Forms Library · CodexLast reviewed Oct 19, 2026

48-Form Taijiquan

四十八式太极拳

1979 年国家体委运动司编定 · 48 movements · 8–10 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 text says 整个套路除起、收势外共 48 个动作: numbering runs from 1 at 白鹤亮翅 to 48 at 十字手, so 预备, 起势 and 收势 are listed without a number. Bracketed figures in some names — 捋挤势（三）, 倒卷肱（4） — are repetition counts, not form numbers.

Derivation · The state "improvement on the simplified form" (简化太极拳的提高): largely the Yang large frame, with Wu and Sun material as secondary sources. Not a competition set — the state competition routine is the 42 Form (1988).

Naming · No official per-movement English names exist; the English below are common translations. Movement 28 is printed 闪通背 in the official text and usually written 闪通臂 in teaching material — both circulate. Bracketed figures in a name are repetition counts, not form numbers.

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Preparation Posture

预备势

Stand naturally upright with the arms at the sides, the crown lightly suspended, looking straight ahead.身体自然直立，两臂垂于体侧，虚领顶劲，目视前方

—

Commencing Posture

起势

Open the left foot; raise both hands level in front; bend the knees and press the palms down.①左脚开立；②两手前平举；③屈腿下蹲下按
Shoulders sunk and elbows heavy, weight steady, the breath settling low as the palms press.沉肩坠肘，重心平稳，按掌时气沉丹田

Section 1 · Movements 1–7

White Crane Spreads Its Wings

白鹤亮翅

Draw the foot in and hold the hands; step back; sit back, turn the waist and part the hands; settle into an empty stance with the palms apart.①收脚抱手；②向后退步；③坐腿转腰分手；④虚步分掌
The torso stays upright, the upper hand supports above the brow and the lower presses by the hip as the weight moves onto the rear leg.上体保持中正，上手撑于额前上方，下手按于胯侧，重心后移至后腿

Left Brush Knee and Twist Step

左搂膝拗步

Swing the right hand forward; turn the waist, swing the arm and draw the foot in; bend the arm and step up; brush the knee and push in the bow stance.①右手前摆；②转腰摆臂收脚；③屈臂上步；④弓步搂手推掌
The waist leads the arms; the brushing hand passes the knee and the push arrives at chest height, completing with the bow stance.以腰带臂，搂手过膝、推掌至胸前，推掌与弓步同步到位

Left Single Whip

左单鞭

Turn and sit back carrying the hand; draw the foot in and hold; turn, step up and thread the hand; cloud level into the bow stance; sit back and cloud again; form the hook and draw the foot in; turn and step up; push in the bow stance.①转腰坐腿带手；②收脚抱手；③转身上步穿手；④弓步平云手；⑤坐腿转腰平云；⑥勾手收脚；⑦转身上步；⑧弓步推掌
The hook bends the wrist without stiffness; the push settles the wrist, and the bow stance faces the same way as the push.勾手屈腕不用死力，推掌坐腕，弓步方向与推掌一致

Left Hold the Lute

左琵琶势

Follow-step and swing the arm; sit back, rub and swing the hands; close the hands in an empty stance.①跟步摆臂；②坐腿挫手摆臂；③虚步合手
The weight settles back into a half-sitting stance and the arms close in front of the chest as if holding a lute, shoulders sunk.重心后移成半坐步，两臂合抱于胸前如抱琵琶，沉肩坠肘

Roll Back and Press

捋挤势（三）

Shift the foot and thread the palm; bow the leg and smear the palm; draw the foot in and roll back; step up and join the hands; press forward in the bow stance.①移脚活步穿掌；②弓腿抹掌；③收脚捋手；④上步搭手；⑤弓步前挤
Performed three times (the bracketed 三 is a repetition count). The roll-back follows the weight back along an arc, the press braces both hands forward, and the three rounds link without a pause.重复三次（括注「三」为次数）。捋随重心后坐走弧线，挤时前臂外撑、两手合力，三次衔接不停顿

