Customer Reviews (3)

"Cao Dai" Primary "Kung-Fu" +++
The author of this work, Haha Lung, has written a number of books on various sef-defense topics -- most of which seem interesting and useful. Upon investigation -- it seems Haha Lung may be a cover-name -- and half of Haha Lung's work may be from the creativity of this semi-hidden author. What may matter most to some folks is the self-defense as presented by a particular work -- beyond apparent "true authors" or "real tradition". Now this reviewer prefers ALL of the above -- when possible. It SEEMS to my best impression that some kind of "Cao Dai" IS being presented [there is even an interesting history explained]. BUT beyond that -- the actual "Kung-Fu" is seen to be LIKE a Primary synthesis of many types of effective "Chinese Kung-Fu". That could be very good for those who need or want a streamlined version of "Kung-Fu" -- fluid, clear, sharp and COMPACT. To my impression -- much modern [POST-1950] "Kung-Fu" strays from such streamlined self-defense -- but NOT the "Kung-Fu" in "Cao Dai Kung-Fu" -- which looks to be VERY direct self-defense using counter-rotation of primary "Kung-Fu" stances, footwork, kicks, blows, pokes, grips, locks, trips, sweeps and throws. The "Illuminati Star" as illustrated on page 59 seems to show a certain blatant sense-of-humor of the author -- as well as the GRAPHICALLY GRIM method-illustrations -- BUT with REALLY SILLY "ninja-versus-police" figures +++

All Aspects of Martial Arts Here!
This book is more than simply a martial arts manual that shows the moves, the positions and the strikes. It is also a history of martial arts--sort of a thumbnail sketch of what there is around the world--and how it developed in Vietnam.The author goes into the political climate that created conditions in which Cao Dai would come to exist in the first place and how it has evolved. Plus the excellent illustrations, done by the authorand they are easy to understand.There's no substitute for a live teacher, but if you already have some background or if there is no dojo around, this isn't bad.And I don't know what you mean about it being hard to come by.Loompanics 8003802230 has plenty of stock--or go to their site.

Fantastic instructional
Perhaps the finest English language instructional on Vietnamese martial arts ever published. The book has detailed (yet easy to follow) text along with numerous illustrated diagrams. Published in a limited printing, this book has already become quite a scarce martial arts collectible. ... Read more

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Chapters: Phạm Công Tắc, Hiệp Thiên Đài, Lê Văn Trung, Hoi Yen Dieu Tri, Ngô Văn Chiêu. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Cao ài (Vietnamese: ·)Ch Nôm: ) is a syncretistic, monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. o Cao ài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is i o Tam K Ph (Great Religion Third Period Revelation Salvation). The term Cao ài literally means "Kingdom of Heaven", i.e. "Heaven." Figuratively, it means that highest place where God reigns. Caodaiists often use the term c Cao ài (Venerable Cao Dai) as the abbreviated name for God, the creator of the universe, whose full title is Cao ài Tiên Ông i B Tát Ma-ha-tát (translation: Cao Dai Ancient Sage Great Bodhisattva Mahasattva). According to Caodaiists, the full title was purposefully chosen by God because within it are representations of the Three Teachings: Saint, Sage and Buddha. Caodaiists credit God as the religion's founder. They believe the teachings, symbolism and organization were communicated directly from God. Even the construction of the Tây Ninh Holy See is claimed to have had divine guidance. Cao ài's first disciples, Ngô Vn Chiêu, Cao Qunh C, Phm Công Tc and Cao Hoài Sang, claimed to have received direct communications from God, who gave them explicit instructions for establishing a new religion that would commence the Third Era of Religious Amnesty. Adherents engage in ethical practices such as prayer, veneration of ancestors, nonviolence, and vegetarianism with the minimum goal of rejoining God the Father in Heaven and the ultimate goal of freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Estimates of the number of Cao ài adherents in Vietnam vary, but most sources give 2 to 3 million, with some estimates as hi...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=245650 ... Read more

