Taijiquan Terminology
By Olesya Amacker
This reference presents an alphabetical collection of terms and concepts used in traditional Taijiquan.
B
Bird’s nest
Bird’s nest is a teaching metaphor for the armpit space — the small hollow that should remain gently open rather than squeezed shut. Keeping this space open helps prevent shoulder tension and keeps the arm integrated with the torso, allowing force to transmit cleanly through the body rather than becoming a disconnected, local arm effort.
Bow Stance (Bow-and-Arrow Stance)
Bow-and-arrow stance (also called arrow stance or bow stance, gōng bù 弓步) is a forward Taijiquan stance in which the front leg bends to support the body while the rear leg extends behind, like an arrow being shot from a bow. The front foot points forward, the front knee aligns with the toes, and the rear foot is turned slightly outward. In many Taijiquan teachings, the back-leg knee is gently sunk and turned slightly inward, allowing the waist to turn fully forward. This creates a unified, aligned “line” through the body — sometimes described as a “Dragon Body.” Weight is often taught as roughly 70 percent on the front leg and 30 percent on the back.
Bubbling well
Bubbling Well is the English name for Yongquan (yǒngquán, 湧泉), an acupuncture point on the sole of the foot and the first point on the Kidney meridian (KI-1). It lies on the bottom of the foot in the small depression that appears when the toes are gently curled, roughly in the front third of the sole between the ball of the foot and the arch. In Taijiquan it is often used as a reference point for where weight should be distributed — so it “falls” through the foot into this point rather than settling back into the heels or drifting onto the toes.
C
Chansijin
Chansijin (chán sī jìn, 纏絲勁) is the Taijiquan skill of producing and transmitting power through continuous, coordinated spirals that connect the whole body. It is expressed as winding movements of the arms and legs around their transverse axes, without breaks or dead spots. The term is often rendered “silk-reeling,” comparing the action to drawing silk from a cocoon — steady, smooth, and unbroken.
D
Da Lu
In Taijiquan, Da Lu (Dà Lǚ, 大捋) — often translated as “Big Rollback”, is a two-person partner exercise associated with the “Four Directions” and “Four Corners,” reflecting its characteristic stepping pattern. Partners move through a repeating cycle of attack and neutralization, building on the four primary martial ideas trained in Penglujian (peng, ward off; lu, rollback; ji, press; and an, push), by adding the remaining four: pluck/pull (cǎi, 採), shoulder (kào, 靠), elbow (zhǒu, 肘), and split (liè, 挒). Many lineages also use Da Lu to introduce and explore a “lightning strike” attack.
Dantian
In Taijiquan and related internal arts, dantian (dāntián, 丹田) refers to centers within the body associated with internal energy and its cultivation. Three dantians are commonly distinguished: the lower dantian, located deep in the lower abdomen; the middle dantian, associated with the chest or heart region; and the upper dantian, associated with the head.In Taijiquan practice, the term dantian generally refers to the lower dantian, situated approximately two to three finger-widths below the navel and deep within the abdomen, near the body's center of gravity. It serves as a central reference point for balance, movement, and the coordination of the body as a unified whole.
Daruma
Daruma is the Japanese name for Bodhidharma, the legendary monk associated with the introduction of Zen (Chan) Buddhism to China. In Japan, “daruma” also refers to the familiar daruma doll: a rounded, tumbler-style figure weighted at the base so it rights itself when tipped over. In this book, daruma refers to the torso, which in Taijiquan should display similar qualities — easily “tipped” by incoming force through yielding, yet always returning to an upright position.
E
Eight Trigrams
The Eight Trigrams (bāguà, 八卦) are eight foundational symbols from the Yijing (I Ching, “Classic of Changes”) used in traditional Chinese cosmology to describe patterns of change in nature and human affairs. Each trigram is made of three stacked lines, either solid (yang) or broken (yin), so the Eight Trigrams represent all possible combinations of yin and yang in three positions. In this symbolic language, the trigrams are associated with archetypal qualities — such as Heaven (Qián), Earth (Kūn), Thunder (Zhèn), Wind (Xùn), Water (Kǎn), Fire (Lí), Mountain (Gèn), and Lake (Duì) — and they serve as building blocks for the sixty-four hexagrams, formed by pairing two trigrams.
