Glossary of Chinese Terms (Taoist, Martial Arts & Culture)

A

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Acupoints (xue[wei] 穴[位]): acupoints refer to specific points on the body where qi is accessible; the Chinese name, xuewei, actually means cavity, because the Chinese saw these as cavities or holes in the body landscape, by which one could reach the subterranean currents (jing; ususally called “meridians”). Acu(puncture)points are used in acupuncture, acupressure, and in qigong and taijiquan for alignment, awareness, and circulation regulation.

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Alchemy (Internal — ): Neidan)(內丹); a traditional Taoist system of physical cultivation for the prolonging of life and the understanding of creation; it focuses on refining body, breath, and consciousness. In Taoist-Lifestyle.Com, internal alchemy refers to the highest Taoist practical training methods, used to realize the union with the Dao.

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An (按): pressing/pushing downward. One of taijiquan’s eight basic energies (bajin). In practice, an is a coordinated whole-body press, not only a local arm push.

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Application (使用): practical use. Often refers to the martial application of movements (how a posture is used for self-defense or partner work).

 

B

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Baihui (百會): a cavity (acupoint on the top of the head). Often referenced for posture, alignment, and gently “lifting” the crown in standing and movement practice.

Bagua (八卦): the eight trigrams, a classic Taoist/Chinese cosmology model often shown as: ☰ ☱ ☲ ☳ ☴ ☵ ☶ ☷.

Bazi (八字): also written as: “Eight Characters.” A Chinese astrology method based on the Four Pillars(year, month, day, hour), expressed as four pairs of characters, used in fate calculation and life analysis.

Branch (dizhi (地支) also written as: the Earthly Branches. A set of twelve characters/symbols used, for instance, in Chinese calendrical and astrological systems (often paired with the Heavenly Stems). They are also used in neidan.

Baoquan li (抱拳禮): fist-covering salute. A traditional martial salute (one fist covered by the other hand) used to show respect.

Balance (pingheng 平衡): physical and internal equilibrium—maintaining stability while staying able to change and respond.

Bodhidharma (Chinese: Damo 達摩): a semi-legendary Indian Buddhist monk associated with spreading early Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China and later Shaolin tradition stories.

Bow stance (gongbu弓步): a fundamental martial arts stance with weight carried more on one leg than the other, used for stability, a stepping base, and issuing force. The legs imitate the form of a bow, hence the name.

Breath regulation (tiao xi調息): the regulation of breathing by a specific technique — coordinating breathing with posture, movement, and awareness.

Broadsword (dao刀): a single-edged blade (straight or curved) commonly used in Chinese martial arts.

Bruce Lee (Li Xiaolong 李小龍): a globally influential martial artist who popularized Chinese martial arts internationally and founded Jeet Kune Do.

C

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Cai (採): pluck. One of taijiquan’s eight basic energies (bajin), often expressed as a spiraling downward pulling or uprooting quality.

Changquan (長拳): long Fist. A family of Northern Chinese boxing styles and also one of the alternative names for taijiquan.

Chansijin (纏絲勁): silk-reeling energy. A spiraling, continuous power method (especially associated with Chen style).

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D

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Dajia (大架): big frame. A training approach that uses larger, more open body shapes and wider movement ranges. Dajia helps build clear structure, stability, and coordination before refining the work into smaller, more subtle internal movement.

Dashou (打手): fighting hands or hitting hands. A general term for combative (hand and other) methods—often referring to practical applications, striking, and fighting-oriented skills.

Dashou (搭手): joining hands. Hand-to-hand contact skills used to connect, listen, and work with a partner’s force (often a gateway into sensitivity drills such as tuishou).

Dashou (達手): comprehending hands or apprehending hands. Emphasizes understanding through touch—learning to read timing, direction, and intention through contact.

Dashou (大手): big hands. A training emphasis on broad, open hand methods (and sometimes “big” power expression), depending on the tradition.

Dao/Tao (道): the Way; a path, a method. In practice, Dao refers to the unknown origin of everything and the way to unite with this.

Daoism/Taoism (daojiao道教/daojia 道家): Taoist tradition (daojiao is the religious and philosophical and daojia is the name for Taoist practitioners). A millennia old traditional philosophical and religious culture originating in China. In Taoist-Lifestyle.Com, we focus on practical Taoist cultivation (methods of training and refinement), while recognizing the wider cultural and historical context.