Left Parry, Block and Punch

左搬拦捶

Pivot the foot, turn the waist and part the hands; draw the foot in and make a fist; swing the foot out and parry with the fist; draw the foot in, turn and swing the arm; step up and block with the palm; punch in the bow stance.①撇脚转腰分手；②收脚握拳；③摆步搬拳；④收脚转腰摆臂；⑤上步拦掌；⑥弓步打拳
Parry, block and punch flow as one; the punch sinks the shoulders and reaches the face of the fist.搬、拦、捶三动连贯，冲拳沉肩坠肘、力达拳面

Left Ward-off, Roll-back, Press and Push

左掤捋挤按

Turn and pivot the foot parting the hands; draw the foot in and hold the ball; turn the waist and step up; ward off in the bow stance; rotate the arm and extend; sit back and roll back; turn and join the hands; press in the bow stance; sit back and draw in; push in the bow stance.①转腰撇脚分手；②收脚抱球；③转腰上步；④弓步掤手；⑤旋臂送手；⑥坐腿后捋；⑦转腰搭手；⑧弓步前挤；⑨坐腿引手后掤；⑩弓步前按
The ward-off rounds, the roll-back travels a rear arc, the press joins both hands, and the push drives through the heel of the palms — the four energies linking without a break.掤要撑圆、捋走后弧、挤要合力、按达掌根，四劲转换连贯

Section 2 · Movements 8–13

Diagonal Shoulder Strike

斜身靠

Turn and close the foot parting the hands; draw the foot in and hold, both hands crossed; step up and close into a fist; strike with the shoulder diagonally in the bow stance.①转身扣脚分手；②收脚抱手（两手成十字交叉）；③上步握拳；④弓步斜靠
The strike uses shoulder and hip as one body rather than a localised shove, and the torso inclines without falling.以肩胯整体贴靠，非局部冲撞，上体斜而不倒

Fist Under Elbow

肘底捶

Turn and swing the palm; hold the hands and draw the foot in; swing the foot out and support the palm; follow-step and raise the hand; sit back and close the fist; split and strike in the empty stance.①转身摆掌；②抱手收脚；③摆步撑手；④跟步提手；⑤坐腿握拳；⑥虚步劈打
The fist rests under the elbow; the strike sinks the shoulder with the force held contained.拳收于肘底，虚步劈打要沉肩、力含蓄

Step Back and Roll the Arms

倒卷肱（4）

Draw the hand back and turn the palm; step back bending the arm and rolling it; push in the empty stance. Performed four times.①撤手翻掌；②退步屈臂卷肱；③虚步推掌。重复四次
When stepping back the ball of the foot lands first; the forward push and the withdrawal happen together, the waist leading.退步前脚掌先落地再踏实，前推手与后收手同步，以腰带手

Turn the Body and Push the Palm

转身推掌（4）

Withdraw a step and grind the foot to turn; bend the arm and step up; brush and push in a T-step. Four times, turning from the second round on.①撤步碾脚转身；②屈臂上步；③丁步搂手推掌。重复四次，第2次起为碾脚转身
The turn is led by the waist, the T-step stays steady, and the push follows the direction of the turn.转身以腰带身，丁步要稳，推掌随转体方向

Right Hold the Lute

右琵琶势

Step back; sit back, swing the hands and rub them; close the hands in an empty stance.①向后撤步；②坐腿摆臂挫手；③虚步合手撅臂
Mirror of movement 4, with empty and full clearly divided.与第4式左式对称，虚实分明

Brush Knee and Plant the Fist

搂膝栽捶

Withdraw a step and roll the hands back; step up and join the hands; follow-step and cloud level; sit back, turn the waist and swing the arm; bend the arm, close the fist and step up; brush the knee and plant the fist in the bow stance.①撤步捋手；②上步搭手；③跟步平云手；④坐腿转腰摆臂；⑤屈臂握拳上步；⑥弓步搂膝栽捶
The fist plants downward on a diagonal; the waist relaxes and the hips tuck, the force reaching the face of the fist.栽捶向下斜栽，松腰敛臀，力达拳面

