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Wu Style Tai Chi
(吴氏太极拳)

  • Known for small frame, compact movements, and leaning postures.

  • Emphasizes sensitivity, internal control, and weight transfer

  • Tonifies Spleen Qi through subtle abdominal focus

  • Strengthens Kidney Yin via slow controlled stepping.

  • Supports Shen stability (mind-quieting form)

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Sun Syle Tai Chi
(孙氏太极拳)

  • Combines elements of Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Bagua

  • Known for smooth footwork, high stances, and fluid transitions.

  • Excellent for elderly, weak, or recovering patients

  • Harmonizes Yin and Yang in Wei Qi and Ying Qi

  • Opens Lung and Heart meridians.

  • Moves Qi in a gentle but thorough way for chronic fatigue, weakness

Dao Yin 
导引
Guiding and Stretching Qi

"Guide and stretch" — involves intentional movement of Qi through the meridians using stretching, twisting, and breathing techniques.

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  • Documented in the Mawangdui Silk Texts (Han dynasty, second century BCE)

  • One of the earliest recorded health-preservation systems

  • Uses postural alignment, focused attention, and meridian tracing.

  • Emphasises Yi (intention) guiding Qi, sometimes combined with sound or visualisation

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Used For

Joint and tendon health, chronic pain, musculoskeletal stiffness, Qi stagnation, and enhancing flexibility

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Zhan Zhuang
站桩
Standing Like a Tree / Pole Standing

"Standing post" — a still Qi Gong form that builds internal energy, postural integrity, and mental focus.

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  • Taoist and martial arts traditions (esp. internal martial arts like Xingyi and Bagua)

  • Often practiced in martial arts and therapeutic Qi Gong systems

  • Stand with knees slightly bent, arms held in front or at the sides (as if hugging a tree)

  • Focus on breath and sinking Qi to Dan Tian

  • Deeply builds Jing-Qi-Shen integration

 

Used For

Posture correction, deep energy cultivation, recovery from fatigue, strengthening Spleen and Kidney, mental resilience

"Eight Brocades" — referring to eight precious, elegant movements like silk brocade.

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  • Attributed to General Yue Fei (Song Dynasty)

  • Standardized by TCM institutions and widely taught worldwide

 

Eight individual movements performed in standing position, each targeting a Zang-Fu organ system and meridian group.

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Used For

Fatigue, stress, digestive issues, emotional imbalance, musculoskeletal pain, preventive health

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Ba Duan Jin
八段锦 – The Eight Pieces of Brocade

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Liu Zi Jue
六字诀
The Six Healing Sounds

"Six-character formula" — based on vocalizing six specific sounds that resonate with the internal organs.

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  • Daoist origins, further developed by TCM scholars.

  • Integrated into modern hospital-based Qi Gong therapy

 

Each sound corresponds to an organ and is practiced with a specific posture, breathing pattern, and visualization.

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Used For

Respiratory and digestive disorders, emotional stress, hypertension, chronic fatigue, prevention of internal Heat

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What is Qi Gong and Tai Chi?

Qi Gong (气功) and Tai Chi (太极拳) are both traditional Chinese mind-body practices rooted in the theory of Qi (vital energy) and the principles of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, and meridian theory. They are essential tools in Yang Sheng (养生, Nourishing Life) and are widely used in TCM preventive medicine to promote health, maintain balance, and prevent disease.

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Qi Gong? (气功)

Qi Gong is a broad term referring to a set of coordinated movements, breath regulation, and mental focus designed to cultivate and regulate Qi in the body. "Qi" (气) = vital energy. "Gong" (功) = skill or cultivation. Qi Gong means “the skilful cultivation and regulation of vital energy.” Core Components:

  1. Slow, flowing movements that open the meridians.

  2. Controlled breathing (abdominal, smooth, deep)

  3. Mental focus / intention (Yi), often on Dan Tian (lower abdomen)

  4. Stillness or meditation to anchor the Shen (mind/spirit)

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Tai Chi? (太极拳)

Tai Chi (Taiji Quan) is a martial art form that evolved into a healing and preventive practice, combining slow, graceful, circular movements with internal awareness and breath control. “Tai Ji” = Supreme Ultimate (Yin-Yang unity). “Quan” = Fist or boxing (form or practice). Tai Chi is a dynamic Qi Gong, structured around a specific set of movements (forms), often practiced slowly and continuously.

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Qi Gong and Tai Chi

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Famous Qi Gong Forms

The most famous and widely practiced Qi Gong forms in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are specifically used for prevention, health cultivation (Yang Sheng 养生), and supporting organ function, Qi flow, and emotional balance. Each form has a specific historical background, a unique style, and therapeutic functions aligned with TCM physiology and syndrome theory.

Yi Jin Jing
易筋经
Classic of Tendon Transformation

"Changing the tendons" — a set of exercises to strengthen sinews, stimulate Qi, and transform vitality.

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  • Attributed to Bodhidharma (founder of Shaolin), sixth century CE.

  • Used in Shaolin and martial healing practices

  • Strengthens muscles, fascia, bones.

  • Coordinates breath and movement for Wei Qi and Yang support

  • Stimulates Kidney, Liver, and Spleen meridian

 

Used For

Physical weakness, recovery from illness, musculoskeletal tension, Yang deficiency, aging-related degeneration

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Five Animal Frolics
五禽戏
Wu Qin Xi

Five animal games" — inspired by observing animals in nature to balance emotions, nourish organs, and improve flexibility.

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  • Created by Hua Tuo, legendary physician (Eastern Han Dynasty)

  • Each animal imitates movement patterns to target specific organs 

 

Children, elderly, those recovering from illness, emotional balance, organ tonification

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Famous Tai Chi Forms for Prevention in TCM

There are several traditional Tai Chi styles, each with their own forms — choreographed sequences of movements. All are used for preventive care, but vary in intensity, structure, and philosophical emphasis.

Yang Style Tai Chi (杨氏太极拳)

  • The most widely practiced style in the world

  • Smooth, gentle, and expansive movements

  • Ideal for preventive practice, rehabilitation, and the elderly

  • Moves Qi in all twelve regular meridians.

  • Harmonizes Heart, Liver, and Kidney functions.

  • Anchors Shen regulates emotional disturbances.

  • Improves balance, prevents falls (Wei Qi preservation)

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Chen Style Tai Chi (陈氏太极拳)

  • The original style of Tai Chi, from Chen village in Henan

  • Incorporates spiral force (Chan Si Jin 缠丝劲), silk reeling energy, and explosive movements (Fa Jin)

  • Enhances Kidney and Liver function (via tendons, joints)

  • Builds internal Qi and Yang strength.

  • Prevents Blood stasis and promotes fluid circulation.

  • Good for preventing musculoskeletal stiffness and aging

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Wudang Tai Chi
(武当太极拳)

  • Taoist lineage, practiced in Wudang Mountain tradition.

  • Integrates martial, spiritual, and energetic cultivation.

  • Emphasizes Qi flow, meridian opening, and Shen integration

  • Excellent for emotional instability, Shen disturbance

  • Regulates Liver Qi, strengthens Kidney Jing

  • Long-term prevention of degenerative conditions

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In a TCM clinic, you can prescribe specific Qi Gong forms based on organ imbalance, use Tai Chi for elderly or weak patients to improve balance and mental clarity, offer seasonal movement workshops as part of Yang Sheng programs or combine with acupuncture, herbs, and dietary therapy for full-spectrum prevention

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