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Chapters: Victor Hugo, Sun Yat-Sen, Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 44. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Victor-Marie Hugo (French pronunciation: ) (26 February 1802 22 May 1885) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France. In France, Hugo's literary fame comes first from his poetry but also rests upon his novels and his dramatic achievements. Among many volumes of poetry, Les Contemplations and La Légende des siècles stand particularly high in critical esteem, and Hugo is sometimes identified as the greatest French poet. Outside France, his best-known works are the novels Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris (known in English also as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame). Though a committed conservative royalist when he was young, Hugo grew more liberal as the decades passed; he became a passionate supporter of republicanism, and his work touches upon most of the political and social issues and artistic trends of his time. He is buried in the Panthéon. Victor Hugo was the third and last son of Joseph Léopold Sigisbert Hugo (17731828) and Sophie Trébuchet (1772-1821); his brothers were Abel Joseph Hugo (17981855) and Eugène Hugo (18001837). He was born in 1802 in Besançon (in the region of Franche-Comté) and lived in France for the majority of his life. However, he went into exile during the reign of Napoleon III he lived briefly in Brussels during 1851; in Jersey from 1852 to 1855; and in Guernsey from 1855 to 1870 and again in 1872-1873. There was a general amnesty in 1859; after that, his exile was by choice. Hugo's early childhood was marked by great events. The decades prior to his birth saw the overthrow of the Bourbon Dynasty in the French Revolution, the rise a...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=42146 ... Read more

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Chapters: Cao Dai Saints, Hindu Saints, Sikh Saints, Victor Hugo, Sun Yat-Sen, Sathya Sai Baba, Sai Baba of Shirdi, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Haridasa Thakur, Kanhopatra, Satguru Ghasidas, Sorakaya Swami, Mata Amritanandamayi, Baba Balak Nath, Mahabali, Sri Swami Mayatitananda, Vyasa, Swami Lakshman Joo, Ramalinga Swamigal, Acyutananda, Chinmayananda, Meera, Samarth Ramdas, Ravidas, Bhagawan Nityananda, Prema Sai Baba, Sanatkumara, Karaikkal Ammeiyar, Chattampi Swamikal, Valmiki, Nammalvar, Neem Karoli Baba, Bhaktaraj Maharaj, Narada, Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj, Shabari, Lalleshwari, Hazrat Sakhi Shah Chan Charagh, Devraha Baba, Shreedhar Swami, Prahlada, Sant Mekan Dada, Tukdoji Maharaj, Ram Charan Maharaj, Shri Madhavnath Maharaj, Akhandanand, Nandanar, Mai Bhago, Kannappa Nayanar, Advaita Acharya, Seshadri Swamigal, Bhai Bala, Shah E Alam, Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm, Uddhava, Bhatiji Maharaj, Shivapuri Baba, Pancha Tattva, Janabai, Chokhamela, Bhima Bhoi, Gadge Maharaj, Dadu Dayal, Tapovan Maharaj, Nambiyandar Nambi, Sanatana, Saint Ruru, Dhyanyogi Madhusudandas, Gadadhara Pandita, Savata Mali, Kotpuli, Korakkar, Kakshivat, Dalabhya, Sena Nhavi, Kanchipurna. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 372. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Sathya Sai Baba -Sathyanarayana Raju was born to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram in the village of Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India. Almost everything known about his life stems from the hagiography that has grown around him, the presentation of narratives that hold special meaning to his devotees and are considered evidence of his divine nature. His birth, which his mother Eswaramma asserted was by miraculous conception, was also said to be heralded by miracles. As a child, he was described as "unusually intelligent" and charitable. He was exceptiona...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=144178 ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: North American Christian Convention, True Jesus Church in Malaysia, Cao Dai, Baptist Union of Australia, Temple Israel of Hollywood, Institute of Religion, Diocese of Blackburn, Dunkard Brethren, Opus Sacerdotale Amici Israel, Territorial Prelature of Pompei, Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponta Grossa, Fazl Mosque, Roman Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-bolgatanga, Roman Catholic Diocese of Telšiai, Roman Catholic Diocese of Bondo, Roman Catholic Diocese of Basankusu, Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, Diocese of Waikato, Roman Catholic Diocese of Vilkaviškis, Roman Catholic Diocese of Foz Do Iguaçu, Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaišiadorys, Roman Catholic Diocese of Xuanhua, Roman Catholic Diocese of Lins, Roman Catholic Diocese of Shuozhou, Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru, Roman Catholic Diocese of Fenyang, Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys, Roman Catholic Diocese of Jacarezinho, Roman Catholic Diocese of Haimen, Roman Catholic Diocese of Taizhou, Arathi, Synagogue Council of America, Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Excerpt:For the Hindu ritual, see Aarti . The Arathi , a term meaning "prophets ", are a Christian religious movement founded in 1926 in Kenya . Along with the African Orthodox Church , Arathi was founded by the Agikuyu in wake of Kenya's civil unrest during the 1920. Joseph Ng'ang'a and Musa Thuo are among the sect's most notable prophets. Arathi was outlawed in 1934, when colonial officials prohibited Arathi meetings. Baptism has remained a central part of the Arathi tradition since its founding, and is still practiced today. It is viewed as a symbol of the beginning of a new life, and followers receive a new name after their baptism. References (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at The Baptist Union of Australia (BUA) is the oldest and large... ... Read more