Section 3 · Movements 14–19

White Snake Spits Out Its Tongue

白蛇吐信（二）

Turn raising the fist; turn, swing the foot and the palm; push in a resting stance. Performed twice.①转身提拳；②转身摆脚摆掌；③歇步推掌。重复两次
The resting stance crosses and seats both legs firmly; the push is quick and clean, like a tongue flicking out.歇步两腿交叉盘实，推掌如吐信、快捷清晰

Slap the Foot and Tame the Tiger

拍脚伏虎

Turn the waist and open the arms; step up and swing the arms; swing and slap the foot; cover-step and swing; turn and step up; strike with both fists in the bow stance. Twice.①转腰展臂；②上步抡臂；③抡臂拍脚；④盖步摆臂；⑤转身上步；⑥弓步贯拳。重复两次
Slap the instep with the palm rather than forcing the leg high; the two fists drive diagonally up with the tiger mouths facing.拍脚用掌面拍击脚背、腿不高抬勉强；贯拳两拳斜上、虎口相对

Left Deflect the Body and Throw the Fist

左撇身捶

Sit back, close the foot and turn the hand over; part the hands in the bow stance; draw the foot in and close the fist; step up raising the fist; throw the fist in the bow stance.①坐腿扣脚翻手；②弓步分手；③收脚握拳；④上步举拳；⑤弓步撇拳
The strike sweeps across with the back of the fist, the turn of the waist supplying the power while the torso stays upright.撇拳用拳背向前横撇，转腰发力，上体中正

Thread the Fist and Push Down

穿拳下势

Pivot the foot, turn the waist and part the hands; draw the foot in and close the fist; open the step threading the fist; thread the fist in the crouch stance.①撇脚转腰分手；②收脚握拳；③穿拳开步；④仆步穿拳
The crouch stance spreads flat with the weight sinking; the fist threads close to the body in a straight line.仆步平铺、重心下沉，穿拳贴身走直线

Stand on One Leg and Support the Palm

独立撑掌（二）

Bow the leg and lift the fist; draw the foot in and turn the palm; support the palms standing on one leg. Twice.①弓腿挑拳；②收脚翻掌；③独立撑掌。重复两次
The standing leg bends slightly to hold firm, the torso does not lean back, and the palms support apart on a rounded arc, one forward and one back.独立腿微屈站稳，上体不后仰，撑掌一前一后弧形撑开

Right Single Whip

右单鞭

Same structure as movement 3 in the opposite direction: step back extending the palm; sit back and roll back; rotate the arm and join; cloud level in the bow stance; sit back and cloud; hook and draw the foot in; turn and step up; push in the bow stance.①退步伸掌；②坐腿后捋；③旋臂搭手；④弓步平云；⑤坐腿转腰平云；⑥勾手收脚；⑦转身上步；⑧弓步推掌
The general single-whip requirements apply.同单鞭通用要求

Section 4 · Movements 20–28

Right Cloud Hands

右云手（三）

Sit back, turn the waist and cloud left releasing the hook; cloud right turning the palm and drawing the foot in; then step out and close for each further round. Three rounds.①坐腿转腰左云松勾；②右云翻掌收脚；后两组为出脚开步、并步。共三次
The waist is the axis and the arms trace vertical circles; the sideways steps lift and land lightly with the weight travelling level.以腰为轴带动两臂立圆运转，侧行步轻起轻落，重心水平移动

