Qian Kun Jian - Cheng Tin-Hung lineage

This is the sword form Qian Kun Jian as taught in the Cheng Tin-Hung lineage. The form was first documented by Wu Tu-Nan in his book TBD in TBD (1935?).

This is the sword form taught by the Wu family, but the videos on this page are only from within the Cheng Tin-Hung lineage. As a student of sifu Dan Docherty this is of special interest by me. I plan to do a future comparison table with videos from other Wu lineages.

For modern books describing this form as taught within the Cheng Tin-Hung lineage, see "Tai Chi Sabre Sword Spear" by Cheng Tin-Hung (1990), or "The Practice of Wudang Tai Chi Chuan - Tai Chi Weapon Forms" by Ian Cameron (2000). The last book have a nice layout with lots of photos that are easy to follow, but the beginning and end of some of the techniques are not syncronized correctly with the photos.

Video clips used for comparison

[Cheng 1]: Grand Master Cheng Tin-Hung performing the sword form. Watch on Youtube

[Cheng 2]: Description Tbd Watch on Youtube

[Cheng 3]: Description Tbd Watch on Youtube

[Dan 1]: Form performed by Dan Docherty. Watch on Youtube

[Dan 2]: Form performed by Dan Docherty at “The Pushing Hands Days in Hannover”. Watch on Youtube

[Dan 3]: Form performed by Dan Docherty. The video is from the CD-ROM "Stay healthy with Tai Chi Chuan - The exercise to longevity" (1995). Watch on Youtube

[Edward]: Edward Ho Watch on Youtube

[Liew]: Form performed by George Liew in 1981. Student of Cheng Tin-Hung. Watch on Youtube

[Old HK]: Old video clip of a student of Cheng Tin-Hung. Performed in the 1960-ies. Watch on Youtube

[Old HK BW]: Same as [Old HK] but in B/W and much better contrast. Watch on Youtube

[Aberdeen]: Group form performed by Aberdeen University Tai Chi Club, students of Ian Cameron. I searched for a video of Ian Cameron performing the sword form, but couldn't find any, so this was the closest I could get. Watch on Youtube

