Swordsmanship, Tai Chi, Taiji Sword, Taiji Jian, Chinese History, Military Science, Arms & Armor

The Chinese Straight Sword, or Jian, is perhaps the weapon that represents Chinese swordsmanship the most. Rarely seen nowadays in Chinese martial arts is the practice of a 2-handed Long Straight Sword. In this book, I've translated the Straight Sword chapter in 武備志 (Wu Bei Zhi), a 400 years old Chinese military manual, as well as offer my own interpretation. I hope my work will help you in practicing this art, as well as preserve and promote it for further generations to appreciate. Jack Chen

The Chinese double-edged straight sword (jian), the “gentleman of weapons,” is the focus of this e-book. There are a growing number of people interested in this fascinating weapon, its history, and its use. For your convenience, this anthology assembles the best articles on this subject as published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. Chapters 1 and 2 were written by Dr. Richard Pegg, a scholar of Asian studies and art curator with over thirty years of studies in the martial arts. With sound academic and practical experience in swordsmanship, Dr. Pegg writes here on ancient Chinese bronze swords and also on the parallels of Chinese calligraphy and swordplay. The analysis and presentation of the calligraphic illustrations give insight into the physical execution of sword movement. These superb presentations provide a perspective that is useful for understanding the technical and historical significance of the sword arts in China. In the next chapter, Tony Yang, Andy Lianto, and Robert Figler give an excellent overview of the fundamentals of training with the straight sword. This article outlines some of the most famous sword forms in history, Liu Yunqiao’s lineage, solo and two-person practice, as well as details on fundamental techniques and their combinations. For all intents and purposes, the practice and perfection of these fundamentals make one a master of the sword. Over 140 photos are used just in this chapter to illustrate the techniques. Stephan Berwick’s chapter details the history and practice of a famous straight sword system, the Qingping (Green Duckweed). The study meshes Chinese- and English-sourced research and a revealing interview with Lu Junhai—the grandmaster of this unique sword system. The interview is conducted by America’s senior Qingping disciples, Reza Momenan and Hon Lee. If you are a serious practitioner of the Chinese double-edged straight sword and have an interest in its history and techniques, you’ll enjoy each chapter included in this anthology. May it be a handy reference work for information as well as a source of inspiration for actual sword practice.

Most Westerners are familiar with Taiji Quan (often spelled T'ai Chi Ch'uan), the graceful, dancelike exercise movements practiced by the Chinese to promote health and longevity. However, many do not realize that Taiji is also a martial art, and that it includes practice with weapons, including the ancient sword called jian. As with Taiji Quan, the practice ofTaiji Jian is based on Chinese yin-yang, five-elements, and Daoist philosophical concepts, and combines meditation, martial, and healing arts. The Art of Chinese Swordsmanship is the first complete English-language introduction to Taiji Jian. It describes the history of jian swordsmanship, its fundamental principles, and its essential form of thirty-two postures, including a thorough discussion of both internal and external components. Written by a master who has practiced the sword form for twenty-five years, it will allow interested Westerners to study and practice this rewarding path to physical and mental well-being.

CHINA, 484 A.D. A Warrior in Disguise All her life, Mulan has trained for one purpose: to win the duel that every generation in her family must fight. If she prevails, she can reunite a pair of priceless heirloom swords separated decades earlier, and avenge her father, who was paralyzed in his own duel. Then a messenger from the Emperor arrives, demanding that all families send one soldier to fight the Rouran invaders in the north. Mulan’s father cannot go. Her brother is just a child. So she ties up her hair, takes up her sword, and joins the army as a man. A War for a Dynasty Thanks to her martial arts skills, Mulan is chosen for an elite team under the command of the princeling—the royal duke’s son, who is also the handsomest man she’s ever seen. But the princeling has secrets of his own, which explode into Mulan’s life and shake up everything she knows. As they cross the Great Wall to face the enemy beyond, Mulan and the princeling must find a way to unwind their past, unmask a traitor, and uncover the plans for the Rouran invasion…before it’s too late. Inspired by wuxia martial-arts dramas as well as the centuries-old ballad of Mulan, The Magnolia Sword is a thrilling, romantic, and sharp-edged novel that lives up to its beloved heroine.