Chungliang Al Huang
Encyclopedia
Chungliang “Al” Huang is a notable philosopher, dancer, performing artist, and internationally acclaimed Tai Ji master and educator, having received the Republic of China
’s most prestigious award in the field of education, the Gold Medal Award, from its Ministry of Education
.
As the Keynote speaker at the Major World Gatherings in India, Switzerland, Germany, and Bali, Chungliang "Al" Huang appeared with many notable world leader's of religion and spiritual philosophy including the Dalai Lama
.
Huang is the founder-president of the Living Tao Foundation based on the Oregon Coast of the United States, and the International Lan Ting Institute, located in the sacred mountains
of China.
Huang was featured in the inaugural segment of Bill Moyers
’ renowned PBS "Bill Moyers World of Ideas” series.
Throughout his career, Huang established many close alliances with highly regarded philosophers and scholars of our time. Notably, his colleague and collaborator, the late philosopher scholar Alan Watts
, mythologist Joseph Campbell
, and his mentor John Blofeld
.
Huang grew up in China with a rich background in the classics, fine and martial arts, and the Beijing Opera techniques.
Huang moved to the United States in the 1960s to study Architecture
, Cultural Anthropology
, and Choreography
.
Huang became a Tai Ji teacher at the encouragement of Alan Watts, and became involved with the human potential movement. His 1973 book Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain greatly helped to popularize taijiquan in the West. It went on to be published in 14 languages.
in Big Sur, CA since the late 60's. Huang was a close colleague and collaborator with the late scholar Alan Watts
, mythologist Joseph Campbell
, Gregory Bateson
, Laura Archera Huxley, John Blofeld
, and Huston Smith
.
, Joseph Campbell
and others for his involvement with Esalen Institute
and the Omega Institute. He also appeared on the "Bill Moyers World of Ideas" series on PBS. He now is the creator and president of the Living Tao Foundation and the Lan Ting Institute, which helps promote Chinese arts.
with Sammy Davis Jr., performing with Bruce Lee
, and as a featured dancer in the film, Flower Drum Song
.
Huang was soloist with his own theater/dance company performing at Jacob's Pillow
, in New York City and at the American Dance Festival
.
In the early '80s, Huang co-created with Paul Winter Consort
“The Tao of Bach: A Tai Ji Musical Offering” concert series at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City and at Grace Cathedral
in San Francisco.
Collaborators in the past have included entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr.
, pianists Lorin Hollander and Robert Levin
, flutists Alexander Murray, Michael Faust, Lorna McGhee
; trumpeter Guy Few; Jazz musician, Paul Horn, Charles Lloyd
; cellists David Darling
and Michael Fitzpatrick
; singers John Denver
, Joan Baez
; and harpist Andreas Vollenweider
.
and creative dynamism in global business and education. Huang’s unique style of teaching individuals to fulfill their human potential has garnered accolades and nurtured students of life around the world. This enlivened body of knowledge/wisdom, accumulated and crystallized into gems of structured guiding forces for nearly four decades, are transmitted to those who truly wish to gain this knowledge, wisdom, and expertise in order to become Living Tao Practitioners – perpetual students of lifelong learning who have been, and will become mentors to others.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
’s most prestigious award in the field of education, the Gold Medal Award, from its Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Republic of China)
The Ministry of Education of the Republic of China is responsible for incorporating educational policies and managing public schools throughout the Free Area of the Republic of China. The ministry is a cabinet level governmental body of the Executive Yuan...
.
As the Keynote speaker at the Major World Gatherings in India, Switzerland, Germany, and Bali, Chungliang "Al" Huang appeared with many notable world leader's of religion and spiritual philosophy including the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
.
Huang is the founder-president of the Living Tao Foundation based on the Oregon Coast of the United States, and the International Lan Ting Institute, located in the sacred mountains
Sacred mountains
Sacred mountains are central to certain religions and are the subjects of many legends. For many, the most symbolic aspect of a mountain is the peak because it is believed that it is closest to heaven or other celestial bodies...
of China.
Huang was featured in the inaugural segment of Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers is an American journalist and public commentator. He served as White House Press Secretary in the United States President Lyndon B. Johnson Administration from 1965 to 1967. He worked as a news commentator on television for ten years. Moyers has had an extensive involvement with public...
’ renowned PBS "Bill Moyers World of Ideas” series.
Throughout his career, Huang established many close alliances with highly regarded philosophers and scholars of our time. Notably, his colleague and collaborator, the late philosopher scholar Alan Watts
Alan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
, mythologist Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
, and his mentor John Blofeld
John Blofeld
John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld was a British writer on Asian thought and religion, especially Taoism and Chinese Buddhism.-Early life:Blofeld was born in London in 1913...
.
Personal History
Huang was born in Shanghai in the 1930s. His family moved to Taiwan at the end of the Chinese civil war.Huang grew up in China with a rich background in the classics, fine and martial arts, and the Beijing Opera techniques.
