How Do the 18 Daoist Palms Compare to Other “18’s” in Chinese Martial Arts?
The number eighteen appears everywhere in Chinese martial arts—from Shaolin’s 18 Luohan Hands to Bak Fu Pai’s 18 short forms. This article explores how James Lacy’s 18 Daoist Palms fit into that lineage, revealing both the symbolism and the misunderstanding behind the “18” tradition.