Tai ji update

I recently got together with my Taiji instructor, Paul Pitchford, after not seeing him for more than 25 years. I took my first Taiji class with Paul in 1975 when he taught in Moscow, Idaho.
On the left is a picture of us taken in Moscow dated January 19, 1979 practicing double Join Hands (i.e., Push Hands).
Below is a picture of us practicing double Join Hands on January 21, 2012 - almost 33 years later to the day!

Red Deer Antler Tips

Recently I had an inquiry about red deer antler tips that were mentioned in a book as a high quality product. The tips of the antler are said to be stronger and warmer than the body the antler, however, they are quite expensive and you may have to pay up to $1,000.00 for this product. One reason for the expense is that the tips have to be cut from the antler and you can not buy just a small amount. When the antler is cut you need to buy a minimum of three or four ounces of the antler.
We suggest using regular deer antler. For all intents and purposes this will serve you quite well.
See Deer Antler.

Bruce Lee Plays Ping Pong

This is fun! See: Bruce Lee Plays Ping Pong with nunchucks

As an update it turns out this video was created for an advertisement. They used a Bruce Lee look-a-like and made the film look old. It is still fun to watch though.

Pictures of China's Ethnic Groups

Here's a link to superb Photo's of China's Different Ethnic Groups.

Fructus Lycii 枸杞子 gou qi zi (wolfberry)

Fructus Lycii 枸杞子 (Chinese: Gou qi zi, AKA goji berry or wolfberry) is an important herb for longevity and beauty. It nourishes the blood and essence and is used for weakened sexual energy, backache, fading eyesight, oversensitive eyes, mental confusion, and underdeveloped inner psychic vision. This sweet and tasty fruit can be made into tea, eaten by itself, or used in food preparations. It combines well with Ginseng, Rehmanniae, or Chrysanthemum. Use 6-15 grams per four cups water.

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Note: Tibetan Goji Berries is a species of Lycii berries that is not listed in the Official Chinese Materia Medica and therefore is considered a Food Grade Product rather than a Medicinal Grade Herb.

China's Yuan advances to new high

Herb prices and goods from China will continue to rise as China's Yuan advances.

See: China's Yuan advances to new high

Chinese Yuan continues to advance -higher prices to come

Herb prices will continue to increase as China's yuan advanced to 6.5883 per US dollar. Ten years ago the price was about 8.2 to the US dollar which made products much less expensive - almost half of what the cost is now.

China's Herbal Medicine Plagued by Inflation

China's Herbal Medicine Plagued by Inflation
By Michael Bristow BBC News, Anguo, Northern China

At the Central Trade Hall in the city of Anguo there are hundreds of stalls selling unusual products - tree bark, wild flowers and roots.

Many of them have unusual names, such as Baikal Skullcap and Pagoda Tree.

These products are all used in traditional Chinese medicine and are on sale at the country's largest market for medicinal herbs.

It is an ancient industry that is currently grappling with an age-old problem: inflation.

Medicinal herbs have on average nearly doubled in price over the last year. Some particular ingredients have gone up even more.

Expect Chinese Herb Prices to Rise

Chinese herb prices continue to rise due to crop failure's and pressure from the US Government. The United States says China's yuan is undervalued which makes their products unfairly cheap.
Here's another article about the rising prices: China sees soaring medicinal herb prices.
In any event be prepared to see frequent price increases in the product you buy.

Herb Prices Soar

SINGAPORE, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The prices of most herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) rose by 30 percent this year in Singapore.

Local herbs wholesalers contribute the price increase to the stronger Chinese currency and herbus supply shortages, local English daily the Straits Times reported on Tuesday.

The supply shortages are the result of major natural disasters which wiped out swathes of herbal plantations in China.

The prices of over 25 percent of herbal medicines have more than doubled in the second half of the year. For instance, the honeysuckle flower, or jinyinhua, which is used to relieve colds, costs as much as five times more than it did last year.....

For more info see: Traditional Chinese medicine herbs prices surge in Singapore

Chinese Treasures on Auction

Chinese treasures make up the bulk of auction at Sotheby's. See

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/7234570.html

Prices of Chinese Herbs will continue to rise

... Chinese consumers have recently been forced to wrestle with market distortions that have triggered huge advances in commodities such as ginger, garlic and medicinal herbs. ...

To read the full article see: Chinese Jittery over red-hot prices

Peace Prize?

Why is it that Liu Xiaobo gets the Nobel Peace Prize for speaking out for democracy in China and wikileaks Julian Assange is considered the USA's number one enemy for speaking out for democracy?

Prices of Chinese Herbs Increase

• Friday 2010-12-10 12:33

December 10 -- Shanghai raised the prices of Chinese medicines by about 44.06 percent yesterday, reports Yicai.com, citing Huo Guiming, manager of Shanghai Qunli Herbal Medicine Store.

Huo said there were price hikes in August and September due to the increasing cost of raw materials for Chinese medicines.

