The Sequences of T'ai Chi Ch'uan
The original eight postures, which came into being some 10,000 years ago, were increased to a total of thirteen when the very first T'ai Chi sequences were formulated. This book still retains the original animal names of each stance, which were first adopted by the ancient Taoists of China, and by the Lee family.
However, when T'ai Chi became more widely known within China, many schools and classes were founded, and their teachers tried to hide the techniques, stances, sequences and sets behind a facade of words, such as The Crane Spreads its Wings', "Hit the Tiger', and 'Brush Knee and Side Step', which enabled them to retain some originality for themselves.
For the benefit of all our readers, including those who are truly interested in and dedicated to every aspect of our Chinese Taoist Arts, we are specifying the ancient animal name of each stance. Here is the more modern description of each sequence of movements, but it is interesting to be aware that even these were devised some 1,500 years ago.
