China's Philosophers

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 was born in Shanghai in the 1930s.[1] 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, 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.

[edit]Teaching and Collaborations

He has taught at Esalen Institute 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.

[edit]Philosopher

Huang is well-known for his collaborations with philosopher Alan Watts, 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.

[edit]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 Pack 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.

[edit]Educator

Huang is a respected speaker in the field of human potentiality, on cultural diversity 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.

[edit]Scholarship and Notable Recognitions