Part the Wild Horse's Mane, Right and Left

右左分鬃

Hold the hands and lift the foot; turn the waist and step out; part and press in the bow stance; turn and pivot the foot; hold and draw the foot in; turn and step up; part and press again.①抱手提脚；②转腰出步；③弓步采靠；④转腰撇脚；⑤抱手收脚；⑥转腰上步；⑦弓步采靠
The parting creates a diagonal stretch, the upper hand no higher than the brow and the lower pressing by the hip.分鬃上下对拉，上手高不过眉，下手按于胯旁

High Pat on Horse

高探马

Draw the foot in and open the arms; sit back and bend the arm; reach forward in the empty stance.①收脚展臂；②坐腿屈臂；③虚步探掌
The front foot rests on its toes in the empty stance, the reaching palm no higher than the eyes, and the torso does not strain forward.虚步前脚点地，探掌高不过眼，上体不刻意前探

Kick with the Right Heel

右蹬脚

Carry the hands and lift the leg; step up and thread the palm; part the hands in the bow stance; hold the hands and draw the foot in; kick and open the arms.①带手起脚；②上步穿掌；③弓步分手；④抱手收脚；⑤蹬脚撑臂
Stand firm before lifting the leg; the kick drives through the heel with the toes hooked back and the standing leg slightly bent.先立稳再提腿，蹬脚力达脚跟、脚尖回勾，支撑腿微屈

Twin Peaks Strike the Ears

双峰贯耳

Join the hands and draw the foot in; lower the foot and close the fists; strike with both fists in the bow stance.①并手收脚；②落脚收拳；③弓步贯拳
Both fists drive diagonally up from the sides with the tiger mouths facing, no higher than the ears.两拳由两侧斜向上贯出、虎口相对，高不超过耳

Kick with the Left Heel

左蹬脚

Turn the waist and part the hands; hold the hands and lift the leg; kick and open the arms.①转腰分手；②抱手起脚；③蹬脚撑臂
As for the right heel kick, mirrored.同右蹬脚，左右对称

Cover the Hands and Uppercut

掩手撩拳

Join the hands and lower the foot; step out and close the fist covering the hand; uppercut in the bow stance.①并手落脚；②出脚握拳掩手；③弓步撩拳
The cover comes before the release; the fist lifts on a vertical circle and the strike is crisp. This movement shows the routine drawing on more than one family.掩手是先掩后发、拳走立圆上撩，发力干脆（此式带其他流派的明显痕迹）

Needle at Sea Bottom

海底针

Follow-step and swing the arm; sit back and raise the hand; thrust the palm down in the empty stance.①跟步摆臂；②坐腿提手；③虚步下插掌
The torso inclines slightly and the fingers thrust down and forward to the fingertips; the waist relaxes and the hips tuck.上体微前探，掌指斜向下插、力达指尖，松腰敛臀

Flash Through the Back

闪通背

Raise the hand and draw the foot in; step up; push and support in the bow stance.①提手收脚；②向前上步；③弓步推撑掌
The forward push and the rear support open together, and the bow stance faces the same way as the push.前推掌与后撑掌同时撑开，弓步方向与推掌一致
Printed 闪通背 in the official text; teaching material often writes 闪通臂.官方作「闪通背」，民间教学常作「闪通臂」

Section 5 · Movements 29–36

Separate the Foot, Right and Left

右左分脚

Turn and close the foot parting the hands; hold the hands and draw the foot in; separate the foot and open the arms; lower the foot and thread the hand; bow the leg and part the hands; hold and draw in; separate the foot again.①转身扣脚分手；②收脚抱手；③分脚撑臂；④落脚穿手；⑤弓腿分手；⑥收脚抱手；⑦分脚撑臂
The separation flicks out with the toes rather than the heel, both arms open together, and the standing leg holds firm.分脚用脚尖弹踢，两臂同时分开，支撑腿站稳

Brush Knee and Twist Step

搂膝拗步（二）

Lower the foot and turn, swinging the arm; bend the arm and step up; brush and push in the bow stance; turn the waist and pivot the foot; then repeat on the other side. Twice.①落脚转身摆臂；②屈臂上步；③弓步搂手推掌；④转腰撇脚。共两次
The general brush-knee requirements apply.同搂膝拗步通用要求