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Cao ?ài is a relatively new, syncretist, monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. ??o Cao ?ài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is ??i ??o Tam K? Ph? ?? (Great Religion [of The] Third Period [of] Revelation [and] Salvation). The term Cao ?ài literally means "Kingdom of Heaven." Figuratively, it means that highest place where God reigns. Caodaiists often use the term ??c Cao ?ài (Venerable Cao Dai) as the abbreviated name for God, the creator of the universe, whose full title is Cao ?ài Tiên Ông ??i B? Tát Ma-ha-tát (translation: Cao Dai [the] Ancient Sage [and] Great Bodhisattva Mahasattva). According to Caodaiists, the full title was purposefully chosen by God because within it are representations of the Three Teachings: Saint, Sage and Buddha. Caodaiists credit God as the religion's founder. They believe the teachings, symbolism and organization were communicated directly from God. Even the construction of the Tây Ninh Holy See is claimed to have had divine guidance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The question marks in the 'product' description...
Cao ?ài is a relatively new, syncretist, monotheistic religion, officially established in the city of Tây Ninh, southern Vietnam, in 1926. ??o Cao ?ài is the religion's shortened name, the full name is ??i ??o Tam K? Ph? ?? (Great Religion [of The] Third Period [of] Revelation [and] Salvation). The term Cao ?ài literally means "Kingdom of Heaven." Figuratively, it means that highest place where God reigns. Caodaiists often use the term ??c Cao ?ài (Venerable Cao Dai) as the abbreviated name for God, the creator of the universe, whose full title is Cao ?ài Tiên Ông ??i B? Tát Ma-ha-tát (translation: Cao Dai [the] Ancient Sage [and] Great Bodhisattva Mahasattva). According to Caodaiists, the full title was purposefully chosen by God because within it are representations of the Three Teachings: Saint, Sage and Buddha. Caodaiists credit God as the religion's founder. They believe the teachings, symbolism and organization were communicated directly from God. Even the construction of the Tây Ninh Holy See is claimed to have had divine guidance...

... reflect on how the MATERIAL IN THIS WHOLE, EXPENSIVE BOOK WAS TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA.GOOGLE IT IF YOU WANT TO SEE FOR YOURSELF. ... Read more

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Founded as a small elite cult in Saigon in 1925, the Cao Dai became Vietnam's first nationalist organization, and by 1930 had 500,000 members in a regional population of four million. The author combines a sociological analysis of the fundamental social conditions of the genesis and development of the movement and its cultural dimensions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Social/Political History of Cao Dai
In this book, Jane Werner looks at economic, social and political causes for the rise of the Cao Dai religion in 1920s Vietnam, and continues analyzing these factors through its history into the 1970s, especially at its relations with the French and the Vietnamese communists. She barely mentions its ritual, doctrine or art, and attempts no psychological or spiritual analysis. So it probably isn't a good introduction to Cao Dai, but it's good for people with only a little familiarity or interest. Of course there isn't a good introduction to the religious aspects of Cao Dai, but this is a very good coverage of its history.

Includes appendices with some maps, statistics and b/w photos; the maps might be really helpful for someone unfamiliar with S Vietnam's geography.

If you have trouble finding this book, contact Yale University's Southeast Asia Studies Department, who published it. They will at least be able to send you a photocopy. (I think I bought one of their last prints of this book!)

