Articles: History and Philosophy

Ancient Chinese Weapons

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, August 30, 2010

A country as vast as China encompasses many types of terrain. Whereas deserts and high plateaus cover the northern territory, mountain ranges dominate the west. The southeast coast and central zones, favored by the Chinese for thousands of years, are lush and warm with many lakes, ponds and rivers. More >>

2010, The Year of the Tiger - Happy Chinese New Year!

YMAA (author), February 8, 2010

The Chinese year 4708 begins on February 14, 2010, the year of the Tiger, with its association to bravery. This year, the date has special significance since it also happens to fall on Valentine's Day, making it a doubly auspicious day to celebrate in the West. More >>

Zou Xuan Yun in Mabu

The Dao of Kung Fu - 武道

Zhou Xuan Yun, October 15, 2009

Religion is full of paradox, and Eastern religions are no exception. One of the most compelling paradoxes is that Eastern religions (Buddhism and Daoism) are closely linked with the martial arts. More >>

Xuan Yun

Growing Up Wudang, part 2

Zhou Xuan Yun, December 17, 2008

It wasn’t until my third year at Wudang that I started to find the training interesting, and started to train harder because I was genuinely interested in it. More >>

Zhou Xuan Yun

Growing Up Wudang

Zhou Xuan Yun, December 9, 2008

When I was in fourth grade my grandfather fell ill, and because we needed money for hospital bills, I had to leave school. I worked on our farmland, helping my family plant corn and cotton. More >>

Ying Yang Symbol

Taijiquan Yin Yang

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, August 5, 2008

Yin and Yang are opposite (i.e., relative) to each other instead of absolute. That is Yin can become Yang and Yang can change into Yin. Yin and Yang can be exchanged mutually depending on the observer’s Xin and Yi. More >>

Wuji - The State of Emptiness

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, July 30, 2008

Wuji (無極) is a state of emptiness or simply a single point in space. There is no discrimination and there are no polarities (or poles). According to Yi Jing (i.e., Book of Change), originally the universe was in a Wuji state. More >>

The Meaning of Taiji

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, July 18, 2008

Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) is an internal style of martial arts that was created in the Daoist monastery of the Wudang mountain, Hubei Province. More >>

A Brief History of the Chinese Martial Arts

A Brief History of the Chinese Martial Arts

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, March 7, 2008

The beginning of Chinese martial arts probably started long before history was recorded. Martial techniques were discovered or created during the long epoch of continuous conflict between humanity and animals, or between different tribes of humans themselves. More >>

A Brief History of Qigong

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, February 28, 2008

It is known that the Chinese art of Qigong has a history that goes back over 5,000 years, though only a few historical documents exist today. Qigong can be roughly divided into four periods. More >>

YMAA Studio

YMAA 25 Years

David Silver, February 7, 2008

On October 1, 2007, YMAA celebrated its 25-Year Anniversary. There were many phone calls, letters and emails of congratulations. More >>

The Yi Leads the Qi

Xin and Yi: Two Minds

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, January 1, 2008

If you are interested in learning Taijiquan, you must understand Yin and Yang, and their relationship with Taiji. Without knowing the theory and the Dao, your Taijiquan practice will be limited to the external forms and movements. More >>

Martial Morality: Master Yang learning Qi Men Jian with Grandmaster Li, 1970

Martial Morality

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, December 6, 2007

Martial morality has always been a required discipline in Chinese martial arts society. Teachers have long considered martial morality to be the most important criterion for judging students, and they have made it the most important part of the training in the traditional Chinese martial arts. More >>

Brocade

Traditional Chinese Tai Chi and Kung Fu silk clothing

David Silver, October 17, 2007

Traditional Chinese silk clothing has a long history, dating back to the 27th century BC. Once the skill of spinning silk, or sericulture, was discovered, the Chinese made silk exclusively for 3,000 years without divulging the secret of the process and it was a valuable commodity for trading. More >>

Videos and Podcasts...


Episode 1

Episode 1.
Chinese Martial Arts Definitions

Episode 2

Episode 2.
Retreat Center Interview PART 1

Episode 3

Episode 3.
Retreat Center Interview PART 2

Episode 4

Episode 4.
Northern and Southern Chinese Styles


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