Step Forward, Catch and Strike

上步擒打

Turn the waist, pivot the foot and smear the palm; close the fist and draw the foot in; step up catching with the fist; strike in the bow stance.①转腰撇脚抹掌；②收拳收脚；③上步擒打握拳；④弓步打拳
The catch and the strike are distinct in order, the punch reaching the face of the fist.擒（抓握）与打先后分明，冲拳力达拳面

Apparent Close-Up

如封似闭

Follow-step and thread the palm; sit back drawing the hands in; step up and turn the palms; press in the bow stance.①跟步穿掌；②坐腿引手；③上步翻掌；④弓步前按
The palms draw back and then press, the force through the heels of the hands, the weight moving evenly.两掌回收再前按，按达掌根，重心前后移动平稳

Left Cloud Hands

左云手（三）

Turn the waist, close the foot and cloud right; cloud left turning the palm and drawing the foot in. Three rounds.①转腰扣脚右云；②左云翻掌收脚。共三次
As for right cloud hands, mirrored.同右云手，方向相反

Right Deflect the Body and Throw the Fist

右撇身捶

Withdraw a step and reach with the palm; draw the foot in and close the fist; step up raising the fist; throw the fist in the bow stance.①撤步探掌；②收脚握拳；③上步举拳；④弓步撇打
As for the left version, mirrored.同左撇身捶，方向相反

Work at the Shuttles on Both Sides

左右穿梭

Close the foot and turn the palm; bow the leg and smear the palm; draw the foot in and roll back; step up and join the hands; follow-step and cloud level; sit back and cloud; step up drawing the palm in; support and push in the bow stance. Once each side.①扣脚翻掌；②弓腿平抹掌；③收脚后捋；④上步搭手；⑤跟步平云；⑥坐腿平云；⑦上步收掌；⑧弓步架推。左右各一组
The bow stance is diagonal, one arm supports while the other pushes, and the waist drives the step with the torso upright.斜向弓步，一架一推，转腰带动上步，上体不歪斜

Step Back and Thread the Palm

退步穿掌

Sit back swinging the palm forward; draw the foot in and turn the palm; step back threading the palm forward as the left foot straightens.①坐腿向前摆掌；②收脚翻掌；③退步向前穿掌，左脚扭直
The withdrawal and the thread happen together while the direction stays forward.撤步与穿掌同时，方向保持朝前

Section 6 · Movements 37–48

Empty Stance, Press the Palm

虚步压掌

Turn and close the foot, raising the hand; press the palm down in the empty stance.①转身扣脚上摆手；②虚步下压掌
The empty stance sinks, the shoulder relaxes as the palm presses, and the weight sits on the rear leg.虚步下沉，压掌松肩，重心在后腿

Stand on One Leg, Lift the Palm

独立托掌

The right hand lifts in front and the left supports to the side, standing on the left leg.右手前托、左手侧撑，左腿独立
The lifting palm goes above the head with the palm up; the stance holds without leaning back.托掌高于头顶、手心向上，独立站稳、不后仰

Horse Stance Shoulder Strike

马步靠

Lower the foot and lift the hand; draw the foot in and swing the arm; step up and close the fist; strike with the shoulder in a horse stance.①落脚抬手；②收脚摆臂；③上步握拳；④绊马步靠
The horse stance sinks and the shoulder and hip drive forward as one body.马步下沉，以肩胯整体前靠

Turn the Body, Big Roll-Back

转身大捋

Pivot the foot and swing the palm; close the feet and raise the hands; grind the feet and turn; step to the side with a big roll-back; arch the elbow and bend the arm in the side bow stance.①撇脚摆掌；②并步举手；③碾脚转身；④侧步大捋；⑤侧弓步拱肘撅臂
The roll-back travels a wide arc, the weight shifting to the side with both arms following the waist.转身大捋走大弧，捋时重心侧移、两臂随腰

