The Wang Family's Secret Manual

Name: The Wang Family's Secret Manual
ISBN: 9787555231974

王占海Qingdao Publishing House · ChinaAug 2020

3.4

Word count: 64 words
Chapters: 6
ISBN: 9787555231974

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Summary

Thanks to the author's authority, the authenticity of the boxing style, the richness of its content, the clarity of its explanations, and its illustrated format, The Wang Family Manual has become a truly authoritative work for learning Tai Chi. It not only helps readers enter the world of Tai Chi and understand its subtleties, but also enhances learners' theoretical grounding and martial skill, building an accurate dialectical framework of yin and yang so that they may master the art and become renowned Tai Chi practitioners.

Editor's review

The Wang Family Manual is a martial arts monograph written by the renowned Tai Chi master Wang Zhanhai, whose value lies not only in technical transmission but also in cultural interpretation. The book systematically traces the origins, training system, and combat applications of Chen-style Tai Chi; grounded in the author's decades of practice, it translates profound boxing theory into actionable training methods. From foundational training such as standing post and silk-reeling exercises, to complete analyses of the Old Frame First and Second Routines, and on to the essential combat techniques of pushing hands and free sparring, the book is rigorously structured and progresses layer by layer. Particularly valuable are the many historical anecdotes and lineage stories woven throughout, which immerse the technical explanations in a humanistic context and spare the reader the dryness of a mere technical manual. For modern readers, the book's value lies in the complete perspective it offers on understanding traditional martial arts—not only "how to practice" but also "why practice this way." Wang Zhanhai's writing is plain and sincere, free of mystification; his explanations of movement essentials, breath coordination, and the transmission of force are as clear as possible, and are supported by numerous demonstration photographs. This makes the book both a corrective guide for advanced practitioners and a satisfying source of systematic knowledge for enthusiasts of martial arts culture. Among traditional martial arts texts, the book stands out for its systematicity, readability, and authority.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Chen-style Tai Chi practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of the routines' meaning and combat application
Readers interested in traditional martial arts culture, especially the history and philosophy of Tai Chi
Teachers and students of martial arts in physical education institutions seeking authoritative, systematic teaching references
Fitness enthusiasts who wish to cultivate body and mind through martial arts and value theoretical guidance

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting quick self-defense techniques or purely entertaining reading
Complete beginners with no martial arts background who merely wish to learn Tai Chi from a book

Reading tips

It is recommended to read alongside video materials (if available) for a more intuitive grasp of movement details
Alternate between the technical and theoretical sections while reading to avoid information overload
Revisit key chapters and try to experience core concepts such as "relaxed sinking" and "silk reeling" in daily life

About the publisher

Qingdao Publishing House China · Founded in 1987

Founded in 1987, Qingdao Publishing House has long focused on education, science and technology, children's books, and lifestyle titles, while steadily publishing classical and foreign literature. Its 827 titles in the catalog reflect a balance between making classics widely accessible and serving young readers. They include the four great classics of Chinese literature—Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Dream of the Red Chamber, and Journey to the West—as well as foreign literary translations such as Sei Shōnagon's The Pillow Book, works associated with Zhou Zuoren, and Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. The press also offers a color-illustrated series of recommended classics for primary and secondary school Chinese curriculum reading, using pictures and text to support student readers. Its common categories cover classical literature, essays and miscellaneous writings, folk literature, and foreign literature, with authors including Luo Guanzhong, Shi Nai'an, Cao Xueqin, Gao E, Wu Cheng'en, Sei Shōnagon, Zhou Zuoren, and Victor Hugo. Public information is limited, so this profile emphasizes the publishing directions shown by the catalog.

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FAQ

How does the Tai Chi taught in this book differ from other schools?

The book focuses on Chen-style Tai Chi, characterized by its retention of pronounced power release, jumping, and silk-reeling movements, a balance of hardness and softness, and a strong emphasis on martial combat meaning. It differs in style and training system from simplified Tai Chi practiced mainly for fitness.

Can I learn Tai Chi from this book alone without a teacher?

The book is systematic and authoritative, but Tai Chi is a physical art involving complex force and coordination. The book is an excellent guide and reference, but beginners are advised to start under a teacher's guidance and then use the book to deepen and correct their practice, so as to avoid forming bad habits.

Is the content suitable for middle-aged and elderly readers seeking health and fitness?

Entirely suitable. Chen-style Tai Chi also has gentle forms of practice, and the relaxation, breathing, and standing-post work emphasized in the book are central to health cultivation. Middle-aged and elderly readers can, according to their condition, focus on the foundational exercises and slow practice of the routines, achieving good fitness results as well.

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About the author

王占海 Author

Wang Zhanhai: public information is limited, and no clear records of his life, education, or martial lineage are available. Judging from the two works held in the collection, Meridian Taiji and The Wang Family's Secret Manual, his writing centers on traditional martial arts and physical training, with connections to the military and sports categories. The titles carry a clear tone of family transmission and health cultivation, indicating the author's attention to taiji methods, meridian theory, and family martial arts experience. In approach, he tends to combine technical movements and training methods with theoretical explanation, addressing both practitioners' actual practice and ordinary readers' need for fitness. Such subjects are not mainstream in the Chinese book market, and the readership is relatively specific, consisting mainly of martial arts enthusiasts, health practitioners, and researchers in related fields. Because information about the author himself is scarce, it is difficult to judge the social reach of his works; the above observations can only be based on the two titles currently available.