Kristopher Schipper
/Wonderful and insightful interview with Kristopher Schipper, who is one of the most respected experts on Daoism in the world.
You can order his book below, a classic.
Internal martial arts, theatricality, Chinese religion, and The Golden Elixir.
Books: TAI CHI, BAGUAZHANG AND THE GOLDEN ELIXIR, Internal Martial Arts Before the Boxer Uprising. By Scott Park Phillips. Paper ($30.00), Digital ($9.99)
Possible Origins, A Cultural History of Chinese Martial Arts, Theater and Religion, (2016) By Scott Park Phillips. Paper ($18.95), Digital ($9.99)
Watch Video: A Cultural History of Tai Chi
New Eastover Workshop, in Eastern Massachusetts, Italy, and France are in the works.
Daodejing Online - Learn Daoist Meditation through studying Daoism’s most sacred text Laozi’s Daodejing. You can join from anywhere in the world, $50. Email me if you are interesting in joining!
Angela Mao
/Sweet article on Kungfu Opera Master Angela Mao in the NYT.
Got a Nice Review
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I just got a nice review of my book Possible Origins. It was done by Edward Hines over at i-Bagua, check it out! And then, of course, buy the book and write your own review...
If martial arts is defined broadly as "combat skill," it goes back to single celled organisms. If it is defined by written discourse about hunting or battle, it is one of the first things ever written down. If it is written stories about sword dueling masters in China, it is about 2300 year old. If it is court documents about wrestlers, acrobats, or martial rituals done by people wearing animal masks, it is about 2100 years old. If it is written documents describing martial displays of acrobatic skill by the military, or plays with fighting scenes, it is somewhere around 1300 to 1000 years old. If it is written descriptions of forms (taolu) at Shaolin Temple it is five, maybe six hundred years old. If it is written discussion about lineage transmissions it is even more recent.
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Some Music Offerings and Religious Fighting Theater
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Here is a wonderful quote about who Daoists and Buddhists fought each other in totally radical dance offs!!! Feel the LOVE.
Read MoreNews and Events
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I want to let people in California know that my friend Alex Boyd from the UK is teaching in Oakland and Los Angeles. His partner work is definitely worth experiencing, lots of practices that improve spatial perception in games, and a unique Daoist lineage.
DAVIS www.lishi.org/davis 4th - 6th Nov
OAKLAND www.lishi.org/oakland 5th Nov
LOS ANGELES contact alex@lishi.org 9th - 12th Nov
CALGARY www.lishi.org/calgary - 13th-15th Nov
How Was Baguazhang Originally Taught?
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Everyone who practices Baguazhang has heard that it was created or revealed by one famous master named Dong Haichuan. Almost everyone agrees on the mythology that Dong taught each of his students differently based on what skills and experiences they already had.
That is pretty extraordinary. That means there wasn't a curriculum. It was improvisational.
Read MoreTeaching Patronage
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I've been thinking a lot about patronage networks. I cover this in my book because it is such an essential part of understanding the context of Chinese martial arts. But for those who have already read my book...I have more.
First allow me to lead off with two conversations I had recently, one about the future, and one about that past.
Read MoreMartial Arts Studies Keynote Videos
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All of the Keynote Lectures from the Marital Arts Studies Conference in Cardiff this Summer are up on their Youtube Channel. There is a lot of good material here, check it out.
And here is a playlist of our mini film festival too:
Read MoreThree Teasers for the History of Tai Chi
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Here at the three teasers I just finished. Covering the Door Gods, Jade Maidens, and Spies. Don't forget to buy the book, there is lot's more juicy stuff in there.
Read MoreMartial Magic
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This article from Wired Magazine is interesting especially toward the end. Magic and the Brain: Teller Reveals the Neuroscience of Illusion. It gets a bit into the techniques of magic and the possibility that new discoveries about the mind/brain might lead to new magic tricks.
I'll just take a moment to reflect on the idea that a lot of martial arts are in fact a category of magic trick.
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