The 13 Animals Form: 13 Ways of Solidifying the Elixir Part One
Among the Tai Chi Chuan forms with their unique features and functions, there is
one form that most Tai Chi Chuan contemporary practitioners rarely practice. It is
called the Tai Chi 13 Dan Shi (13 Animals Form). The 13 Animals Form, better
known as 13 ways of solidifying the elixir, is the oldest Tai Chi Chuan form known
today. The13 Animals Form has a specific relationship to the Daoist art of the
"golden elixir". We know the core of Daoist teachings is the preservation of life to
attain good health and longevity. The art of golden elixir, also known as Daoist
alchemy, is concerned with how to prolong life by ingesting elixir. It has two
methods to produce the elixir. They are external alchemy and internal alchemy.
External alchemy uses minerals and herbs to concoct the elixir; it isa sudden and
quick method. Internal alchemy is concerned with cultivating the human three
treasures (essence, qi and spirit) inside the body by practicing exercises and meditation;
it is a gradual method. The 13 Animals Form is a type of Daoist internal alchemy exercise.
More specifically, it is a type of dynamic qigong exercise and a
martial-art technique. Its creation was based on the features and movements of
the 13 animals. In general, practicing the 13 Animals Form has the merit of a martial-art technique
and a health-maintenance exercise. Each animal form has one
ormore movements done on both sides of the body, which work on the practitioner's
internal and external attributes. Comparing the 13 Animals Form to the
traditional Tai Chi Chuan solo form, we see that they both shared the same movements
and have martial-art value as well as health value.
