Forms Library · CodexLast reviewed Oct 19, 2026

16 Form Tai Chi (Duanwei Level 2)

十六式太极拳

Duanwei Level 2 (二段) assessment routine · 16 movements · 3–4 min · Free

A sequence reference within Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳 · Taijiquan) — the movement names, their order, and a printable sheet.

PDF and print — the reference sheet is a four-page A4 file; print the page itself if you would rather have the full notes.

Counting · The official sequence numbers sixteen movements from 起势 to 收势, published in four sections of four. 预备势 is performed before them and is not counted, so it is listed without a number.

Derivation · A Duanwei compilation, not a family form: built on the Yang large frame, extending the 8 Form with further Yang postures and with forward, backward and diagonal stepping.

Naming · The official publication gives no English rendering; the English below are the standard teaching translations. On movement 10 the official name is 左右穿梭 (Work at Shuttles) — some teaching videos write it 左右穿, which is a mis-hearing. Note also that this is not the only sixteen-form Tai Chi routine: 《太极（八法五步）》, the national entry-level set promoted from 2018, is also sixteen forms. That one belongs to no family style and was built from the technical ground shared by all five; this one is Yang style and sits inside the Duanwei assessment system. Same number, different routine.

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Preparation Posture

预备势

Stand with the feet together, body upright, arms hanging at the sides, and relax throughout.两脚并立，身体自然站直，两臂下垂体侧，全身放松
Keep the head upright with the crown lightly suspended and the breath natural — attention gathered, muscles not stiff.虚领顶劲，呼吸自然；精神集中但肌肉不僵硬

Section 1 · Foundations

Starting Posture

起势

Step the left foot out to shoulder width, raise both arms to shoulder height, then sink and press the palms to the abdomen.左脚横开与肩同宽，两臂前举与肩同高，屈膝按掌至腹前
Shoulders sunk, elbows heavy, weight steady. This is identical to the 8 Form opening — it sets the rhythm.沉肩坠肘，重心平稳，按掌时气沉丹田；与8式起势动作完全一致

Part the Wild Horse's Mane on Both Sides

左右野马分鬃

Hold the ball, step forward and part the hands into a bow stance, once to each side.抱球上步，弓步分掌，左右各一次
The step is slightly longer than in the 8 Form. The upper hand stays below the eyebrows, the lower presses by the hip, creating a diagonal stretch.比8式步幅略大；上手高不过眉、下手按于胯旁，形成上下对拉劲
The waist leads the hands and the torso does not lean forward.以腰带手，上体不前倾

White Crane Spreads its Wings

白鹤亮翅

Follow-step and sit back, right hand rising and left hand pressing down, into an empty stance with the palm lifted.跟步后坐，右手上撑、左手下按，成虚步亮掌
New in this routine (not in the 8 Form). The right hand rounds above the right temple, the left presses beside the left hip.8式未包含的新动作；右手在右额前上方撑圆，左手按于左髋旁
Keep substantial and insubstantial clear: about 70% of the weight on the rear leg.虚实分明，重心70%落于后腿

Brush Knee and Twist Step on Both Sides

左右搂膝拗步

Turn the waist and swing the palm, step forward brushing past the knee, then push into a bow stance, once to each side.转腰摆掌，上步搂膝，弓步推掌，左右各一次
The brushing hand passes the knee and the push arrives at chest height, completing together with the bow stance.搂手过膝、推掌至胸前，推掌与弓步同步到位
The front knee does not pass the toes, and the waist turns further than in the 8 Form.前腿膝盖不超过脚尖；比8式更强调转腰幅度

Section 2 · Strike and Defence

Step Forward to Parry, Block and Punch

进步搬拦捶

Step up and parry with the fist, turn the waist to block with the palm, then punch into a bow stance as one continuous action.上步搬拳、转腰拦掌、弓步冲拳，连贯完成
The key new releasing action: parry, block and punch join without a pause, the punch driving to the face of the fist.新增核心发劲动作；三个动作衔接无停顿，冲拳力达拳面
Shoulders sunk and elbows heavy; the body stays upright.沉肩坠肘，身体不歪斜

Apparent Close Up

如封似闭

Cross the palms and draw them back, sit back to lead the hands, then press both palms forward into the bow stance.两掌交叉回收，后坐引手，再弓步双掌前按
The palms part evenly in front of the chest on the way back; the press drives through the heel of the hand.回收时两掌在胸前平分，按掌力达掌根
The weight moves straight back and forward without swaying side to side.重心前后移动平稳，不左右摇晃