Daoyin (導引): a traditional Taoist practice combining gentle stretching movements, enhanced circulations, and awareness. Daoyin supports health, circulation, posture, and internal regulation, and is often used as a foundation for deeper internal practices.

Dantian (丹田): the field of cinnabar, an area in the abdomen, used in Taoist practice as a reference point for posture, breathing, and internal awareness. In neidan it is the foundation of the entire practice. Some traditions describe three dantian regions: a lower, middle, and upper dantian, corresponding to different functional apects of cultivation.

Dingshi (定式): fixed posture/position. A fixed position is practiced for alignment, stability, energy cultivation, breath regulation, and internal/external interactive awareness.

Duanwei (段位): a formalized Wushu grading and ranking system. Duanwei are the equivalent of the Japanese “dan” levels and are solely used in modern Chinese martial arts organizations.

Duifang (對方): practice partner or opponent. A general term for “the other side.”

Duilian (對練): partner training. Practice with a partner, such as two-person forms, drills, or sparring.

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E

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Empty and full (xushi虛實): sometimes meaning substantial and insubstantial; distinguishing full (weight-bearing or active) and empty (non-weight-bearing or passive) locations to support balance, stepping, effectiveness, and responsiveness.

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F

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Fangsong (放鬆): release unnecessary tension, creating balance between relaxation and energy. Fangsongis not collapsing — it’s relaxed, alive structure.

Fengshui (風水): sometimes also written as: Fung Shui; literally: “wind and water”; environmental placement and harmony. A traditional Chinese art of aligning buildings, spaces, graves, and surroundings with harmonious natural qi circulations to prevent damaging influences of wind and water, mainly.

Five Elements (wuxing五行): also written as: Five Phases or Five Agents; five agents of transformation: symbolized as wood, fire, earth, metal, water and their interactions — used widely in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and cultivation frameworks.

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G

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Gongfu (功夫): also written as: Kung Fu, Kung-fu; skill developed through consistent, long-term practice.In Taoist training, gongfu refers to embodied skill rather than intellectual knowledge.

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J

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Jibengong (基本功): basic training. Fundamental exercises that build the essentials: stance, energy, mobility, coordination, strength, flexibility, and core technical skills.

Jin (勁): energy/energies; types of refined force. In internal training, jin refers to trained, coordinated power (structure + timing + intent), rather than raw muscular strength.

Jing (精): essence, the material foundation of life and qi. Jing refers to foundational vitality and physiological resources. Taoist practice emphasizes conserving and refining jing through lifestyle, movement, awareness, and especially internal alchemy (neidan).

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L

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Li (力): unrefined force or force in general. Li typically points to raw strength or effort (often muscular), before it is refined into coordinated skill.

Luan cai hua (亂踩花): loosely stepping on flowers; stepping freely to find opportunity. A footwork idea emphasizing free stepping, angle changes, and timing to create openings.

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N

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Neidan (Internal Alchemy內丹): a Taoist system of internal training aimed at long-term refinement of vitality, character, awareness, consciousness and union with the Dao. Taoist-Lifestyle.Com approaches neidan from the perspective of the Southern Tradition as a structured, progressive practice, grounded in real, stable experience rather than belief.

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Neigong (內功): internal skill training focusing on breath, structure, health, strength, resilience, coordination, and awareness. Neigong often serves as a bridge between health practices and internal alchemy.

Q

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Qi (炁): the classical character used for refined (alchemical) qi. Some traditions use 炁 to emphasize an older, alchemical or “original vitality” context versus the common character (氣) for ordinary forms and functions of qi.

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Qi (氣): fundamentally qi refers to vapor; it can be seen as that which flows to moderate and maintain a living ecosystem. It is the transformative agent in everything and is transformation itself. A practical way to think of qi in a practice context is as functional processes—movement, circulation, regulation, and transformation—observable through training and experience.

Qi (气): is the simplified form, used in modern Chinese writing.

Qigong (氣功/气功): the skill of working with qi; or methods to develop that skill. Qigong is a broad category of practices using movement, breath, and attention.

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R

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Roushou (揉手): rubbing or subduing hands. Partner drills emphasizing continuous contact, soft power, and skillful changes—often trained to develop sensitivity and control.

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S

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Stem ((Heavenly — ) (tiangan天干): also written as: Heavenly Stems. A set of ten characters/symbols used in Chinese cosmology and calendrical calculations, often paired with the Earthly Branches. Also applied to processes and locations in internal alchemy (neidan).

