PUBLICATIONS WRITTEN BY DAN K.J. VERCAMMEN IN ENGLISH
All books published by BETA (Belgian Taoist Association) are currently only available
from China Arts. Contact us for information about current price quotes and other
practical matters: info@china-art.org.
We also stock many other publications by Vercammen in Dutch. More information on
the Dutch pages of this web site.
For information about books and articles in English, Dutch and Chinese by Vercammen
not published by us contact the author: fei@taoiststudies.org.
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JINDAN, THE GOLDEN CINNABAR : TAOIST INTERNAL ALCHEMY (volume 1)
- A book on Taoist Internal Alchemy of the Southern Tradition (Nanzong) written by
a practitioner, giving the readers an inside view of this hermetical science
- Contains an introduction to the series and to the Southern Tradition
- Annotated translations from classical Chinese of two important texts of the Southern
Tradition: the Jindan Sibaizi (The Four Hundred Characters of the Golden Cinnabar)
ascribed to the most famous master of the tradition, Zhang Boduan (984-1082), and
the Huanyuanpian (A Piece of Writing on Returning to the Source) by Zhang’s disciple
Shi Tai (1022-1158)
- Contains an extensive dictionary of internal alchemical terminology, the first attempt
ever to create a complete dictionary of this sort; a necessary and useful tool to
understand the cryptic language of alchemical texts
- Translations of the biographies of both Zhang Boduan and Shi Tai
- Beautiful presentation designed by Wu An: traditional Chinese binding using symbolic
alchemical colors, golden cover, etc.
- An absolute must for people interested in (eastern and/or western) alchemy
- The first book in a series on internal alchemy; other volumes will present the history
and texts of the Southern Tradition, anthropological and historical studies of alchemy
in China and elsewhere, and finally a complete dictionary of Southern Tradition terminology
- In English, 89 pp., published by BETA in 2003
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NEIJIA WUSHU (the Internal School of Chinese Martial Arts), vol. I: the Texts of
Neijia Wushu with an English Introduction and Annotations
Originally published as part of dr. Vercammen’s PhD dissertation, this is the world’s
first collection of ancient Chinese texts on the Internal School of Chinese martial
arts (taijiquan, baguazhang, xingyiquan).
All important versions of the texts are presented in the English annotations. Includes
an English introduction and a quite extensive bibliography.
319 pp., published by Ghent University in 1989.
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NEIJIA WUSHU (the Internal School of Chinese Martial Arts), vol. II: Taijiquan: Modernity
and Tradition
In this book Dan K.J. Vercammen presents a case study of the evolution of taijiquan
against the background of history of China in the 19th, 20th and 21st century.
How the tradition was altered for reasons alien to the tradition. A beautiful publication
designed by Wu An, bound by hand in traditional Chinese fashion.
In English, 58 pp., published by BETA in 2005.
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THE HISTORY OF TAIJIQUAN
This book introduces a paper presented by the author at the “International Conference
on Wushu Tradition and the Modern World”, in Moscou (1991). The text summarizes that
part of dr. Vercammen’s PhD dissertation that deals with the history of this famous
Chinese martial art. It includes rare pictures of some late masters of taijiquan,
and indexes of Chinese names mentioned in the text.
In English, 36 pp., published by BETA in 1991.
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THE WAY OF QI
EDITED BY DR. DAN K.J. VERCAMMEN
FOREWORD BY PROF. DR. RIK PINXTEN
INTRODUCING CHINA’S FOREMOST SCHOLAR OF TAOIST ALCHEMY PROF. DR. FUCHEN HU
"The book deserves a wide audience. In addition, the tradition presented in the book
needs and deserves a large and serious group of practitioners. I hope TASC will be
able to realize both of these goals, and I wish that this awe-inspiring tradition
may continue to find as respectful scholars as those in this volume."
Prof. Dr. Rik Pinxten, anthropologist, Universiteit Gent/Ghent University
- The first scientific volume in English to discuss the cultural background of qi
- Newly discovered material on the Taoist secrets of taijiquan and qigong
- A collection of anthropological and philosophical articles by international experts
in the field of qi-science
- A book full of previously unknown information on Chinese medicine, Taoist practices,
and qi
- Written by scientists (who are well versed in the practice) and aimed at the serious
practitioner of Chinese medicine, Taoist training, qigong, etc.
- A beautiful publication, bound by hand in traditional Chinese fashion
In English, 82 pp., published by BETA in 2000.
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GUANYU “XIAN MING HOU XING” JIGE WENTIDE LUNSHU
This is our first Chinese publication. The book Guanyu “Xian Ming Hou Xing” Jige
Wentide Lunshu discusses some problems regarding viewpoints about the Southern Tradition
of Chinese Internal Alchemy and the application of this type of alchemy in the practice
of Taoist psychiatry. Prof. dr. Dan K.J. Vercammen (Chinese name: Fei Danning) wanted
to make this important text available to Chinese scientists, physicians and other
people who are interested in serious study and authentic practice of alchemy. A
paper based on this revolutionary text was presented by Vercammen in China during
a conference on Chinese alchemy at Wuyishan. Long before Mindfulness existed Taoist
alchemists were using meditation to overcome psychological problems. This alchemical
method (which was adopted and adapted by Chinese Buddhists) was refined by masters
of the Southern Tradition of Chinese Internal Alchemy and transmitted to Vercammen.
An adaptation of this text in Dutch is available in Food for Thought (see Dutch pages).
A beautiful publication, bound by hand in traditional Chinese fashion.
In Chinese, 32 pp., published by China Arts in 2008.