About Us
Taochan Shanren, 逃禪山人, the old master and mentor of Madame Lee who taught her Bajiquan and traditional philosophy of the martial arts. She wrote this name in the dedication page of her book showing respect and gratitude to him (Madame Lee’s original calligraphy), which translate as: To my master, “the recluse who came away from Zen seclusion in the mountains”. According to Madame Lee, her master came out of seclusion to serve his country as combat and martial arts instructor during the Chinese northern expedition against War Lords in 1927. We only know him by this reference and historical events retold by Madame Lee with great respect and reverence.
Madam Lee Chih-Chang (1912–1996) was sixteen-years-old when she entered the National Revolutionary Army in China during the Northern Expedition (1926–1928). She was part of a battle to liberate Beijing from warlords, and was wounded and decorated for her valor. At the age of eighteen, she was promoted to the rank of major and she entered the Whampoa Military Academy. She majored in political science and graduated first among 150 students of Class Six, the only class with women cadets. During that time, she met and married Huang Zhen Wu (1900–1969). General Huang would go on to serve the Nationalist government for the rest of his life. In 1949, the entire family moved to the island of Taiwan, the location for the Republic of China. Madam Lee and General Huang would eventually become the parents to five children.
In the Chinese style, Madam Lee has several names. Lee Chih-Chang is her personal name, Lee Shih, or Li Shi, is her style name, and Mo Yan is her scholarly name.
Madam Lee first revealed Bajiquan in 1977 during conversations with her children and at a karate demonstration organized in Los Angeles by her eldest son, Alexander Chao Liang Huang. In the 1980s, she gave written instructions and videos to her son, the Taiji teacher Chungliang Al Huang, and her daughter, Pearl Weng Liang Huang. Pearl Weng Liang has been the translator of Madam Lee’s writings.
In the Chinese style, Madam Lee has several names. Lee Chih-Chang is her personal name, Lee Shih, or Li Shi, is her style name, and Mo Yan is her scholarly name.
Madam Lee first revealed Bajiquan in 1977 during conversations with her children and at a karate demonstration organized in Los Angeles by her eldest son, Alexander Chao Liang Huang. In the 1980s, she gave written instructions and videos to her son, the Taiji teacher Chungliang Al Huang, and her daughter, Pearl Weng Liang Huang. Pearl Weng Liang has been the translator of Madam Lee’s writings.
Pearl was born in China with a traditional and bi-lingual education. Pearl is a Chinese brush calligraphy artist, a Chinese language teacher/translator/consultant. She began training for Taijiquan and Qi Gong in the early 70’s with her older brother, Taijiquan master Chungliang Al Huang. In 2002 Pearl joined University of New Mexico Taos Branch as a faculty member, and International Programs Coordinator leading cultural studies tour to China as well as teaching multicultural workshops.
Pearl is the youngest daughter of Madame Lee. Her mother showed the Bajiquan form to Pearl and her brothers in the early 70’s. Pearl asked her mother to write down what she remembered about this unique martial art form. After her mother passed away in 1996, Pearl translated her mother’s notes into English and collaborated with martial arts master Deng Ming Dao to bring Bajiquan to light. www.ruyistudio.com
Pearl is the youngest daughter of Madame Lee. Her mother showed the Bajiquan form to Pearl and her brothers in the early 70’s. Pearl asked her mother to write down what she remembered about this unique martial art form. After her mother passed away in 1996, Pearl translated her mother’s notes into English and collaborated with martial arts master Deng Ming Dao to bring Bajiquan to light. www.ruyistudio.com
Taijiquan Master, and Director of Living Tao Foundation, is the 4th son of Madame Lee. He initiated early interested in his mother’s Bajiquan by inviting her to demonstrate and share it with his students in Taos, New Mexico during one of his summer workshops. He also invited her to share Bajiquan at Easlan Institute in California. Bajiquan was later introduced to his students at his Lan Ting Institute in Oregon.
After his mother passed away in 1997, he and his sister Pearl began working on sharing Bajiquan with his students and invited martial artist Deng Ming Dao to participate and collaborate. In 2014 Living Tao Foundation again offered a 4 year Heritage Program with Deng Ming Dao as guest teacher to share Bajiquan and Taoist philosophical studies. livingtaofoundation.org
After his mother passed away in 1997, he and his sister Pearl began working on sharing Bajiquan with his students and invited martial artist Deng Ming Dao to participate and collaborate. In 2014 Living Tao Foundation again offered a 4 year Heritage Program with Deng Ming Dao as guest teacher to share Bajiquan and Taoist philosophical studies. livingtaofoundation.org
(b. 1954) is an artist, author, graphic designer, and teacher. He has been researching and practicing Taoism, Chinese martial arts, and qigong for more than four decades. He has learned Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Shaolinquan, Chaquan, Tantui, various animal forms, and many weapons. His qigong forms include the Eight Pieces of Brocade, the Muscle Change Classic, the Marrow Washing Classic, and the Five Animal Frolics of Hua Tuo. Ming-Dao is the author of twelve books, including 365 Tao, Scholar Warrior, Everyday Tao, The Living I Ching, The Lunar Tao, The Wisdom of the Tao, Each Journey Begins With a Single Step, and Heart & Beauty. His books have been translated into seventeen languages. He has taught through various martial arts schools, including the classes of his Taoist master, Kwan Saihung, the subject of the book, Chronicles of Tao. http://www.dengmingdao.com