Research by
Michael P. Garofalo

Bibliography     Biography     Links     Quotations     T'ai Chi Ch'uan     Chi Kung     Yang Style Taijiquan     Well-Being 

T'ai Chi Ch'uan 37 Form List     Video Online     Aging Well     Tai Chi Classics     Learning     Happiness   Jin  

Sensing/Pushing Hands     Rooting     Sung/Relax/Soften     Mind (Yi, Hsing)     Sword (Jian)     Big Index    

Cloud Hands Blog

Cloud Hands Homepage

Bibliography and Links

Regarding Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing (1902 - 1975)

VSCL =  Valley Spirit Center Library of Mike Garofalo

Alphabetical Subject Index to the Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong Website

Anatomy of Movement.   By Blandine Calais-Germain.   Seattle, Washington, Eastland Press, 1985, 1993.  Translated from the French by Nicole Commarmond.  Index, 289 pages.  ISBN: 0939616173.  VSCL.   

Bibliography   By David Swarbrick.  

Biographical Timeline of Professor Cheng Man-Ch'ing    

Biography of Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing by Tam Gibbs

Body Mechanics of Tai Chi Chuan: For the Art of Self-Defense.  By William C.C. Chen.  New York, 1973.  

Breathing and Taijiquan: Bibliography, links, quotes, notes.

Chang San Feng: Bibliography, links, quotes, notes, history, legends.

Cheng Man-ch'ing Advanced T'ai-Chi Form Instructions.  With selected writings on Meditation, the I Ching, Medicine and the Arts.  Compiled and translated by Douglas Wile.  Brooklyn, New York, Sweet Chi Press, 1985.  162 pages.  ISBN: 0912059036.   VSCL. 

Cheng Man-ch'ing and T'ai Chi: Echoes in the Hall of Happiness.  Edited by Michael DeMarco.  Authors: Barbara Davis, Benjamin Lo, Russ Mason, Robert W. Smith, Nigel Sutton, Yizhong Xi, Weiming Yuan.  Santa Fe, New Mexico, Via Media Pub. Co., 2015.  Index, bibliography, notes, 196 pages.  ISBN: 978-1893765061.  VSCL.  

Cheng Man-ch'ing Enterprise Website 

Cheng Man-ch'ing Essays on Man and Culture.  By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Mark Hennessy.  Berkeley, California, Frog Ltd., North Atlantic Books, 1997.
200 pages.  ISBN: 1883319269.

Cheng Man-ch'ing: Master of Five Excellences.  Translation and commentary by Mark Hennessy.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, Frog, Ltd., 1995.  166 pages.  ISBN:  188331903X.  Discussion of Master Cheng's work in calligraphy, poetry, painting, medicine and tai chi chuan.  VSCL. 

Chen Man Ching: The Official Family Run Website   They offer a 4 DVD set of Dr. Cheng at work in Tai Chi. 

Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on Tai Chi Chuan.  By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo and Martin Inn.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1985.  223 pages.   ISBN: 0938190458.  VSCL. 
     Review by David Wade Smith in 2005, "This book is my constant companion. I've carried my original 1985 copy with me everywhere since it was first published. I should declare my bias: I was a student at Professor Cheng's school in New York starting in 1974, the year before he passed, and studied and eventually taught there until 1986. All of his senior students considered this the Bible of Professor Cheng's form long before it was ever published in English. We had classes in which Ed Young, one of the Professor's senior students, translated it for us chapter by chapter, his forehead breaking out in a fine sweat with the effort of attempting to adequately convey the Professor's meaning. I still have my notes from those sessions, and Ben Lo's translation compares very favorably with Ed's.  I often quote or read from the Thirteen Treatises to my students, and always recommend it as an indispensable work.  In short, if there is one single most essential volume on Professor Cheng's Tai Chi Chuan, this is it--and I believe it can prove equally valuable to students of other styles and forms. I especially recommend it in combination with "Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Chuan Self-Cultivation," translated by Mark Hennessy (Frog Ltd., 1999)."

Chen Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Chen, William C. C. - Tai Chi Chuan      

Classics of Tai Ch Chuan: Principles, Theory, Philosophy, Teaching, Publications.  By Mike Garofalo. 

Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods.  By Robert W. Smith.  Berkeley, CA, North Atlantic Books, 1974, 1990.  ISBN: 155643085X.  

