五 行 手 Wu-Xing Hand Techniques

Wu-Xing Hand Techniques are the basic five hand techniques practiced throughout our six crane forms and in all movements. Wu-Xing Hand techniques are Wood-Hand Technique, Fire-Hand technique, Earth-Hand technique, Metal-Hand technique, and Water-Hand technique as illustrated here:

Wood-Hand 木手

Shui-Hand 水手

Huo-Hand 火手

Jin-Hand 金手

Tu-Hand 土手

Wu-Xing Hands are also used throughout 6 Hand-Positions Practice, 12 Hand Techniques on Qi Practice, and 18 Two-Person Techniques Practice.

Why those hand techniques were named in our white crane system may not be obvious; however, by tracing the meaning of Wu-Xing, it may provide us some clue how each hand movement is named and matches the characteristics/functions of the name Wu-Xing.

Wood-Hand 木手: the characteristic of Wood is "straight," so Wood-Hand trusts straight through fingers.

Fire-Hand 水手: the characteristic of Fire is "expanding upward," so Fire-Hand points fingers upward, and Qi goes out at the heel of the palm.

Earth-Hand 土手: the characteristic of Earth is "receiving," so the fist-like Earth-Hand can take punishment and deliver power to strike the opponent's body.

Metal-Hand 金手: the characteristic of Metal is "changing," So metal-Hand changes in form, can be used to block or counter-attack.

Water-Hand 水手: the characteristic of Water is "flow downward," so Water-Hand flows or flushes downward.(Transshipment)