''Daoyin'' is a series of cognitive body and mind unity exercises practiced as a form of

Daoist Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...

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 ...

'', meditation and mindfulness to cultivate '' jing'' (essence) and direct and refine '' qi'', the internal energy of the body according to

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 ...

. These exercises are often divided into yin positions (lying and sitting) and yang positions (standing and moving).''Taoist Ways of Healing'' by Chee Soo. Chapter 11 "Tao Yin - Taoist Respiration Therapy". p. 113. Aquarian Press/Thorsons -

HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the "Big Five (publishers), Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette, Macmi ...

, 1986. The practice of ''daoyin'' was a precursor of

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 ...

, and blended with the introduction of Indian yoga into China with the spread of Buddhism and was practised in Chinese Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual cultivation. ''Daoyin'' is also said to be a primary formative ingredient in the yin aspects of

Chinese martial arts Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

including the well-known " soft styles" of the Chinese martial arts, of

tai chi is a Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, for most practitioners it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. As an exercise, tai chi is performed as gentle, low-impact movement in which practitioners ...

, and middle road styles like ''Wuxingheqidao''. The main goal of ''daoyin'' is to create flexibility of the mind, thereby creating harmony between internal and external environments, which relaxes, replenishes and rejuvenates the body, developing in its practitioners a vital and healthy spirit.

The ''Daoyin Tu''

Daoyin tu - chart for leading and guiding people in exercise Wellcome L0040263

Daoyin tu - chart for leading and guiding people in exercise Wellcome L0036007

A painted scroll on display at the Hunan Provincial Museum and known as the ''Daoyin Tu'' found in tomb three at

Mawangdui Mawangdui () is an archaeological site located in Changsha, China. The site consists of two saddle-shaped hills and contained the tombs of three people from the Changsha Kingdom during the western Han dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD): the Chancellor Li ...

in 1973 and dated to 168 BC shows coloured drawings of 44 figures in standing and sitting postures performing daoyin exercises. It is the earliest known physical exercise chart in the world, and illustrates a medical system which does not rely on external factors such as medication, surgery or treatments, but utilizes solely internal factors to prevent disease.

The images include men and women, young and old. Their postures and movements differ from one another. Some are sitting, some are standing, and still others are practicing ''Daoyintu'' or exercising using apparatuses.

Translation of the texts covering the document show that the early Chinese were aware of the need for both preventive and corrective breathing exercises. The exercises can be divided into three categories: # Postures of bodily exercises such as stretching arms and legs, leaning over, hopping, dancing, breathing exercises and using various equipment such as a stick and a ball. # Imitating animal behaviour such as dragon, monkey, bear and crane. # Exercises targeted at specific diseases.

Effects

A typical ''daoyin'' exercise will involve movement of the arms and body in time with controlled inhalation and exhalation. Each exercise is designed with a different goal in mind, for example calmative effects or expanded lung capacity. According to Mantak Chia the practice of ''daoyin'' has the following effects: harmonization of the '' qi'', relaxation of the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm, training of the "second brain" in the lower abdomen, improvement of health and structural alignment. The spiritual aspects of Wuxingheqidao, Daoyin practice are outlined by Chinese Buddhist's and medical practitioner Xieen as a way to unify the three centres or the mind allowing the body to relax becoming internally emotionally and spiritually stronger and outwardly softer and more flexible towards changes in the environment and everyday life.

References

8. Smith, Ronald and Carmone, Antonio (2022), Shadows of Mawangdui Animating the Daoyintu, Three Pines Press, ISBN 9781931483704

External links

Entry on Daoyin from the Center for Daoist Studies

The origin of Daoyin
Inscription from a Warring State Period cultural relic - neigong.net
Theory of essence Qi and spirit
- neigong.net
Entry on Tao Yin at the Seahorse Mediawiki

(Virtual tour of the Mawangdui Han Tombs exhibit at the Hunan Provincial Museum). {{Qigong Taoist philosophy Meditation Qigong Tai chi Taoist practices Physical exercise

The ''Daoyin Tu''

Effects

See also

References

External links