Taijiquan and the Search for the Little Old Chinese Man: Understanding Identity through Martial Arts Martial Arts Self Defense

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. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Figures......Page 10 Romanization and Pronunciation Guide......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1 The Body: Daoism, QI, and the Making of Social-Sensual Identities......Page 38 2 Bodies, Lineages, Alleys......Page 76 3 Park Lives and Secret Spaces......Page 116 4 Barbaric Glass and Indecipherable Causes: Taijiquan as Public Art......Page 148 5 "Through Martial Arts We Will Become Friends": Taijiquan as Master Symbol of Modernity......Page 172 6 Kung Fu Fantasies and Imagined Identities......Page 206 7 Global Chinatown......Page 222 8 Body Redux......Page 252 Notes......Page 260 Appendix I: Wu Style Slow Taijiquan (Wu shi taiji man quan) Posture Names......Page 278 Appendix II: JTA Lineage Chart......Page 282 Appendix III: Literature of Interest on Martial Arts and Critical Race Theory......Page 284 D......Page 290 J......Page 291 M......Page 292 R......Page 293 T......Page 294 X......Page 295 Z......Page 296 Bibliography......Page 298 B......Page 320 C......Page 321 D......Page 323 G......Page 324 I......Page 325 K......Page 326 M......Page 327 P......Page 329 Q......Page 330 S......Page 331 T......Page 333 W......Page 335 Y......Page 336 Z......Page 337 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.