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Waysun Liao
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The Essence of T'ai Chi: Selections from the T'ai Chi Classics on the Great Power and Inner Meaning of This Ancient Martial Art Kindle Edition

by Waysun Liao (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 129 ratings
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The deepest benefits of T’ai Chi cannot be realized without an understanding of its underlying principles. This book presents these principles through translations of three core classics of T’ai Chi that are often considered the "T’ai Chi Bible," accompanied by the author’s insightful commentary. Master Liao demonstrates how to increase the body’s inner energy (ch’i) and transform it into power, health, and well-being. By reading the clear and precise explanations of the fundamental principles of T'ai Chi, students can develop a more complete understanding of the art and philosophy of this traditional martial art.
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  1. Print length
    126 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Shambhala
  5. Publication date
    October 9, 2007
  6. File size
    753 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Presents the basic principles of the complicated, sophisticated, and sometimes mysterious philosophy of T’ai Chi . . . made easy to understand by the author’s insightful commentary. . . . A worthy contribution to keeping the spirit of T’ai Chi alive.”—East and West Series

About the Author

From the age of twelve, Master Waysun Liao studied with a wandering Taoist and in a Taoist temple in Taiwan until he became a full Taichi and Tao master. Considered one of the world's foremost authorities on traditional Taoist wisdom and Chi arts, he is the founder and master of one of the oldest Taichi centers in North America. The Taichi Tao Center, founded in 1971, remains the worldwide teaching headquarters for Master Waysun Liao and is located in Oak Park, Illinois.

Master Waysun Liao is the last of a heritage of Tao masters carrying and transmitting the ancient oral traditions concerning the nature and the power of Tao. He shares his wisdom with students across the world. Other Taichi instructors, learning centers, martial arts masters, spiritual teachers, and Taichi group leaders around the world today learned Taichi from the Taichi Tao Center, and call him "Grandmaster Waysun Liao." It means that they see the unlimited potential within this wisdom and the amazing benefits in learning Taichi through Master Liao, and want to claim a part of that powerful legacy!

The good news is that now everyone can learn from Waysun Liao as their own grandmaster!

In addition to several leading books on Taichi, Chi and Tao, he has compiled a complete Taichi learning system on streaming online video, preserving the ancient temple teachings on moving meditation, the Tao, and internal energy development.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004YF1TJ8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala (October 9, 2007)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 9, 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 753 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 126 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 129 ratings

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Waysun Liao

Waysun Liao

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From the age of twelve, Master Waysun Liao studied with a wandering Taoist and in a Taoist temple in Taiwan until he became a full Taichi and Tao master. Considered one of the world's foremost authorities on traditional Taoist wisdom and Chi arts, he is the founder and master of one of the oldest Taichi centers in North America. The Taichi Tao Center, founded in 1971, remains the worldwide teaching headquarters for Master Waysun Liao and is located in Oak Park, Illinois.

Master Waysun Liao represents the heritage of Tao masters carrying and transmitting the ancient oral traditions concerning the nature and the power of Tao. He shares his wisdom with students across the world. Other Taichi instructors, learning centers, martial arts masters, spiritual teachers, and Taichi group leaders around the world today learned Taichi and Tao teaching from him and call him “Grandmaster Waysun Liao.” This reference means that they see the unlimited potential within this wisdom and the amazing benefits in learning Taichi through Master Liao, and want to claim a part of that powerful legacy.

The good news is that now everyone can learn from Waysun Liao as their own grandmaster.

In addition to several leading books on Taichi, Chi and Tao, he has compiled a complete Taichi learning system on streaming online video at Taichitao.tv. The videos preserve the ancient temple teachings on moving meditation, the Tao, and internal energy development.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
129 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Darren G. Drake
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything is Energy: a short Mystical Primer...
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
Everything I've been looking for... to link Etheric Energy, Chi, Internal Energy, Meditation... in terms of a Taoist Art of Forms.

There are many names for Internal Energy, many languages to convey infinite concepts...Reading here about the difference between External (Hard, Combative) Martial Arts, and Internal (Soft, Flowing) Martial Arts, pretty much nailed it. A very brief history of Tai Chi, written for English speaking audiences, helped convince me that anyone can do Tai Chi, because many haven't caught on to the hidden history - Tai Chi Masters forced to teach war-like leaders. Thus the Forms can be reclaimed by practitioners willing to do the practical work. A difference between Wu-tang (sp.) and Shaolin practice is explained briefly. Along with Buddhist and Taoist 'philosophies' briefly shared as way of revealing Tai Chi.

