Taijiquan and the search for the little old chinese man : understanding identity through ... martial arts

The first book-length ethnography of a Chinese martial arts association, the book tackles the general question of how human beings form viewpoints of themselves and others through the practice of an art--in this case, the art of taijiquan (a.k.a. "tai chi"). The first half of the book focuses on the author's own experience of studying taijiquan with teachers in the People's Republic of China and the United States, then expands the discussion to include taijiquan as national symbol, taijiquan in the context of urban China, and the globalization of "Chineseness" through taijiquan. One Of The First Full-length Ethnographics Of A Chinese Martial Arts Association, This Book Tackles The General Question Of How Human Beings Form Viewpoints Of Themselves And Others Through The Practice Of An Art - In This Case, The Art Of Taijiquan Or Tai Chi. The First Half Of The Book Focuses On The Author's Own Experience Studying Taijiquan With Teachers In The People's Republic Of China And The United States. The Discussion Then Expands To Address Taijiquan In The Context Of Urban China, Taijiquan As A National Symbol, And Taijiquan As An Example Of Globalized Chineseness. Drawing On Recent Literature On The Social Construction Of Identity, On The Phenomenology Of Ethnicity, And On Globalization, The Author Discusses Taijiquan In Terms Of Sensual Experience And The Transmission Or Acquisition Of Knowledge.--jacket. 1. The Body : Daoism, Qi, And The Making Of Social-sensual Identities -- 2. Bodies, Lineages, Alleys -- 3. Park Lives And Secret Spaces -- 4. Barbaric Glass And Indecipherable Causes : Taijiquan As Public Art -- 5. Through Martial Arts We Will Become Friends : Taijiquan As Master Symbol Of Modernity -- 6. Kung Fu Fantasies And Imagined Identities -- 7. Global Chinatown -- 8. Body Redux -- App. I. Wu Style Slow Taijiquan (wu Shi Taiji Man Quan) Posture Names -- App. Ii. Jta Lineage Chart -- App. Iii. Literature Of Interest On Martial Arts And Critical Race Theory. Adam D. Frank. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [281]-302) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-19 The Body: Daoism, Qi, and the Making of Social-Sensual Identities....Pages 21-57 Bodies, Lineages, Alleys....Pages 59-97 Park Lives and Secret Spaces....Pages 99-129 Barbaric Glass and Indecipherable Causes: Taijiquan as Public Art....Pages 131-153 “Through Martial Arts We Will Become Friends”: Taijiquan as Master Symbol of Modernity....Pages 155-187 Kung Fu Fantasies and Imagined Identities....Pages 189-204 Global Chinatown....Pages 205-233 Body Redux....Pages 235-242 Back Matter....Pages 243-320 This book is an ethnographic study of the martial art of taijiquan (or 'tai chi') as it is practiced in China and the United States. Drawing on recent literature on ethnicity, critical race theory, the phenomenology of race, and globalization, the author discusses identity in terms of sensual experience and the transmission/receipt of knowledge.