The Dancing Wu Li Masters

The Dancing Wu Li Masters is a 1979 book by Gary Zukav, a popular science work exploring modern physics, and quantum phenomena in particular. It was awarded a 1980 U.S. National Book Award in category of Science.[1][lower-alpha 1] Although it explores empirical topics in modern physics research, The Dancing Wu Li Masters gained attention for leveraging metaphors taken from eastern spiritual movements, in particular the Huayen school of Buddhism with the monk Fazang's treatise on the Golden Lion,[2][3] to explain quantum phenomena and has been regarded by some reviewers as a New Age work, although the book is mostly concerned with the work of pioneers in western physics down through the ages.

The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics
Front cover of Bantam paperback edition
AuthorGary Zukav
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
PublisherWilliam Morrow
Publication date
March 1979
Media typePrint (hardcover & paperback)
Pages352
ISBN0-688-03402-0
OCLC4493031
530.1/2
LC ClassQC173.98 .Z84

The toneless pinyin phrase Wu Li in the title is most accurately rendered 物理 in Chinese characters, one Chinese translation of the word "physics" in the light of the book's subject matter. This becomes somewhat of a pun as there are many other Chinese characters that could be rendered as "wu li" in atonal pinyin, and chapters of the book are each titled with alternative translations of Wu Li, such as "Nonsense", "My Way" and "I Clutch My Ideas". Zukav participated as a journalist in a 1976 physics conference of eastern and western scientists at Esalen Institute, California; and he used the occasion as material for his book. At the conference, it was said that the Chinese term for physics is 'Wu Li', or "patterns of organic energy." Zukav, among others, conceptualized 'physics' as the dance of the Wu Li Masters – teachers of physical essence. Zukav explains the concept further:

The Wu Li Master dances with his student. The Wu Li Master does not teach, but the student learns. The Wu Li Master always begins at the center, the heart of the matter...[4]

Editions
  • The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics (1979). New York: William Morrow and Company, hardcover: ISBN 0-688-03402-0, paperback: ISBN 0-688-08402-8, 352 p.
    • (1984) Bantam mass market paperback: ISBN 0-553-26382-X, 337 p.
    • (1990) Audio Renaissance audiocassette: ISBN 1-55927-058-6 (abridged)
    • (2001) Harper Perennial paperback: ISBN 0-06-095968-1, 416 p.
    • (2001) Audio Renaissance CD: ISBN 1-55927-643-6 (abridged)
gollark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnWhqhNdYyk ← fear.
gollark: https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NVIDIA-GBM-Works-With-Sway ← fear it.
gollark: Sort of.
gollark: Go has it too!
gollark: Although they almost have working Wayland support now. Very exciting.

See also

Notes
  1. This was the award for paperback Science.
    From 1980 to 1983 in National Book Award history there were dual awards for hardcover and paperback books in many categories, including several nonfiction subcategories. Most paperback award-winners were reprints of earlier works; this one was eligible for both awards as a new book.

References
  1. "National Book Awards – 1980". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
  2. Rothschild, Norman Harry. "The Golden Lion. Fazang (Fa-tsang, 643—712 C.E.)". Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  3. Wong, Tai Wing. "An English Translation and Annotation of The Flower Ornament Golden Lion Treatise" (PDF). philpapers.org. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  4. Curtin, Mary Ellen. "Editorial Reviews". Amazon.com Review. Retrieved 16 October 2012. This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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