In the August 2007 release of this website, I wrote the first part of a two-part series on “The Essence of Taijiquan.” That Part 1 article described the “Perspective from Taiji Push Hands.” Part 2 in this release describes the “Perspective from Taiji Qigong.” This article will briefly address the following three questions:
- What is Qi and what is Qigong?
- How is Qigong related to Taiji?
- What are some general principles and steps in Taiji Qigong exercises?
This discussion is based on material from several books:
- The Essence of Taiji Qigong: The Internal Foundation of Taijiquan, by Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, 1997
- The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordianary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi, by Roger Jahnke, O.M.D., 2002
- Qigong Empowerment: A Guide to Medical, Taoist, Buddhist, Wushu Energy Cultivation, by Shou-Yu Liang and Wen-Ching Wu, 1997
- The Roots of Chinese Qigong: Secrets for Health, Longevity, & Enlightenment, by Dr. Jwing-Ming Yang, 1997
Watershed Event in Teaching WWII Asian History in NJ Schools
The NJ Commission on Holocaust Education has just published “A Curriculum Guide for Secondary Teachers” on “The Nanking Massacre and Other Japanese Atrocities Committed during the Asia-Pacific War: 1931-1945,” and is distributing copies of this Curriculum Guide to all high schools in NJ. During the 14 years of WWII in Asia, over 25 million Chinese, and many more millions in other Asian countries, were killed. One particular atrocity that stood out was the Nanking Massacre that started on December 13, 1937. During a six-week period in just the city of Nanking, the then capital of China, about 300,000 Chinese, mostly civilians (including numerous women and children), were slaughtered by the Japanese military, over 20,000 Chinese females (including many young girls and grandmothers, or even great grandmothers) were raped, and one-third of the city was burned to the ground.
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