tai Chi Classics that many people are convinced that they were the inspiration for these much more famous works. Great pictures of his home area and family tombs. Also some photos and wonderful drawings of representative movements.
The other style treated in this special edition is said to have a history of over 1000 years and, citing historical references, this is probably true. Here we have the White Ape Tong Bei Boxing, a well respected branch of this large family of "Through-the-Back" boxers. Historical and martial photos are interspersed with drawings from philosophical texts showing the ancient Chinese thought behind the style. Though Tong Bei was thoroughly reconstructed in the 20th century it does indeed have a long and strong heritage. A small but very representative "Returning Fist" set is shown along with photos of important locations and masters and a lineage chart.
Special Issue "Mook #5 ":
New Research on Chinese Martial Arts
華中武學初探 台灣武林 2007
by the Taiwan WuLin editorial department
Publisher: YiWen (ancient writings no longer extant) , 2007/07
This special edition is really special. It brings together information on Jiang province styles of central China with new information and discussion. Prominent among the topics are two styles often referred to and rarely scrutinized with any depth: TaiZu and Yue Boxing both of which have lengthy histories and political/cultural/mythical echoes in the Chinese mind.
- Ming and Qing dynasty ZheJiang Wushu styles
- The Southern origins of Tai Zu (Great Founder) boxing
- Introduction to Yue Family Boxing
- The halcyon period of Yue style boxing
- Chen Bo Chun's orthodox method of Yue
- First exploration of Linked hand and lower limbs material
- China's Hakka influence on Taiwanese Yue Boxing
- Famous Yue teacher Luo Jin Fu
- Cloely guarded information, and more
Special Issue "Mook #4 ":
Chen Style Tai Chi comes to Taiwan 陳式太極拳
台灣武林
by the Taiwan WuLin editorial department
Publisher: YiWen (ancient writings no longer extant) , 2007
In the already frothy world of Taiji Chen style is somewhat controversial due to its popularity and, simultaneously, many diverse claims of historicity. Add to that the fact that, though it looks like a completely separate branch, Taiwanese Chen Tai Chi is quite formidable from the standpoint of lineage and purity (Du studied under Chen Fa Ke's father). This special edition focuses on the teacher Du Gong Yu Zi and his legacy in Taiwan. This is the same style we practice here at Plum and suggest that it is indeed an important part of the "story of Chen style". Besides rare photographs and information on the founders-besides Du himself-of Taiwanese Chen style there are sections on Chen weapons, especially the spear, with accompanying photos.
- Chen influences: the Shanxi and Henan Long Fist periods
- Long Fist's original 13 strikes
- Chen Tai Chi's 13 actions
- Biography of respected instructor Du Gong Yu Zi
- Evaluation of Du's skill and contribution
- A discussion of the Chen compared to the ZhaoBao influences
- and more
Special Issue "Mook #3 ":
Crane Arts
鶴法... 台灣武林 2006
by the Taiwan WuLin editorial department
Publisher: YiWen (ancient writings no longer extant) , 2006/12/06
Even more about the saga of what is emerging as one of the most studied of all Kung Fu styles: The White Crane Boxing. This adds much material to the research including an article on the relatively underexposed Ru White Crane. Top level practitioners of this art are few and far between. In the U.S.A. Y.C. Chiang was well known for his boxing demonstrations even into his eighties. Many pieces on the art in this special focused magazine/book: mook.
- Crane Boxing Manuevering Lin Xiao Xian
- "Shaking of the Slush" Body Art of the White Crane by Li Gang
- "Ru" Crane Boxing's 8 Essential Linked Stepping Arts: oral Transmission by Sifu's JunDe & AnCi
- A Paper investigating the Breathing Methods of Taiwan White Crane by Lai Zhong Kui
- Polarized Military Methods Quick Body Crane Arts －Ah Feng's transmission of the Shaking Body Method by Qiu Ling MIn
- White Crane's Five Element Theory Lu Chong Ming and Want Yu Ning
- Crane Helth Practices by Yang Hong Chen
- Crane: Art ad Boxing Liu Jin Yi
- Taiwanese Chinese Martial Arts Internal Boxing Methods Origins-"The Crane Mother" revealed:
Materials, Demon station, Guide Wang Jin Fa Liu Jin Yi
LBKMK01- Mook #1: The Yi Jin Jing
(volume #1 Principles)
Rarely has there been so much information on the famous Yi Jin Jing, the Muscle Change Classic, gathered between two covers: or, in this case, four covers. This very special edition from Lion is broken into two excellent volumes details first the principles and then the methods of this exercise which is claimed to be at the foundation of the Shaolin Temple style and many consequent forms of Chi training in the martial arts.
Volume 1: Searching for the YJJ by publisher Liu Kang Yi, PERFORMANCE: Confronting Ancient Knowledge—YJJ by He Jin Han; Martial Skill YJJ, Deciphering YJJ's true code by Li Xian Kang, Praying Mantis Style YJJ by Li Fei Lin and Liu Lian Yang, Song Mountain Shaolin Temple's Compilation of Exercises by Tang Hao, The Ancient Chinese Exercises developed by Bodhidharma by Tang Hao and more...
