Several leading taijiquan teachers have asserted that familiarizing oneself with Chinese cultural works is essential to deepening one’s taijiquan practice. Since we are starting the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, I will take this opportunity to share ways in which I broaden my cultural literacy.
Tao Te Ching/Dao De Jing
This classic work in the Taoist canon is a must-read for many reasons. I’ve read several different translations over the years and the concepts it contains are worth revisiting regularly. My favourite translation is the Tao Te Ching: Annotated and Explained by Derek Lin. The translations are both accessible and accurate, and the annotated notes are useful for expanding on concepts that might be unfamiliar to the typical English reader.
Art of War
This classic text from a period of intense warfare in China’s history is also a must-read for any aspiring martial artists. Many of the principles expounded by Sun Tzu on large-scale military conflicts were adapted over the years into smaller scale martial arts practice. I don’t have a clear favourite in translation here.
Chinese Duolingo
I’ve finally managed to get a good streak going in the Chinese course on Duolingo. I’m well-aware that language learning apps like Duolingo are unlikely to result in actual fluency but even a little bit of exploration into another language can be well worth it for greater cultural literacy.
Wuxia Films
Films such as “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” contain exciting looks at Chinese culture through an exaggerated and fantastical lens of martial artists. Obviously these films would be insufficient in themselves, but they are often adapted from folk legends and popular novels so do contain some value as a complement.
Taijiquan Books and Articles
Reading books and articles on taijiquan and other Chinese martial arts is useful for deepening one’s understanding of taijiquan theory but the best books also give insight into the history and philosophy of Chinese culture more broadly. Of particular note are the several compilations of the discontinued Journal of Asian Martial Arts published by Michael A. DeMarco, the titles from D&D Publications on Chen style taijiquan by David Gaffney and Davidine Sian-Voon Sim, and “Chen Style Taijiquan Collected Masterworks: The History of a Martial Art” by Mark Chen.
Taijiquan & Qigong
Of course, one of the most long-standing ways I continue to learn more about Chinese culture is through my continued practice of taijiquan and qigong. Embodied practices, rooted in Chinese history, philosophy, and culture, provide countless opportunities to learn more about those aspects in ways which words can struggle to describe. Books, music, movies, and language learning are all ways to deepen one’s appreciation and theoretical understanding of culture, but embodied practices like martial arts and dance contain a power to convey significance which I will never cease to find amazing.
The Dreamers' Corner 