Cloud Hands Blog

Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan Subject Index
 

The Complete Book of T'ai Chi.  By Stewart McFarlane.  New York, DK Publishing, 1997, 1999.  Index, 119 pages.  ISBN: 0789442590.   Detailed instruction in the Cheng Man-ch'ing Short form, 37 movements.  VSCL.   

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Tai Chi: A Practical Approach to the Ancient Chinese Movement for Health and Well-Being.  By Angus Clark.  Hammersmith, London, Element Press, 2000.  Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 192 pages.  ISBN: 978-0007122486.  VSCL. 

The Development of Taijiquan Styles - Lineage Charts.  Al Duncan.

Daodejing by Laozi   Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.  Over 25 translations of the 81 Chapters of the Daodejing, resources, extensive indexing in English, Spanish, and Romanized Wade-Giles Chinese.

Daoism (Taoism)   Extensive information, bibliography, links, resources, Tao Te Ching. 

Eight Section Brocade Qigong 

The Elements of Tai Chi.   By Paul Crompton.  Longmead, Element Books, 1990.  Index, glossary, notes, 125 pages.  ISBN: 1852301570.  Introductory survey.  

Essays on Man and Culture.  By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Mark Hennessy.  Frog Books, 1997.  136 pages. 

The Essence and Applications of Taijiquan.  By Yang, Chengfu (1883-1936).  Translated by Louis Swaim.  The original publication date was in 1934.  The original book was edited by Professor Cheng Man-Chi'ng.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 2005.  Introduction, appendices, bibliography, 124 pages.  ISBN: 1556435452.  In this book, the entire sequence of the specialized and named martial movements/postures/sections/forms is numbered from Section 1 up to Section 94; thus, the popular long taijiquan from, the Yang 94 Form.  VSCL. 

The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: The Literary Tradition.  Translated and edited by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo; Martin Inn, Robert Amacker, and Susan Foe.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1979, 1985.  100 pages.  ISBN: 0913028630.   

Faigao   Batann and Jane Faigao.  In New York, Bataan had served as Cheng Man-ching’s personal assistant and chauffeur.  Professor Cheng was a master of Chinese medicine, martial arts, calligraphy, painting and poetry; but apparently did not drive.  The Faigao's went on to lead Tai Chi in Colorado, and at the Naropa Institute. 

Five Animal Frolics 

Five Principles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan for Master Cheng Man-ch'ing

Gateway to the Miraculous: Further Explorations in the Tao of Cheng Man-ch'ing.  By Wolfe Lowenthal.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, Frog Ltd., 1994.  124 pages.  ISBN: 1883319137.  Wolfe Lowenthal was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing from 1967-1975; and later taught Taijiquan at the Long River Tai Chi Circle. VSCL. 

Tam Gibbs, As I Knew Him   By M.T. Steven Rose. 

Green Way Research Subject Index   Taijiquan and Qigong research and practices by Mike Garofalo.

The Hall of Happiness   By David Kaufman.  Reminiscences about the Professor's Shih Jung School of Tai Chi in New York in 1974. 

Images of Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing

Lao Tzu, author of the Tao Te Ching   Daodejing by Laozi.  Over 25 translations of the 81 Chapters of the Daodejing, resources, extensive indexing in English, Spanish, and Romanized Wade-Giles Chinese.

List of Movements in the Yang Style Tai Chi 37 Postures Form created by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing   A Valley Spirit Taijiquan Guide by Mike Garofalo.  This list, in English, of the postures in the 37 Yang Short Form by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing also includes the Wade-Giles transliteration of the Mandarin Chinese phrases used to identify each posture, directions for what direction to face for each posture, and a list of the books and webpages used as references when preparing this guide.  Published by Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California.  First published online in September, 2008.  Revised on March 10, 2016.  PDF Format, Print Only. 

Long River Tai Chi School.  The Taijiquan school of Wolfe Lowenthal, student of Cheng Man-ch'ing (1967-1975) and author of There Are No Secrets, Gateway to the Miraculous, and Like a Long River. 

The Martial Spirit: An Introduction to the Origin, Philosophy and Psychology of the Martial Arts.  By Herman Kauz.  Woodstock, New York, The Overlook Press, 1977.  141 pages.  ISBN: 0879513276.  VSCL. 

