Among the fundamental notions handed down by the ancient masters is Liu Feng Si Bi (六封四閉), the Six Seals and Four Closures: a refined principle of Taiji Quan that reveals the essence of the internal art.
In Taiji Quan, every gesture contains a deep principle: a way of uniting body, breath and mind in a single flow of energy.
The meaning of Liu Feng Si Bi
The term Liu Feng Si Bi can be translated literally as “six seals and four closures”. Yet this expression does not merely describe a set of movements or techniques: it describes an energetic and structural principle that governs the connection between the various parts of the body and the issuing of Qi.
The “six seals” and “four closures” of Taiji Quan describe how energy is gathered, sealed and then directed fluidly, without dispersion. In Taiji Quan, the whole body must move as a single connected organism: when one part moves, the whole body follows.
The Six Seals
The Six Seals of Taiji Quan refer to the six main connections between:
- shoulders and hips,
- elbows and knees,
- wrists and ankles.
Keeping these “seals” means preserving the unity of the body in every movement. When the connections are active, Qi can flow freely and force (Jin) is transmitted without interruption from the centre (the Dan Tian) to the extremities.
The Four Closures
The Four Closures of Taiji Quan, on the other hand, represent the directions and control points of energy within the body:
- Up and down
- Forward and back
- Left and right
- Inside and outside
These closures teach how to contain and release energy in a balanced way, avoiding dispersion and stiffness. When the closures are in harmony, movement becomes natural, stable and rooted.
Harmony between Seals and Closures
The principle of Liu Feng Si Bi is a map for integrating the energetic body and the physical body. In every Taiji Quan movement, from Peng to Lu, from Ji to An, we seek the perfect balance between opening and closing, gathering and expanding. It is a continuous dialogue between internal force and release, between yin and yang.
Training Liu Feng Si Bi in practice
To truly perceive the Six Seals and Four Closures, you need consistent, mindful practice. In Taiji Quan and Qi Gong training we work on:
- the connection of the joints,
- deep listening to internal movement,
- energetic sensitivity (ting jin),
- and centring in the Dan Tian.
Through this practice, the body becomes a vehicle for coherent energy and movement takes on a meditative quality, soft yet powerful.
Liu Feng Si Bi is not just a technical concept but a teaching about life itself: learning to contain, gather, integrate and then release with balance. In Taiji Quan as in daily life, whatever is sealed with awareness can flow more freely.