Whether this practice of Forms is Traditional Tai Chi, or not, is endlessly debatable; but again, debate is not the point of writing down mystical experiences. Doing, Creating, Becoming the Forms is the point. As the book highlights, some Tai Chi teachers are not capable, or ready, to pass on what they have learned. All this as way of introducing the Three Core texts; essentially, three very old (and short) Tai Chi poetry books.

After the brief history, the book starts early on with practical exercises, which use the poetic sensibilities of the Art of War (Mushashi), and the Art of Peace (Ushiba) in a soft way. Exercises that can deepen us into multidimensional awareness through repeated use. Simply put: the first step is imagination. The second step is belief. The third is letting go... beyond belief into the Mystical Self... Something like that...

The book is a good raft to get us into "Beginninglessness" or "Eternal Energy". All contained in a pocketbook. Nice!
6 people found this helpful
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E. Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Condensation of Condensing Ch'i
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2021
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T'ai Chi is originally and foremost a type of martial arts... with the power deeply centered on ch'i (life energy). This book condensed Liao's " T'ai Chi Classics". This focuses on how practitioners cultivate and use internal energy to create external force (called Jing). The book doesn't give instructions on specific martial arts postures or body mechanics if that is what you are looking. I found this unorthodox content to be refreshing and enlightening. My t'ai chi instructor just doesn't have the time to work with us on learning these precise internal methods found in the book. I recommend the Kindle version, but the pocket sized paperback is just as good if you like tiny books.
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Dikran Utidjian
4.0 out of 5 stars Tight
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2013
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I haven't had a chance to get into it but what I have read I like a lot. Lay-man spiritualism. and very portable which is good in this tech heavy time.
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Tapio Karjalainen
5.0 out of 5 stars Peace of mind and clarity,the first impressions.
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2014
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I have read 73 pages out of 110 this far, and I have been pleasantly impressed: having studied Tai Chi a couple of years by now,I find this book be in harmony with "The meditation in movement"-spirit,that has been often used to describe this science of innerarts exercising. I chose this book much because of it`s cover,which I felt was so convincingly inspiring. I warmly would recommend this book to any sincere wisdom-seeker and to everyone,that is interested of human culture. With warm thanksgivings, Tapio.
4 people found this helpful
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P. Vance
3.0 out of 5 stars A quick Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2010
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Not really the best Tai Chi book I've read. The book is far too short to go into any real detail but for a quick overview this is great. Its a smaller book so great for carrying around. Definitely more of a beginner intermediate level book in my opinion. More Philosophy than instruction, for a quick read I'd definitely recommend, but if you're looking for in depth instruction or higher level philosophy this probably isnt the right book for you. A beginner who wants a crash course on the other hand might find a lot to love in this little guy.
9 people found this helpful
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Tcarmo
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for beginners
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2012
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I tried reading other Tai Chi books, and "The Essence of T'ai Chi" is the most perfect one for beginners. It really gives the essence. It is good for passing through T'ai Chi history, explanation of terms, and even giving you some notion of feelings that you are going to feel during practice. I strongly recommend this book.
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Alek
5.0 out of 5 stars Know more of the philosophy
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2012
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This is a nice and easy book to read. If you would like to know more about the philosophy behind the knowledge of Tai Chi Chuan, this is the book. Has a clear english and the basics to understand things that your teacher may say but does not explain. I enjoyed it a lot.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars great book...quick delivery
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2013
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Get this book if you are interested in power Taiji based Qigong...I dont mind giveing this book a great review but requiring that the review be a certain number of words...that just annoys me and makes me want to skip doing a review at all.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jacob Burton
5.0 out of 5 stars Supreme ultimate
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2022
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Great background to the culture of Tai chi great read glad I brought the book
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Dimitri
4.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro pero le falta ilustraciones
Reviewed in Spain on December 21, 2016
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Muy recomendado para la gente interesada en la parte interna del tai chi, en particular la meditación. La única pena, la ilustraciones: escasas y no de buena calidad.
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Izzi
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in Canada on June 22, 2015
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Great!
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Dave Wilkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I was after
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2016
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This is a excellent introduction to the non physical elements. By that I mean discussion of a little history and focus on what Chi is and how it is cultivated. If you ate looking for a book that discusses the inner elements of Tai Chi this may well be the book for you. If you want to learn forms you need to look elsewhere.
One person found this helpful
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I E Linley
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2017
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great little insight
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