Waterstones Chinese Medical Qigong
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Price: £28.99
Brand: Waterstones
Description: Based on the latest edition of the approved textbook on Medical Qigong used in Chinese universities, this authoritative paperback edition has been completely revised and edited to meet the needs of western practitioners. The editors emphasize the practice of Qigong, and this section of the book has been revised and expanded; a wide range of Qigong forms are presented, taking full account of the history, correct practice, and development of Qigong. The section on the clinical applications of Qigong in the treatment of a wide range of conditions, with the recommended Qigong forms for treatment, and relevant references to the ancient texts has been substantially revised, and focuses on conditions more common in the West. The book also presents the newest research on Medical Qigong, including groundbreaking new discoveries about the physiological and psychological mechanisms. Omitted from this paperback edition are the extensive excerpts from the ancient texts, and the detailed history, more appropriate for academic study. This is an unparalleled resource for practitioners of Qigong and Chinese medicine, as well as medical students and other healthcare professionals seeking a better understanding of the theory, practice and beneficial health applications of Medical Qigong. Waterstones Chinese Medical Qigong - shop the best deal online on thebookbug.co.uk
Category: Books
Merchant: Waterstones
Product ID: 9781848190962
Delivery cost: 0.00
ISBN: 9781848190962
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Author: Matt Donnelly
Rating: 5
Review: very interesting, fast delivery
Author: BookReviewer
Rating: 2
Review: First of all, please know that this is NOT simply a paperback version of the previously released hardback title. It is about two thirds the length according to the editors. The chapters on the history of qigong and on classical qigong literature have been shortened. While the number of qigong forms and diseases they treat have also been shortened. However, the information has also been revised, and NEW updated information from the lastest edition of its Chinese counterpart have been included. So it is a little less and a little more. Given Ken Cohen's critique of the original edition after the issues with being involved as a final translator consultant, I would'nt worry too much about the loss of the history, as it was apparently full of falsehoods anyway, "the authors of the original Chinese Medical Qigong text make up information and cite myths as fact". See: [...] I have never been a fan of the English language title for this book. The title of the Chinese textbook is Zhong Yi Qi Gong Xue ?????, or 'Qigong Study in Chinese Medicine.' Which is appropriate given the contents of the book which is qigong liaofa (qigong as prescriptive exercise therapy). In China "medical qigong" is yigong ?? which is treating people WITH qigong, or waiqi liao fa (emitted qi therapy). In the West these are more often than not confused. So to be clear this is a book on qigong as prescriptive exercise therapy within Chinese medicine, as the original title explains. In this new edition the definition of "qigong" has also been changed (because of course qigong has changed in the 3 years since the last edition). Instead of; "Qigong is the skill of body-mind exercise that integrates body, breath, and mind adjustments into one." We now have; "Qigong is the skill of body-mind exercise that integrates three adjustments of body, breath, and mind into one." WOW! No one is over thinking this at all, though I can't help but wonder if they are missing a 'the' between integrates and three? This definition is based upon Liu Guizhen's work and has become the pre-dominant view of "qigong" in China due to the ability of being able to align it with Western 'scientific' and medical thinking. It is NOT the only perspective of qigong in China, just the dominant one within TCM, especially after the issues with political qigong groups faced by the government. Of course it is felt that the new definition better reflects both what qigong is, as well as its aim. And don't forget that defining "qigong" is "the cornerstone of qigong academic theory". In a similar vein other concepts have undergone a similar revision of semantic definitions. This will give the reader a flavour of the perspective this book has been born from. Academics arguing and debates for such trivial semantics in attempts to 'define' and 'box' things. However, regardless of the academic debates about what it is, the actual qigong itself remains the same, it is not going to have changed because someone decided a three years old definition didn't quite cut the mustard!. Unfortunately it seems that this is the current way of approaching such a study of qigong within Chinese medicine and is quite typical of things within TCM. Maybe if they had been reminded of Lao Zi they may have felt differently; ???????? dao ke dao fei chang dao A Way that can be followed is not a constant Way. ???????? ming ke ming feichang ming A name that can be named is not a constant name. While I agree that it often takes much to explain Chinese concepts in other languages, I disagree that the way to do so is by attempting such a reductionist approach to arrive at the 'perfect' definition of anything. The subject can be presented in a way that enables the reader or student to grasp what is meant without it. This in fact often imparts far more understanding, rather than being told what these things are definitively. Which is something the Chinese themselves never did, their view and language being relative and not definitive in nature. As a product review, the book I purchased was meant to be a new book. It has biro written in various places across the front cover and the corner of the book is damaged. The latter could have been sustained in transit due to insufficient packaging. Either way, it is always a shame when paying for an allegedly new item only to receive something less from the seller. I bought via Marketplace and not directly from Amazon. All in all, I agree with Ken Cohen. It is not that the book is worthless or pointless (although I do agree with another reviewer about the lack of visual aids for most of the qigong forms). But it does need to be read critically and not simply taken as the last word just because the Chinese government had the book produced as its offically endorsed text. Read widely and critically...