According to data published by the China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the prices of 459 kinds of herbs were raised in October, accounting for 86 percent of the total amount, of which the price of Taizi ginseng surged 612 percent.

Huo added that the tough weather conditions played an important role in the current price hike.

Besides the above factors, Liu Sheng, manager of Yunnan Lvsheng Pharmaceutical, attributed the current price hike to the increase in the prices of agricultural products.

Shares of Beijing Tongrentang (600085), a Chinese medicine producer, gained 1.88 percent to close the morning session at 36.28 yuan.

Source: CaptialVue News

Easy Herbal Remedy for vomiting and diarrhea

An excellent formula for for vomiting and diarrhea is composed of equal amounts (about 6 grams) of fresh ginger and tea leaves. Boil together briefly and sip the tea slowly. It settles the stomach and reduces the diarrhea. This is an easy remedy to remember and use if you are ever traveling. Source: Chinese Herbal Medicine 3rd Ed. page 33 You can purchase this book at: http://eastearthtrade.com/chineseherbalmedicinemateriamedicathirdedition.aspx

82-year-old woman creates herself unique body exercise

Eighty-two-year-old Zhao Yufang stretches her leg in the residential compound she lives in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 4, 2010. Zhao created herself a unique body exercise combining Yoga, Wushu or martial arts, and Qigong or breathing exercise in her sixties, and three hours of daily practice over years has granted her with good fitness. (Xinhua/Liu Yu)
See: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90783/91324/7221158.html

Treasures on Show

An exhibition of important relics and contemporary art pieces of China was held in Beijing on October 21-24, displaying the country's rich culture and its boundless charm.

As the largest Chinese antique art fair, the Second Beijing China Art International Fair (BCAIF) offered a good opportunity for people to enjoy hundreds of the best and rare Chinese art treasures, said Yu Ping, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage, one of the sponsors of the fair. More...

QR Code for East Earth Trade Winds.

Scan this image with your smartphone to link to East Earth Trade Winds website

China's Taoism Revival

Yin Xinhui reached the peak of Mount Yi and surveyed the chaos. The 47-year-old Taoist abbess was on a sacred mission: to consecrate a newly rebuilt temple to one of her religion’s most important deities, the Jade Emperor. But there were as yet no stairs, just a muddy path up to the pavilion, which sat on a rock outcropping 3,400 feet above a valley. A team of workers was busy laying stone steps, while others planted sod, trees and flowers. Inside the temple, a breeze blew through windows that were still without glass, while red paint flecked the stone floor. More...

Confucius descendant to donate family tree book to the U.S. Library of Congress

Confucius descendant to donate family tree book to the U.S. Library of Congress

A descendant of the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius will donate a copy of a collection of books that delineate Confucius's family tree to the U.S. Library of Congress in September....

Old Summer Palace calls for return of looted relics

A commemorative event marking the 150th anniversary of the destruction of the imperial garden by occupying forces during the Second Opium War was held on Monday evening, Oct. 18, 2010 at the ruins of the Yuanmingyuan, also known as the Old Summer Palace. Reported by Beijing News.
more...

Yi ethnic culture museum opens in Yunnan

Yi ethnic culture museum opens in Yunnan
A museum recently opened in Yunnan Province dedicated to the ethnic culture of the Yi minority. It is aimed at rejuvenating their unique crafts and customs that are being pushed into oblivion.

The museum takes the shape of a typical Yi village tucked between mountains. Covering an area of five thousand square meters, it was funded by a Yi ethnic entrepreneur and took three years to complete.
More at:

Yi ethnic culture museum

UFO photographed over ancient Chinese city

UFO photographed over ancient Chinese city.
There have been a number of UFO sightings in China recently. Here is a recent story on one.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90782/7149965.html

Chinese Womens Fashions

Chinese womens fashions from 1900-2010.

Defining "Qi"

The Chinese word "Qi" is often mistranslated as "energy" in English. "Qi" is not energy.

"Qi" cannotes both substance and function. Substance and function are two different concepts but they are closely related and cannot be entirely separated. This is because each function must be based on a certain substance, while a certain form of substance is bound to demonstrate a corresponding function. -Essentials of Chinese Acupuncture, p. 36

While not easy to translate, a better term than "energy" is "Air" or "Vital Air".

Oxford Dictionary adds Popular Chinese Terms

The 115-year-old prestigious Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like "shanzhai" "youtiao" and "fangnu", as part of the modern Chinese language.

As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever evolving, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet vibrant language.
For more see: Oxford Dictionary adds Popular Chinese Terms

Jet Li wants to make Taiji an Olympic Sport

Jet Li wants to make Taiji an Olympic Sport


"The Expendables" star Jet Li is not just eying Hollywood but is working to include Chinese martial arts in the Olympics.

Li announced his plan on Thursday in Beijing where he was named image ambassador for the inaugural SportAccord Combat Games, the "Beijing News" reports.

Li will work specifically on promoting the martial art of Taijiquan. ....