The Eight Methods & Five Steps (Thirteen Postures)¶
TL;DR — Tai chi's movements are not random. They are built on a classical skeleton of eight methods (bāfǎ, 八法) and five steps (wǔbù, 五步). Together they are the Thirteen Postures (shísānshì, 十三勢) — the technical vocabulary behind every form. The eight methods are peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, kao; the five steps are advance, retreat, look left, look right, central equilibrium. You do not need to memorize them to begin — but they are the map that turns "slow waving" into a precise system.
Most introductions to tai chi describe it as slow, graceful movement. Few explain what the movements are actually doing. The answer is the eight methods and five steps — the classical framework that gives every posture its name and intention. This page explains that framework in plain English, with the Chinese terms, what each one means, and why it still matters for a modern health practitioner.
Key facts at a glance¶
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| The framework | Eight methods (bāfǎ) + five steps (wǔbù) |
| Combined name | The Thirteen Postures (shísānshì, 十三勢) |
| Eight methods | Peng, Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao |
| Five steps | Advance, Retreat, Look left, Look right, Central equilibrium |
| Origin | Classical tai chi technical vocabulary |
| Do beginners need it? | No — learned through the form first |
The eight methods (八法)¶
The eight methods describe directions and qualities of force. The first four are the "square" cardinal directions; the last four are the "corners." Each has a Chinese name, a pinyin reading, and a one-line English gloss.
| # | Pinyin | Chinese | English | Direction | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | peng | 掤 | Ward-off | Forward | Expands outward to receive and deflect |
| 2 | lu | 捋 | Roll back | Backward | Yields and draws the incoming force past |
| 3 | ji | 擠 | Press | Forward | Presses with combined hands, shoulder to hands |
| 4 | an | 按 | Push | Down-forward | Pushes downward and forward with both palms |
| 5 | cai | 採 | Pluck | Corner-down | Pulls sharply downward, like picking fruit |
| 6 | lie | 挒 | Split | Corner | Splits force in two opposing directions |
| 7 | zhou | 肘 | Elbow | Corner | Uses the elbow to strike or redirect |
| 8 | kao | 靠 | Shoulder (bump) | Corner | Leans with shoulder, back, or hip |
The four cardinal methods¶
- Peng (掤, ward-off) — an expanding quality: the arm and body open outward to receive and deflect force without collapsing or bracing. It is often called the "mother" of the eight, the base the others modify.
- Lu (捋, roll back) — a yielding quality: you absorb and draw the incoming force past you, redirecting it rather than meeting it head-on.
- Ji (擠, press) — a pressing quality: force is delivered by pressing one hand (or the body) toward the other, shoulder and hip aligned behind it.
- An (按, push) — a pushing quality: both palms press downward and forward from a rooted stance.
The four corner methods¶
- Cai (採, pluck) — a sharp downward pull, like plucking fruit from a tree; it drops the opponent's structure suddenly.
- Lie (挒, split) — a splitting of force in two directions at once, like wringing or snapping.
- Zhou (肘, elbow) — the use of the elbow to strike or redirect at close range.
- Kao (靠, shoulder) — a bump or lean with the shoulder, upper back, or hip, used when very close.
The five steps (五步)¶
The five steps describe how the body and direction move. They map the compass: four directions plus the center.
| # | Pinyin | Chinese | English | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | jìn bù | 進步 | Advance | Step forward |
| 2 | tuì bù | 退步 | Retreat | Step backward |
| 3 | zuǒ gù | 左顧 | Look left | Shift/step to the left |
| 4 | yòu pàn | 右盼 | Look right | Shift/step to the right |
| 5 | zhōng dìng | 中定 | Central equilibrium | Stay rooted and centered |
Central equilibrium (中定) is the anchor of the other four — the quality of remaining balanced and rooted no matter which direction you move. In many readings, it is not "another step" but the condition that makes all movement possible, closely tied to rooting and song.
