The Chinese symbol and floor pattern for Cheonkwon can be interpreted as a man ascending to the heavens, or heavenly might, or piety. It can also mean sky. According to the World Taekwondo Federation, there was a King Hwanin (which translates to “heavenly king”). He lived 4,000 years ago between mountains and sea, and ruled the Han people, who were said to be heavenly, exhibiting right actions and thoughts.
The poomsae begins with a gesture of the hands outwardly pushing, as though something is being pushed away. The musical theme is a slow pulsing melody with high string gestures over it. Suddenly at 12 seconds in, the character of the movements changes from slow and meditative to hard and sharp. The music changes to reflect this, with hard, percussive cadences. The following sections (13-26; and 27-38 seconds) are slow again, but a drum line has been added to give it more motion. Both sections end with hard and sharp cadences, with the last one resolving to the tonic major chord so that it feels like a resolution.
The music then changes in character to fit the quicker movements, with a rhythmic line in the percussion and builds, as rhythmic string figures sing over the top of the rhythmic pulse, finally ending at 58 with another heavy resolution. During all of this section, the strings and the piano make up and down scale runs (connection of heaven to earth).The last section (59 to end) returns to the slow, meditative pulse that began the piece, ending with an almost tribal-sounding drum pattern and melodies in the strings. Cheonkwon is for the 7th dan. This is one of the longer poomsae, at 1 minute and 32 seconds,with varying beats per minute.