Book of Illusions: Mysticism, Manipulation and the Making of Modern Kung Fu
The Book of Illusions examines how secrecy, mysticism, mistranslation, psychological manipulation, commercial incentives, and modern media shaped popular ideas about Kung Fu. It investigates extraordinary claims while presenting a practical framework for verification, honest internal training, ethical teaching, and responsible preservation.
Living Wude: The Modern Path of Martial Virtue
Living Wude: The Modern Path of Martial Virtue is a 2025 book by Dustin Shane Bunnell that applies the ethical principles of Chinese martial arts to contemporary life. The second volume of The Martial Virtue Series examines how Wude can guide relationships, work, leadership, digital conduct, conflict, emotional discipline, service, and personal development.
Li Fuyan (李復言)
Li Fuyan (李復言) was a Tang-dynasty writer and official best known for Xu Xuanguai Lu (續玄怪錄), or Continuation of the Records of Mysterious Anomalies. His work helped preserve the Tang tradition of supernatural narratives involving strange encounters, religious figures, fate, transformation, and the extraordinary. Li is also closely associated with The Tale of Du Zichun (杜子春傳) through its textual transmission, although competing traditions attribute the tale to Zheng Huangu (鄭還古).
The Tale of Du Zichun (杜子春傳)
The Tale of Du Zichun (杜子春傳) is a Tang-dynasty tale of wealth, moral transformation, Daoist alchemy, and the limits of spiritual detachment. After repeatedly squandering extraordinary fortunes given to him by a mysterious old man, Du Zichun finally reforms and uses his wealth to fulfill his obligations to others. His benefactor then reveals himself as a Daoist adept and leads Du to Mount Hua, where he faces a severe test of silence. Du withstands terror, torture, death, hell, and rebirth without speaking, but ultimately breaks his vow when confronted with the death of his child. The tale explores a difficult question at the heart of cultivation: what remains when fear, desire, suffering, and even death have been overcome, but love cannot be abandoned?