Master Cheng's New Method of T'ai Chi Chuan Self-Cultivation.   By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Mark Hennessy.   Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, Frog, Ltd., 1999.  128 pages.  ISBN: 1883319927.  Originally written in Chinese in 1963.  VSCL. 

Master of Five Excellences.  By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Mark Hennessy.  Frog Books, 1996.  184 pages.  ISBN: 978-1883319038.  "Professor Cheng Man-Ch’ing regarded a set of five disciplines—the "five excellences"—to be the mark of a well-rounded person: calligraphy, painting, poetry, t’ai chi, and medicine. Although he is best known for his teachings on the martial arts (in particular, his highly influential adaptation of t’ai chi), versatility was central to Cheng’s philosophy of life, and he encourage his students to combine artistry with scholarship. This inspiring book is a commentary on and working compendium of Cheng’s literary and pictorial interpretations of these subjects. Of interest to aficionados of Chinese art, culture, and history, Master of Five Excellences also offers internal techniques for practitioners of the martial arts, as Hennessy provides an insight into the rarely-glimpsed creative side of Cheng Man-Ch’ing."

A Master Passes: A Tribute to Cheng Man-ch'ing.  By Robert W. Smith, 1979. 

Patience T'ai Chi Association.   Sifu William C. Phillips.    

Performance Time:   Cheng Man-ch'ing = 9:03 minutes.  Simo Mildred = 9:39 minutes.  Paul Crompton = 5:36 minutes. 

Photographs - Archives   Provided  by Hsu Fun Yuen.   Cheng Man-ch'ing Images

Principles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan for Master Cheng Man-ch'ing

Professor Cheng.  The Offical Website of Professor Cheng Man-Ch'ing.  Painting, calligraphy, medicine, poetry and tai chi chuan.  

Push Hands, Sensing Hands, Tui Shou, Qigong Hand Routines

When Chen Man-ch'ing was teaching Tai Chi Chuan in New York, he also practiced as a Chinese Medical Doctor.  You get the impression of a talented, energetic, and very busy man.  In the English language reports about the Yang Style of Tai Chi Chuan that Professor Cheng taught and popularized in New York from 1964-1975, you read a lot about Form Practice, Swordplay, Push Hands, and Interacting as Human Beings. 

Push Hands involves two person interactive physical movements, drills, routines, practices, experiments.  Push Hands practices can be stationary or moving.  Push Hands (Tui Shou, Dalu) is a regular taijiquan practice for developing and improving sensitivity, tactile skills, inter-active responsiveness, and martial skills. 

Both Fu Zhongwen (1903-1994) and Cheng Man-ch'ing (1902-1975) studied in their youth with Grandmaster Yang Cheng Fu (1883-1936).  Cheng Man-ch'ing helped Yang Chen Fu edit, write and publish some Chinese language Tai Chi books in the 1930's. 

Push Hands (Tui Shou, Dalu): Bibliography, Resources, Links, Quotations, Practices.  Research by Mike Garofalo. 

The Push Hands Workbook: T'ai Chi Partner Movements (Tui Shou) for Sport and Personal Development.  By Nando Raynolds.  Create Space independent Publishing Platform, 2006.  168 pages.  ISBN: 978-1440428579.  Nando Raynolds has practiced Yang style T'ai Chi since 1978 and taught since 1988.  He is a licensed psychotherapist and provides professional counseling, supervision and life coaching.  He has studied bodywork, yoga and the martial arts. His professional practice is in Ashland, Oregon.  He has taught the Cheng Man-ch'ing 37 Taijiquan Form at Southern Oregon University in Ashland.  He holds his 3rd dan in Daimon Ryu Kenpo Karate.  He wrote the instructional section for "The Everything Book of T'ai Chi and Qigong" and is a frequent contributor of articles to the Tai Chi Magazine.  "This workbook is a step-by-step guide to push hands (t'ui shou). These T'ai Chi Chuan two person exercises are the foundation of the self-defense skills of the art.  Written for the beginner through advanced practitioner and teachers, this book presents fun exercises and games that train sensitivity and responsiveness.  Specific component skills of push hands (eg. sticking, listening, neutralizing, pushing, rooting etc) are systematically developed through sequential drills presented in the workbook.  Important topics that are often poorly addressed in the English literature are explained in clear language and paired with activities."  VSCL. 

