The Core of San Feng: The Wudang Taiji 13 Postures

In the heart of the Wudang San Feng lineage, the Taiji 13 Postures (太极十三式) stands as a foundational treasure. More than just a sequence of movements, it is a physical manifestation of Daoist cosmology, blending ancient philosophy with sophisticated martial mechanics. While many modern forms have expanded into dozens of movements, this "Thirteen" represents the concentrated "DNA" of all Taiji Quan.

A Legacy Spanning Centuries

The timeline of Taiji 13 is inseparable from the mist-covered peaks of the Wudang Mountains:

The Ming Dynasty Origins: Legend credits the immortal Zhang San Feng with the creation of this system. Observing the fluid grace of nature, he synthesized internal energy cultivation with self-defense, birth-marking the "Thirteen Postures" as the original kernel of Wudang Taiji.

The Survival of the "Mother Form": While other styles evolved into long, complex routines, the 13 Postures remained the "Mother Form." Its survival through the centuries is a testament to its efficacy—offering a symmetrical, balanced approach that trains both sides of the body and mind equally.

Modern Day Mastery: Today, it remains an essential intermediate-to-advanced pillar of the San Feng curriculum. Because of its internal depth, practitioners usually master foundational forms like the Wudang 9 Style or Taiji 28 before approaching this "treasure of the mountains."

The Sacred Arithmetic: 8 + 5 = 13

The name "Thirteen" is not arbitrary; it is a mathematical representation of the Eight Gates and the Five Steps.

1. The Eight Gates (Bā Mén - 掤)

These represent the eight fundamental kinetic techniques or "energies" used to manipulate an opponent’s force. They correlate to the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) of the Yi Jing:

掤 - Péng - Ward Off

捋 - Lu - Roll Back

擠 - Ji - Press

按 - Àn - Push

採 - Cai - Grab / Pluck

挒 - Liè - Split

肘 - Zhou - Elbow

靠 - Kào - Bump

2. The Five Steps (Wǔ Bù - 五步)

These represent the five directions of movement, corresponding to the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth):

进步 (Jìn Bù): 向前推进

退步 (Tùi Bù): 向后撤退

左顾 (Zǔo Gù): 留意左方（左移）

右盼 (Yòu Pàn): 顾及右方（右移）

中定 (Zhōng Dìng): 中心平衡（稳固的核心）

Martial Application and Fluidity

When the Eight Gates meet the Five Steps, the result is an infinite variety of combat applications. In the Wudang San Feng tradition, each posture is designed to deflect, absorb, or reflect an opponent's energy.

Rather than meeting force with force, the Taiji 13 practitioner uses "Central Equilibrium" to remain unshakeable while using the "Eight Gates" to redirect an attacker’s momentum. It is a study in adaptability—learning to be as yielding as silk yet as heavy as iron.

Start Your Journey

Because of the technical precision required for the 13 Postures, we recommend a solid foundation in basic Wudang Taiji before enrolling in our group classes. However, for those eager to dive straight into this ancient treasure, we offer private coaching with our Masters to help you navigate the nuances of the Eight Gates and Five Steps.

