reinterpreting ba duan jing from the theories of the eight extra meridians

7/29/2019 Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians

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Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing

From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians

Lee Chang-Chih May 10th 2005

www.kongfu.org

All rights reserved

Abstract

Interpreting traditional Chinese health-keeping regimes from the theories of meridians

(Chinese medicine) helps learners to understand the correct ways of practice (forms)

and the effects of the exercises. Many scholars have attempted to interpret Yi Jin Jing

() from the theories of the 12 meridian system, but there has yet been any

literature available up-to-date attempted to explore Ba Duan Jin () from theaspect of Chinese Medicine theories of meridians.

In the development of Ba Duan Jin (), both sitting and standing forms have

been found. Standing forms were developed into two schools (northern and southern

styles) in the Qing Dynasty. The Northern School, said to have been passed down by

Yue Fei (), has tougher forms, and the Southern School, claimed the lineage from

Liang Shi-Chang (), focuses on softer trainings. Quite a few verses1 has been

passed down during the period from Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, but all standing

forms have evolved from the passages recorded in The Chapter of Wonders, Pivot of

Dao (, Dao Shu, Zong Miao Pian, Song Dynasty) and sitting style from

the forms recorded in The Ten Books of Daoist Practices ( Xiu Zhen Shi

Shu, Ming Dynasty ) or The Methods of Curing (, Huo Ren Xin Fa, Ming

Dynasty). For the purpose of close study, we lock the focus on the standing forms of

Ba Duan Jin.

Placing the circulatory routes of the Eight Extra Meridians () and the

systems regulated by them at the background, we compare this meridian system to the

1 Translators note: in the past, formulae or directions of Chinese medicine or martial art training were often

ingeniously woven into singing or chanting verses for easy learning.


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effects (main) and practice forms (secondary) of Ba Duan Jin in an attempt to find the

relationships that associate with the intended effects and designs of the practice forms

of this traditional health-keeping regime.

In this research, we compared nine of the more representative Ba Duan Jin ()in the table below. From the verses below, we can see the development of Ba Duan

Jin, but the forms of the exercises are not comprehensively stated. Nonetheless, the

effects expected are indicated in most of the verses.

Form One

Two hands holding up to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the

mind

Yang Wei

Form Two

Pulling left and pulling right, open bows aim far

behind

Yin Qiao

Form Three

Lifting high with Single hand, keeping gallbladder and

stomach in the hand

Yin Wei

Form Four

Looking back to the heels internal injury clears

Yang Qiao

Form Five

Shaking head and moving tail rids the internal fire

Dai Mai

Form Six

Bending down, reaching the feet makes the kidney

strong and sound

Chong Mai

Form Seven

Folding fist, looking fierce boosting energy high and

up

Ren Mai

Form Eight

Clicking heels seven times a day keeps all diseases

away.

Du Mai

In a reverse sense, interpreting Ba Duan Jin from such aspect also serves to introduce

the concept of traditional theories of the meridians to Ba Duan Jin learners. Of course,

this is only an attempt to initiate relevant discussions. We hope that better and more

comprehensive studies will become available in the future. Well organized knowledge

will not only provide learners an insight into the practices but also helps to prevent

injuries.


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Keywords: Ba Duan Jin (Eight-Section Brocade), the Eight Extra

Meridians, Meridians


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Foreword

The ancient exercise regimes, Ba Duan Jin () has been passed sown for

generations. Some literatures have been passed down or found documenting the forms

and effects of the exercises, yet there has rarely been any writings touching on the

topic of the fundamentals of the designs. Certainly, it is rather difficult to interpret the

effect mechanisms of any exercise regimes from either modern medicine or Chinese

meridian theories. But, the elements of Forms, Theories, and Effects must all

be in place to make a regime complete. A learner or a trainer must know not only

How but also Why.

Traditional health-keeping regimes are highly compatible with traditional meridian

theories. From which, learners get to know why such exercises were designed and

what effects are expected. There have been many attempts made to interpret Yi Jin

Jing ()2

with the twelve meridian theories, but there has yet any attempts ofsuch studies on Ba Duan Jin (). In view of which, we take the initiative to open

up the possibilities.

