By Cheng Man-ch’ing and Robert W. Smith,
this early, important book is recommended as a beginner’s text.
“The Essence of T’ai Chi Ch’uan; The Literary Tradition”
Translated by Benjamin Peng Jeng Lo, Martin Inn, Robert Amacker and Susan Foe,
this essential text of ancient wisdom must be read and reread.
“Cheng Tzu’s Thirteen Treatises on T’ai Chi Ch’uan”
Written by Cheng Man-ch’ing
and translated by Ben Lo and Martin Inn,
this advanced text must be studied patiently.
“T’ai Chi Ch’uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on Tai Chi Ch’uan”
Written by Chen Wei-Ming
(a Tai Chi classmate of Cheng Man-ch’ing)
and translated by Ben Lo and Robert W. Smith,
this valuable book features Chen’s questions
and the answers of his teacher, Yang Cheng-fu.
“Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods”
by Robert W. Smith
This book recounts Smith’s years in Taiwan (1959-1962)
and the many martial artists he met and with whom he studied.
Especially helpful are the chapters
on the Tai Chi teachers Cheng Man-ch’ing and Wang Yen-nien.
“Lao Tzu: My Words Are Very Easy To Understand: Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching”
by Cheng Man-ch’ing
Translated by Tam C. Gibbs,
this is Cheng’s interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.
“Cheng Man-ch’ing and T’ai Chi: Echoes in the Hall of Happiness”
This is a compilation of articles
that previously appeared in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts.
“Essential Anatomy: For Healing and Martial Arts”
by Marc Tedeschi
This provides a good introduction
to the Chinese energy system
along with many excellent illustrations.
“The Talent Code”
by Daniel Coyle
Patient, focused practice leads to ability, i.e., talent. Myelin is “the key to talking, reading, learning skills, being human”.
“Breath:
The New Science of a Lost Art”
by James Nestor
“Atomic Habits,
An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones”
by James Clear
Sage Principles; Discourses on Taiji Medicine
by Cheng Man-ch’ing
More Worthwhile Reading
“Metabolical,
The Lure and The Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition and Modern Medicine”