Where the "thirteen" comes from¶
Eight methods plus five steps equals thirteen — the number of the Thirteen Postures (十三勢, shísānshì). This is the classical name for tai chi's complete technical system, and it appears in the traditional tai chi writings (the "tai chi classics") as the art's organizing scheme.
The number is also read symbolically. In traditional Chinese cosmology, the eight methods correspond to the eight trigrams (八卦, bāguà) and the five steps to the five elements/phases (五行, wǔxíng) — the same yin–yang framework that underlies the whole art (see yin-yang and wu-xing). Whether one takes this as deep structure or as a mnemonic, it shows how tightly tai chi's movements are tied to its philosophy.
The three registers¶
Historical fact¶
The thirteen-posture scheme is part of the classical tai chi vocabulary, recorded in the traditional writings attributed to the art's early lineages (see what is tai chi and tai chi five styles). As with tai chi's origins, the exact dating of these texts is uncertain; the framework itself is genuinely old and shared across the major styles.
Traditional interpretation¶
Traditionally, the eight methods and five steps are understood as expressions of yin and yang: each method is a particular balance of soft and firm, empty and full, and the five steps are the directions through which that balance moves. Practitioners learn to feel, not just perform, each quality — the difference between "doing a ward-off shape" and "being ward-off."
Modern explanation¶
Read without the traditional language, the framework is a movement taxonomy: a consistent naming system for the directions and qualities of force in the form. That is genuinely useful — it turns a long, complex sequence into a finite set of recognizable elements, which is how teachers correct movement and how practitioners develop precision.
Why it matters for a health practitioner¶
You do not need the eight methods to begin tai chi, but they help at every later stage:
- They name what you are feeling. "This movement is a ward-off" is more useful than "this movement is arm-wave number seven."
- They sharpen intention. Knowing a movement is peng (expanding) changes how you do it — with openness rather than force.
- They reveal the structure. The methods and steps are why tai chi is a system, not a collection of poses; they connect directly to tai chi principles.
- They train balance. The five steps, anchored by central equilibrium, are exactly the weight-shifting and stability work behind tai chi's well-documented balance benefits (see tai chi for older adults).
In short: the eight methods and five steps are the difference between waving your arms slowly and doing tai chi.
Where to go next¶
- Tai Chi Principles — the six ideas the methods express.
- Push Hands — where the eight methods are trained against a partner.
- Jin (Trained Force) — the trained force behind each method.
- What Is Tai Chi? — the art the framework belongs to.
- Glossary: Jin, Rooting, Song, Wu Xing, Yin–Yang.
Frequently asked questions¶
What are the eight methods of tai chi? They are eight named techniques: peng (ward-off), lu (roll back), ji (press), an (push), cai (pluck), lie (split), zhou (elbow), and kao (shoulder/bump). Four are the "square" cardinal directions; four are the "corners" or diagonal directions.
What are the five steps of tai chi? They are five ways of moving the body and direction: jin bu (advance), tui bu (retreat), zuo gu (look left), you pan (look right), and zhong ding (central equilibrium). Together they map the directions of movement.
What are the Thirteen Postures? The eight methods plus the five steps — eight plus five equals thirteen, the number of the "thirteen postures" (十三勢). It is the classical name for tai chi's complete technical framework.
Do I need to memorize these to do tai chi? No. Beginners learn them through the form without naming them. Knowing the names helps later — it is a map of what the movements are doing, not a prerequisite.
Is the eight-methods framework about fighting? It originated as a martial map, but today it is most useful as a way to understand the structure and intention of each movement — which also makes the health practice clearer and more precise.
Which method is most important? Traditionally, peng (ward-off) is considered the foundation that the others modify. But the framework is a set, and its value is in how the eight interact, not in ranking them.
References & further reading¶
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Tai Chi: What You Need To Know. nccih.nih.gov
- Harvard Health Publishing. The health benefits of tai chi. health.harvard.edu
- Wile D. Lost T'ai-chi Classics from the Late Ch'ing Dynasty. State University of New York Press. — a scholarly translation of the classical tai chi writings, including the thirteen-posture scheme.