Yang Style Taijiquan Push Hands.   Chapter Three, pp. 163-177, found in Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan.  Bu Fu Zhongwen (1903-1994).  Translated by Louis Swaim.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1999.  Glossary, bibliography, 226 pages.  ISBN: 1556433182.  Translations of many Tai Chi classics are included.  A list of the 85 movement long form and detailed notes and descriptions of each movement are provided.  251 movement analysis illustrations.  Over 76 of the illustrations are traced and drawn from photographs of Yang Cheng-Fu.  Detailed descriptions of the long form, pp. 26-162.  Push hands information.  Yang Tai Chi essentials.    I have found this to be an excellent book!  This book was first published in 1963 in China as "Yang Shi Taijiquan".  An informative introduction and good translation by Louis Swaim.  VSCL. Three Push Hands Methods: 1. Fixed Step Push Hands (Ding Bu Tuishou), p.165.  2.  Active-Step Push Hands (Hou Bu Tuishou), p.167.  3.  Dalu, p.170-177. 

Tai Ji Tui Shou:  Mastering the Eight Styles and Four Skills of Sensing Hands.  By Stuart Alve Olson.  Patrick Gross, Chen Kung Series Editor.  Original author: Chen Kung.  Create Space Independent Publishing, 2015.  160 pages.  Volume 4 of the Chen Kung Series.  ISBN: 978-1506039961.  VSCL. 

Questions and Answers about the Tai Chi Classics.  Interview with Professor Cheng Man-ching. 

Return to Stillness: Twenty Years with a Tai Chi Master.  By Trevor Carolan.  De Capo Press, 2003.  256 pages.  ISBN: 978-15692444876.  VSCL. 

Rooting, Grounding, and Centering in Taijiquan:  Bibliography, links, quotes, notes. 

Short Form, Beijing, Simplified 24 Movements, Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Style.   By Michael P. Garofalo.   269KB.   List of the movements (.html and .pdf), detailed descriptions with illustrations, links, bibliography, quotations, and notes.  

Short Yang Form.   Produced by Mark Allen.   

Silk Reeling and Spiral Energies in Taijiquan: Bibliography, links, quotes, notes.

Simplified Taijiquan, 37 Movements Form, Yang Style, of Master Cheng Man-ch'ing  

Somaesthetics, Mind-Body Movement Arts: Theory and Practices

Subject Index to the Cloud Hands: Taijiquan and Qigong Website   

Sun Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan

Sword (Jian) 

Sword - Standard 32 Sword Form in the Yang Style   32 Movements Taijiquan Sword Form. 

Sword - Taijiquan   Swordsmanship and traditions, Taijiquan Sword, Lore, Traditions, Bibliography, Notes, Quotations, Resources 

Sword - Yang Family Style  55 Movements Taijiquan Sword Form. 

T'ai Chi.  Instructional videotape by Tricia Yu.  90 minutes, VHS and DVD formats.  Detailed instruction in the Cheng Man-ch'ing short form.  

The Tai Chi Book: Refining and Enjoying a Lifetime of Practice.  By Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D..  Including the Teachings of Cheng Man-ch'ing, William C. C. Chen, and Harvey I. Sober.  Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, YMAA Publication Center, c 1998.   Index, 209 pages.  ISBN: 1886969647.    Dr. Chuckrow was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing.  The Cheng 37 Posture form is described and illustrated with photographs on pages 177-204.  VSCL. 

Tai Chi Chuan: Embracing the Pearl.  Including the teachings of Cheng Man-ch'ing, William C. C. Chen, and Harvey I. Sober.  By Robert Chuckrow.  Rising Mist Publications, 1995.  151 pages.  ISBN: 978-0964591905. 

T'ai Chi Ch'uan For Health and Self-Defense: Philosophy and Practice.  By T.T. Liang.  New York, Vintage Books, 1977.  137 pages.  ISBN: 0394724615.   T.T. Liang studied with over 15 teachers, including Cheng Man-ch'ing.  VSCL. 

T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Links, Bibliography, Quotes, Notes 

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan.  By Chen Wei-Ming.  Translated by Benjamin Pan Jeng Lo and Robert W. Smith.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1986.  61 pages.  ISBN:  0938190679.

