Fighting Words: Four New Document Finds Reignite Old Debates in Taijiquan Historiography

A recent scene in Beijing as smog clouded the skyline. Source: http://www.aol.com/article/2014/02/25/pollution-hides-beijing-skyline-statues-get-masks/20837579/

Introduction

As I mentioned last week, I am currently in the middle of a couple of writing projects.  As such, our weekend post will be covered by Douglas Wile, author of the SUNY Press volume, The Lost Tai Chi Classic (1996).  In addition to being a friend of Kung Fu Tea, Wile must also be considered to be one of the essential (indeed foundational) thinkers within the field of Martial Arts Studies.  We are very lucky to have him with us on the blog.

In this article, published in the most recent issue of Martial Arts Studies, Wile takes a closer look at the evidence surrounding a number of recent document finds that purport to rewrite the history of Taijiquan.  Moving beyond these texts he then asks what these controversies signal about the state of martial…