Yang Cheng Fu's Ten Principles

These are the ten essential principles in Tai Chi Chuan, standardized by Yang Cheng Fu. It is based on Yang Zhenduo's book Yang Style Taijiquan. I have incorporated my own interpretation, knowledge and my teacher's methods into the explanation.


1. Straightening The Head

Imagine the head is suspended by a thread like a puppet on a string, it feels light as though pulled from above. The eyes look straight ahead and the chin slightly tucked in. The seat of the spirit is said to be located in the head and the eyes are the window of the soul. When the neck is stiff, the qi(vital energy) does not flow

2. Correct Position of Chest and Back

Keep the chest slightly inward which will enable to sink your breath to the dan tian(lower belly). The back should be well aligned and straight. My teacher very often presses my chest and pulls my back over the chest. Do not protrude the chest because it will make your breathing uncomfortable and somewhat "top heavy". However, the back should not be hunched over.

3. Relax the Waist

The waist is the dominant part in the human body, this is natural biomechanics. When the waist is relaxed, the two feet will form strong rooting and balance. All the movements are controlled by the waist, as the saying goes:" Vital force comes from the waist" Inaccurate movements in Tai Chi Chuan stem from incorrect actions of the waist

4. Know the difference between substantial and insubstantial

The most important aspect of Tai Chi Chuan is the difference between "Xu"(empty) and "Shi"(solid). When one leg is firm on the ground, the other needs to be empty and light. Clear but smooth weight shifting of the legs is paramount. This makes you turn easily, otherwise your movements will be slow, clumsy and unbalanced.

5. Sink the Shoulders and Elbows

The shoulder need to be in a natural, sunken position. If you lift your shoulders, the qi will rise with them and the whole body will be without strength. Your elbows need to be down, otherwise the shoulders cannot be kept relaxed and movements will be sluggish

6. Use the mind instead of native force

During Tai chi Chuan practice, the whole body is relaxed, neither floppy nor stiff. In Traditional Chinese Medicine there is a system of meridians called jingluo which makes the body an integrated whole. If the jingluo is not impeded, the vital energy will circulate in the body freely. But if the jingluo is filled with stiff strength, the vital energy is unable to flow smoothly. One should therefore use mind instead of brute force, so the vital energy will follow in the wake of consciousness. Persistant practice will lead to genuine internal force. This is what is called:" soft in appearance, powerful in essence. Tai Chi masters have arms strong as steel rods wrapped in cotton

7. Coordinate the Upper and Lower Parts

The roots are in the feet, the force is lead through the legs, controlled by the waist, up the spine and expressed in the fingers. The feet, legs and waist form a harmonious whole entity. When the hands, waist and legs move, the eyes follow their movements. The eyes are the window of the soul, they will energize the movements with the spirit(shen). When one body part stops moving, the movements will be disconnected.

8. Harmony between the Internal and External

Focus is on the mind and consciousness. The mind is the general, the body the army. Every concept starts in the mind and orders passed on to the body. The mind tells the body what to do. With the tranquility of the mind, the movements will be graceful. "Open your mind, open your heart" said many great teachers. Perfection is achieved when one unites the two and harmonizes the internal and external

9. Absolute continuity

The mind is focused, the body flows unceasingly like a river of no return or reeling silk from a cocoon. There is no real stop except of a little halt in the form


10. Tranquility in movement

While performing the movements one maintains tranquility of mind. The slower the movements, the better the results because one can take a deep breath and sink it to the dan tian.


Apart from these principles, the main principle is the law of being natural(Ziran) described in the I ching. Do not do anything against the natural ability of your body. For instance when your legs are strong you may take a wide and low stance, when they are not yet strong it is better to take a narrow and high stance in the beginning.