Embodied Single Whip
The original names given to the Tai Chi postures can help us understand how they are performed. However, we need to understand them in terms of how they have been translated and the cultural context of their use. Often this information is recorded as a song or more precisely a poem. Perhaps seeking to share wisdom indirectly as would a metaphor or parable. From an Embodied Tai Chi perspective perhaps we could consider their significance as internal sensation, feeling or intention rather than external exercise or martial application.
When practicing the posture 'Single Whip' (單 鞭 dān biān) we flex the shoulder blades back connects both hands through the shoulders so that: 'If we consider the hook hand to be the handle of the whip and the opposite hand to be the strike, and follow the direct path across the shoulders from one hand to the other, we can achieve the same [cracking a whip] rolling wave of energy, and with the stepping and waist turn even add a little more to the strike.' (Eaton 2025).
The fingers are gently gathered together in the hook or beak hand with the wrist relaxed in a downward curve. The hand turns anti clockwise to complete the movement into the posture. This flexes the forearm that turn the elbow that flexes the shoulder back closing the shoulder blade. If at the same time the open hand has flexed the other shoulder blade back the flick of the beak hand can ripple through the closed shoulder blades to the open hand. Some similarity may be seen between this Embodied Tai Chi interpretation and Paul Brennan's translation of Xu Yusheng (1921) explanation of Single Whip: 'When your front hand moves forward, your rear hand must put energy through the arm to assist it, and there is a slight intention of striking downward from above.'
As Tai Chi Beyond The Health (2025) suggest this 'Whole-Body Integration (上下相随, Shàng Xià Xiāng Suí): Every joint acts as a conduit. The movement of one finger elicits a response from the entire organism.' This is achieved through the correct spiraling chan ssu chin (缠丝劲) sensation we practice with springy bouncy legs, open spine and flexed shoulder blades.
So one interpretation of the name Single Whip may be the beak hand makes a small downward flicking movement like a whip that transfers along a single connected pathway through both arms via the shoulder blades to the open relaxed front palm.
Reference
Eaton Jason Lee (2025) Dan Bian: Dispelling Some Myths About Single Whip: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BEY8ggqgt/ , posted 2nd November 2025, accessed 5th November 2025.
Tai Chi Beyond The Health (2025) The Archetype of Internal Power and Structural Harmony in Tai Chi Chuan: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D1seXNxKS/ , posted on 31st October 2025, accessed on 5th November 2025.
Xu Yusheng (1921) TAIJI BOXING POSTURES EXPLAINED; by Xu Yusheng 1921 translation by Paul Brennan, Aug, 2012, https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/the-taiji-manual-of-xu-yusheng/ , accessed 6th November 2025