Sanshou (散手): (in general) freestyle sparring. A free training format that typically includes a.o. striking, kicking, and grappling methods. In taijiquan it also refers to a standardized set of partner drills. 

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T

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Tongxue(men) (同學[們]): student(s). A way to address (a) fellow student(s) or a class group.

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Tudi (徒弟): disciple(s). The distinctive term for student(s) in a formal teacher–disciple relationship.

 

 

W

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Wuxing (五行): see: Five Elements,. In practice, wuxing describes changing relationships and cycles by interactive agents (not “elements”).

Washou (瓦手): (roof) tile hand. A specific hand shape or method used in some systems; the exact application depends on the tradition.

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X

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Xia dantian/Tan Tien (下丹田): a point roughly behind the navel or the lower abdomen region in general.Commonly used as a reference point for breath, posture, and cultivating stability. Originally refers to a foundation region in internal alchemy (neidan).

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Y

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Yinyang (陰陽): also written as: Yin-Yang: complementary opposites (e.g., dark/light, yielding/firm), that continuously interact and transform. Two functions of qi.

Yao (腰): the area below the ribs and above the legs; the waist. Refers to how the waist coordinates turning and connects upper and lower body. In taijiquan every movement originates from the yao.

Yongquan (涌泉): the “bubbling spring” cavity; an acupoint near the center of the sole of the foot. Often referenced for rooting, balance, focus, and standing practice.

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Z

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Zi wei dou shu (紫微斗数/紫微斗數): also written as: Purple Star Astrology; a Chinese astrology system.Uses star positions and palaces/constellations to map themes in a person’s life.

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Taijiquan and Martial Arts Terms

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Steps, stances, and body methods

Aobu (拗步) — Twist step. An uprooting and fast moving technique.

Baibu (擺步) — Swing step. The leg opens outward to the side.

Banbu (半步) — Half step.

Cabu (擦步) — Rubbing step. The front foot slides on the ground.

Chabu (叉步) — Crossing/forked step. The rear foot moves perpendicular to the front foot.

Dingbu (定歩) — Fixed stance.

Dingbu (丁步) — Nail stance. Front leg on toe, hind leg at an angle (from 45º up to 90º).

Genbu (跟步) — Follow step.

Gongbu (弓步) — Bow stance. Body weight more on one leg.

Hebu (合步) — Matched stance (e.g., your right leg forward, partner’s right leg forward). Compare to shunbu.

Huobu (活步) — Moving/lively step (not fixed step).

Jiao (脚) — Foot.

Jinbu (進步) — Approaching step.

Jin san tui san (進三退三) — Advance and retreat three steps.

Kaibu (開步) — Opening stance/step.

Koubu (扣步) — Hooking step. The front leg turns inward.

Mabu (馬步) — Horse stance. Legs are typically parallel and body weight is evenly distributed.

Maoxingbu (猫行步) — Stepping like a cat.

Pubu (僕步) — Drop stance. Low squat with one leg extended.

Shitui zhuan ti (實腿轉體) — Turning on a weighted leg, typical of moving in Dong Style taijiquan, using aobu or twist steps.

Shunbu (順步) — Opposite stance (e.g., your right leg forward, partner’s left leg forward).

Tuibu (退步) — Backward/retreating step.

Xubu (虛步) — Empty stance. Body weight carried completely on the back leg.

Xu tui zhuan ti (虛腿轉體) — Turning on an empty leg, typical of simplified forms of martial arts.

You (右) — Right (side).

Zhongding (中定) — The center “step” (position) in taijiquan around which other steps are made. 

Zhou (肘) — Elbow.

Zuo (左) — Left (side).

Postures and hand methods

Chui (捶) — Punch.

Goushou (鉤手) — Hooked hand (e.g., in the “single whip” taijiquan posture).

Lan que wei (攬雀尾) — Grasp the Bird’s Tail. The first movements after the opening move in Yang style taijiquan (and in those styles derived from Yang Style). They use four fundamental energies: peng, lü, ji, and an.

Skills and powers

Chansijin (纏絲勁) — Spiraling, “silk-reeling” jin.

Dongjin (懂勁) — Understanding jin.

Fajin (發勁) — To apply jin, such as with an explosive strike.

Huajin (化勁) — Transforming/deflecting jin.

Jindian (勁點) — Point of jin application.

Jinlu (勁路) — Pathway of jin.

