Laoshi's Legacy: Emergence from Shadow

The present volume, Laoshi’s Legacy, takes up where the previous account (Laoshi: Tai Chi, Teachers, and Pursuit of Principle) left off; the student moves beyond his pre-occupation with his own progress to explore the terrain occupied by the teacher. The Way of the teacher, we discover, not only offers insight and reward aplenty, but is every bit as confounding and, often, more treacherous than the path of the student. Legacy describes the challenges encountered in progressing beyond the role of student to survey the art from the viewpoint of teacher. As in the previous volume, Laoshi, the teacher, continues as guide and mentor, advising the novice instructor confronted with the reality of teaching taiji in a modern world. Legacy is a realistic portrayal of dilemmas faced while pursuing the Way of the teacher.


“The nutrient-dense insights in each chapter will make you want to linger and digest, and the unfolding human story will make you want to turn the page for the next exciting episode. Readers may come for the taijiquan lessons and lineage lore, but will stay for the life lessons and wisdom. Literary flair and Scottish wit make it an instructive, inspirational, and irresistible read. Those who read this book without tears, laughter, and lots of a-ha moments are probably not ready for it.”  

— Douglas Wile