Research Method

Ba Duan Jin () has been through a long history of development and well

documented in verses as it has traditionally been for martial art trainings. Different

versions of the verses have been found, and most of them record the forms and

expected effects of the exercises. Ba Duan Jin ( , also translated as

Eight-Section Brocade) consists of eight sections, which matches the number of theEight Extra Meridians (Secondary Meridian System), just as the twelve forms of Yi

Jin Jing () matches the number of the Twelve Meridians (Main Meridian

System). We do not know whether the eight sections of Ba Duan Jin were originally

designed based on the Eight Extra Meridian System; what we are attempting here is to

associate the forms and the expected effects with the theories of the meridians.

Through organizing Ba Duan Jin into a set of new theoretical basis, we expect to laid

out a set of principles for the designs of the forms and provide a set of guidelines for

learning as well as teaching.

A Brief Introduction to Ba Duan Jin

Ba Duan Jin (, also translated as Eight-Section Brocade) is a treasure of

therapeutic Chinese Qi Gong. Recordings of Qi channeling and health-keeping

exercises have been found as early as in the ancient scripture of The Internal

Medicine of Emperor Huang (, Huang Di Nei Jing). In general, Ba Duan

2 a. Li Jia-Wei, The New Health-Keeping Exercises Introduction to Bodhidharma Yi Jin Jing, Mar.

15th

2000, Jiu Si Publisher. b. Huang Jie-Liang,E Generation Health-Keeping Exercises Yi Jin Jing,Aug., 26, 2003.8.26, Mentor Publisher. c.Lee Chang-Chih, Study of Yi Jin Jing and the Meridians, Nov.

1st, 2004, master thesis.


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Jin has eight sections called Jin (, Brocade). For generations, it has been taught and

learned and passed down, for it is easy to learn with good effects.

The name Ba Duan Jin has been found as early as the Northern Song Dynasty.

According to Hong Mai's () Yi Jian Zhi (, Song Dynasty), Zhenghe

Seventh Year, Emperor's Chief Secretary, Li Shi-Ju, lived a simple life. He spent alarge portion of his time in his mediation room practicing Daoist Monks exercises

expanding like a bear and stretching like a bird. In the early hours, he is often found

breathing and massaging, practicing the so-called Eight-Section Brocade (Ba Duan

Jin). This passage reveals that Ba Duan Jin has been developed and practiced since

the Song Dynasty as a general health-keeping regime3.

Both sitting and standing forms have been found in the history of Ba Duan Jin (

),. Standing forms were developed into two schools (northern and southern styles)

in the Qing Dynasty. The Northern School, said to have been passed down by Yue Fei

(), has tougher forms, and the Southern School, claimed the lineage from LiangShi-Chang (), focuses on softer trainings. Quite a few verses has been passed

down during the period from Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, but all verses for the

standing forms have evolved from the passages recorded in The Chapter of Wonders,

Pivot of Dao (, Dao Shu, Zong Miao Pian, Song Dynasty) and verses of

the sitting style from the forms recorded in The Ten Books of Daoist Practices (

Xiu Zhen Shi Shu, Ming Dynasty ) or The Methods of Curing (, Huo

Ren Xin Fa, Ming Dynasty). Sets Ba Duan Jin forms are not always limited to the

number of eight. The number of forms in a set range from a single form to tens or as

many as a hundred; nevertheless, they are all exercise regimes designed for

health-keeping, preventive, and therapeutic purposes, and, liberally saying, allexercise regimes designed for such purposes are part of the Ba Duan Jin system.

However, the scale of the liberal-sense Ba Duan Jin would be too large as to inhibit

effective comparison. Therefore, we place our focus on the eight verses of Ban Duan

Jin for analysis and comparison based on the theories of the Eight Extra Meridians (

). The following is collection of nine most representative Ba Duan Jin Verses.

The Verses

In the following section, we will make a comparison on the nine collected verses.

From the verses, we can see the development of Ba Duan Jin, but the forms of theexercises are not comprehensively stated. Nonetheless, the expected effects are

indicated in most verses.