Tai Chi Chuan Yang Style Tai Chi 37 Postures Form created by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing:  List of Postures/Movements in this Form

Tai Chi Classics.  By Waysun Liao.  New translations of three essential texts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan with commentary and practical instruction by Waysun Liao.  Illustrated by the author.  Boston, Shambhala, 1990.  210 pages.  ISBN: 087773531X.  VSCL.  A slightly modified version of Cheng Man-ch'ing's Short Yang Form is found in this book on pages 128-210; with line drawings and detailed descriptions. 

Tai Chi Classics: Principles, Theory, Philosophy, Teaching, Publications.  By Mike Garofalo. 

Tai Chi Dynamics: Principles of Natural Movement, Health and Self-Development.  By Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D.  Boston, Massachusetts, YMAA Pub. Center, 2008.  Index, 252 pages.  ISBN: 978-1594391163.  Dr. Chuckrow was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing, William C. C. Chen, and Harvey I Sober.  VSCL. 

Tai Chi for Health.  Instructional DVD.  By Terrence Dunn.  NTSC DVD, 120 minutes, 2004.  Tai Chi for Health.  Instructional videotape by Terry Dunn.  120 minutes, VHS.  The Cheng Man-ch'ing 37 posture form is taught by Terry Dunn, a student of Abraham Liu.  Includes an introduction to Tai Chi, breathing exercises, warm up suggestions, and step-by-step instructions in the form.  DVD: B0002ZDR7Q, and VHS.  VSCL - DVD version.    

Tai Chi for Health and Vitality: A Comprehensive Guide to the Short Yang Form.  By Robert Parry.  Hamlyn, 2005.  144 pages.  ISBN: 060061090X.

Tai Chi Handbook: Exercise, Meditation and Self-Defense.  By Herman Kauz.  Doubleday, 1974.  192 pages.  ISBN: 0385093705.  A student of Master Cheng, with a high level background in judo and karate, provides a fine introduction to both Tai Chi and Cheng's short form. 

Tai Chi Made Easy.  A Step-by-Step Guide to Health and Relaxation.  By Robert Parry.  Photography by Laura Wickenden.  London, The People's Medical Society, 1997.  Index, 144 pages.  ISBN: 1882606256.   Excellent, detailed instructions in the Cheng Man-ch'ing 37 posture short form.  

Tai Chi Secrets of the Yang Style.  Translated with commentary by Yang Jwing-ming.  Translations and commentary on Chinese Classics.   Boston, MA, YMAA Publications, 2001.  Index, glossary, 192 pages.   ISBN:  1886969094.  A translation of 49 documents by Yang, Ban-Hou (1837-1892) and by a few other Yang family members.  VSCL.     

Tai Chi Sword (Jian)  Professor Cheng loved to play with the Tai Chi Sword.  

Tai Chi Sword, Yang Style.  Bibliography, Links, Form List, Resources.  55 Movements Form.  By Mike Garofalo. 

Cloud Hands Blog

Tai Chi: The Supreme Ultimate.   By Lawrence Galante.   Edited by Betsy Selman.  York Beach, Maine, Samuel Weiser, 1981.  Bibliography, footnotes, 208 pages.  ISBN: 0877284970.  VSCL. 

Tai-Chi: The "Supreme Ultimate" Exercise for Health, Sport and Self-Defense.  By Cheng Man-ch'ing and Robert W. Smith.  Tuttle, 1967, 2004.  128 pages.  ISBN: 978-0804805605. 

There Are No Secrets: Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing and His Tai Chi Chuan.  By Wolfe Lowenthal, 1939-.  Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1991.  142 pages.  ISBN: 1556431120.  Wolfe Lowenthal was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing.  VSCL. 

Thirteen Postures of Taijiquan: Bibliography, links, quotes, notes, instructions.

37 Movements/Postures Form Taijiquan of  Master Cheng Man-ch'ing

Valley Spirit Center Taijiquan   Red Bluff, California.  Chief Instructor:  Michael P. Garofalo, M.S. 

VSCL =  Valley Spirit Center Library.  Personal library of Mike Garofalo. 

Video Online of Cheng Man-ch'ing or his style of Tai Chi

Cheng Man-ch'ing Performing the 37 Short Form    9:03 Minutes

Cheng Man-ch'ing Video 7 minutes.   Some Yang form, push hands, and sword form.  

