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Sunday, September 29, 2019

Nanban tsuba & Asian export sword guards - Mandarin Mansion



For long, "nanban tsuba" literally "Southern barbarian sword-guards" have been a catch-all classification for sword guards for Japanese swords (tsuba), that show foreign influence. 
I became interested in the subject some years ago when I noticed how some of these were not just Chinese in style, but of Chinese manufacture with later adjustments to accommodate their use on Japanese swords. A most fruitful exchange of ideas followed with James McElhinney through his Nanban Tsuba facebook page. He made me aware of the fact that many such guards made it to Japan through gift exchanges related to maritime trade with the Dutch and Chinese.
James McElhinney wrote a much anticipated book about the subject and is in the process of getting it published. Some of the guards that feature in the book are for sale on this page.
READ THE REST HERE


Nanban tsuba & Asian export sword guards - Mandarin Mansion

Friday, September 27, 2019

Song military encyclopedia Wu Jing Zong Yao




The Song military encyclopedia Wu Jing Zong Yao says ~

The Tao of using troops is to use Benevolence and Righteousness as the foundation, while using power/authority and strategies as the tool...

武经总要 ~用兵之道,以仁义为本,以权谋为用。

Found HERE 

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Art of the Jian - Trans: Scott M. Rodell


莊子曰:
夫為劍者,示之以虛,
開之以利,後之以發,
先之以至。

Zhuangzi Wrote,
"The art of the jian is to deliberately expose a weakness, 
giving the enemy the impression they have the opportunity to attack.
Your hand moves after the enemy, but your jian strikes first.”
-trans. Scott M. Rodell
Found HERE 

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Yang style Tai Chi Chuan - Fu Zhong Wen

Yang style Tai Chi Chuan - Fu Zhong Wen

"Master Fu Zhongwen demonstrating the authentic Yang Style Form with the help of his grandson.
Fu Zhongwen (1903-1994) was a respected Tai Chi Chuan teacher from China. From an early age, he had been a disciple of Yang Ch'eng-fu, and later a family member as he married Zou Kuei Cheng, the great-granddaughter of Yang Chien Hou. Fu Zhongwen had dedicated his life to practicing and teaching Tai Chi. He was voted as one of the One Hundred Living Treasures of China and it was a great loss to the martial arts world and a greater loss to his family when he died in Shanghai on September 25, 1994 at age 92."

Sunday, September 1, 2019

Shuai-jiao (摔角) - Tong Zhongyi

Shuai-jiao (摔角) - Tong Zhongyi

"Tóng zhōngyì (佟忠義) was a Manchu martial artist who lived between 1879 and 1963. He was likely a descendant of the White Banner. He had an illustrious martial career working in security companies, militaries, and as an instructor. He trained in Baoding Shuaijiao and likely also practiced Mongol Bokh, along with Da Liu He boxing, archery, spear, and weight lifting. He wrote a book on wrestling titled 中國摔角用法, or Chinese Wrestling Method, with training regimens, advice, and techniques. In this video we're trying out the 28 throws shown at the end of the manual to give you a glimpse of this man's style."