Huang moved to the United States in the 1960s to study Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, Cultural Anthropology
Cultural anthropology
Cultural anthropology is a branch of anthropology focused on the study of cultural variation among humans, collecting data about the impact of global economic and political processes on local cultural realities. Anthropologists use a variety of methods, including participant observation,...
, and Choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
.
Huang became a Tai Ji teacher at the encouragement of Alan Watts, and became involved with the human potential movement. His 1973 book Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain greatly helped to popularize taijiquan in the West. It went on to be published in 14 languages.
Teaching and Collaborations
He has taught at Esalen InstituteEsalen Institute
Esalen Institute is a residential community and retreat in Big Sur, California, which focuses upon humanistic alternative education. Esalen is a nonprofit organization devoted to activites such as meditation, massage, Gestalt, yoga, psychology, ecology, and spirituality...
in Big Sur, CA since the late 60's. Huang was a close colleague and collaborator with the late scholar Alan Watts
Alan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
, mythologist Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
, Gregory Bateson
Gregory Bateson
Gregory Bateson was an English anthropologist, social scientist, linguist, visual anthropologist, semiotician and cyberneticist whose work intersected that of many other fields. He had a natural ability to recognize order and pattern in the universe...
, Laura Archera Huxley, John Blofeld
John Blofeld
John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld was a British writer on Asian thought and religion, especially Taoism and Chinese Buddhism.-Early life:Blofeld was born in London in 1913...
, and Huston Smith
Huston Smith
Huston Cummings Smith is a religious studies scholar in the United States. His book The World's Religions remains a popular introduction to comparative religion.-Education:...
.
Philosopher
Huang is well-known for his collaborations with philosopher Alan WattsAlan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
, Joseph Campbell
Joseph Campbell
Joseph John Campbell was an American mythologist, writer and lecturer, best known for his work in comparative mythology and comparative religion. His work is vast, covering many aspects of the human experience...
and others for his involvement with Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute
Esalen Institute is a residential community and retreat in Big Sur, California, which focuses upon humanistic alternative education. Esalen is a nonprofit organization devoted to activites such as meditation, massage, Gestalt, yoga, psychology, ecology, and spirituality...
and the Omega Institute. He also appeared on the "Bill Moyers World of Ideas" series on PBS. He now is the creator and president of the Living Tao Foundation and the Lan Ting Institute, which helps promote Chinese arts.
Concerts, Performing Arts and Dance Collaborations
Huang entered the performance arena through the entertainment business and gained recognition as a dancer with the original Rat PackRat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
with Sammy Davis Jr., performing with Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
, and as a featured dancer in the film, Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song
Flower Drum Song was the eighth stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It was based on the 1957 novel, The Flower Drum Song, by Chinese-American author C. Y. Lee. The piece opened in 1958 on Broadway and was afterwards presented in the West End and on tour...
.
Huang was soloist with his own theater/dance company performing at Jacob's Pillow
Jacob's Pillow
Jacob’s Pillow Dance is a dance center, school and performance space located in Becket, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires. The organization is known for the oldest internationally acclaimed summer dance festival in the United States. The facility also includes a professional school and extensive...
, in New York City and at the American Dance Festival
American Dance Festival
The American Dance Festival is a six and four-week school for dance and a six-week summer festival of modern dance performances, currently held at Duke University and the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina....
.
In the early '80s, Huang co-created with Paul Winter Consort
Paul Winter Consort
The Paul Winter Consort is an American musical group, led by soprano saxophonist Paul Winter. Founded in 1967, the group mixes elements of jazz, classical music, world music, and the sounds of animals and nature. They are often classified as new age music or "ecological jazz", and their unique...
“The Tao of Bach: A Tai Ji Musical Offering” concert series at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City and at Grace Cathedral
Grace Cathedral
Grace Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral located on Nob Hill in San Francisco. It is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of California, once state-wide in area, now comprising parts of the San Francisco Bay Area...
in San Francisco.
Collaborators in the past have included entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
, pianists Lorin Hollander and Robert Levin
Robert Levin
Robert Levin may refer to:*Robert D. Levin , American pianist and composer*Robert Levin , Norwegian pianist and composer*Robert Levin , American fiction writer...
, flutists Alexander Murray, Michael Faust, Lorna McGhee
Lorna McGhee
Lorna McGhee is currently on faculty at the University of British Columbia. Previously she was the co-principal flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She moved to Canada in 1998. Lorna has performed in many orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, and...
; trumpeter Guy Few; Jazz musician, Paul Horn, Charles Lloyd
Charles Lloyd
Charles Lloyd is an American jazz musician. Though he primarily plays tenor saxophone and flute, he has also occasionally recorded on alto saxophone and more exotic reed instruments which include the Hungarian tárogató. Lloyd's saxophone playing is often characterized as an individualized,...