Eight Trigrams Postures
In Taijiquan, the Eight Trigrams Postures — also called the Eight Gates/ Eight Methods (bā mén 八門 / bā fǎ 八法) — are eight foundational martial ideas. In the Taijiquan Jing traditionally attributed to Zhang Sanfeng, the Eight Methods are paired with the Eight Trigrams in an Earlier Heaven (Fúxī/xiāntiān) frame: péng (ward off) — Qián (Heaven), lǚ (rollback) — Kūn (Earth), jǐ (press) — Kǎn (Water), àn (push) — Lí (Fire), cǎi (pluck/pull) — Xùn (Wind/Wood), liè (split) — Zhèn (Thunder), zhǒu (elbow) — Duì (Lake/Marsh), and kào (shoulder) — Gèn (Mountain). Other schools, editions, and commentaries sometimes present different gate-to-trigram correspondences (often using Later Heaven/King Wen-style framings).
Elbow
In Taijiquan, elbow (zhǒu, 肘) is one of the Eight Postures and refers to using the elbow as the point of contact to issue power at very close range. As always, we continue to listen and adjust, even at the instant the elbow is issued.
F
Fajin
Fajin (fājìn, 發勁) in Taijiquan is the skill of issuing power in a sudden, explosive manner that comes from whole-body integration rather than muscular force. It is often compared to a crack of a whip or a release of a compressed spring. When done well, it can look small and effortless yet feel surprisingly penetrating, because it relies on timing, structure, and spring-like quality rather than brute strength.
H
Horse stance
Horse stance (mǎ bù, 馬步) is a foundational stance used in many Chinese martial arts. The feet are roughly parallel, the knees bend and track in line with the toes, and the torso remains upright. Weight is distributed evenly between both feet. The stance resembles the posture of a rider sitting astride a horse, which is the origin of its name.
J
Jin
Jin (jìn, 勁) in Taijiquan is trained power with a specific quality and function — not just “force,” but how force is organized, shaped, and expressed through the whole body. Taijiquan speaks of many kinds of jin, each with their own quality and power (see, for example chansijin, fajin, pengjin or tingjin.)
Jing
Jing (jīng, 精), commonly translated as “essence,” is one of the Three Treasures (San Bao) of traditional Chinese thought, together with qi (氣, vital energy) and shen (神, spirit).
In traditional Chinese medicine and Daoist theory, jing is regarded as the fundamental essence of life. It is traditionally understood as having both an inherited component, received from one's parents, and an acquired component, replenished through nourishment and healthy living.
In Daoist internal cultivation, jing is considered the foundation from which qi is developed and refined. This relationship is expressed in the traditional concept of transforming essence into qi, and qi into shen.
K
Kua
In Taijiquan, kua (kuà, 胯) refers to the hip-groin joint area where the thighs meet the pelvis. It includes the deep ball-and-socket hip joints as well as the softer inguinal crease in front. Functionally, the kua is the main hinge between the legs and the torso, allowing force — both our own and that coming from an opponent — to pass smoothly between the lower and upper body. Much of Taijiquan training involves learning to use the kua as a primary source of movement and to articulate this area with sensitivity and control.
L
Li
In Taijiquan, li (lì, 力) refers to raw muscular strength or “brute force.” It is local, effortful power produced by tensing and pushing with individual parts of the body, often at the expense of relaxation and structural integrity. Taijiquan training seeks to transform li into jin (refined, whole-body power) by discouraging stiff, isolated effort and cultivating strength that is organized through alignment, relaxation, and intention.
