八卦 (Bā Guà) – Eight Trigrams
Ba Gua, the eight trigrams, are denoted by symbols named 爻 (Yáo). 爻 is drawn as an odd diagram (奇畫, also referred to as the Yang symbol, 陽爻) or even diagram(偶畫, also referred to as Yin symbol, 陰爻). Combined in pairs represent 四象 (this can relate to the four directions or the corresponding mythical beasts, or each corresponds to two of the eight trigrams, 太陰, 少陽, 少陰, 太陽, grouped by the composition of Yin and Yang). With an additional symbol, the diagrams consisting of three symbols make the Ba Gua. The three symbols correspond respectively to “sky above, earth below, and human in the middle.”
八卦掌 (Bā Guà Zhǎng) – Palms of the Eight Trigrams
Bā Guà Zhǎng is believed to have been developed by 董海川 (Dǒng Hǎi Chuān) in the 清 (Qin) dynasty. During a journey to the southern side of the long river (江南), it is said that he acquired inspiration from Taoist ideas, and subsequently integrated his martial art experiences to construct the palm set. He had been employed at an official residence of a prince (肅王府), and the system therefore first spread around Bei Jing.
武当八卦掌以站桩和行步为基本功，以绕圆走圈为基本运动形式。走转的足迹路线分为走阴阳鱼、走八卦图、走九宫等，步法要求起落平稳﹐摆扣清楚，虚实分明，行步如蹚泥﹐前行如坐轿﹐出脚要摩胫，身法要求顶头竖项﹐立腰溜臀﹐松肩垂肘﹐实腹畅胸﹐吸胯提裆。它充分发挥掌比拳和勾长的优势，以掌代拳施捶打之能，以掌代勾行拔掳之巧，形成了该掌系手法几乎全是掌法的特点。八卦掌不仅是一门技击术，也是一门健身术.
The Eight Palms
1. 單換掌 Dān Huàn Zhǎng
Single changing palm
2. 托天掌 Tuō Tiān Zhǎng
Supporting-sky palm
3. 順勢掌 Shun Shì Zhǎng
Downwind palm
4. 下勢掌 Xià Shì Zhǎng
Low palm
5. 雙換掌 Shuāng Huàn Zhǎng
Double changing palms
6. 轉身掌 Zhuǎn Shēn Zhǎng
Face-about palm
7. 磨盤掌 Mò Pán Zhǎng
Grinding disk palm
8. 雙穿掌 Shuāng Chuān Zhǎng
Double penetrating palms