Cheng Man-ch'ings Yang Form    Performed by Master Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Utube, b&w, 7:45 minutes

37 Step Cheng Man-ch'ing  Short Taijiquan Form 

Cheng Man-ch'ing Videos

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.  By Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D..  Chicago, McGraw Hill Contemporary Books, 2nd Edition, 2000.  Index, bibliography, appendices, notes, 500 pages.  Foreword by Margaret Caudill, M.D., and by Andrew Weil, M.D.  ISBN: 0809228408.  An excellent introduction to traditional Chinese medicine and modern research on the topic.   VSCL. 

Wisdom of Taiji Masters: Insights into Cheng Man Ching's Art.  By Nigel Sutton.  Tambuli Media, 2014.  176 pages.  ISBN: 978-0692250914. 

Yang Form of Tai Chi Chuan    List of 37 movements and training principles.  

Yang Style 24 Movement Simplified Beijing Short Form 

Yang Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan  

Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Short Form.  By Bill Helm.  Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego, 1996.  Edited by Flow Technical Educational Specialists.  Spiral-bound manual.  65 pages.  VSCL. 

Yang Style Tai Chi 37 Postures Form created by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing: List of Postures/Movements in the Form 

Yang Style Tai-Chi Chuan 37.  An videotape by Master Yu Cheng Hsiang.  45 minutes, VHS.   A demonstration of the Cheng Man-ch'ing form and
some applications.   

Yang Style Traditional Long 108 Form

Young, Ed   He was a top assistant instructor for Master Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Ed was somewhat fluent in both Chinese and English, and frequently explained Master Cheng's instructions and lessons.  Master Cheng spoke only Chinese.  Ed has published many children's and art books. 

Return to Webpage Index

Quotations
Regarding Master Cheng Man-ch'ing (1902 - 1975)

Yang Style Taijiquan Quotations and Sayings

Chen Style Taijiquan Quotations and Sayings

Observations by Michael P. Garofalo

Taijiquan Classics

Cloud Hands Blog

"Without doubt, the most influential of these new forms in the West is the 37 posture shortened Yang form of Zheng Man Qing.  Zheng was a disciple of the great master Yang Cheng Fu.  Zheng developed the short form to enable the art to be learnt more quickly and to be less time consuming so that it can be practiced easily with modern day hectic schedules.  Zheng's great skill in Taijiquan made his form very popular. Today it is one of the predominant forms practiced in the West.  Many of Zheng's students are today noted masters of the art and continue to promote his short form for both health and self-defense.  The shortened form is still Yang style Taijiquan but with the repetitions and some postures removed. The theories and techniques remain unchanged. Almost all of Zheng's works on Taijiquan have been translated into English and their influence is substantial."
-   The Popular Modern Styles of Tai Chi Chuan, By Peter Lim Tian Tek

"I have been practicing Tai-Chi Chuan for over fifty years.  Only two years ago that I started to understand the word “relax”.  I remember my Tai-Chi Chuan teacher Yang Cheng-Fu who did not like to talk much and he used to sit all day without saying a word if no one asked him questions.  However, in our T’ai-chi class he would tell us to “relax” repeatedly.  Sometimes it seemed like he would say the word hundreds of times during the practice so that the word could fill up my ears.  Strangely enough he also said that if he did not tell me of this word that I would not be able to learn T’ai-chi in three life-times (meaning never).  I doubted his words then.  Now that I think back, I truly believe that if he did not keep reminding me of the word “relax”, I doubt if I could have learned T’ai-chi Chuan in six life-times.

"Cheng Man-ch'ing  (鄭曼青/ 郑曼青), a painter, poet, calligrapher, doctor, and t'ai chi ch'uan master, was born in 1902 in Yong-chia (Yongjia 永嘉), present-day Wenzhou 溫州), Zhejiang province. Cheng gained fame as an artist in his early years, and in his thirties, took up t'ai chi ch'uan study with the famed Yang Ch'eng-fu. In his later years, Cheng was instrumental in helping spread t'ai chi ch'uan to Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.