Tingjin (聽勁) — Listening or sensing jin.

Weapons and equipment

Dao (刀) — A single-edged blade (straight or curved). Often called “broadsword”.

Jian (劍) — A double-edged straight sword.

Gan (桿) — Long staff or pole.

Gun (棍) — Short staff or pole.

Qiang (槍) — Spear. Also a rifle.

Shisuo (石鎖) — Stone “lock.” A traditional Chinese stone object with a handle to practice weight lifting.

Tieshan (鐵扇) — Iron fan.

People and places

Chenjiagou (陈家沟/陳家溝) — Chen Family Village, birthplace of the Chen tradition of martial arts.

Chen Weiming (陳微明) — Influential teacher and author on Yang style Taijiquan. Student of Yang Chengfu.

Guangfu Township (广府镇/廣府鎮) — Historic town; home of Yang Luchan and Wu Yuxiang.

Huang Zongxi (黄宗羲) — 17th-century author; early reference to neijiaquan, the “in-house taught” (neijia) martial art (quan), based on Taoist principles, rivaling Buddhist shaolinquan.

Jianghu (江湖) — Martial underworld culture, real and/or fictional.

Li Tianji (李天骥) — Key figure in 24 Forms Simplified Taijiquan; coach for Chinese national wushu team; professor at the Beijing Sports University.

Qi Jiguang (戚繼光) — 16th-century general and author on martial arts. Qi revolutionized military tactics and standardized martial arts training for soldiers.

Shaolin (少林) — Henan monastery/region; the martial arts associated with Shaolin Temple.

Sun Lutang (孫禄堂) — Founder of Sun style Taijiquan; proponent of modern neijia theory.

Tang Hao (唐豪) — 20th-century historian of Chinese martial arts.

Tianjin (天津) — Northern Chinese city; early dissemination hub for Taijiquan.

Wang Zongyue (王宗岳) — Presumed author of a fundamental Taijiquan text.

Wudang / Wu Tang (武當) — Mountain range and Taoist temple traditions associated with the Wudang school.

Wu Yuxiang (武禹襄) — Founder of Wu-Hao style Taijiquan; author of Tai Chi classics.

Yang Chengfu (楊澄甫) — Popularized Taijiquan in China.

Yang Luchan (楊露禪) — Founder of Yang style Taijiquan.

Yongnian xian (永年县) — Yongnian District, Hebei; location of Guangfu Township.

Zhongyang Guoshu Guan (中央國術館) — Central Guoshu (National [Martial] Arts) Institute.

Zhang Sanfeng (張三豐) —Taoist master linked with the legendary development of taijiquan and with a neidan tradition. There is no real evidence to prove either claim.

Zheng Manqing / Cheng Man-ch’ing (鄭曼青) — Student of Yang Chengfu, who spread taijiquan in Taiwan and New York.

 

Phrases and idioms (in simplified Chinese characters)

 

Bafa (or: bamen) wubu (八法[八门]五步) — Eight methods/gates and five steps; a specific taijiquan taolu.

Bainian guochi (百年国耻) — A century of national humiliation.

Ban men nong fu (班门弄斧) — Showing off in front of a true expert.

Bu diu, bu ding (不丢不顶) — Do not lose contact and do not oppose.

Bugang (步罡) — Ritual pacing through the Big Dipper pattern.

Chazhihaoli, miuzhiqianli (差之毫厘，谬之千里) — Off by a hair at the start, missed by a mile at the end.

Chen jian zhui zhou (沉肩坠肘) — Sink shoulders, drop elbows.

Chi ku (吃苦) — To suffer hardships.

Chi kui (吃亏) — To suffer loss.

Chu shou jian hong (出手见红) — When the hands go, one must “see red.” Fight till fist blood.

Da jia (打假) — Fighting against fakery.

Da taiji (打太极) — Evading an issue or to practice taijiquan.

Dong zhong qiu jing (动中求静) — Find stillness in movement.

Dongya bingfu (东亚病夫) — “Sick man of East Asia.”

Dui niu tan qin (对牛弹琴) — Playing the lute for a cow.

Fen xu shi (分虚实) — Distinguish empty and full.

Fengjian mixin (封建迷信) — Feudal-era superstitions.

Guzhuang xi (古装戏) — Historical costume drama.

Huxi ziran (呼吸自然) — Breathe naturally.

Hua quan xiu tui (花拳绣腿) — Beautiful but useless martial arts techniques.

