Fists and minds of fury

Sun is perhaps the best known example of this mix of martial and literary skill. In his lifetime he commercially published five works on different forms of martial arts that he was skilled in. As a martial artist his skill was often put to the test in both formal challenges and less formal street confrontations.

Another well known martial artist author was Li Chun-yi (李存義, 1847-1921) who wrote one widely known book on his style of martial arts. In addition to being a man of letters he was also very much a man of action. He was known as "Single Saber Li" for his fame in dispatching his opponents with the saber. Master Li actively participated in the Boxer Rebellion and ran a convoy escort service.

A slightly more peaceful martial artist author was Chiang Rung-jiao (姜容樵, 1891-1974). Master Chiang was notable for the establishment of a special martial arts publishing division within a larger Shanghai publishing house. This division published a number of Master Chiang's books in the 1920s and 1930s.

Works from all three of these martial arts authors will be on display at Lion Book's exhibition of Chinese martial arts training texts. The show is on today from 10am to 5pm at B1, 51 Chungching S. Rd, Sec. 2. For further information, call 2331-1840 or 2370-6154.