N
Ni chansijin
Ni chansijin (nì chán sī jìn, 逆缠丝劲): literally “reversing (or ‘against the direction’) silk-reeling jin.” It is one of the two basic modes of chansijin (“silk-reeling energy”), paired with shun chansijin. It is commonly associated with drawing in and neutralizing.
P
Pengjin
Pengjin (péng jìn, 掤勁) is the fundamental Taijiquan energy characterized by buoyant, rounded strength. Pengjin supports the body in all directions equally, creating a resilient “inflated” quality — often compared to an air-filled ball that yields without collapsing and rebounds without effort. Its function is to maintain structure, neutralize incoming force, and transform pressure into usable power throughout the body.
Penglujian
Penglujian (péng lǚ jǐ àn, 掤捋擠按) is a fixed-step partner exercise, with both partners keeping their feet in place, that trains four fundamental martial ideas: peng (ward off), lu (roll back), ji (press), and an (push). These techniques blend smoothly into one another in a continuous loop, allowing practitioners to refine their skill without repeatedly stopping and restarting the pattern.
Press
Press (jǐ, 擠/挤) is one of the Eight Postures. It is often applied when the opponent’s structure has collapsed. Usually both arms are used: one maintains the quality of ward off (péng), while the other expresses àn (“push”). In this context, ward off primarily serves a sticking and listening role, helping you maintain contact and guide the press.
Pull
Pull (cǎi, 採/采) is one of Taijiquan’s Eight Postures. It is often translated as “pull” or “pluck.” Although the arm may appear to be pulling, in Taijiquan we do not rely on brute force. Instead, pull emphasizes following and yielding to the opponent’s force, rather than forcefully moving them through space.
Push
Push (àn, 按) is one of Taijiquan’s Eight Postures. The arm shape resembles placing the hands on something and pushing. In practice, however, an is not a long, arm-driven shove. Taijiquan does not rely on force developed over a long distance; when push is truly applied, power is issued through a very short range — often only an inch or two — driven by chansijin (silk-reeling force) rather than by extending the arms.
Q
Qi
Qì (qi, 氣) is a traditional Chinese term for the vital “breath/energy” of life that animates living things and moves through the natural world. It is a foundational concept in classical Chinese medicine and many Chinese martial arts.
Qigong
Qigong (Qìgōng, 氣功; “qi skill” or “energy work”) is a broad family of traditional Chinese practices that cultivate health and vitality by coordinating posture and movement with regulated breathing and focused attention, supporting circulation, balance, resilience, and overall well-being.
R
Roll Back
Roll Back (lǚ, 捋) is one of Taijiquan’s Eight Postures and is traditionally associated with yielding, receptivity, and softness. In application, it is a combination of pull and split techniques — it expresses a drawing or “pulling” action that leads the opponent’s force into emptiness and then attacks through a subtle separating quality (felt as “split”).
S
Sanshou exercise
Sanshou (sǎnshǒu, “free hands”) refers to a partner exercise/set that links Taiji principles to clear martial applications. Unlike full sparring, Sanshou is a structured two-person routine that trains distance, timing, angles, and safe power expression while preserving core Taiji qualities. As a predetermined partner form, it serves as a bridge between preset techniques and more spontaneous partner work.
Shoulder
In Taijiquan, shoulder (kào, 靠) is one of the Eight Postures and refers to using the shoulder and upper torso as the point of contact. Rather than “bumping” with brute force, shoulder is issued through whole-body connection while continuing to listen and adjust even at the instant the shoulder makes contact.
Solo Form
In Taijiquan, the Solo Form (often simply “the Form”) is a set sequence of movements practiced alone that trains the art’s fundamentals in a continuous, structured way. Although it can look like a health exercise from the outside, the Solo Form is also a catalog of martial principles and applications.
Split
Split (liè, 裂) is one of Taijiquan’s Eight Postures. It refers to issuing power in two coordinated directions at the same time — often described as “two-way power.” An application may be called split when it “splits” an opponent’s structure (for example, separating the upper and lower body). Likewise, the term applies when you divide an incoming force into two pathways (for example, splitting a push).
