Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine Overview -陈氏太极拳老架一路

The Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine is the oldest and most foundational form in Chen Style Taijiquan. It emphasises softness, flexibility, and the cultivation of internal energy (Qi). The movements are characterised by the consistent application of silk-reeling energy (缠丝劲), with the waist acting as the central axis. This routine is designed to develop balance, coordination, and martial skill, while also promoting health and vitality.

Note on Pronunciation

In Chen Village, the movement 掩手肱拳 is pronounced as Yǎnshǒu Hōng Quán instead of the standard Mandarin pronunciation Yǎnshǒu Gōng Quán. This reflects the local dialect and tradition of Chen Village, the birthplace of Chen Style Taijiquan. The pronunciation difference is a unique feature of the Chen family’s heritage.

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Complete Movement Table for Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine

No	Chinese Name	English Translation	Hanyu Pinyin	Pronunciation Link
	起势	Starting Position	Qǐshì	Listen
1	金刚捣碓	Golden Warrior Pounds Mortar	Jīngāng Dǎoduì	Listen
2	揽扎衣	Tuck and Tie Robe	Lǎnzā Yī	Listen
3	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
4	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
5	金刚捣碓	Golden Warrior Pounds Mortar	Jīngāng Dǎoduì	Listen
6	白鹅亮翅	White Goose Spreads Wings	Bái’é Liàngchì	Listen
7	斜行	Walk Obliquely	Xiéxíng	Listen
8	搂膝	Brush Knee	Lōuxī	Listen
9	拗步	Twist Step	Àobù	Listen
10	斜行	Walk Obliquely	Xiéxíng	Listen
11	搂膝	Brush Knee	Lōuxī	Listen
12	拗步	Twist Step	Àobù	Listen
13	掩手肱拳	Cover Hand and Strike with Arm	Yǎnshǒu Gōng Quán	Listen
14	金刚捣碓	Golden Warrior Pounds Mortar	Jīngāng Dǎoduì	Listen
15	撇身拳	Fist Across the Body	Piēshēn Quán	Listen
16	青龙出水	Green Dragon Emerges from Water	Qīnglóng Chūshuǐ	Listen
17	双推掌	Double Push Palms	Shuāng Tuīzhǎng	Listen
18	肘底看拳	Fist Under Elbow	Zhǒudǐ Kàn Quán	Listen
19	倒卷肱	Step Back and Whirl Arms	Dàojuǎn Gōng	Listen
20	白鹅亮翅	White Goose Spreads Wings	Bái’é Liàngchì	Listen
21	斜行	Walk Obliquely	Xiéxíng	Listen
22	闪通背	Flash Through the Back	Shǎntōng Bèi	Listen
23	掩手肱拳	Cover Hand and Strike with Arm	Yǎnshǒu Gōng Quán	Listen
24	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
25	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
26	云手	Cloud Hands	Yúnshǒu	Listen
27	高探马	High Pat on Horse	Gāo Tànmǎ	Listen
28	右擦脚	Right Brush Foot	Yòu Cājiǎo	Listen
29	左擦脚	Left Brush Foot	Zuǒ Cājiǎo	Listen
30	左蹬跟	Left Heel Kick	Zuǒ Dēnggēn	Listen
31	前蹬拗步	Step Forward and Twist Step	Qián Dēng Àobù	Listen
32	击地捶	Strike the Ground with Fist	Jīdì Chuí	Listen
33	踢二起	Kick with Both Feet	Tī Èr Qǐ	Listen
34	护心拳	Protect Heart Fist	Hùxīn Quán	Listen
35	旋风脚	Whirlwind Kick	Xuánfēng Jiǎo	Listen
36	右蹬跟	Right Heel Kick	Yòu Dēnggēn	Listen
37	掩手肱拳	Cover Hand and Strike with Arm	Yǎnshǒu Gōng Quán	Listen
38	小擒打	Small Capture and Strike	Xiǎo Qín Dǎ	Listen
39	抱头推山	Embrace Head and Push Mountain	Bàotóu Tuīshān	Listen
40	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
41	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
42	前招	Front Invitation	Qiánzhāo	Listen
43	后招	Rear Invitation	Hòuzhāo	Listen
44	野马分鬃	Wild Horse Parts Mane	Yěmǎ Fēnzōng	Listen
45	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
46	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
47	玉女穿梭	Jade Maiden Shuttles	Yùnǚ Chuānsuō	Listen
48	揽扎衣	Tuck and Tie Robe	Lǎnzā Yī	Listen
49	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
50	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
51	云手	Cloud Hands	Yúnshǒu	Listen
52	摆脚跌岔	Swing Leg and Fall into Split	Bǎijiǎo Diēchà	Listen
53	金鸡独立（左右）	Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg (Left and Right)	Jīnjī Dúlì (Zuǒyòu)	Listen
54	倒卷肱	Step Back and Whirl Arms	Dàojuǎn Hōng	Listen
55	白鹅亮翅	White Goose Spreads Wings	Bái’é Liàngchì	Listen
56	斜行	Walk Obliquely	Xiéxíng	Listen
57	闪通背	Flash Through the Back	Shǎntōng Bèi	Listen
58	掩手肱拳	Cover Hand and Strike with Arm	Yǎnshǒu Gōng Quán	Listen
59	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
60	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
61	云手	Cloud Hands	Yúnshǒu	Listen
62	高探马	High Pat on Horse	Gāo Tànmǎ	Listen
63	十字脚	Crossed Feet	Shízì Jiǎo	Listen
64	指裆捶	Punch to Groin	Zhǐdāng Chuí	Listen
65	白猿献果	White Ape Offers Fruit	Báiyuán Xiàn Guǒ	Listen
66	六封四闭	Six Seals and Four Closures	Liùfēng Sìbì	Listen
67	单鞭	Single Whip	Dānbiān	Listen
68	上步七星	Step Forward with Seven Stars	Shàngbù Qīxīng	Listen
69	下步跨虎	Step Back and Ride the Tiger	Xiàbù Kuàhǔ	Listen
70	回头双摆脚	Turn Around and Swing Both Feet	Huítóu Shuāng Bǎijiǎo	Listen
71	当头炮	Cannon to the Head	Dāngtóu Pào	Listen
72	金刚捣碓	Golden Warrior Pounds Mortar	Jīngāng Dǎoduì	Listen
	收势	Closing Position	Shōushì	Listen

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Key Characteristics of Chen Style Taijiquan Old Frame First Routine

• Softness and Flexibility: Emphasises yielding and adaptability, transitioning from a relaxed state to one of supple yielding.
• Silk-Reeling Energy: Incorporates the spiral energy (缠丝劲) unique to Chen Style Taijiquan.
• Martial Skill: Combines flowing, artistic movements with practical martial techniques.
• Health and Vitality: Promotes balance, coordination, and internal energy (Qi) cultivation.