This book is a must have for any practitioner of the Chinese
sword arts. Scott Rodell is one of the foremost experts of the Chinese Jian and
has 40+ years of experience he brings to the table in his commentary and
translation.
The layout of the book is useful as well, he leaves the classical
Chinese, the pinyin and the English translation on the page together. I like
that because it gives me the opportunity to see the character (I don’t speak
Chinese) and look at the tone in Pinyin as well as see the translated meaning
in English.
This is not a book for a novice, although it can benefit
someone who has no experience, this book is really for the person who has some
background in Chinese swordsmanship. The insight and depth of the commentary
helps to elucidate some of the finer points of theory and usage.
I believe the introduction about Li Jinlin the
“Sword Saint”, the history of Wu Dang Sword and Chinese history lesson alone is
worth the $6 price tag.
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