Single Whip

单鞭

Turn the body and form the hook hand, then push the palm into a bow stance.转体勾手，弓步推掌
The hook points down with a relaxed wrist; the right palm pushes with a settled wrist.左手勾尖向下、腕部放松；右掌坐腕前推
The bow stance faces the same way as the push, and the left arm stays rounded rather than locked.弓步方向与推掌方向一致，左臂撑圆不僵硬

Hold the Lute

手挥琵琶

Follow-step and sit back, bringing both arms together into a rounded hold in an empty stance.跟步后坐，两臂合抱成虚步抱球
The weight settles onto the rear leg in a half-sitting stance, the front foot resting on its heel.重心后移成半坐步，前脚脚跟着地
The arms close on an arc in front of the chest, as if holding a lute — shoulders sunk, elbows heavy.两臂弧形合抱于胸前；沉肩坠肘

Section 3 · Forward, Back and Diagonal

Step Back and Reverse Forearm Roll

倒卷肱

Turn the waist and turn the palm, step back and roll the forearm, pushing forward and withdrawing, twice to each side.转腰翻掌，退步卷肱，前推后收，左右各两次
When stepping back, land the ball of the foot first and then settle it flat.退步时前脚掌先落地再踏实
The pushing fingertips align with the nose and the withdrawing hand returns to the waist; the waist leads, and the hips do not lift.前推手指尖对鼻尖，后收手收于腰间，以腰带手，不抬臀

Work at Shuttles on Both Sides

左右穿梭

Hold the ball, step up and turn diagonally, one arm lifting and the other pushing, once to each side.抱球上步，斜向弓步，一架一推，左右各一次
New here: the direction is 45° to the front. The lifting hand sits above the temple and the pushing hand at the chest.新增斜向动作，方向为斜前方45度；架掌在额侧上方、推掌在胸前
Both arms keep their curve and the waist drives the step; the body stays upright.两臂保持弧形，转腰带动上步，身体不歪斜

Needle at Sea Bottom

海底针

Follow-step and sit back, then thrust the palm down into an empty stance.跟步后坐，虚步插掌
The torso inclines slightly forward and the fingers thrust down and forward, the force reaching the fingertips.上体微向前探，掌指斜向前下方插出，力达指尖
Keep the waist relaxed and the hips tucked rather than protruding; how far you reach depends on your flexibility — do not force a deep bend.松腰敛臀，臀部不后凸；下插幅度随个人柔韧度调整，不刻意弯腰

Flash the Arms

闪通臂

Rise into a bow stance, pushing one palm forward while the other braces back, both arms opening together.起身弓步，前推掌、后撑掌，两臂同时撑开
The forward palm stays no higher than the shoulder and the rear palm braces above and beside the head.前掌高不过肩，后掌撑于头侧上方
The bow stance is stable and the torso upright, without stiffening.弓步重心稳固，上体中正不僵硬

Section 4 · The Four Primary Energies

Cloud Hands

云手

Turn the waist to cloud the hands and step sideways, alternating three times each way.转腰云手，侧行移脚，左右交替共三次
The waist is the axis and the arms trace vertical circles; the sideways steps lift and land lightly.以腰为轴带动两臂立圆运转，侧行步轻起轻落
The weight travels horizontally without rising and falling, the eyes following the upper hand, at an even tempo.重心水平移动不忽高忽低，眼神随上手移动，速度均匀

Grasp the Bird's Tail on Both Sides

左右揽雀尾

The complete four-energy combination — peng, lu, ji and an — once to the right and once to the left.掤、捋、挤、按四劲完整组合，右揽、左揽各一组
The key assessed movement of Level 2: peng keeps the arm rounded and full, lu follows the weight back along an arc.二段重点考核动作；掤手臂撑圆饱满，捋随重心后坐走弧线
Ji joins both hands forward, an drives through the heels of the palms, and the four energies link without a pause.挤两手合力向前，按力达掌根，四劲转换连贯无停顿

Cross Hands

十字手

Close the foot and turn, crossing both arms in front of the chest, then draw the foot in to a parallel stance.扣脚转身，两臂在胸前交叉合抱，收脚成开立步
The arms cross in a rounded shape with the weight centred between the legs.两臂十字交叉撑圆，重心移至两腿中间
The body stays upright and relaxed, the breath settling low.身体中正，全身放松，气沉丹田

Closing Posture

收势

Turn the palms over and separate the hands, then lower the arms to the sides.翻掌分手，垂臂落手
The arms descend slowly on a long breath; bring the left foot in beside the right and stand for three seconds before relaxing.两臂缓慢下落，呼吸深长；左脚收回靠拢右脚后保持站立3秒再放松

Tai Chi Wuji · https://www.taichiwuji.com/forms/16-form-duanwei-tai-chi/