Book Review: The Taijiquan & Qi Gong Dictionary

Compiling a reference guide for any field is a challenging and lengthy task; for some, a labor of love. Angelika Fritz has studied the internal arts of Taijiquan and Qi Gong for over ten years, and shares her enthusiasm in this slim, quick handbook of terms.

Aside from names of prominent figures or book titles, most of the terms are accompanied by the Chinese translation. Language has a powerful on our perception of words and our worldview. Reading the postures, styles, disciplines, and Eastern medicine practices in their language of origin roots them in culture and context. The phrase Tai Chi alone has more than one translation; Taijiquan in the state sanctioned standard Pinyin; and T’ai Chi Ch’uan in the earlier Wade-Giles romanization of Mandarin.

Several categories of terms are included in this A to Z dictionary, highlighted in the following examples:

• Historical figures, practitioners, pioneers or dynasties
  • The “professor” and Master of the Five Excellences, Cheng Manching who brought the Yang form to the West a generation ago.
  • Indian monk and leader of Chen Buddhism, Da Mao (Bodhidarma).
• Postures
  • Some of my favorites – Lan Que Wei (grasp the sparrows tail), Bai He Liang Chi (white crane spreads wings) and Yun Shao (wave hands like clouds).
• Forms, styles, frames, practices
  • Chen, Yang and Wu family styles of Taijiquan.
  • Types of Qi Gong, including medical (Yi Liao), martial (Wu Shu) and spiritual (Jing Shen); Bagua and Ba Duan Jin forms.
• Books, documents, texts
  • Bao Shen Mi Yao (The Secret Important Document of Body Protection), Yi Jing (I Ching ancient book of changes), Tao Te Ching (philosophical text on ‘the way’, or Taoism).
• Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, breathing techniques and healing arts
  • Wu Xin (five elements), meridians, Liu Ze Jue (six healing sounds), Ni Wan Gong, Dian Xue massage, Feng Shui, Eight Guiding Principals.
• Philosophies
  • Bhuddism, Taoism, Naturalism, Confucianism.
• General internal arts glossary
  • Jin, Shen, Qi, Yin/Yang, Wushu, Dantians, Gongfu, Silk Reeling, The Three Powers, etc.

The Taiju & Qi Gong Dictionary is a handy reference for beginners to add to their library, or to pair with related histories, novels, diagrams, medical guides, documentaries, and classroom learning.

Author Angelika Fritz wears many hats: mother, consultant, teacher, student, blogger and publisher. Follow her articles at www.Qialance.com

You can find this dictionary of Taijiquan and Qigong here at Amazon.com. Click on the link below to see more about about this great book!