Rating: 
Summary: The true essence of internal meditation is revealed here
Review: As a former student of the style Master Liao teaches, I have appreciated what has been put into words here. The true internal meditations are described, perhaps for the first time. This is why it is called "Classics". Also contained are the ancient classics by several masters.A detailed step-by-step of the Temple Style is also included,along with descriptions of the various advanced meditations. This is a must read for all serious students! Although it is a teaching guide to be used in conjunction with formal instruction, I believe anyone interested in the art will gain new insights into this wonderful and complicated art.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best....
Review: Being a student of Shaolin Tai Chi for several years and having read several books on the subject I found Tai Chi Classics to be one of my favorites. Liao explains some of the concepts covered in fee other books. This book may be a little too advanced for the novice, but is an excellent reference for those already familiar with Tai Chi concepts.I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best....
Review: Being a student of Shaolin Tai Chi for several years and having read several books on the subject I found Tai Chi Classics to be one of my favorites. Liao explains some of the concepts covered in fee other books. This book may be a little too advanced for the novice, but is an excellent reference for those already familiar with Tai Chi concepts. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: The true essence of internal meditation is revealed here
Review: For the newcomer to this art, the selection of core writings on the history, meaning and practice of Tai Chi that are found in this slim book make it worth the price. However, it has still more to offer in the author's own writings and interpretive commentary. His introductory chapters set forth the key concepts which form both the foundation and the "tools" of Tai Chi, and attempt to prepare the reader for the latter chapters containig the writings of three of the great early masters of Tai Chi. The author attempts to clarify the somewhat pithy and obscure teachings of these men, with mixed sucess; this must be expected, given the difficulties involved in attempting to delineate the intangible and express the internalized.
If this reader can be said to find fault, it would be with the final section of the book, which outlines the 37 movement Short Form developed by Master Cheng, who felt that too many people simply did not have the time to devote to learning the full form. Rather than using the space to show this form at the expense of the other forms or schools of Tai Chi, it might have been more worthwhile to show more of those exercises which focus on developing specific techniques in the art. However, this does not detract from the worthy qualities of this book. Certainly, if you are looking for a place to begin your journey toward understanding of the "Grand Ultimate," Tai Chi Classics will give you a good home to leave, and a useful place to refresh yourself on the way
Rating: 
Summary: A handy one-volume "root-reference" for the novice
Review: For the newcomer to this art, the selection of core writings on the history, meaning and practice of Tai Chi that are found in this slim book make it worth the price. However, it has still more to offer in the author's own writings and interpretive commentary. His introductory chapters set forth the key concepts which form both the foundation and the "tools" of Tai Chi, and attempt to prepare the reader for the latter chapters containig the writings of three of the great early masters of Tai Chi. The author attempts to clarify the somewhat pithy and obscure teachings of these men, with mixed sucess; this must be expected, given the difficulties involved in attempting to delineate the intangible and express the internalized.
If this reader can be said to find fault, it would be with the final section of the book, which outlines the 37 movement Short Form developed by Master Cheng, who felt that too many people simply did not have the time to devote to learning the full form. Rather than using the space to show this form at the expense of the other forms or schools of Tai Chi, it might have been more worthwhile to show more of those exercises which focus on developing specific techniques in the art. However, this does not detract from the worthy qualities of this book. Certainly, if you are looking for a place to begin your journey toward understanding of the "Grand Ultimate," Tai Chi Classics will give you a good home to leave, and a useful place to refresh yourself on the way
Rating:
Summary: The Real Thing
Review: I am a former student of Master Liao and can attest that whathe outlines and explains in his book is for real. This book is a mustfor any martial artist. Regardless of the style practiced, thecontrol and use of chi is essential for the martial artist to becomefully developed. This book explains the cultivation and use of chiclearly and completely.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Thing
Review: I am a former student of Master Liao and can attest that whathe outlines and explains in his book is for real. This book is a mustfor any martial artist. Regardless of the style practiced, thecontrol and use of chi is essential for the martial artist to becomefully developed. This book explains the cultivation and use of chiclearly and completely.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks for the translation, but...