Comparison table

No	Name	[Cheng 1]	[Cheng 2]	[Cheng 3]	[Dan 1]	[Dan 2]	[Dan 3]	[Edward]	[Liew]	[Old HK]	[Old HK BW]	[Aberdeen]
0	Ready style 預備式 yù bèi shì	00:12-00:12			00:10-00:10			00:08-00:08	00:05-00:05	13:34-13:34	00:02-00:02	00:01-00:04
1	Tai Chi beginning style 太極起式 tài jí qǐ shì	00:12-00:23			00:10-00:16			00:08-00:14	00:05-00:06	13:34-13:41	00:02-00:09	00:04-00:12
2	Grasping bird's tail 攬雀尾 lǎn què wěi	00:23-00:34			00:16-00:22			00:14-00:20	00:06-00:11	13:41-13:44	00:09-00:12	00:12-00:20
3	Golden needle pointing south 金針指南 jīn zhēn zhǐ nán	00:34-00:45			00:22-00:25			00:20-00:24	00:11-00:14	13:44-13:47	00:12-00:15	00:20-00:25
4	Passing the sword style 交劍式 jiāo jiàn shì	00:45-00:51			00:25-00:28			00:24-00:29	00:14-00:16	13:47-13:50	00:15-00:18	00:25-00:31
5	Spreading the sword style 分劍式 fēn jiàn shì	00:51-00:55			00:28-00:29			00:29-00:31	00:16-00:17	13:50-13:51	00:18-00:19	00:31-00:32
6	Hanging the sword style 掛劍式 guà jiàn shì	00:55-00:58			00:29-00:30			00:31-00:32	00:17-00:19	13:51-13:52	00:19-00:20	00:32-00:34
7	Intercepting the sword style 截劍式 jié jiàn shì 0	00:58-01:00			00:30-00:31			00:32-00:33	00:19-00:20	13:52-13:53	00:20-00:21	00:34-00:35
8	Rhinoceros watching the moon 犀牛望月 xī niú wàng yuè	01:00-01:04			00:31-00:32			00:33-00:35	00:20-00:21	13:53-13:54	00:21-00:22	00:35-00:37
9	Step up to protect the knee 上步遮膝 shàng bù zhē xī	01:04-01:06			00:32-00:33			00:35-00:36	00:21-00:21	13:54-13:55	00:22-00:23	00:37-00:38
10	Swivel and dot 回身點 huí shēn diǎn	01:06-01:11			00:33-00:34			00:36-00:38	00:21-00:23	13:55-13:57	00:23-00:25	00:38-00:41
11	Turn back and stab 翻身刺 fān shēn cì	01:11-01:15			00:34-00:36			00:38-00:40	00:23-00:24	13:57-13:58	00:25-00:26	00:41-00:43
12	Hanging the golden bell upside down 倒掛金鈴 dǎo guà jīn líng This technique starts with a "Tiger lying in front of the Door".	01:15-01:21			00:36-00:37			00:40-00:41	00:24-00:26	13:58-13:59	00:26-00:27	00:43-00:46
13	Point to the trousers with the sword 指檔劍 zhǐ dǎng jiàn	01:21-01:23			00:37-00:38			00:41-00:42	00:26-00:27	13:59-14:00	00:27-00:28	00:46-00:47
14	Male and female phoenix spreading wings 鳳凰展翅 fèng huáng zhǎn chì	01:23-01:30			00:38-00:40			00:42-00:45	00:27-00:29	14:00-14:02	00:28-00:30	00:47-00:50
15	Shooting star chasing the moon 流星赶月 liú xīng gǎn yuè	01:30-01:36			00:40-00:42			00:45-00:47	00:29-00:31	14:02-14:04	00:30-00:32	00:50-00:54
16	Li Gwong shooting an arrow at a tiger 李廣射虎 lǐ guǎng shè hǔ	01:36-01:43			00:42-00:45			00:47-00:50	00:31-00:33	14:04-14:07	00:32-00:35	00:54-00:57
17	The wheel on the left and right 左右車輪 zuǒ yòu chē lún	01:43-01:50			00:45-00:45			00:50-00:51	00:33-00:35	14:07-14:08	00:35-00:36	00:57-01:00
18	Fisherman casting his net 漁翁撒網 yú wēng sǎ wǎng	01:50-01:52			00:45-00:46			00:51-00:52	00:35-00:36	14:08-14:09	00:36-00:37	01:00-01:01
