Benjamin Pang-jeng Lo
Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo (Lo Pang-jeng, Ben Lo) (April 1927–October 12, 2018), was a well-known teacher and practitioner of taijiquan (t'ai chi ch'uan). Lo was a student of Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing (Zheng Manqing), and translated several influential taijiquan books.
Benjamin Lo was born in Jiangsu Province, China.[1] In 1948, at the age of 21, as the Chinese civil war was nearing its end, he and his family moved to Taiwan, which in 1949 became the seat of the Republic of China. Lo met Cheng Man-ch'ing in 1949 and commenced his study with him.[2] Lo graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in Chinese literature. He then worked in the government and later completed a master's degree in public administration at National Chengchi University.[1]
In 1974, Lo moved to San Francisco, where he began teaching taijiquan, establishing the Universal T'ai Chi Ch'uan studio. Working from that home base, he traveled around the United States, Holland, Sweden, and elsewhere in Europe, as well as Israel and Taiwan, teaching workshops and camps for thousands of students. He passed away in San Francisco on October 12, 2018.[2]
Lo often summarized his teaching into "Five basic principles for the development of good Tai Chi Ch'uan skills: 1) Relaxation. 2) Separating Ying from Yang. 3) Turning the waist. 4) Keeping the body upright. And 5) Maintaining the hand like a beautiful lady's hand." Above all, he emphasized the need for practice.[3]
Benjamin Lo was co-translator of three important taijiquan books:
The Essence of T'ai Chi Ch'uan with Martin Inn; Robert Amacker; Susan Foe (North Atlantic Books 1979, reissued by Inner Research Institute 2008 ISBN 9780615227771 Search this book on 
. 0615227775). This is a translation of the taijiquan classics (circa 1850s) transmitted through the Yang family lineage.
Chen Weiming's T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen, with Robert W. Smith (North Atlantic Books 1985, 0938190679 9780938190677). This book is one of the earliest taijiquan books, first published in 1929.
Cheng Tzu's Thirteen Treatises on T'ai Chi Ch'uan 鄭子太極拳十三篇 by Cheng Man-ch'ing, with Martin Inn (North Atlantic Books 1985, 9781583942208 1583942203), first published in Taiwan in 1950.
He also made a number of videos and DVDs, such as "The Lectures: Commentaries on the T'ai chi ch'uan Classics" (Inner Research Institute), and wrote articles for magazines such as Taijiquan zazhi (Taiwan).
These were some of the earliest taijiquan books available in English and thus had a great influence on all subsequent English taijiquan literature.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Donald, Donald; Mann, Lawrence (Fall 1996). "Conservator of the Taiji Classics: An Interview with Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo". Journal of Asian Martial Arts. 5 (4): 46–67.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Davis, Barbara (October 18, 2018). "In Memory: Benjamin Lo". http://taijiquanjournal.blogspot.com/2018/10/in-memory-benjamin-lo.html. Retrieved October 19, 2018. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Chen, David (2001). "Five Principles of Good Tai Chi Ch'uan Skills". Five principles of good Tai Chi Ch'uan skills. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
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