Tai Chi 28 Performance from Master Ziji:
Steps Translation:
第一段
Dì Yī Duàn
Section one
1.預備式 Yù Bèi Shì
Ready posture
Note: 式 refers to a posture or movement, literally the form of physical shape
2.起式 Qǐ Shì
Starting movement
Note: 起 literally means rising up, used in the context meaning starting an action /task
3.退步崩式 Tuì Bù Bēng Shì
Step backward and deliver blow
Note: 崩 has the meaning of bursting or an immense collapse, indicating powerful movement.
4.攬雀尾 Lǎn Què Wěi
Catching finch tail
Note: 攬 refers to seizing with a collecting or trapping posture
5.正單鞭 Zhèng Dān Biān
Front single whip
第二段
Dì Èr Duàn
Section two
6.提手上式 Tí Shǒu Shàng Shì
Lifting hand and rising up
7.白鶴亮翅 Bái Hè Liàng Chì
White crane flashes wings
Note: 亮 means showing something which is normally concealed, the word can imply the action occurs for a brief moment. The white crane spreads and showing its wings.
8.左摟膝拗步 Zuǒ Lǒu Xī Ǎo Bù
Brush left knee and step to reversed stance
Note: 拗步 in Chinese martial art terminology refers to an action with the arm stretching out being the opposite side to the leg stepping in front.
9.手揮琵琶 Shǒu Huī Pípá
Strike the lute
Note: 琵琶 Pi Pa is a Chinese string instrument with solid body and no hollow cavity, giving it the uniquely forceful character. Pi Pa is normally regarded as an instrument of “Wu”(武) character (martial, as opposed to Wen (文), meaning scholar/gentle/refined). Common playing techniques involve powerful strokes. The action 揮 means to swing the hand and wipe across the strings.
10.小擒拿手 Xiǎo Qín Ná Shǒu
Small capturing hand
Note: 擒拿 Qin Na refers to seizing (擒 capture) and holding (拿). Qin Na in martial art terminology refers in a broad sense to seizing and manipulation techniques. 擒拿手 refers to the hand action of capturing.
11.右踢腿 Yòu Tī Tuǐ
Right leg kick
Note: the action in Chinese is stated as 踢腿 “kick leg”.
12.左打虎式 Zuǒ Dǎ Hǔ Shì
Left beating tiger posture
Note: the concept of 降龍 and 伏虎 is seen in Chinese philosophical and religious expressions, often in both Buddhism and Daoism. The ability to subdue a fierce beast is used as the representation of distinct capability. In ancient times tigers were notorious and also mysterious. Defeating a tiger has been a widely used theme in literature, such as novels, depicting courage and power.
第三段
Dì Sān Duàn
Section three
13.右打虎式 Yòu Dǎ Hǔ Shì
Right beating tiger posture
14.左摟膝拗步 Zuǒ Lǒu Zī Ǎo Bù
Brush left knee and step to reversed stance
15.野馬分鬃 Yě Mǎ Fēn Zōng
Wild horse parting its mane
Note: the opening of the hands mimic the mane of a galloping a wild horse spreading to both sides.
16.正單鞭 Zhèng Dān Biān
Front single whip
17.玉女穿梭 Yù Nǚ Chuān Suō
Fair lady working the loom
Note: 穿梭 refers to the action performed when working a loom. Specifically feeding through the 梭子 in the process of looming.
18.正單鞭 Zhèng Dān Biān
Front single whip
第四段
Dì Sì Duàn
Section four
19.下勢 Xià Shì
Dropping down
Note: the word 勢 refers to the direction/tendency of movement/power.
20.上步七星 Shàng Bù Qī Xīng
Step forward to seven stars
Note: literally 上步 states stepping “up”, and should be understood as “forward”.
北斗七星, or in brief 七星, are seven stars referred to by the Chinese as a group. They form the shape of a 勺 (long spoon/dipper). In martial art the name is often used to refer to the shape of stepping pattern.
21.退步跨虎 Tuì Bù Kuà Hǔ
Step backward mounting the tiger
22.雙擺蓮 Shuāng Bǎi Lián
Double swinging lotus
23.彎弓射虎 Wān Gōng Shè Hǔ
Draw the bow to shoot tiger
24.上步搬攔捶 Shàng Bù Bān Lán Chuí
Step forward, shift-parry-hammer
Note: 搬, 攔, 捶 each refers to a movement, the first two of which are defensive moves, and the last a striking move.
25.如封似閉 Rú Fēng Shì Bì
Closing up
Note: literally 如 and 似mean apparently/mimicking/similar to… The movement is literally referred to “like shut”. This is not to be understood as a deceiving action, rather the blockade is well formed that it is like completed closed.
26.十字手 Shí Zì Shǒu
Crossing hands
Note: 十字 ten-character in Chinese means crossed shape, as the Chinese character for number ten is a cross.
27.抱虎歸山 Bào Hǔ Guī Shān
Bringing the tiger back to the mountain
28.收式 Shōu Shì
Finishing movement
Note: 收 has the meaning of reorganizing the things taken out, to collect and pack items. Therefore it has the meaning of withdrawing (power/commitment given out) from the exercise.
