Essential Books

T'ai Chi: The "Supreme Ultimate" Exercise for Health, Sport, and Self-Defense by Cheng Man-Ch'ing, Robert W. Smith

This book, from renowned Tai Chi master, Cheng Man-Ch'ing, introduces T'ai-chi as a means to a healthier life, as a sport and as a method of self-defense. It is a complete step-by-step manual for the beginner.

Book cover of 'T'ai Chi' by Cheng Man-ch'ing and Robert W. Smith, featuring a figure performing a T'ai Chi pose and promotional text about the exercise.
Cover of the book 'Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan' by Cheng Man Ch'ing, translated by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo and Martin Inn, featuring floral artwork and Chinese calligraphy.

Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan by Cheng Man-ch'ing (Author), Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo (Translator), Martin Inn (Translator)

In this scholarly yet practical book, Professor Cheng shows precisely how the postures and moves of t’ai chi work, with examples from anatomy and physics, both internally as energetic principles and externally on opponents. This is a must have for any serious practitioner of T’ai Chi Ch’uan

Book cover of 'The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: The Literary Tradition', featuring a stylized sketch of an ancient figure on a colorful background with both English and Chinese text.

The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan - The Literary Tradition by Benjamin Lo. etal.

The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a translation of the T'ai Chi Classics, the principles on which T'ai Chi Ch'uan is based.

Cover of "T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen" by Chen Wei-Ming, translated by Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo and Robert W. Smith, featuring English and Chinese text on an orange background.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan

This book, T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen, was written by Professor Ch'en Wei-ming, who was a famous exponent of the Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan and a student of the great master, Yang Cheng-fu.

This book is based only on what Professor Ch'en heard in his teacher's classes and his own personal questions.

Other Relevant Martial

Book cover of 'LAO-TZU: 'My words are very easy to understand.'' It includes Chinese characters and mentions lectures on the Tao Teh Ching by Cheng Man-ch'ing, translated by Tam C. Gibbs.

Lao-Tzu: My Words are Very Easy to Understand by Cheng Man-ch'ing

Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching by Cheng Man-ch'ing

Cover of 'Cheng Man-Ch'ing's Advanced T'ai-Chi Form Instructions' showing two people practicing Tai Chi, with text about meditation, the I Ching, medicine, and the arts. Translated by Douglas Wile.

Cheng Man-Ching's Advanced Tai-Chi Form Instructions

With select writings on Meditation, the I Ching, Medicine, and Art

Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation by Cheng Man-ch'ing (Author), Mark Hennessy (Translator)

This volume, developed by the martial arts master and scholar, details the way that students arrive at a posture -- from beginning movements to the end pose. Master Cheng provides practitioners with a complete and concise guide to the Short Form, enabling them to make rapid progress.

Tao Te Ching. It is always good to explore different translation and see which one resonates with you.

Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English: Tao Te Ching – August 12, 1972
Known for their poetic and elegant translation, a good balance between accuracy and readability. 

Ursula K. Le Guin: Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching October 20, 1998
Her translation is known for its straightforward and accessible language, making it a good option for beginners. 

Stephen Mitchell: Tao Te Ching 1988
Mitchell's translation is more poetic and spiritual, emphasizing the mystical aspects of the Tao Te Ching.

Book cover titled 'Master Cheng's New Method of Taichi Ch'uan Self-Cultivation' by Cheng Man-ch'ing with translation by Mark Hennessy, featuring four photographs of a person demonstrating tai chi poses on a red vertical banner.