; cellists David Darling
David Darling (musician)
David Darling is an American cellist and composer. He won the Grammy award for Best New Age Album in 2010. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Spyro Gyra in addition to putting out several solo and small ensemble albums as well as albums of his...
and Michael Fitzpatrick
Michael Fitzpatrick
Michael Fitzpatrick may refer to:*Michael J. Fitzpatrick , member of the New York State Assembly*Mike Fitzpatrick , Republican U.S...
; singers John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
, Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
; and harpist Andreas Vollenweider
Andreas Vollenweider
Andreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician. His music has been categorized as World Music, Jazz, New Age and even Classical; two of his albums were number 1 on the Billboard charts simultaneously in the categories Classical, Jazz, Pop and Crossover for more than 11 weeks. His music could be...
.
Educator
Huang is a respected speaker in the field of human potentiality, on cultural diversityCultural diversity
Cultural diversity is having different cultures respect each other's differences. It could also mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole...
and creative dynamism in global business and education. Huang’s unique style of teaching individuals to fulfill their human potential has garnered accolades and nurtured students of life around the world. This enlivened body of knowledge/wisdom, accumulated and crystallized into gems of structured guiding forces for nearly four decades, are transmitted to those who truly wish to gain this knowledge, wisdom, and expertise in order to become Living Tao Practitioners – perpetual students of lifelong learning who have been, and will become mentors to others.
Scholarship and Notable Recognitions
- Doctoral Research Scholar: Academia SinicaAcademia SinicaThe Academia Sinica , headquartered in the Nangang District of Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. It supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from mathematical and physical sciences, to life sciences, and to humanities and social sciences.Academia Sinica has...
, Republic of China
- Fellow: World Academy of Arts and Science, Stockholm, Sweden
- Artist-in-residence: Krannert Center for the Performing ArtsKrannert Center for the Performing ArtsKrannert Center for the Performing Arts was built in 1969 in Urbana, Illinois, USA, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an educational and performing arts complex. Herman C...
, Illinois, USA
- Director: Oriental Theater Program, York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, Toronto, Canada
- Director: Hong Kong Dance Company
- Keynote speaker, at major world gatherings in India, Switzerland, Germany, Bali
- Assembly member: Cape Town, South Africa, and Barcelona, Spain, The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions
Music and Dance Residencies
- Yehudi Menuhim School, England
- Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Finland
- Oregon Bach FestivalOregon Bach FestivalThe Oregon Bach Festival is an annual celebration of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his musical legacy, held in Eugene, Oregon, United States, in late June and early July. The artistic director is German organist and conductor Helmuth Rilling and the Executive Director is John Evans,...
Awards
- New speaker Award - Young Presidents’ Organization
- New Dimension Broadcaster Award
- Gold Medal - Ministry of Education of the Republic of China.
Publications
- Tao: The Watercourse Way with Alan WattsAlan WattsAlan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
(1977) ISBN 0-394-73311-8 - Embrace Tiger Return to Mountain: The Essence of Taiji in co-operation with John O. "Steve" Stevens (now: Steve Andreas), with a preface by Stevens and his mother Barry StevensBarry Stevens (therapist)Barry Stevens, born Mildred Fox, was a writer and Gestalt therapist. She developed her own form of Gestalt therapy body work, based on the awareness of body processes. For the human potential movement of the 1970s, she became a kind of "star", but she always refused to accept that role.She worked...
(1973) - Living Tao: Still visions and dancing brushes(1976)
- Quantum Soup: A Philosophical Entertainment (1983)
- Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics, Business, and Life with Jerry Lynch (1994)
- Beginner's Tai Ji Book (1995)
- Chuang Tsu: Inner Chapters with Gia-Fu Feng (1997)
- Working Out, Working Within with Jerry Lynch a (1998)
- The Chinese Book of Animal Powers(1999)
- Tao Mentoring: Cultivate Collaborative Relationships in All Areas of Your Life with Jerry Lynch, and Laura Archera Huxley (1999)
- The Sage's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for the Second Half of Life with William Martin, Hank Tusinski(2000)
- Essential Tai Ji (2004)
- The Way of the Champion: Lessons from Sun Tzu's The art of War and other Tao Wisdom for Sports & life with Jerry Lynch Ph.D. (2006)
- My Journey in Mystic China: Old Pu's Travel Diary by John Blofeld, with Daniel Reid, and Chungliang Al Huang (2008)
- The Spirit of Dancing Warriors with Jerry Lynch Ph.D (2010)
Music Publications
- The Tao of Poetry with David Darling (2007)
- The Zen of Poetry with David Darling and guest narration by Ram Dass (2009)
External links
- Bridging Heaven & Earth Show #132 Interview with Chungliang Al Huang
- Living Tao Foundation
- Biographical notes