Cheng's name is also spelled Zheng Manqing, and he also went by the names Cheng Yueh (Zheng Yue), Cheng Man-jan (Zheng Manran), Hermit of the Jade Well (Yu-chin shan-jen; Yujin shanren), and other artistic names. He was commonly known as a master of "Five Excellences" (五絕) for his many talents."
-  Cheng Man-ch'ing Biography Project

"The Taichi Classics say that the proper root is in the foot.  A beginner can develop root by simply spending three to five minutes, morning and night, standing fully on a single leg.  Alternate legs and gradually increase the time as you sink lower.  This 'bitter work' not only develops a root, it stimulates the cardiovascular system, with benefits the brain.  It is essential that your ch'i sinks to the tan-t'ien, both feet adhere to the floor, and you exert absolutely no force.  When practicing this Standing Posture, you may assist your balance by lightly touching a chair or table with the middle and index fingers.  After a while us only the middle finger.  When you can stand unassisted, you my choose either the Lift Hands Posture or Playing the Guitar Posture to continue your practice.  Do not fear bitter work.  If you do you will never progress."
-  Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing, New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation, 1965, 1999, p. 11  [Practitioners might also do Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg Posture or White Stork Spreads Its Wings.]  Standing on one leg, holding static poses, is also a common practice in Hatha Yoga, e.g., Tree Pose, Vriksasana. 

Rooting, Sinking, Vertical Forces, Balanced in Taijiquan

"T'ai Chi Ch'uan, the great ultimate, strengthens the weak, raises the sick, invigorates the debilitated, and encourages the timid."
-  Dr. Cheng Man-ch'ing

"When I teach taichi today, I still cure illnesses, prolong life, and gladden the spirit,
but I can also enjoy the gathering of young and old,
and the sharing of goodness with others.

Resembling Old Lai's childish antics,
never retiring though aged,
Surpassing Hau Tuo's animal frolics,
always concentrating ch'i for softness.

Swallow the heaven's ch'i,
Tap the earth's strength,
Prolong life through softness.  

Herein, truly, lie health and happiness."

-  Chinese Medical Doctor and Herbalist,
   Cheng Man-ch'ing, New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation,
        1963, 1999, Translated by Mark Hennessy, p.15

Yang Style Taijiquan Quotations and Sayings

Chen Style Taijiquan Quotations and Sayings

Observations by Michael P. Garofalo

Taijiquan Classics

Cloud Hands Blog

Cheng Man-ch'ing T'ai Chi Ch'uan Form, 37 Movements

List of Postures

Yang Tai Chi Chuan 37 Form of Master Cheng Man-ch'ing   
One Page   PDF  22Kb   List of Postures 
Numbering and Sections by Mike Garofalo
Published by Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California on April 15, 2016.  A Valley Spirit Taijiquan Guide. 

Yang Tai Chi Chuan 37 Form of Master Cheng Man-ch'ing  
Eight Pages   PDF  113Kb   List of Postures
Numbering, Names, Notes, Directional Orientation, Codes, English Only, References, and Introduction all by Mike Garofalo
Published by Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California on April 15, 2016.  A Valley Spirit Taijiquan Guide. 

Yang Tai Chi Chuan 37 Form of Master Cheng Man-ch'ing  
Four Pages   PDF  98Kb
Numbering by Robert Chuckrow, Chinese Posture Names from Cheng Man-ch'ing, Notes, Directional Orientation, English and Chinese Names of Postures
Published by Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California.  First published online in September, 2008.  Revised on April 13, 2016. 
A Valley Spirit Taijiquan Guide by Mike Garofalo.  This list, in English, of the postures in the 37 Yang Short Form by Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing also includes the Wade-Giles transliteration of the Mandarin Chinese phrases used to identify each posture, directions for what direction to face for each posture, and a list of the books and webpages used as references when preparing this guide. 

There are, of course, many more movement sequences, postures, dingdian, and repetitions of some sequences/postures than just 37.  There are 54 numbered movements in the Cheng Man-ch'ing Yang Style Taijiquan 37 Form according to Bill Helm's account in a Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego publication in 1996.  Helm's was the 37 Form taught by Master Abraham Liu, a former student of Cheng Man-ch'ing in Taiwan.  Any numbering of postures/movements involves making choices, sometimes arbirtrary, about how to do the counting, e.g., Grasping Sparrow's Tail as one movement or four movements, Fair Lady Works her Shuttles as one movement or four movements, how to count repetitions, etc..  Cheng Man-ch'ing himself was not consistent with his counting/naming/grouping in his books although most movement sequences totaled up to 37, maybe for symbolic or mythical numerological reasons.  In "Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Chuan Self-Cultivation" (1963, 1999: p 116-122), for example, numbered Movement 37 includes: Bend the Bow, Shoot the Arrow; Step Forward, Block, Parry, and Punch; Cross Hands; Return to Origin.  So, Movement 37 has four parts, and considerably different movement parts.   