19	Spin around and rein in the horse 轉身勒馬 zhuǎn shēn lēi mǎ	01:52-02:00			00:46-00:47			00:52-00:54	00:36-00:38	14:09-14:12	00:37-00:40	01:01-01:03
20	Step up and move towards the door 上步迎門 shàng bù yíng mén	02:00-02:07			00:47-00:49			00:54-00:56	00:38-00:40	14:12-14:13	00:40-00:41	01:03-01:06
21	Step back coiled dragon 退步盤龍 tuì bù pán lóng	02:07-02:12			00:49-00:51			00:56-00:59	00:40-00:41	14:13-14:15	00:41-00:43	01:06-01:08
22	Face to face sword 迎面劍 yíng miàn jiàn	02:12-02:24			00:51-00:54			00:59-01:04	00:41-00:46	14:15-14:20	00:43-00:48	01:08-01:14
23	Yellow dragon turning right 黃龍右轉 huáng lóng yòu zhuǎn	02:24-02:31			00:54-00:56			01:04-01:07	00:46-00:48	14:20-14:22	00:48-00:50	01:14-01:17
24	Pui Kung cleaving a snake 沛公斬蛇 pèi gōng zhǎn shé	02:31-02:35			00:56-00:58			01:07-01:08	00:48-00:49	14:22-14:23	00:50-00:51	01:17-01:20
25	Shooting star chasing the moon 流星趕月 liú xīng gǎn yuè	02:35-02:41			00:58-01:00			01:08-01:11	00:49-00:50	14:23-14:25	00:51-00:53	01:20-01:23
26	Li Gwong shooting an arrow at a tiger 李廣射虎 lǐ guǎng shè hǔ	02:41-02:49			01:00-01:02			01:11-01:13	00:50-00:53	14:25-14:27	00:53-00:55	01:23-01:26
27	Embracing the moon 懷中抱月 huái zhòng bào yuè	02:49-02:51			01:02-01:03			01:13-01:14	00:53-00:53	14:27-14:28	00:55-00:56	01:26-01:27
28	Pierce the heart 分心刺 fēn xīn cì	02:51-02:53			01:03-01:03			01:14-01:15	00:53-00:54	14:28-14:29	00:56-00:57	01:27-01:28
29	Step back and tease the genitals 退步撩陰 tuì bù liáo yīn	02:53-03:04			01:03-01:08			01:15-01:19	00:54-00:59	14:29-14:32	00:57-01:00	01:28-01:35
30	Tiger lying in front of the door 臥虎當門 wò hǔ dàng mén	03:04-03:07			01:08-01:09			01:19-01:20	00:59-01:00	14:32-14:33	01:00-01:01	01:35-01:36
31	Steersman rowing the boat 梢公搖槽 shāo gōng yáo cáo	03:07-03:14			01:09-01:10			01:20-01:21	01:00-01:01	14:33-14:35	01:01-01:03	01:36-01:38
32	Rowing the boat with the current 順水推舟 shùn shuǐ tuī zhōu	03:14-03:19			01:10-01:11			01:21-01:23	01:01-01:02	14:35-14:36	01:03-01:04	01:38-01:40
33	An immortal pointing the way 仙人指路 xiān rén zhǐ lù	03:19-03:19	00:07-00:10		01:11-01:11			01:23-01:24	01:02-01:03	14:36-14:37	01:04-01:05	01:40-01:41
34	Dot red between the eyebrows 眉中點赤 méi zhòng diǎn chì		00:10-00:12		01:11-01:13			01:24-01:26	01:03-01:04	14:37-14:39	01:05-01:07	01:41-01:43
35	Cross the knees and chop 盤膝劈劍 pán xī pǐ jiàn		00:12-00:14		01:13-01:14			01:26-01:27	01:04-01:06	14:39-14:40	01:07-01:08	01:43-01:45
36	Step up to tease the genitals 上步撩陰 shàng bù liáo yīn		00:14-00:16		01:14-01:15			01:27-01:29	01:06-01:08	14:40-14:41	01:08-01:09	01:45-01:47
37	Embracing the moon 懷中抱月 huái zhòng bào yuè		00:16-00:17		01:15-01:15		00:13-00:14	01:29-01:30	01:08-01:09	14:41-14:42	01:09-01:10	01:47-01:48
38	Pierce the heart 分心刺 fēn xīn cì		00:17-00:19		01:15-01:16		00:14-00:16	01:30-01:31	01:09-01:09	14:42-14:43	01:10-01:11	01:48-01:50
