Nomenclature is fun word. I don’t get to use it often. You probably know what it means, but just in case…

Nomenclature is

1. a set or system of names or terms, as those used in a particular science or art, by an individual or community.
2. the names or terms comprising a set or system.

Number and Words

Some Baguazhang systems use numbers for palms. You can do that, and you can still work through some of the tasks and training devices at UBagua.com.

In the beginning, I strip out the numbers because, for me, words and associated images offer clearer connections to the Elements. For example, an Earth Palm makes more sense (and feeling) for me than #2 Palm.

(We’ll put numbers back in later… to understand binary concepts and to link the King sequence of Palm Changes.)

For now, it will be easier to work through Universal Baguazhang using Word connections because words offer clearer images.

Read more »

Before we dig in to dual palm arrangements, consider 2 different Bagua arrangements:

• Primal
• Temporal

The idea goes something like this:

The Primal Diagram

When you’re born, your elements are arranged in a Primal Fashion:

Yeah, so…

• Sky and Earth (top and bottom) are opposite one another.
• Fire’s opposite Water (left and right)…
• Clouds oppose Mountains (top left corner – bottom right)…
• Wind winds with Thunder (top right vs. bottom left).

That’s Awesome! And Natural.

Read more »

Before digging down into the study of Palm Changes, it helps to know the 8 Trigrams of Baguazhang. The static Qigong Postures and flowing Palm Changes of Baguazhang build upon the trigrams. Let’s examine one simple arrangement:

From Yang to Yin, in the Primal Arrangement, the trigrams flow as follows…

1. Sky (a.k.a. Heaven)
2. Cloud (a.k.a. Lake)
3. Fire
4. Thunder
5. Wind
6. Water
7. Mountain
8. Earth

This profound arrangement is based on this diagram (yep, this same diagram is in the background of UBagua.com):

I know, I know: this is a bit abstract. But bear with me…

Look closely at the Primal Bagua Arrangement. In the long run, for your Baguazhang studies, knowing this diagram will be useful.

I’ll help you get it down.

When you can nail down the Primal Diagram (and a couple of other diagrams), then the Baguazhang Palm Changes will make more sense. You’ll get the flow, and you’ll see deeper into them.

Take a look.

Read more »

Baguazhang emerges from circles of mysterious fog. The reputed founder, Dong Hai-Chuan appears in the foundation of many (most or all) Eight Trigram Palm Schools.

Behind him, he leaves mists of wonder—histories devoid of clarity, brimming with speculation, mixed with semblances of truth. Dong Hai-Chuan deliberately cultivated the shroud, and, as a result mastered the marketing of Baguazhang. It’s popularity is potent and vast.

Various histories claim Dong Hai-Chuan as the inventor or creator; others report that he inherited it. Most histories weave a plot of an adventurous man wrapping Gung-fu of his local villages into the magic of shaman rituals to create the whole, the circular: Baguazhang!

Whatever happened, each bit of his story lurks in shadow…

Dong Ming Kui—Origins of Dong Hai-Chuan

Born in 1797 (or 1813), he begins with the name Dong Ming Kui, the second son of Dong Bo Xuan. His family relied on farming for a living, and Dong Han-Chuan reputedly despised working in the fields, seeking instead Kung-fu lessons. He trained extensively with teachers of the martial arts in and around the local Zhu village, in Ju Jia Wu Township, Wen An County, Hebei Province, China. In 1853, Dong Ming Kui leaves home, for some reason…

• family financial hardship
• drought and resultant difficulties
• strained relations with his parents
• the quest for fame and fortune from Gung-fu

Whatever the reasons, Dong Ming Kui leaves his home around 1853, seeking fame as a martial artist in Beijing. Despite years of previous training, Dong Ming Kui is easily defeated and, to avoid defaming his family (or to try again), Dong Ming Kui changed his name to Dong Hai-Chuan, a name suggesting an image of a hundred rivers.

And indeed, if you choose to stick to Baguazhang’s main principle—Change!—then a changed name is simply a step around the circle.

Forming Baguazhang

Accounts vary about Dong Hai-Chuan’s years of wandering in the mountains of He Bei, Jiang Su, Zhe Jiang, An Hui, and Jiang Xi Provinces. Some of my favorites include….

Read more »

This article forms the foundation of this website. Let me know what you think or what you’d like to know about Baguazhang in the following comments section.

The Bagua and Baguazhang

Bagua refers to eight trigrams representing basic concepts: Sky, Earth, Fire, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, and Cloud. Interpretations vary, more commonly Sky is referred to as Heaven and Cloud as Lake. I remove religious concepts by focusing on Sky, and while Lake has a variety of interpretation, Swamp being one, Mist another, Cloud offers an accurate vision for employing our hands.

Baguazhang means Eight Trigram Palms and is a classic internal art (or Neijia); the other two are Taijiquan and Xingyiquan. Baguazhang is sometimes referred to as the sister or the daughter of Tai Chi Chuan (that’s the other spelling of Taijiquan), suggesting that

• Baguazhang originates alongside or after Taijiquan
• and is more feminine in nature

Baguazhang uses palms to strikes, circular footwork with a peculiar mud-step (for real lower body power development), and a strange way of looking—gazing directly at the working palm. A fantastic and powerful art, when it’s done correctly, Fa-jing develops swiftly and delightfully.

The foundational form and early, beginning training in Baguazhang (also spelled Pa Kua Chang) teach circular, coiling concepts. The circular and coiling, waist shaking motions require precision and articulation to see and develop the potencies of Fa-jing. Later, more advanced forms and training methods retain the Fa-jing aspects, while adding barging, linear attack methods.

Read more »