Review: I found this book valuable, but not outstanding. Waysun Liao is not personally known to me, but according to the sources in this book, he is an avid believer in Cheng Man Ching's perspective on Tai Chi. I am in no position to critique one perspective or another, but my take on this book was that it was tinted significantly by Master Cheng's perspective. That being said, I have not avidly studied Master Cheng (although I intend to read some of his/students' work), but there was a consistent underlying bias towards one way of looking that I wasn't convinced was originally intended by the "classics"authors. I'll try to explain what I mean in the paragraphs below. The first section is an abridged history of Tai Chi. The next two chapters are on ch'i and jing, respecively. These two chapters are nice. They are Master Liao's (the author)insights into the concepts of ch'i and jing. He provides some nice descriptions and definitions of what he feels these terms mean, as well as medititative approaches to trying to develop ch'i and jing. As with the majority of books I've read, these definitions are things like "life energy", "internal energy" and "intrinsic energy"-- and the outcome after practicing his meditative technique is that you should soon "feel your ch'i". Liao attempts to be more precise and detailed then that, but ultimately, as with many things, the reader is still reduced to "life energy" as the basis of all things. His descriptions include many analogical/symbolic diagrams that are sometimes helpful, but for me, mostly added nothing-- in fact, when he attempts to use real-life analogies, it's clear that his understanding of Newtonian physics is inadequate to truly use these types of examples to try and explain what he means. Ultimately, ch'i as the "energy of the universe" and "immune to the laws of time and space" is inadequate to the subject. OTOH, his treatise on jing is interesting and informative, although still relies to heavily on his abstract definition of ch'i. Utilizing a hammer and nail analogy left me shaking my head in dismay. Liao does not always correlate his text with his hand-written diagrams. I did like his explanation of shoong, or relaxation. His perspective pervades his Tai Chi Classics translation. The nice thing is that he translates the Classics for us non-fluent (in Chinese) readers. He then adds his own commentary, and it is heavily flavored with comments on ch'i etc. as he defines it--often where I felt the original translation wasn't referring to ch'i at all, but to other things. Sometimes his commentary is just saying it again in a slightly different way, IMO sometimes distorting the "original" meaning. As with all things of this nature, there will be many perspectives. And it only takes one to really make a difference in specific individuals. I feel that Master Liao has given his best effort, with good intent, and that this is how HE truly understands these esoteric concepts. For that, this is a valuable book, and I think it provides a number of insights. I felt like I understood better what ch'i and jing and all that is when Masters use the terms, although I'm still not certain, just based on this book, what it actually is. All in all, this book has and will improve my Tai Chi, and I think it brought me a step closer. But I wish there could be someone (check out Peter Ralston's early works) that could approach things on a more grand, open perspective, and gradually wheedle it down to the specifics, explaing how/why process-wise, it evolved. I didn't feel I got the BASIS for Master Liao's perspective that I think I needed to truly appreciate his effort. Thanks for listening.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks for the translation, but...
Review: I found this book valuable, but not outstanding. Waysun Liao is not personally known to me, but according to the sources in this book, he is an avid believer in Cheng Man Ching's perspective on Tai Chi. I am in no position to critique one perspective or another, but my take on this book was that it was tinted significantly by Master Cheng's perspective. That being said, I have not avidly studied Master Cheng (although I intend to read some of his/students' work), but there was a consistent underlying bias towards one way of looking that I wasn't convinced was originally intended by the "classics"authors. I'll try to explain what I mean in the paragraphs below. The first section is an abridged history of Tai Chi. The next two chapters are on ch'i and jing, respecively. These two chapters are nice. They are Master Liao's (the author)insights into the concepts of ch'i and jing. He provides some nice descriptions and definitions of what he feels these terms mean, as well as medititative approaches to trying to develop ch'i and jing. As with the majority of books I've read, these definitions are things like "life energy", "internal energy" and "intrinsic energy"-- and the outcome after practicing his meditative technique is that you should soon "feel your ch'i". Liao attempts to be more precise and detailed then that, but ultimately, as with many things, the reader is still reduced to "life energy" as the basis of all things. His descriptions include many analogical/symbolic diagrams that are sometimes helpful, but for me, mostly added nothing-- in fact, when he attempts to use real-life analogies, it's clear that his understanding of Newtonian physics is inadequate to truly use these types of examples to try and explain what he means. Ultimately, ch'i as the "energy of the universe" and "immune to the laws of time and space" is inadequate to the subject. OTOH, his treatise on jing is interesting and informative, although still relies to heavily on his abstract definition of ch'i. Utilizing a hammer and nail analogy left me shaking my head in dismay. Liao does not always correlate his text with his hand-written diagrams. I did like his explanation of shoong, or relaxation. His perspective pervades his Tai Chi Classics translation. The nice thing is that he translates the Classics for us non-fluent (in Chinese) readers. He then adds his own commentary, and it is heavily flavored with comments on ch'i etc. as he defines it--often where I felt the original translation wasn't referring to ch'i at all, but to other things. Sometimes his commentary is just saying it again in a slightly different way, IMO sometimes distorting the "original" meaning. As with all things of this nature, there will be many perspectives. And it only takes one to really make a difference in specific individuals. I feel that Master Liao has given his best effort, with good intent, and that this is how HE truly understands these esoteric concepts. For that, this is a valuable book, and I think it provides a number of insights. I felt like I understood better what ch'i and jing and all that is when Masters use the terms, although I'm still not certain, just based on this book, what it actually is. All in all, this book has and will improve my Tai Chi, and I think it brought me a step closer. But I wish there could be someone (check out Peter Ralston's early works) that could approach things on a more grand, open perspective, and gradually wheedle it down to the specifics, explaing how/why process-wise, it evolved. I didn't feel I got the BASIS for Master Liao's perspective that I think I needed to truly appreciate his effort. Thanks for listening.
Rating:
Summary: Buy Recommendation
Review: I like Tai Chi Classics. What appealed to me immediately is the straight forward manner in which Master Liao explains chi, jing, li, and how concept relates to each other. I would not say the book was written to teach a student to mechanics of Tai Chi, but instead to be an overview of the essences of chi and jing in the Tai Chi movements. Therefore, one should already have a working knowledge of the Tai Chi Movements. The book perfects the application of the Jing in the Tai Chi movements. One of the most interest statements delivered in the book, states that a practitioner may feel chi but not jing. Meaning the practitioner of Tai Chi may go through the movements of Tai Chi without ever really understanding the full impact of the art. I feel the book focuses on how the practitioner can build Jing, and the author seems to translate this approach in to the Tai Chi Form in the latter portion of the book. Does one read the book to discover amazing stories of physical feats or rather does one read the book to improve understand of what internal energy really mean.
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