39	Hang the bamboo basket on the left and right 左右掛籃 zuǒ yòu guà lán		00:19-00:22		01:16-01:18		00:16-00:20	01:31-01:33	01:09-01:11	14:43-14:46	01:11-01:14	01:50-01:52
40	Fairy damsel throwing a needle 玉女投針 yù nǚ tóu zhēn		00:22-00:23		01:18-01:19		00:20-00:22	01:33-01:35	01:11-01:13	14:46-14:47	01:14-01:15	01:52-01:55
41	Turn back raising the writing brush 翻身提筆 fān shēn tí bǐ		00:23-00:24		01:19-01:19		00:22-00:23	01:35-01:36	01:13-01:13	14:47-14:48	01:15-01:16	01:55-01:56
42	Face the door sword 迎門劍 yíng mén jiàn		00:24-00:26		01:19-01:21		00:23-00:25	01:36-01:38	01:13-01:15	14:48-14:49	01:16-01:17	01:56-01:58
43	Tiger lying in front of the door 臥虎當門 wò hǔ dàng mén		00:26-00:27		01:21-01:22		00:25-00:26	01:38-01:39	01:15-01:16	14:49-14:50	01:17-01:18	01:58-01:59
44	Catching a giant tortoise from the bottom of the sea 海底擒鰲 hǎi dǐ qín áo		00:27-00:29		01:22-01:23		00:26-00:29	01:39-01:41	01:16-01:18	14:50-14:52	01:18-01:20	01:59-02:02
45	God of literature raising the wine vessel 魁星提斗 kuí xīng tí dǒu		00:29-00:30		01:23-01:23		00:29-00:30	01:41-01:42	01:18-01:18	14:52-14:53	01:20-01:21	02:02-02:02
46	Swing the arm back with the sword 反臂劍 fǎn bì jiàn		00:30-00:31		01:23-01:24		00:30-00:31	01:42-01:43	01:18-01:19	14:53-14:54	01:21-01:22	02:02-02:03
47	Turn the body and plant the sword 轉身栽劍 zhuǎn shēn zāi jiàn		00:31-00:34		01:24-01:25		00:31-00:34	01:43-01:44	01:19-01:20	14:54-14:56	01:22-01:24	02:03-02:05
48	Flick the whip on the left and right 左右提鞭 zuǒ yòu tí biān		00:34-00:39		01:25-01:29		00:34-00:39	01:44-01:47	01:20-01:22	14:56-14:59	01:24-01:27	02:05-02:11
49	White gibbon offering fruit 白猿獻果 bái yuán xiàn guǒ		00:39-00:42		01:29-01:30		00:39-00:42	01:47-01:50	01:22-01:24	14:59-15:01	01:27-01:29	02:11-02:13
50	Tiger lying in front of the door 臥虎當門 wò hǔ dàng mén		00:42-00:43		01:30-01:31		00:42-00:43	01:50-01:51	01:24-01:24	15:01-15:02	01:29-01:30	02:13-02:14
51	Fallen petals waiting for the broom 落花待掃 luò huā dài sǎo		00:43-00:45		01:31-01:33		00:43-00:46	01:51-01:52	01:24-01:26	15:02-15:03	01:30-01:31	02:14-02:16
52	Tiger lying in front of the door 臥虎當門 wò hǔ dàng mén		00:45-00:46		01:33-01:33		00:46-00:47	01:52-01:53	01:26-01:26	15:03-15:04	01:31-01:32	02:16-02:17
53	Turn back to put on armour 翻身披掛 fān shēn pī guà		00:46-00:49		01:33-01:35		00:47-00:49	01:53-01:55	01:26-01:28	15:04-15:06	01:32-01:34	02:17-02:19
54	Swivel with the sword 回身劍 huí shēn jiàn		00:49-00:51		01:35-01:36		00:49-00:51	01:55-01:56	01:28-01:29	15:06-15:08	01:34-01:36	02:19-02:21
55	Encircling the moon style 抱月式 bào yuè shì		00:51-00:53		01:36-01:37		00:51-00:53	01:56-01:57	01:29-01:30	15:08-15:10	01:36-01:38	02:21-02:23
56	Single whip style 單鞭式 dān biān shì		00:53-00:54		01:37-01:38		00:53-00:54	01:57-01:58	01:30-01:31	15:10-15:11	01:38-01:39	02:23-02:24
57	Hanging the golden bell upside down 倒掛金鈴 dǎo guà jīn líng This technique starts with a "Tiger lying in front of the Door".		00:54-00:57		01:38-01:40		00:54-00:57	01:58-02:01	01:31-01:33	15:11-15:12	01:39-01:40	02:24-02:27
