13-Posture Poem Yang family tai chi chuan Saber Form
The different slow motion solo form training sequences of T'ai Chi Ch'uan are the best known manifestation of T'ai Chi for the general public. In English, they are usually called the hand form or just the form; in Mandarin it is usually called ch'üan: 拳 (in Wade-Giles romanization: ch'üan2, in the pinyin system: quán). They are usually performed slowly by beginners and are designed to promote concentration, condition the body and acquaint students with the inventory of motion techniques for more advanced styles of martial arts training (see pushing hands).
Duration
The Saber Form, as this sequence of moves is also referred to in the Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan, when performed at its prescribed speed, usually takes approximately 2 minutes to complete.
Yang style 13-Posture Poem for Saber Form
The Yang family style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan Saber Form, unlike the 103-Form, the 49-Form, the 67-movement Sword Form, and the abbreviated 16-Form and 13-Form, is performed to a poem that in its Chinese transliteration consists of 13 lines of 7 characters each that metaphorically describe the postures to follow. This is the poem:
(Translated by Audi Peal)
1. 七星跨虎交刀势 Seven stars to Mount the tiger, Wielding saber forms.
2. 腾挪闪展意气扬 Spring-and-clear to Daze-and-strike with Will and spirit raised.
3. 左顾右盼两分张 Looking leftward, Gazing right, the Two components spread.
4. 白鹤亮翅五行掌 White crane displays its wings to Palm the five-fold states.
5. 风卷荷花叶里藏 Breezes turn the lotus bloom to Hide it in the leaves.
6. 玉女穿梭八方势 Treasured maidens work their shuttles facing eightfold ways.
7. 三星开合自主张 Triple stars open, close, Extending to their will.
8. 二起脚来打虎势 Double legs arising come and Strike the tiger pose.
9. 披身斜挂鸳鸯脚 Drape the body, hang aslant, and Kick like doting ducks
10. 顺水推舟鞭做篙 With the current, push the boat, the Whip can be a pole.
11. 下势三合自由招 Lower posture, Thrice combining, freedom calls to roll.
12. 左右分水龙门跳 Leftward, rightward cleaving streams, the Dragon gate to crest.
13. 卞和携石凤还巢 Old Bian-He retrieves his stone and Phoenix returns to nest.
See Also
- Hand Forms:
- 103-form Yang family tai chi chuan (Long Form)
- 49-form Yang family tai chi chuan (Short Form)
- 16-form Yang family tai chi chuan (16-Form)
- 13-form Yang family tai chi chuan (13-Form)
- Two-person Pushing Hands
- Weapons Forms:
- 67-Movement Yang family tai chi chuan Sword Form (Sword Form)