Forms Library · CodexLast reviewed Oct 23, 2026

16-Form Taiji Sword

十六式太极剑

中国武术段位制系列教程（人民体育出版社；印次未核，故不标年份） · 16 movements · 3–4 min · Free

Counting · Nineteen units in all: a preparatory posture with sword salute, a starting posture, sixteen numbered movements, and a closing. The three frame movements stand outside the count of sixteen.

Collation note: this sequence is a reference listing compiled from community sources and has not yet passed independent verification. English movement names are reference translations, not certified official renderings.

Derivation · Simplified from traditional Yang-style sword methods for the duanwei level-two assessment — short, symmetrical, and deliberately easier than the 32- or 42-form sword. The companion weapon set to the sixteen-form empty-hand routine.

Naming · The duanwei material publishes Chinese movement names without English equivalents; the English below is a translation, and the pictorial aliases in brackets (蜻蜓点水, 大魁星 …) are traditional names, not official ones.

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Preparatory Posture and Sword Salute

预备式与持剑礼

Stand with the feet together, the sword in the left hand, the blade resting along the back of the left forearm, tip up, guard at the collarbone. The right hand forms a sword finger at the side.
Salute: Step the left foot out to shoulder width and raise both hands to chest height, the right sword finger touching the left guard. Bow slightly, then lower the hands.
Where the work is: The grip is under the guard, firm but not clenched; the blade stays against the arm and does not lift away.

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Starting Posture

起势

The right sword finger rises forward to shoulder height, palm down.
Sink: Bend the knees slightly and press the sword finger down to the abdomen as the sword hand sinks with the body.
Rise: Straighten slowly, bring the sword finger to the waist, and hold the sword steady.

Together Step Point Sword (Dragonfly Skims Water)

并步点剑

Shift the weight to the right foot and bring the left foot in. The right hand takes the sword and points it forward from the waist, tip at shoulder height.
Point: The left sword finger rests on the inside of the right wrist and travels forward with the sword. The wrist supplies the snap; the arm stays soft.
Where the work is: Force arrives at the lower edge of the tip. The elbow never locks.

One-Leg Stance Reverse Thrust (Great Kuixing)

独立反刺

Shift onto the right leg and lift the left knee, toes hanging, into a one-leg stance.
Thrust: The sword thrusts upward and backward from the shoulder, tip slightly above the head, edge outward. The left sword finger rises above the left brow.
Where the work is: The standing knee stays soft; the knee lifts to waist height, no higher.

Crouch Stance Sweep (Swallow Skims Water)

仆步横扫

Step the left foot forward into a left bow stance and sweep the sword down and forward.
Sink: Sink into a left crouch stance, the right leg folding, the left leg extending, and let the sword sweep level as the weight drops.
Rise: Shift forward into the bow stance, the sword at shoulder height to the front left, the left sword finger braced behind.

Rightward Horizontal Draw

向右平带

Shift onto the left foot and draw the right foot in, turning the right palm up.
Draw: Step the right foot forward into a right bow stance and draw the sword level to the right at waist height. The left sword finger stays at the right wrist.
Where the work is: The sword travels in a horizontal arc; the force sits in the middle and rear of the edge.

Leftward Horizontal Draw

向左平带

Shift onto the right foot, draw the left foot in, and turn the right palm down.
Draw: Step the left foot forward into a left bow stance and draw the sword level to the left at waist height.
Where the work is: The mirror of the previous movement. Same height, same arc, same waist-led turn.

One-Leg Stance Swing Chop (Exploring the Sea)

独立抡劈

Shift onto the left leg and lift the right knee into a one-leg stance.
Chop: Swing the sword back, up and forward in a vertical arc, tip at knee height, edge down. The left sword finger rises above the left brow.
Where the work is: The arm swings like a pendulum from the shoulder; the trunk tips slightly from the hip but does not round.

Step Back Withdraw (Embrace the Moon)

退步回抽

Step the right foot back and sit onto it into a left empty stance.
Withdraw: Draw the sword back in an arc to the abdomen, palm inward, tip angled up. Both hands form an embrace in front of the belly.
Where the work is: Seventy per cent of the weight on the rear leg; the front toe just touches.

One-Leg Stance Upward Thrust (Bird Flies to Forest)

独立上刺

Shift forward onto the left leg and lift the right knee into a one-leg stance.
Thrust: Thrust the sword forward and up at about forty-five degrees, tip above the head, edge to the sides. The left sword finger braces behind.
Where the work is: Soft elbow, force to the tip, trunk upright - the height comes from the knee lift, not from leaning back.

Empty Stance Downward Block (Black Dragon Wags Tail)

虚步下截

Step the right foot forward and sit back onto the left leg into a right empty stance.
Block: Cut the sword down and to the right, tip angled down at knee height, edge outward. The left sword finger rises above the left brow.
Where the work is: The waist turns right and carries the arm; the force sits in the middle and rear of the edge.

Left Bow Stance Thrust (Dragon Emerges from Water)

左弓步刺

Land the right foot, shift forward and step the left foot forward into a left bow stance.
Thrust: Draw the sword to the waist and thrust forward level at chest height, edge up and down. The left sword finger braces behind, creating a front-back stretch.
Where the work is: Force to the tip, elbow soft, and the two hands pulling against each other.

Turn Body Diagonal Draw (Wind Rolls Lotus Leaf)

转身斜带

Turn the body 180 degrees to the rear right, pivoting on the heel, and bring the left foot in.
Draw: Step the left foot to the rear right into a left bow stance and draw the sword diagonally down and back at waist-to-abdomen height.
Where the work is: The pivot is on the heel with the knees soft; the height of the body does not change.

Shrink Body Diagonal Draw (Lion Shakes Head)

缩身斜带

Shift the weight back onto the right leg and let the body settle and shrink slightly downward.
Draw: Continue drawing the sword diagonally up and to the left, tip angled up. The left sword finger travels with it.
Where the work is: The hips sink; the spine stays upright. The head turns slightly with the waist.

Lift Knee Hold Sword (Tiger Holds Head)

提膝捧剑

Shift onto the left leg and lift the right knee into a one-leg stance.
Hold: The left hand takes the sword from below; both hands hold it in front of the chest, tip angled forward and up.
Where the work is: The blade sits between the arms, a fist away from the body, not against it.

Jump Step Horizontal Thrust (Wild Horse Jumps Stream)

跳步平刺

Land the right foot, push lightly off the left into a small forward hop, and land the right foot into a right bow stance.
Thrust: As the feet land, take the sword and thrust level at chest height. The left sword finger braces behind.
Where the work is: A low, quiet hop - feet skim the floor. Knees bend on landing to absorb it.

Empty Stance Point Sword (Heavenly Horse Soars)

虚步点剑

Shift the weight back onto the left leg into a right empty stance, the right toe touching.
Point: Point the sword forward at shoulder height with a wrist snap. The left sword finger travels forward at the right wrist.
Where the work is: The same point as movement three: force to the lower edge of the tip, elbow soft.

Bow Stance Block Sword (Brush Dust Against Wind)

弓步拦剑

Turn the body left and step the right foot forward into a right bow stance.
Block: Sweep the sword from behind, down and up to the front, edge angled up, tip at head height. The left sword finger braces behind.
Where the work is: A diagonal rising arc; the waist turns first, the arm and sword follow.

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Closing Posture

收势

Straighten slowly, bring the weight to the centre, take the sword back into the left hand and turn the right hand into a sword finger.
Lower: Let both arms descend to the sides, the sword returning to the starting carry, tip up along the forearm.
Finish: Bring the left foot in, stand for three breaths, then move.

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