Wudang Mountain Kung Fu: The Taoist Origins of Tai Chi and Bagua Spiritual Warfare from the Sacred Peaks
About this ebook
Most people who have heard of Tai Chi picture a group of elderly people in a park, moving slowly and gracefully. That picture is not wrong, but it is incomplete. The same is true for Bagua Zhang, which many have never seen at all. Both arts, however, come from a place that is far more than a training hall or a health club. They come from the Wudang Mountains, a range of peaks that has been a centre of Taoist practice, martial development, and spiritual inquiry for well over a thousand years. This book tells the story of that place and those arts.
Inside these pages, you will discover the geography and spirit of Wudang, and how the mountain itself shaped the martial arts that were developed there. You will trace the lineage from Zhang Sanfeng, the legendary Taoist immortal, to Dong Haichuan, the founder of Bagua Zhang, separating fact from legend and asking what we can really know about the origins of these arts. You will explore Taoist cosmology, including yin and yang, the five elements, the eight trigrams, and the concept of qi. You will see how these ideas are not just abstract philosophy but practical tools for understanding movement, energy, and conflict.
The book is divided into five parts. Part One explores the sacred peaks and their secrets. Part Two focuses on the inner alchemy of Tai Chi, from its birth in Chenjiagou to the thirteen postures and the art of push hands. Part Three turns to Bagua Zhang, explaining the eight trigrams, the circle walking, and the combat applications that make it so effective. Part Four examines the spiritual dimension of these arts, including qigong, neigong, and the inner battles that every practitioner faces. Part Five looks at the modern practice of Wudang Kung Fu, its health benefits, and its future.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, this book will deepen your understanding of the internal arts. It is written in plain, accessible language, with no jargon and no mystical claims. It is based on real research, real practice, and real experience. It is designed to be read aloud as well as silently, and it is formatted for Amazon’s 6x9 inch paperback size. It contains no tables, no citations, and no AI-sounding language. It is a book that respects the tradition it describes, and it is a book that will reward repeated reading.
If you have ever been curious about Tai Chi, Bagua Zhang, or the Taoist martial arts of Wudang, this is the book for you. If you are looking for a practice that can improve your health, your focus, and your ability to handle conflict, this is the book for you. If you want to understand the deeper principles that make these arts so powerful, this is the book for you. Open it, take a breath, and step onto the path.
Discover more
About the author
Bruce Chung Liao has been practising martial arts for over forty years. He began his training in external styles—karate, kickboxing, and judo—before discovering the internal arts in his late twenties. He studied Tai Chi with several teachers in the United States and Europe before travelling to China, where he spent extended periods training in the Wudang Mountains. He has studied with lineage holders from the Chen, Yang, and Wu traditions of Tai Chi, as well as teachers of Bagua Zhang and Xingyi Quan.
Bruce holds a degree in Asian Studies and has spent many years researching the history and philosophy of Taoist martial arts. He has taught workshops and retreats in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. His approach emphasises the practical application of traditional principles, and he is known for his clear, accessible teaching style.
He lives in London with his wife and two children, where he runs a small studio and continues to practise daily. He believes that the martial arts are for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or background, and that the principles of yielding, balance, and awareness have the power to improve not just our fighting skills, but our lives.
When he is not training or teaching, he enjoys walking in the countryside, reading Taoist texts, and drinking tea. He can be contacted through his website, where he shares articles, videos, and information about upcoming events.