Yale University Southeast Asia Studies
Box 13A
New Haven CT06520 ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from Encyclopedia of Religion, brought to you by Gale®, a part of Cengage Learning, a world leader in e-research and educational publishing for libraries, schools and businesses.The length of the article is 514 words.The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.You can view it with any web browser.The second edition of this highly regarded encyclopedia, preserving the best of the first edition's cross-cultural approach, while emphasizing religion's role within everyday life and as a unique experience from culture to culture, this new edition is the definitive work in the field for the 21st century. An international team of scholars and contributors have reviewed, revised and added to every word of the classic work, making it relevant to the questions and interests of all researchers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Amazing View of the Other Side
I served in The Central Highlands of Vietnam 1n 1969/1970 with C Battery 6/29th Artillery attached to the 4th Infantry Division while Dr. Le Cao Dai was there on the other side.Indeed he served 7-8 years, much longer than the average American tour.While we ate C-rations, LRRP meals or hot meals flown in by helicopter, the doctor had to grow, gather and hunt his own food as well as food for his staff and 1000+ patients.The very range of roles he had to take on is amazing:surgeon, general practitioner, hospital administrator, consulting physician (often requiring long treks), farmer, porter, electrical engineer, construction engineer, raftsman, combat soldier, etc.His descriptions of B-52 and gunship attacks are most enlightening, but also his record of what it was like living in the jungle to avoid contact with Americans and ARVNs is vivid.For anyone who can recognize the courage and struggles of a now-deceased enemy, I highly recommend this book.

Interesting reading on jungle life
The book is a compiled and edited diary of an NVA hospital chief operating in the Central Highlands throughout the war. First, do not expect to find here any useful information on NVA combat operations, Hanoi's strategic plans, military analysis and so on. The guy was just a rear doctor, although a high ranking. The descriptions of battles are rare and not accurate, based mainly on official NVA propaganda. Still, the book is very interesting, providing a lot of details about the life on the opposite side of the front. The author describes travelling through the Ho Chi Minh trails, establishing a significant unit such as main hospital right in the jungle, evading US bombings and Special Forces operations. The notes on NVA soldiers and medical personnel daily life, their attitude and fighting spirit, the ways of overcoming numerous difficulties of primitive Robinson-like existence are great. Yes, it may be overloaded with information about medical operations and author's consideration on the treatment of different deseases and wounds, but that's not a big weakness. Still the book is surely worth reading especially after many US diaries and personal impressions. ... Read more

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Chapters: Fu Chen Sung, Li Ching-Yuen, Dong Haichuan, Liang Zhenpu, Ji Jike, Cao Jiwu, Dai Longbang, Wang Yuanlu. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 32. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Fu Chen Sung (Chinese ) (18811953) (Pinyin: Fu Zhen Song), or Fu Qiankun ) was a master of the internal martial arts from Henan. He was a third-generation baguazhang teacher who founded an important style of that art. He was also a soldier and a supporter of Sun Yat-sen. Fu Chen Sung was born in Mapo village, Biyangxian county, in Huaiqing City area, Henan province, China. When he was 16-years old, he joined his village's newly created martial arts school, where he studied under Chia Feng Ming () (also written in English sometimes as Chia Chi-shan or Jia Feng Meng), a top student of the founder of baguazhang, Grandmaster Dong Haichuan. He also learned from Chen Yanxi () from the nearby Chen village, an 8th generation disciple of Chen family of taijiquan. They taught in a local field. After nine years of training, his teachers encouraged him to move to Beijing to learn more, which he did after he had learned the Tai Chi ball. When he moved to Beijing, he continued his studies of baguazhang with Ma Gui and Cheng Tinghua, both first generation disciples of Dong Haichuan. In 1900 he moved back to his home village to teach. He became well known in that part of China for defeating, armed with a metal pole, a large gang of bandits who attacked his village. In 1911, Fu Chen-Sung became a caravan guard/body guard in Shantung and Henan at the request of the Kai Kung Hsin Shan Protection Service. After the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, Fu traveled to Fu Chou, Cheng Chou, as well as Shan Si Province, and beyond. In 1913, Fu was hired by the Revolutionary Army as a martial arts instructor, holding this post for a f...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=11445552 ... Read more

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202 pages. Vietnamese publication with English text. Laden with charts/graphs/data. ... Read more