58	Sweep a thousand soldiers on the left and right 左右橫掃千軍 zuǒ yòu héng sǎo qiān jūn		00:57-01:03		01:40-01:44		00:57-01:03	02:01-02:04	01:33-01:36	15:12-15:16	01:40-01:44	02:27-02:33
59	Advance and point to the trousers 進步指擋 jìn bù zhǐ dǎng		01:03-01:06		01:44-01:46		01:03-01:05	02:04-02:06	01:36-01:37	15:16-15:18	01:44-01:46	02:33-02:36
60	Scaly dragon hiding and about to fly 潛較待發 qián jiào dài fā		01:06-01:09		01:46-01:48		01:05-01:05	02:06-02:09	01:37-01:39	15:18-15:20	01:46-01:48	02:36-02:40
61	Green dragonfly touching water 青蜓點水 qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ		01:09-01:11		01:48-01:50			02:09-02:10	01:39-01:40	15:20-15:21	01:48-01:49	02:40-02:41
62	Swivel and tease the genitals 回身撩陰 huí shēn liáo yīn		01:11-01:12		01:50-01:53			02:10-02:13	01:40-01:41	15:21-15:22	01:49-01:50	02:41-02:43
63	Cloud signal flag three times 雲麾三舞 yún huī sān wǔ The first "clouding" is done with a "chou" technique.		01:12-01:12	00:06-00:11	01:53-01:55			02:13-02:15	01:41-01:44	15:22-15:25	01:50-01:53	02:43-02:47
64	Advance with reverse cut 進步反劈 jìn bù fǎn pǐ Same as the previous technique, but started with two nine palace steps.			00:11-00:15	01:55-01:55			02:15-02:19	01:44-01:46	15:25-15:28	01:53-01:56	02:47-02:51
65	Dispel the clouds to see the sun 撥雲見日 bō yún jiàn rì Started with a "chou" technique as "Cloud signal flag three times".			00:15-00:17	01:55-01:59			02:19-02:21	01:46-01:48	15:28-15:29	01:56-01:57	02:51-02:54
66	Magic hand picking a star 妙手摘星 miào shǒu zhāi xīng			00:17-00:22	01:59-02:01			02:21-02:25	01:48-01:51	15:29-15:33	01:57-02:01	02:54-02:59
67	Left and right the horsetail broom is blown by the wind 左右迎風拂塵 zuǒ yòu yíng fēng fú chén			00:22-00:30	02:01-02:08	00:00-00:12		02:25-02:32	01:51-01:56	15:33-15:39	02:01-02:07	02:59-03:07
68	Fierce tiger jumping over the stream 猛虎跳澗 měng hǔ tiào jiàn			00:30-00:35	02:08-02:11	00:12-00:15		02:32-02:35	01:56-01:58	15:39-15:42	02:07-02:10	03:07-03:12
69	Remove the leg and intercept 卸步反截 xiè bù fǎn jié			00:35-00:36	02:11-02:12	00:15-00:16		02:35-02:36	01:58-01:59	15:42-15:43	02:10-02:11	03:12-03:14
70	Fish lying down on the left and right 左右臥魚 zuǒ yòu wò yú			00:36-00:43	02:12-02:14	00:16-00:18		02:36-02:40	01:59-02:02	15:43-15:45	02:11-02:13	03:14-03:17
71	Spin and sweep across 轉身橫掃 zhuǎn shēn héng sǎo			00:43-00:45	02:14-02:15	00:18-00:20		02:40-02:41	02:02-02:04	15:45-15:47	02:13-02:15	03:17-03:19
72	Yellow dragon turning left 黃龍左轉 huáng lóng zuǒ zhuǎn This technique starts with a "Tiger lying in front of the Door".			00:45-00:50	02:15-02:18	00:20-00:24		02:41-02:45	02:04-02:08	15:47-15:50	02:15-02:18	03:19-03:24
73	Spreading aside the grass looking for a snake 撥草尋蛇 bō cǎo xún shé			00:50-00:55	02:18-02:23	00:24-00:29		02:45-02:49	02:08-02:12	15:50-15:56	02:18-02:24	03:24-03:31
