Natural Way T'ai Chi School

Suggested Reading

Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan by Fu Zhongwen translated by Louis Swaim Pub. Blue Snake Books ISBN 1-58394-152-5
For the first time in a while I am excited by a t'ai chi book. Technical detail descriptions of the long form postures, together with information that I have never read in a book before.
There Are No Secrets/ Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing and his T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Wolf Lowenthal pub. by North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1-55643-112-0
An easy to read account of a student's encounters with Cheng in New York. Full of anecdotes and insight into principles.
Gateway to the Miraculous also by Wolf Lowenthal. ISBN 1-883319-13-7
 
Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Cheng Man Ch'ing translated by Ben Lo and Martin Inn. Pub. by North Atlantic Books ISBN0-938190-45-8.
An excellent guide to Cheng's art.
T'ai Chi : The "Supreme Ultimate" exercise for Health, Sport and Self-Defense by Cheng Man Ch'ing and Robert Smith. Pub. Charles E. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0560-1.
The best collection of photographs of Cheng. (My first t'ai chi book.)
Classical T'ai Chi Sword by Toyo & Petra Kobayashi.
Petra studied with Dr. Chi and this is the best of the few books on Chen Wei Ming's sword form as taught by Dr. Chi.
T'ai Chi Ch'uan its Effects and Practical Application by Yearning K. Chen. Pub. Unicorn Press Hong Kong. ISBN not available.
This book is acknowledged to be an authentic presentation of Yang Style.
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi by Angus Clark Pub. by Element Books. ISBN 1-86204-451-1.
If you want to a book to support you in your studies at the Natural Way T'ai Chi School then this is the book. Written by a former student of myself and Dr. Chi it covers the whole of the short form with excellent pictures and descriptions of the postures. Angus has written other books which are well worth seeking out.
The Dao of Taijiquan, Way to Rejuvenation. by Jou, Tsung Hwa. ISBN 0-8048-1357-4.
This is a very comprehensive and detailed book on all aspects of t'ai chi. There is a very good section on the t'ai chi classics. Written by the late Jou, Tsung Hwa who was a pupil of Cheng Man Ch'ing but actually learned the form from Dr. Chi. As a book to read cover to cover it is tough going so I would suggest it only if you really want to get to grips with t'ai chi theory - it is a bit like an encyclopaedia.
The T'ai Chi Boxing Chronicle. Compiled and Explained by Kuo Lien-Ying, trans. Guttmann. ISBN1-55643-177-5.
Quite technical and interesting for that for those who like to have a map of where they are going from an internal point of view.
Lost T'ai Chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty. By Douglas Wile pub. State University of New York ISBN 0-7914-2653-X.
Quite academic analysis of recently discovered texts on t'ai chi but even if you don't want to read the whole book (which I haven't) it does have many of the t'ai chi classical writings which can inspire your practice.
T'ai Chi Classics. By Waysun Liao, Pub. Shambhala. ISBN 0-87773-531-X.
Very Interesting attempt to describe some of the forces which are produced practising t'ai chi as well as a collection of t'ai chi classics.

Related Reading

The books in this section are inspirational. Those which are drawn from a Buddhist perspective are chosen for the insight they offer to those who want to learn to open more fully and let go more deeply.

The Taoist I Ching. Translated by Thomas Cleary. Pub Shambhala. ISBN 0-87773-352-X.
Chinese understanding of the subtle states of change which relate to the refinement of consciousness and spiritual development.
The Book of Lieh-Tzu, A classic of Tao. Trans. by A. C. Graham. ISBN1-85274-107-4.
Wonderful stories which give insight into the mind of the taoist sage. One of my favourite books.
The Essential Tao. Trans. by Thomas Cleary. Pub. Harper San Francisco. ISBN 0-06-250216-6.
The teachings of Chuang-Tzu and the collection of teachings known as the Tao Te Ching.
When Things Fall Apart. By Pema Chodron Pub. Element. ISBN0-00-714818-6.
An excellent book to help us break through all our old patterns which cause us to close down and miss being fully alive. Chapter titles are : Intimacy with Fear, This Very Moment is the Perfect Teacher, Relax as it is... Very inspiring!