Originating in the Shang and Zhou period, Chinese swordsmanship became very popular during the Warring States Period, with the emergence of swordsmen living on fighting with swords. During the Han and Tang dynasties, swordsmanship gradually shifted towards bodybuilding and developed into an art form, and sword-dance exercises began arising with solo and double routines.

Tai Chi Sword was developed on the basis of swordsmanship by borrowing the essence of Tai Chi Boxing, characteristic of both Tai Chi Boxing and swordsmanship. It has not only the features of Tai Chi Boxing – slowness, agility, softness, continuousness and the use of mind rather than force, but also the style of swordsmanship – graceful body movements, clear and definite technique, precise force point expression, and the presence of both form and spirit. Specifically, Tai Chi Sword has the following features:

1. To guide the sword with the mind, combine the sword and body into one. As with Tai Chi Boxing, Tai Chi Sword also has the features of keeping the mind calm and body relaxed, natural expression, and releasing power with the mind. It stresses the mind guidance of sword; that is, to perform various sword techniques in a way that is guided by the mind and supported by the body.

2. Sword techniques vary, with the aim to stay clear of the enemy's main force and choose to attack the vulnerable spot. Tai Chi Sword has the fighting feature of varying sword techniques and the emphasis on force dissolution, which coincides with the fighting principle of Tai Chi Boxing.

3. To drive the movement of the sword with the waist, release force all over the sword body. Tai Chi Sword requires that the explosive force is released from bottom to top, from inside to outside, onto the sword tip and the rest part of the sword. When releasing the sword, start force from the feet, run it through the waist and arm, and finally transfer it to the sword body.

4. To keep the palm relaxed, move the sword flexibly. This is the feature of holding and moving the Tai Chi sword. There are many ways of holding the sword, but they all require keeping the palm relaxed to a certain degree. The grip of the sword cannot be too loose, otherwise, the sword and body will split, and the force cannot be transferred onto the sword and. In the case of combat, the sword in the hand is liable to be knocked off by the opponent. It cannot be too tight, either, otherwise, rigidity will make the force unable to move onto the sword body, not to mention the sword tip. This requires the practitioner to comprehend the force used to grip the sword, so that the hand and the sword are in complete harmony in varied movements of the sword.

5 . From large to small sword movement circles. It is advisable that beginners move the sword in longer routes (i.e., in large circles) at the beginning, and narrow these circles as appropriate as their techniques improve. This is entailed by with the martial art of Tai Chi Sword, and the main feature of its exercise.

Combining bodybuilding, life nourishing and performance into one, Tai Chi Sword is a perfect aerobic exercise, especially suitable for old people. The persistent practice of Tai Chi Sword or other training exercise of Tai Chi can improve the functioning of the nervous system, improve physiological functions of the pallium, and prolong the ageing of the brain, while benefiting the cardiovascular system, keeping the Qi and blood all over the body moving freely and improving the respiratory system. Besides, the exercise of Tai Chi Sword can exercise various parts of the body: it improves the toughness of muscles, making one walk with vigorous strides, and have an apparent effect on the waist.

In addition to life nourishing and health, Tai Chi Sword can also nurture mental state. Tai Chi Sword stresses not only the exercise of physiological state but also the regulation of mental state, with the aim to achieve balance between physiology and psychology through both internal and external exercise. The fast pace of life in modern society bring huge pressure to people. Persistent exercise of Tai Chi Sword, Tai Chi Boxing etc. is conducive not only to physical health, but also to mental health, relieving worry and anxiety and thus reaching the inner peace of the mind.