74	The wheel on the left and right 左右車輪 zuǒ yòu chē lún			00:55-00:58	02:23-02:24	00:29-00:31		02:49-02:51	02:12-02:14	15:56-15:57	02:24-02:25	03:31-03:34
75	White snake spits out its tongue 白蛇吐信 bái shé tǔ xìn			00:58-01:01	02:24-02:27	00:31-00:33		02:51-02:54	02:14-02:15	15:57-16:00	02:25-02:28	03:34-03:38
76	Roc spreading its wings 大鵬展翅 dà péng zhǎn chì			01:01-01:02	02:27-02:27	00:33-00:34		02:54-02:55	02:15-02:16	16:00-16:01	02:28-02:29	03:38-03:39
77	Rein in the horse to watch the tide 勒馬觀潮 lēi mǎ guàn cháo			01:02-01:05	02:27-02:29	00:34-00:36		02:55-02:57	02:16-02:18	16:01-16:03	02:29-02:31	03:39-03:41
78	Encircling the moon style 抱月式 bào yuè shì			01:05-01:07	02:29-02:31	00:36-00:38		02:57-02:58	02:18-02:18	16:03-16:04	02:31-02:32	03:41-03:44
79	Single whip style 單鞭式 dān biān shì			01:07-01:08	02:31-02:32	00:38-00:39		02:58-02:59	02:18-02:19	16:04-16:05	02:32-02:33	03:44-03:45
80	Sparrow hawk piercing the forest 鷂子穿林 yào zǐ chuān lín			01:08-01:18	02:32-02:38	00:39-00:46		02:59-03:07	02:19-02:23	16:05-16:12	02:33-02:40	03:45-03:55
81	Roc spreading its wings 大鵬展翅 dà péng zhǎn chì			01:18-01:20	02:38-02:39	00:46-00:47		03:07-03:08	02:23-02:24	16:12-16:14	02:40-02:42	03:55-03:57
82	Peasant digging with a hoe 農夫着鉤 nóng fū zhuó gōu			01:20-01:21	02:39-02:40	00:47-00:49		03:08-03:09	02:24-02:25	16:14-16:15	02:42-02:43	03:57-03:58
83	Face the door sword 迎門劍 yíng mén jiàn			01:21-01:23	02:40-02:41	00:49-00:50		03:09-03:11	02:25-02:26	16:15-16:16	02:43-02:44	03:58-04:01
84	Spin and sweep across 轉身橫掃 zhuǎn shēn héng sǎo			01:23-01:26	02:41-02:44	00:50-00:53		03:11-03:13	02:26-02:28	16:16-16:18	02:44-02:46	04:01-04:05
85	Shooting star chasing the moon 流星趕月 liú xīng gǎn yuè			01:26-01:29	02:44-02:46	00:53-00:56		03:13-03:16	02:28-02:30	16:18-16:21	02:46-02:49	04:05-04:08
86	Spin and sweep across 轉身橫掃 zhuǎn shēn héng sǎo			01:29-01:32	02:46-02:48	00:56-00:59		03:16-03:19	02:30-02:32	16:21-16:23	02:49-02:51	04:08-04:12
87	Great grandfather fishing 太公釣魚 tài gōng diào yú Similar to “Tiger lying in front of the Door” but the sword should point down.			01:32-01:34	02:48-02:49	00:59-01:00		03:19-03:21	02:32-02:33	16:23-16:24	02:51-02:52	04:12-04:13
88	Support the beam and replace the column 托樑換柱 tuō liáng huàn zhù			01:34-01:34	02:49-02:50	01:00-01:01		03:21-03:22	02:33-02:33	16:24-16:24	02:52-02:52	04:13-04:15
89	Golden needle pointing south 金針指南 jīn zhēn zhǐ nán			01:34-01:36	02:50-02:51	01:01-01:02		03:22-03:23	02:33-02:35	16:24-16:26	02:52-02:54	04:15-04:17
90	Tai Chi in unity 合太極 hé tài jí			01:36-01:40	02:51-02:53	01:02-01:06		03:23-03:27	02:35-02:37	16:26-16:29	02:54-02:57	04:17-04:21
91	Sword completion style 收劍式 shōu jiàn shì			01:40-01:40	02:53-02:53	01:06-01:06		03:27-03:27	02:37-02:37	16:29-16:29	02:57-02:57	04:21-04:21

Generated: 2014-10-20 19:53:24