1. 起势 — Qǐ Shì — Opening Posture
2. 抱球势 — Bào Qiú Shì — Holding the Ball
3. 左右抱球势 — Zuǒ Yòu Bào Qiú Shì — Hold the Ball – Left & Right
4. 右掤势 — Yòu Péng Shì — Ward Off Right
5. 左掤势 — Zuǒ Péng Shì — Ward Off Left
6. 单推势 — Dān Tuī Shì — Single Push
7. 懒扎衣 — Lǎn Zhā Yī — Lazy Tying of the Coat
8. 左单推势 — Zuǒ Dān Tuī Shì — Single Push Left
9. 灵猴缩身 — Líng Hóu Suō Shēn — Agile Monkey Withdraws Body
10. 右单推势 — Yòu Dān Tuī Shì — Single Push Right
11. 正单鞭 — Zhèng Dān Biān — Single Whip
12. 探势 — Tàn Shì — Exploring Posture
13. 右捋手贴身靠 — Yòu Lǚ Shǒu Tiē Shēn Kào — Roll Back Right, Body Lean
14. 左白鹤亮翅 — Zuǒ Bái Hè Liàng Chì — White Crane Spreads Wings (Left)
15. 左高探马 — Zuǒ Gāo Tàn Mǎ — High Pat on Horse (Left)
16. 青龙左探掌 — Qīng Lóng Zuǒ Tàn Zhǎng — Green Dragon Probes Palm (Left)
17. 运转乾坤 — Yùn Zhuǎn Qián Kūn — Turn Heaven and Earth
18. 左捋手贴身靠 — Zuǒ Lǚ Shǒu Tiē Shēn Kào — Roll Back Left, Body Lean
19. 右白鹤亮翅 — Yòu Bái Hè Liàng Chì — White Crane Spreads Wings (Right)
20. 右高探马 — Yòu Gāo Tàn Mǎ — High Pat on Horse (Right)
21. 青龙右探掌 — Qīng Lóng Yòu Tàn Zhǎng — Green Dragon Probes Palm (Right)
22. 托势 — Tuō Shì — Lifting Posture
23. 顺手左牵羊 — Shùn Shǒu Zuǒ Qiān Yáng — Follow Hand Lead Sheep Left
24. 十字左擒手 — Shí Zì Zuǒ Qín Shǒu — Cross Hand Seize (Left)
25. 顺手右牵羊 — Shùn Shǒu Yòu Qiān Yáng — Follow Hand Lead Sheep Right
26. 十字右擒手 — Shí Zì Yòu Qín Shǒu — Cross Hand Seize (Right)
27. 扑势 — Pū Shì — Pouncing Posture
28. 左右待敌势 — Zuǒ Yòu Dài Dí Shì — Ready Stance Left & Right
29. 左提炉势 — Zuǒ Tí Lú Shì — Lift the Cauldron Left
30. 猛虎左扑羊 — Měng Hǔ Zuǒ Pū Yáng — Fierce Tiger Pounces Sheep Left
31. 迎风左折柳 — Yíng Fēng Zuǒ Zhé Liǔ — Bend the Willow into Wind Left
32. 右搂膝拗步 — Yòu Lǒu Xī Ào Bù — Brush Knee Twist Step Right
33. 白蛇三吐信 — Bái Shé Sān Tǔ Xìn — White Snake Flicks Tongue
34. 骑马左亮势 — Qí Mǎ Zuǒ Liàng Shì — Mounted Display Left
35. 右提炉势 — Yòu Tí Lú Shì — Lift the Cauldron Right
36. 猛虎右扑羊 — Měng Hǔ Yòu Pū Yáng — Fierce Tiger Pounces Sheep Right
37. 迎风右折柳 — Yíng Fēng Yòu Zhé Liǔ — Bend the Willow into Wind Right
38. 左搂膝拗步 — Zuǒ Lǒu Xī Ào Bù — Brush Knee Twist Step Left
39. 骑马右亮势 — Qí Mǎ Yòu Liàng Shì — Mounted Display Right
40. 担势 — Dān Shì — Carrying Posture
41. 左转身担柴 — Zuǒ Zhuǎn Shēn Dān Chái — Turn Body Carry Firewood Left
42. 右海底捞月 — Yòu Hǎi Dǐ Lāo Yuè — Sea Bottom Scoop Moon Right
43. 左霸王举鼎 — Zuǒ Bà Wáng Jǔ Dǐng — Overlord Lifts Cauldron Left
44. 倒撵猴 — Dào Niǎn Hóu — Repulse Monkey
45. 右转身担柴 — Yòu Zhuǎn Shēn Dān Chái — Turn Body Carry Firewood Right
46. 左海底捞月 — Zuǒ Hǎi Dǐ Lāo Yuè — Sea Bottom Scoop Moon Left
47. 右霸王举鼎 — Yòu Bà Wáng Jǔ Dǐng — Overlord Lifts Cauldron Right
48. 倒卷肱 — Dào Juǎn Gōng — Reverse Reeling Arms
49. 分势 — Fēn Shì — Parting Posture
50. 野马分鬃 — Yě Mǎ Fēn Zōng — Parting Wild Horse’s Mane
51. 捋手高探马 — Lǚ Shǒu Gāo Tàn Mǎ — Roll Back & High Pat Horse
52. 云势 — Yún Shì — Cloud Hands
53. 太极阴阳手 — Tài Jí Yīn Yáng Shǒu — Taiji Yin-Yang Hands
54. 云手四势 — Yún Shǒu Sì Shì — Cloud Hands – Four Movements
55. 化势 — Huà Shì — Neutralising Posture
56. 退避三舍 — Tuì Bì Sān Shè — Retreat Three Steps
57. 双推势 — Shuāng Tuī Shì — Double Push
58. 右双推势 — Yòu Shuāng Tuī Shì — Double Push Right
59. 左双推势 — Zuǒ Shuāng Tuī Shì — Double Push Left
60. 偷步擒摔势 — Tōu Bù Qín Shuāi Shì — Stealing Step Seize & Throw
61. 下势 — Xià Shì — Lowering Posture
62. 左下势 — Zuǒ Xià Shì — Lower Posture Left
63. 白蛇吐信 — Bái Shé Tǔ Xìn — White Snake Spits Tongue
64. 右下势 — Yòu Xià Shì — Lower Posture Right
65. 收势 — Shōu Shì — Closing Posture