Taijiquan and the Search for the Little Old Chinese Man: Understanding Identity Through Martial Arts

Front Cover
Palgrave Macmillan, Nov 14, 2006 - Health & Fitness - 320 pages
The first book-length ethnography of a Chinese martial arts association, the book tackles the general question of how human beings form viewpoints of themselves and others through the practice of an art--in this case, the art of taijiquan (a.k.a. "tai chi"). The first half of the book focuses on the author's own experience of studying taijiquan with teachers in the People's Republic of China and the United States, then expands the discussion to include taijiquan as national symbol, taijiquan in the context of urban China, and the globalization of "Chineseness" through taijiquan.

About the author (2006)

Adam Frank is Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at the Honors College, University of Central Arkansas. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in International Affairs from American University, and a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Arizona. His current research focuses on Asian American heritage sites, on Asian theatre, and on anthropology history and theory. In addition to teaching anthropology and Asian studies, Frank continues to practice and teach taijiquan. He lives in Conway, Arkansas with his wife, Sandi, a teacher, and his daughter, Zabei, a taiji master.