Jin zhi ze yu zhang; tui zhi ze yu cu (进之则愈长; 退之则愈促) — Advancing seems too far; retreating seems too near.

Jing ru shanyue; dong ruo jianghe (静如山岳; 动若江河) — Still like a mountain; moving like a river.

Jiu qu zhu (九曲珠) — Pearl rolling through nine bends.

Kai he (开合) — Open and close.

Li ru pingzhun; huo shi chelun (立如枰凖, 活似车轮) — Stand like a scale; move like a wheel.

Lian quan bu lian gong, dao lao yichangkong (练拳不练功, 到老一场空) — Practice martial arts sets but not skill and you’ll end up with nothing.

Mian li cang zhen (绵里藏针) — Needle hidden in cotton.

Neihang kan mendao, waihang kan renao (内行看门道, 外行看热闹) — Experts watch the method, while laymen enjoy the show.

Neng pian jiu pian (能骗就骗) — If you can cheat, then cheat.

Pian laowai (骗老外) — Cheating foreigners.

Qi hu nan xia (骑虎难下) — Riding a tiger, it’s hard to dismount.

Shanzhong wu laohu, houzi cheng dawang (山中无老虎，猴子称大王) — When there’s no tiger on the mountain, the monkey is called “king”.

Shisanshi (十三式) — Thirteen movements.

Shua taiji (耍太极) — Synonym for da taiji.

Shuang zhong (双重) — Double-weighted.

She ji cong ren (舍己从人) — Neglect oneself and follow the other.

Siliang bo qianjin (四兩撥千斤) — Four ounces deflects a thousand pounds.

Sizheng (四正) — Four cardinal directions (and the jin associated with them).

Siyu (四隅) — Four corner directions (and the jin associated with them).

Song da, jin na (松打紧拿) — Loose? Strike. Tight? Grab.

Taijiquan chan fa ye (太极拳缠法也) — Taijiquan is a spiraling method.

Ti da shuai na (踢打摔拿) — Kick, punch, throw, grab.

Tianxia wugong chu Shaolin (天下武功出少林) — All martial arts under heaven come from Shaolin.

Tui zhong qiu jin (退中求进) — Seek advance within retreat.

Wo xin chang dan (卧薪尝胆) — Endure hardship to strengthen oneself.

Wuchui (五捶) — Five hammers.

Wu ji bi fan (物极必反) — At the limit, things reverse.

Wu ren zidi (误人子弟) — Misleading the next generation.

Wushibu xiao bai bu (五十步笑百步) — Fifty steps laugh at a hundred steps.

Wu shi you tu ao chu (毋使有凸凹处) — Do not allow protrusions or hollows.

Xu jin ru zhanggong; fa jin ru fang jian (蓄劤如张弓; 发劤如放箭) — Store jin like drawing a bow; release jin like loosening an arrow.

Xu ling ding jin (虚灵顶劲) — Empty and nimble, move the jin to the top of the head.

Xue quan rongyi gai quan nan (学拳容易改拳难) — Learning martial arts is easy; correcting them is hard.

Xue taijiquan xu sishou (学太极拳需四手) — Learning taijiquan requires four hands.

Yao kua fenli (腰胯分离) — Yao (waist) and kua (groin) must separate.

Ye Gong hao long (叶公好龙) — Flaunt association; flee the real thing.

Yicun chang, yicun qiang (一寸长一寸强) — One inch longer, one inch stronger.

Yi dan, er li, san gongfu (一膽二力三功夫) — Courage first, power second, skill third.

Yi dao qi dao (意到气到) — When/where yi (focus) arrives, qi arrives.

Yidong quandong (一动全动) — One part moves, everything moves; or: as soon as you move, everything moves.

Yi ri wei shi, zhongshen wei fu (一日为师，终身为父) — Teacher for a day, father for life.

Yi wu hui you (以武会友) — Use martial arts to assemble friends.

Yi yu buneng jia, ying chong buneng luo (一羽不能加, 蠅虫不能落) — A feather can’t settle; a fly can’t alight.

Yin cai shi jiao (因材施教) — Teach according to capacities.

Yong yi bu yong li (用意不用力) — Use yi (focus), not force.

Zhan, nian, lian, sui (粘黏连随) — Stick, glue, connect, and follow.

Zhong ti xi yong (中体西用) — Chinese knowledge is essential; Western knowledge is practical.

 

Last updated: January 2026