Baguazhang

Baguazhang (Pa Kua Chang) or in English, Eight Patterns Palm, is well known for it’s circular patterns and turning, spinning movements. Like other Chinese martial arts, the Eight Palms have many different practice methods and have been developed through many styles.

The basic practice methods for the Eight Palms include various patterns of walking the circle, changes in direction, and a core set of eight palm changes. The movements for these changes may be more simple or more complex, depending on the style. Each palm change has correspondence with one of the trigrams that reference the eight directions.

The way in which the trigrams are arranged is quite specific, following either the Earlier Heaven or Later Heaven pattern. The illustration below shows the Earlier Heaven Pattern.

Bagua Names of the Postures

Earlier Heaven Baguazhang

The following photos show Prof. Liu in the key movements from the eight palms of Baguazhang. The photos were taken in People’s Park, Zhengzhou in 1991.

Green Dragon Opposes the Leader
(Qing Long Fan Shou)

Stir the Grass to Seek the Snake
(Bo Cao Xun She)

Grey Dragon Pulls in it’s Tail
(Cang Long Suo Wei)

Green Dragon Stretches its Claws
(Qing Long Tan Zhao)

The General Takes Off his Helmet
(Jiang Jun Mo Kui)

Lion Rolls a Ball
(Shi Zi Gun Qiu)

Phoenix Spreads its Wings
(Feng Hua Zhan Chi)

Waving the Sleeves in the Wind
(Ying Feng Hui Xiu)