Of course, we are not thinking about counting when we are playing, practicing, training in Taijiquan.  We are trying to move gracefully, cultivate softness, and stay rooted amidst the yin-yang flow of the movements.   We can have true experiential acquaintance with jins, li, yin, yang, chi, hsing, and shen with or without perfection in the performance of a single Taijiquan or Qigong Form; but, practicing a Form is a crucial and and very useful training tool in Taijiquan. 

How someone learns the Cheng Man-ch'ing Taijiquan 37 Short Yang Form

Learn from a teacher and practice daily.  Your teacher might be an author whose publications you study, a competent instructor teaching you by means of DVD lessons, a live in person teacher, a group you practice with, your daily practice on your own, Internet teachers, live workshop teachers, private lessons ....  all of these methods and more. 

Practicing daily on your own is how you learn. 

Learn by Listening, Learn by Seeing, Learn by Practicing, Learn by Reading, Learn by Doing, Learn by Remembering, Learn by Taking Notes, Learn by Practicing, Learn by Visualizing, Learning by Imagining, Learning by Rehearsing, Learn by Practicing, Learn by Memorizing, Learn by Writing, Learn by Correcting .... all these methods and more.  Overcome three obstacles: lack of perseverance, greediness, and impatience. 

I studied the following books, resources and instructional DVDs:

Master Cheng's New Method of T'ai Chi Chuan Self-Cultivation.   By Cheng Man-ch'ing.  Translated by Mark Hennessy.   Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, Frog, Ltd., 1999.  128 pages.  ISBN: 1883319927.  Originally written in Chinese in 1963.  "The Simplified Thirty-Seven Posture Form, with Explanation and Illustrations" pp. 31-122.  VSCL. 

The Tai Chi Book: Refining and Enjoying a Lifetime of Practice.  By Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D..  Including the Teachings of Cheng Man-ch'ing, William C. C. Chen, and Harvey I. Sober.  Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, YMAA Publication Center, c 1998.   Index, 209 pages.  ISBN: 1886969647.    Dr. Chuckrow was a student of Cheng Man-ch'ing and others.  The Cheng 37 Posture form is described and illustrated with photographs on pages 177-204.  VSCL. 

Cheng Man-ch'ing T'ai-Chi Short Form.  Instructional DVD.  As taught by Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D..  NTSC DVD, color, 63 minutes.  ASIN: B00BMAVIVC.  "This DVD has three parts: (1) Demonstration of Cheng Man-ch'in's Short Form by Robert Chuckrow, (2) Form instruction, and (3) Rear view of form (student view). The instruction part is clear and detailed, and all the movements are taught in succession with different camera views and repetitions."  VSCL. 

I studied six books by Cheng Man-ch'ing (listed above) that I own (VSCL). 

Wide reading, study and practice in the Yang Style of Taijiquan. 

Practice, Enjoy, Practice, Rejuvenate, Practice, Refine, Practice, Relax, Practice, Pleasures, Practice, Joy, Practice, Insights, Practice, Contemplate, Practice, Blog, Practice

Green Way Research

Cloud Hands Homepage

Michael P. Garofalo's E-mail

Valley Spirit T'ai Chi Ch'uan

© Green Way Research, Michael P. Garofalo, 2002-2018
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington

This webpage was last modified or updated on December 23, 2017. 

This webpage was published on the Internet WWW in February of 2002.

Qigong: Links and Bibliography

Cloud Hands: T'ai Chi Ch'uan Website

Yang Style Taijiquan and Qigong

Biography of Michael P. Garofalo

Green Way Research

Fitness and Well Being

Detailed Index to the Cloud Hands Website

Disclaimer

Cloud Hands Blog

Cloud Hands Blog

Cloud Hands Blog of Michael P. Garofalo       

Facebook of Michael P. Garofalo    

Return to the Alphabetical Index of Mike Garofalo's Hypertext Documents
 

Green Way Research

Last updated the mirror webpage on 12/15/2017. 

Cheng Man-ch'ing: Bibliography, Resources, Taijiquan 37 Postures List, Links, Biographical, Philosophy

http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/manchingcheng.htm