about the book

TILLMANN FRANZEN WUDANG

Edited by Tillmann Franzen, Duesseldorf, January 2020

In the Chinese tradition, the Daoist monasteries of the Wudang Mountains are the origin of the “inner martial arts”, such as Taijiquan, Baguazhang and Xingyiquan. These are contrasted with the “outer martial arts” of Shaolin Kung Fu and other styles.

According to a legend, the Daoist monk Zhang Sanfeng is said to have observed the fight of a snake and a crane in the Wudang Mountains, whereby the snake evaded the crane again and again until the crane had to give up exhausted. From this he is said to have developed the principles of “soft” fighting with inner strength.

Photographs: Tillmann Franzen 

Graphic design: Bastian Ruppik 

Print: Kettler


76 pages, Metapaper Extrasmooth, Arial Reckless