Shun chansijin
Shun chansijin (shùn chán sī jìn, 顺缠丝劲): literally “following (i.e., moving with the direction of) silk-reeling jin.” It is one of the two basic modes of chansijin (“silk-reeling energy”). It is commonly associated with issuing or expelling force.
T
Taiji
Taiji (Tàijí, 太極), usually translated “Supreme Ultimate,” is a classical Chinese idea describing how all change arises from wújí (無極), an undifferentiated whole, and differentiates into yin and yang, and how those complementary forces continually transform into each other. In traditional Chinese thought, Taiji is the underlying principle behind cycles such as rising and falling, expanding and contracting, and opening and closing, and it is often represented by the Taijitu (the familiar black-and-white yin–yang symbol).
Taijiquan
Taijiquan (Tàijíquán, 太極拳), often written “Tai Chi Chuan,” is a Chinese internal martial art based on the principle of Taiji (yin–yang balance and continual change). The name literally means “Taiji Boxing” — from tàijí (太極, “Supreme Ultimate”) and quán (拳, “fist/boxing”). It is practiced through slow, connected forms and partner exercises such as push hands, Three Step, Da Lu, and Sanshou, developing sensitivity (“listening”) and efficient power (jin). The Taijiquan curriculum also includes weapons forms. While widely practiced today for health, balance, and stress reduction, Taijiquan originated as a fighting art that emphasizes yielding, neutralizing, and responding with minimal force and precise timing.
Tiger’s mouth
In Taijiquan, “tiger’s mouth” refers to the web and arc between the thumb and index finger (hǔkǒu, 虎口). This area is kept gently open and alive rather than pinched shut, helping the hand maintain structural integrity without stiffness.
Tingjin
Tingjin (tīngjìn, 聽勁), usually translated “listening energy,” is the Taijiquan skill of sensing and understanding an opponent’s force through touch and contact. By maintaining relaxed connection with the opponent and throughout one’s own joints and body, the practitioner can detect direction, pressure, timing, and intention, allowing responses to be precise without relying on brute strength. This emphasis on listening and adapting is one reason Taijiquan movements often appear soft, smooth, and flowing.
Tuishou
In Taijiquan, tuishou (tuīshǒu, 推手) — often translated as “push hands”—is a partner training exercise, not a fight or competition. It is one of the main ways Taiji principles are tested and refined with another person. Through fixed-step and moving-step patterns, tuishou provides a bridge between set-pattern exercises and more spontaneous martial application.
Tsung
The term tsung (鬆, pinyin: sōng) refers to the yielding quality of relaxation and force neutralization that is central to Taijiquan. In modern pinyin it is written sōng (鬆). In this book, the familiar spelling “tsung” is used for readability.
W
Ward Off
Ward Off (péng, 掤) is one of Taijiquan’s Eight Postures. It’s often described as an expansive, buoyant power — like an inflated ball, but not hard or rigid. It can “become smaller” (yielding to incoming force) or “become bigger” (following or advancing) while maintaining its springy fullness.
Y
Yang
In classical Chinese thought, yang (yáng, 陽) is one half of the yin–yang pair that expresses Taiji (Tàijí, 太極). It describes qualities that are active, outward, warming, and rising, and is often associated with sunlight, daytime, movement, and expansion. Yang is not “aggressive” in a crude sense; it is the necessary complement to yin (yīn, 陰), and the two define and balance one another while continually transforming into each other. In Taijiquan, yang refers to the issuing and advancing aspect within Taiji balance.
Yin
In classical Chinese thought, yin (yīn, 陰) is one half of the yin–yang pair that expresses Taiji (Tàijí, 太極). It describes qualities that are receptive, inward, cooling, and settling, and is often associated with shade, night, rest, and stillness. Yin is not “passive” in a weak sense; it is a necessary complement to yang (yáng, 陽), and the two define and balance one another while continually transforming into each other. In Taijiquan, yin refers to the yielding and receiving aspect within Taiji balance.