Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9780866352017
ISBN number: 0866352015
Label: Koinonia Publications
Manufacturer: Koinonia Publications
Printing Date: 1981
Publishing house: Koinonia Publications
Sale Popularity Level: 4204548
Studio: Koinonia Publications
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
Volume 1 has 130 pages, Volume 2 has 102 pages
These two books belong together, indeed they are difficult to find apart or together! James I. Wong is a scholar of the Chinese martial arts, he has also written and co-written with students a number of other books on Monkey Style, Crane Kung Fu, and Northern Style. Despite the popularity of Chinese martial arts, it is STILL difficult to find a decent book on Chinese martial arts history! This series is a must for the dedicated historian. I'd also recommend another book called "The Spring and Autumn of Chinese Martial Arts" by Kang, Ge-wu for those with an interest in Chinese Martial Arts History.
These is not a single picture or technique in either of these books! They are completely in English, with oodles of single-spaced small faced type paragraphs. Each page has on average 500-638 words---PER PAGE. Compare THAT with most of the so-called martial arts history books out there today. All Chinese terms are listed in English and Chinese, each volume has a number of exhaustive appendixes giving the proper Chinese names with written characters for everything to gung fu style names, historical figures, techniques, medical terms, philosophical terms, herbs, etc.
I was impressed with the serious nature of this book. This is not a volume filled with "fluff" where some self-appointed guru tries to make himself sound impressive by using big words (usually incorrectly!). James Wong offers here a legitimate Academic work, an in-depth thesis. Very deep, very thorough, very interesting, extremely good! Most people would probably be happy to stick to instructionals or basic books, which is fine. These two books are definately more keyed to the die-hard history buff, hard-core martial arts "foamers" and info geeks.
~Rough~ overview of the contents, for brevity's sake, CMA=Chinese Martial Arts:
Volume 1
1: The Role of Taoism in Chinese Martial arts (cosmology, book of changes, interaction of themes, role of martial arts in China's early history, taoist efficacy in CMA, Taoism's influence on medicine in CMA, etc.)
2: Role of Cha'an (Zen) Buddhism in the CMA (7 subchapters)
3. Chinese Synthesis of Taoism & Cha'an Buddhism (...)
4: elements of CMA: Mind & Body in Unison (7 subsections: cursory view of CMA in literature, Elements of Shaolin Martial Arts system, A Plethora of Martial Styles in China: The Wai-Chia system, The Traditional Discipline and Regimine of CMA, A Cursory View of the soft, internal Nei Chia Chuan system of CMA, Theories of Chinese Martial Combat, Role of Weapons in CMA)
5: Internal (Nei Chia Chuan) CMA (4 subsections: Hsing-I Chuan & Pakua Chuan, History of internal Tai Chi System, Physiological effects of Tai Chi Chuan in practice, Psychological effects of Taiji in practice)
6: Confluence of Natural Taoism, Cha'an Buddhism, and CMA (influence of Cha'an upon martial spirit, analysis of Cha'an Buddhist influences upon theory of Martial Combat: Traditional Bases and a contemporary revision
7: Conclusion ....
Endnotes
Appendix 1-11, covers I-Chin Ching, Shih-Chia Canons, 18 Lohan & 8 Taist Hsien, Basic 37 tai chi movements, Treatises on Tai Chi, Tao Chia Cannons, List of Chinese volumes, Chinese Personages, Philosophical Terms, Martial Terms, Martial styles and forms.
Bibliography: English
Bibliography: Chinese
Volume 2
1. Confluence of Chinese Medicine& Martial Arts (Historical & Philosophical Basis in China, Role of Therapeutic Exercise in Chinese Medicine, Medical Opuses of Early China)
2. The Tao of Chinese Medicine (3 subsections)
3. The Regimine of Chinese Medicine with Martial Arts (3 subsections)
4. The Relationship Between Cha'an (Zen) Meditation and the Martial Arts (2 subsections)
5. The Confluence of the Chinese Martial Arts and Military Strategy
6. Conclusion: The Harmony and Unity of the Yin-Yang Interplay
Endnotes
Appendix 1-7 (I-Chia Canon, Tao Chia Canons, List of Chinese Volumes, List of Chinese Personages vol. 2, List of Chinese Medical Terms, List of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Philosophical Terms)
Bibliography English, Chinese
If you have or are building an extensive collection, this set is worth obtaining.
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