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The ''Baduanjin qigong'' () is one of the most common forms of Chinese ''
qigong Qigong ()) is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese medicine, Chin ...
'' used as exercise. Variously translated as Eight Pieces of Brocade, Eight-Section Brocade, Eight Silken Movements or Eight Silk Weaving, the form's name refers to how its eight movements characterize and impart a silken quality, like that of
brocade Brocade () is a class of richly decorative shuttle (weaving), shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in coloured silks and sometimes with gold and silver threads. The name, related to the same root as the word "broccoli", comes from Italian langua ...
, to the body and its
energy Energy () is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is transferred to a physical body, body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of Work (thermodynamics), work and in the form of heat and l ...
. In contrast to religious and martial forms of qigong, the Baduanjin is primarily designated as a form of medical qigong, meant to improve health. However, this categorization does not preclude the form's use by martial artists as a supplementary exercise, which is frequent.


History

This exercise is mentioned in several encyclopedias originating from the
Song dynasty The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
. The ''Pivot of the Way'' (Dao Shi, ) describes an archaic form of this qigong. The ''Ten Compilations on Cultivating Perfection'' (Xiuzhen shi-shu, c. 1300) features illustrations of all eight movements. The same work assigns the creation of this exercise to two of the
Eight Immortals The Eight Immortals () are a group of legendary ''Xian (Taoism), xian (immortals)'' in Chinese mythology. Each immortal's power can be transferred to a vessel () that can bestow life or destroy evil. Together, these eight vessels are called the ...
, namely
Zhongli Quan Zhongli Quan, courtesy name Jidao, is a Chinese mythology, Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoism, Taoist pantheon. He is also known as Han Zhongli because he was said to have been born in the Han dynasty. In leg ...
and
Lü Dongbin Lü Dongbin is a legendary Chinese scholar and poet who lived during the Tang dynasty whose lifetime supposedly spanned two hundred and twenty years. Elevated to the status of an immortal in the Chinese cultural sphere by Daoists, he is one of ...
. The exercise was later expanded from eight to twelve movements over the centuries and was described in the boxing manual ''Illustrated Exposition of Internal Techniques'' (1882) by Wang Zuyuan, a famed practitioner of the '' Sinew Changing Classic'' set. Nineteenth century sources attribute the style to semi-legendary Chinese folk hero General
Yue Fei Yue Fei (; March 24, 1103 – January 28, 1142), courtesy name Pengju (), was a Chinese military general of the Song dynasty and is remembered as a patriotic folk hero, national hero, known for leading its forces in Jin–Song Wars, the wars ...
,Shahar, ''The Shaolin Monastery'', p. 168 and describe it as being created as a form of exercise for his soldiers. The legend states he taught the exercise to his men to help keep their bodies strong and well-prepared for battle. Martial historian Prof. Meir Shahar notes Yue's mention as a lineage master in the second preface of the ''Sinew Changing Classic'' manual (1624) is the reason why he was attributed as the creator of Baduanjin qigong.


The sections

The Baduanjin as a whole is broken down into eight separate exercises based on the eight extra meridians each focusing on the free flow of qi for the unification of mind and body for physical and emotional stability and heath. The Baduanjin traditionally contains both a standing and seated set of eight postures each. In the modern era, the standing version is by far the most widely practiced. The particular order in which the eight pieces are executed sometimes varies, with the following order being the most common.


Standing

;Two Hands Hold up the Heavens (Shuang Shou Tuo Tian): This move is said to stimulate the "Triple Burner" aka "Triple Warmer" or "Triple Heater" meridian (Sanjiao). It consists of an upward movement of the hands, which are loosely joined and travel up the center of the body. ;Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Eagle / Hawk / Vulture: While in a lower
horse stance The horse stance is a common posture in Asian martial arts. It is called ''mǎbù'' (馬步) in Chinese, (or ) in Japanese, and ''juchum seogi'' (주춤 서기) or ''annun seogi'' (lit. sitting stance) in Korean. This stance can not only be ...
, the practitioner imitates the action of drawing a bow to either side. It is said to exercise the waist area, focusing on the kidneys and spleen. ;Separate Heaven and Earth: This resembles a version of the first piece with the hands pressing in opposite directions, one up and one down. A smooth motion in which the hands switch positions is the main action, and it is said to especially stimulate the stomach. ;Wise Owl Gazes Backwards or Look Back: This is a stretch of the neck to the left and the right in an alternating fashion. ;Sway the Head and Shake the Tail: This is said to regulate the function of the heart and lungs. Its primary aim is to remove excess heat (or fire) (xin huo) from the heart. ''Xin huo'' is also associated with heart fire in
traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...
. In performing this piece, the practitioner squats in a low horse stance, places the hands on thighs with the elbows facing out and twists to glance backwards on each side. ;Two Hands Hold the Feet to Strengthen the Kidneys and Waist: This involves a stretch upwards followed by a forward bend and a holding of the toes. ;Clench the Fists and Glare Fiercely (or Angrily): This resembles the second piece, and is largely a punching movement either to the sides or forward while in horse stance. This, which is the most external of the pieces, is aimed at increasing general vitality and muscular strength. ;Bouncing on the Toes: This is a push upward from the toes with a small rocking motion on landing. The gentle shaking vibrations of this piece is said to "smooth out" the qi after practice of the preceding seven pieces or, in some systems, this is more specifically to follow Sway the Head and Shake the Tail, strengthening the feet. Image:1-brokajxo.jpg, ''Two Hands Hold up the Heavens'' Image:2-brokajxo.jpg, ''Drawing the Bow to Shoot the Hawk'' Image:IrelandKillarney2WIKI.jpg, ''Separate Heaven and Earth'' Panagiotis Kontaxakis.jpg, ''Clench Fists and Glare Fiercely''


See also

*
Traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...
* ''
Yijin Jing The ''Yijin Jing'' () or Yik-kan Ging (Yick Kan Ging) is a manual of Daoyin exercises, a series of mental and bodily exercises to cultivate '' jing'' (essence) and direct and refine '' qi'', the internal energy of the body according to tradition ...
'' * '' Liu Zi Jue'' * ''
Qigong Qigong ()) is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation said to be useful for the purposes of health, spirituality, and martial arts training. With roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese medicine, Chin ...
'' * ''
Neigong ''Neigong'' (internal strength or internal skill), also spelled ''nei kung'', ''neigung'', or ''nae gong'', refers to a series of internal changes that a practitioner goes through when following the path to '' Dao'', and these changes may be ac ...
''


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baduanjin Qigong Qigong