The themes in this Via Media book—drawn from Chinese history, culture, and martial arts experience—are entwined in a fictional narrative to animate events envisaged to have occurred during the mid-eighteenth century. From the outset, a thin veil separates fact from fiction. Our story starts with a discovery.
While conducting research at the Vatican Library on the Jesuit missions in China, two scholars find a folder of papers written in Chinese among documents belonging to Giuseppe Castiglione (1688–1766), a painter at the royal court in Beijing. The papers turn out to be written by a fellow court painter, Yang Mingbin (c. 1664–1765). Yang’s handwritten essays provide revelations vital for understanding the ingenuity of Chinese martial arts.
Via Media has been including more fictional works. The ESSAYS is an enjoyable work by Via Media is both insightful and captivating. Via Media brings top quality martial art titles in non-fiction as well as often more enjoyable fiction.
Martial Art Essays from Beijing, 1760 (paperback)
5.25" x 8" paperback, 144 pages, 27 illustrations
Preface x
Foreword xiii
1 Sacred Space
3 Unity in Diversity
5 Inspiring Factors
7 Levels of Skill
8 The Paradox of Movement
9 Bathing in Stillness
10 Standing on One Leg
11 One Step at a Time
12 Slow versus Fast
13 Magic Knuckles
15 Split the Globe
16 Straight at an Angle
17 Pushing Distance
18 Footwork as Brushwork
21 Shoulder to Shoulder
22 Practical Techniques, Proper Forms
24 The Attack Makes the Defense
25 Sources of Tension
27 Better Vision
29 A Monitoring Touch
30 One Technique, Multiple Applications
32 Bellow Breathing
34 Two-Way Tension
35 No Resistance, No Pressure
37 Right, Wrong, Variation
40 Impressive Movements
41 Mirrorlike Mind
41 The Martial Family
43 Daoist Philosophy
51 Daoist Quest for Immortality
54 Finding a Master, Finding a Disciple
55 Physical Connections
56 The Body’s Architectural Design
60 Maintaining and Improving Health
62 The Organic Pattern
64 Weapons and Empty-Hand Practice
65 The Teacher’s Effects
66 The Learning Continuum
70 Moving from Time to the Timeless
71 Telltale Signs
73 Inspiration
74 Spontaneous Naturalness
76 Help Your Attacker
77 Waterways
78 Seeing Targets
80 Elbows Moving the Wrong Way
82 Techniques and Distance
84 Mental and Optical Illusions
86 Power Behind the Punch
88 Principles for Fighting and Health
90 Explosive Kicks and Strikes
92 Personality and Personal Style
93 Solo Routines and Self-Defense
94 Teacher-Disciple Relationship
96 Manchu Military
98 Laws of Boxing
100 Angles of Defense and Offense
102 Being Analytical and Intuitive
103 Pleasing the Eyes
104 Wave Currents
105 Meditation: Training the Mind
108 Martial Ingenuity
109 Martial Arts, Religion, and Healing
111 Experiment, Test, Prove
Afterword 112
Glossary 116
Index 117