Baguazhang
/ˌbɑːɡwɑːˈʒɑːŋ/noun
A Chinese internal martial art characterized by circular walking, evasive footwork, and palm-based techniques.
Did you know?Baguazhang’s circular walking is traditionally linked to the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching, whose symbols represent forces such as heaven, earth, fire, water, and wind.
Etymological Timeline
Late Zhou period
Classical Chinese
八卦
“The Eight Trigrams, symbolic diagrams used in the Yijing or Book of Changes.”
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
掌
“Palm of the hand; by extension, a palm-strike or palm technique.”
19th Century
Chinese
八卦掌 (bāguàzhǎng)
“The martial art known literally as “palm of the Eight Trigrams,” associated especially with Dong Haichuan.”
Late 19th–20th Century
Mandarin
bāguàzhǎng
“A name for a Chinese martial art emphasizing circle walking, turning, and palm methods.”
20th Century
English
baguazhang
“An English transliteration for the Chinese martial art.”