Lift the Palm and Push Down

撩掌下势

Turn back and rotate the arm; turn and swing the palm; lift the palm in a T-step; sit back, swing the palm, hook the hand and lift the foot; bend the arm and open the step; thread the palm in the crouch stance.①回身旋臂；②转身摆掌；③丁步撩掌；④坐腿摆掌勾手提脚；⑤屈臂开步；⑥仆步穿掌
The lift travels from below upward, then the crouch stance sinks as the palm threads; the knee does not turn inward.撩掌自下而上，继而仆步下沉穿掌，膝不内扣

Step Up to Seven Stars

上步七星

Lift the palm in the bow stance; cross both fists in front of the chest in the empty stance.①弓步挑掌；②虚步十字架拳
The two fists cross in front of the chest as the "seven stars", and the empty stance holds firm.两拳交叉架于胸前成"七星"，虚步站稳

Stand on One Leg, Ride the Tiger

独立跨虎

Withdraw a step, swing the palm and sit back; turn the waist, swing the palm and draw the foot in; lift the leg and raise the palm.①退步摆掌坐腿；②转腰摆掌收脚；③举腿挑掌
One leg stands while the other lifts bent, the raising palm held high and the balance steady.一腿独立、一腿屈提，挑掌上举，平衡稳定

Turn the Body and Sweep the Lotus

转身摆莲

Turn and close the step carrying the hands; turn and thread the swinging palm; sweep the lotus and slap the foot.①转身扣步带手；②转身穿摆掌；③摆莲拍脚
The body turns a full circle; the leg sweeps in a fan and both palms slap the instep, landing steadily.转体一周，摆腿呈扇形用两掌拍击脚面，落地平稳

Bend the Bow to Shoot the Tiger

弯弓射虎

Lower the foot, step up and swing the arms; bow the leg, turn the waist and swing the fists; counter-punch in the bow stance.①落脚上步摆臂；②弓腿转腰摆拳；③弓步反冲拳
The two fists sit one forward and one back like a drawn bow; the waist supplies the power and the eyes follow the front fist.两拳一前一后如开弓，转腰发力、目视前拳

Right Parry, Block and Punch

右搬拦捶

Sit back and thread the palm; draw the foot in and close the fist; swing the foot and parry; draw the foot in and close the fist; step up and block; punch in the bow stance.①坐腿穿掌；②收脚握拳；③摆脚搬拳；④收脚收拳；⑤上步拦掌；⑥弓步打拳
As for the left version, to the right.同搬拦捶，方向为右

Right Ward-off, Roll-back, Press and Push

右掤捋挤按

Pivot the foot, turn the waist and part the hands; draw the foot in and hold the ball; step up; part the hands in the bow stance; turn the waist and extend; sit back and roll back; turn and join the hands; press in the bow stance; part the hands, sit back and draw in; push in the bow stance.①撇脚转腰分手；②收脚抱球；③向前上步；④弓步分手；⑤转腰送手；⑥坐腿转腰后捋；⑦转身搭手；⑧弓步前挤；⑨分手坐腿后引；⑩弓步前按
All four energies complete and unbroken, mirroring movement 7.四劲完整、连贯无停顿，与第7式左右对称

Cross Hands

十字手

Turn and part the hands, pivoting the foot; return and join the hands; close the feet and embrace the crossed palms.①转身分手撇脚；②回身合手；③并步开立十字抱掌
The arms cross and round out, the weight centred and the breath settling low.两臂交叉成十字撑圆，重心居中，气沉丹田

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Closing Posture

收势

Part the hands and raise them level; lower both hands; draw the feet together to close.①分手平举；②两手垂落；③并步还原
Breathe long and slow; stay upright at the finish rather than relaxing the instant it ends.呼吸深长，还原后保持中正，不立刻松懈

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