LBKMK02- Mook #2 : The Yi Jin Jing (vol. #2 Methods)
Rarely has there been so much information on the famous Yi Jin Jing, the Muscle Change Classic, gathered between two covers: or, in this case, four covers. This very special edition from Lion is broken into two excellent volumes details first the principles and then the methods of this exercise which is claimed to be at the foundation of the Shaolin Temple style and many consequent forms of Chi training in the martial arts.
Volume 2: Ancient Shaolin Tai Tzu YJJ Marrow Washing (Color demonstration) by Lin Jia Yue , An Illustrated Talk on the Significance of the YJJ (Color of old paintings); The Bearing of the YJJ Illustrated, a selection from the rare "Internal Work 13 Sections Illustrated" Bo Ding (Xian Ting), YJJ 24 Manners Illustrated (1917) by Wang Huai Qi ,Pre-Heaven Luo Han Boxing 18 Hands Illustrated fro the Inkwell Book Room, WenWu YJJ by Jin Yi Ming (famous early 20th century writer) and more...
Special Issue "Mook":
The White Crane Style
Here
is a great compendium of information of the famous CRANE BOXING of
Taiwan. Essential instructors: Lin Guo Zhong, Lin De Shun,
Ancient
writings on the art
Major comparison of Wing Chun Crane style
Lineage charts on Wing Chun/White Crane major teachers and student
all the way down to Bruce Lee.
Wing Chun White Crane's famous teacher Pan Shi Feng
Contemporary teachers Lai Ti Min, Wang Jin Fa, Zhu Shui Guan, Hong Zong Ji,
Chen Mingling, and of course Liu Jin Lung,
Diving Crane style with applications
A slew of photos and articles, more than we can say here
including research on the vital relationship of Crane to Karate ...
Special Collector's Set:The Authentic
Transmission of WHITE CRANE
SIX softbound books collected in a box,
This set of books, published by our associate, Lion Publishers, brings together historical WHITE CRANE KUNG FU manuals from the Qing dynasty. Not one of these has been issued in a modern edition and this series is a valuable collection for researchers and enthusiasts. The six volumes are almost entirely TEXT and have very few pictures. Commentary by two modern masters is added.
Cover detail
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Note: This is not a cheap set. But it is beautiful. The covers of these books are embossed (raised) and gorgeously colored and designed. The whole set comes boxed (which due to shipping MAY be dinged a little). The Chinese font is elegant and there are facsimiles of the original editions included in many cases. For someone doing scholarly, translational work or just for the enthusiast we recommend these. At a little more than $10.00 US per volume there's little reason to hesitate. We get shipments periodically from Lion, so if we don't have the series please be patient.
Authentic Methods of White Crane Boxing Passed Down From Generations
1. Yong chun Zheng Li-Shu's Teaching Text: no author, evidence indicates that this was written in the Qing dynasty. This manual has two parts: the first called Fist Methods taught at Bailian Temple. The second part shows treatments for internal and external injuries. This is not a simple translation and there is a good deal of vernacular in the Chinese. The numerous anatomical charts are quite quaint.
2. "Authentic Teaching Handed Down from The White Crane Immortal Teacher": Written in the Qing dynasty, Emperor Qian Long (1736-95) period. The author, was called Lin Dong. And he was a fifth generation inheritor. Of the entire set this manual contains the most information on the guiding principles of the four forms of Crane Boxing; i.e. Feeding Crane, Flying Crane, Perching Crane, Whooping Crane. Much of this material may be lucky to survive as some was destroyed in a fire and this comes from a hand copied edition. This material - with illustrations of figures - is probably the most "hands on " of the volumes with descriptions of evasive methods, strikes and other fundamental elements of the art.
3. Authentic Methods of White Crane Boxing: No author listed. This text appears to have been written before than the other manuals. This book emphasizes combat applications and features several line drawings
4. Major Points: Zheng Qiao, a 5th generation inheritor, is the author here. This text was written around 1795. Its literary style is more common and its attitude more practical. It summarizes Zheng Qiao's experiences teaching the White Crane Boxing system.
5. Taoyuan Boxing: Taoyuan is not a real place. It is a Utopian land of harmony that fits in a number of legends, particularly Taoist ones. The town of Yong Chun (not related to Wing Chun Style) was also known as "Taoyuan" a very long time ago. The Yong Chun area is very important in the history of White Crane Boxing. It has a section on opponents which discusses practical fighting situations. Xiao Bao Shi, its author, was a 5th generation disciple. The manual comes from the Qing dynasty, circa 1796.
6. "White Crane Boxing's Founder Fang Qi-Niang": Written sometime in late Qing dynasty this manual is not attributed to any author. This book discusses teaching methodology. It suggests that the "Three Battles" form be the first practice set. The Three Battles form acknowledged as the model for San Chin Kata; a very important element of many karate styles.