Quoted

from 4

Ceng Zao, The

Chapter of

Wonders, Pivot

of Dao,

Chen Yuan-Jing

compiled, The

Secret to

Health, The

Collection of

Daoist

Scripture - Lin

Jian Zi Qi

The New

Health-Keeping

Illustrated, Late

Qing Dynasty

Lou Jie,

Standing

Forms of Ba

Duan Jin,

3Major sports activities and organizations in the Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties -

http://www.tiyuren.com/news_detail.php?id=1153&nowmenuid=52&cpath=0034:&catid=344 http://jsqg.sport.org.cn/home/js/2004-09-18/57498.html


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(Southern Song

Dynasty (

)

Encyclopedia,

Southern Song

Dynasty (

)

Channeling,

Ming Dynasty

(

)

(

)

Qing Dynasty

(

5)

Form

One

Lifting arms and

turning Palms to

the sky, Sanjiao

enter into the

mind

Holding head

and lifting palms

to the sky,

Sanjiao enter

into the mind

Holding and

Lifting upward

puts Sanjiao in

order

Two hands

holding up to the

sky, Sanjiao

enter into the

mind

Hands

stretching up

to the sky

Form

Two

Left for liver,

right for lungs,

fully strung to

shoot an owl.

Left for liver,

right for lungs,

fully strung to

shoot an owl.

Left for liver,

right for lungs,

fully strung to

shoot an owl.

Pulling left and

pulling right,

open bows aim

far behind

Fully strung

bows rings left

and right

Form

Three

Single hand up

east and west,

gallbladder and

stomach in check

East lifting for

the gallbladder;

west holding up

for the stomach

(

)

East lifting for

gallbladder

passing all the

way to the

west for the

stomach

Lifting high with

Single hand,

keeping

gallbladder and

stomach in the

hand

Lifting

single-handed

like a wine

glass

Form

Four

Looking back

and looking

Looking back

and looking

forward, internal

Looking back

and looking

Looking back to

the heels internal

injury clears

Sword sweeps

across the

shoulders

5Deng Zhong-Shan, The Unpublished Copy of Ba Duan Jin Illustrated, Taiyuan: Shanxi Science and

Technology Publishing(

2005.2

) was

republished in 1927. The original author of this book said that this book was bough by Zuo

Zong-Tang and gifted to Deng Zhong-Shan in the 7th

Year of the Guangxu Period, which was againgifted to Deng Zhong-Shangs father. The names of the Ba Duan Jin forms are identical to the original

copy.


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forward, internal

injuries

disappear.

injuries

disappear.

forward,

internal

injuries

disappear.

Form

Five

Pointing to the

sky head and tail,

all five organs

are cared.

Sweep the tail

like an eel,

smooth air goes

into the heart.

Sweep the tail

like a fish, the

way to the

heart goes

afresh.

Shaking head

and moving tail

rids the internal

fire

Moving swift

like an ape

Form

Six

Swallow saliva

for Qi flow,

flicking hands

left and right

Rotate waist,

bend for the feet

Bending for

the feet,

ailments at the

waist go away

Clicking heels

seven times a

day keeps all

diseases away

Fierce like a

roaring tiger

Form

Seven

Sweep the tail

like an eel rid the

ailments at the

heart

Pointing to the

sky head and tail,

five organs in

check

Flicking ears,

clicking teeth,

36 make the

peace

Folding fist,

looking fierce

boosting energy

high and up

Swerve like

flying

swallows

Form

Eight

Reaching feet

with left and

right hands

smoothes over

ailments at the

waist

Swallowing

saliva; flicking

fingers up and

down

Covering ears

side by side,

clicking scull

sound and

sound

Bending down,

reaching the feet

makes the kidney

strong and sound

Stand proud

like a horse

Quoted from The Bureau of

Sports, China

Liang Shi-Chang

Edited (Qing

Shaolin Temple

8

Wundang Daoist

Temple


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6

Dynasty), Yi Jin

Jing Illustrated

Appendix Ba

Duan Jin, author

unknown

7

9

Form One

Two hands

holding up to the

sky, Sanjiao enter

into the mind

Two hands

holding up to the

sky, Sanjiao enter

into the mind

Two hands

holding up to the

sky, mends

Sanjiao in no

time

Looking at the

moon; reaching

for the stars

Form Two

Pulling left and

pulling right,

bending bows

aim far behind

Pulling left and

pulling right,

bending bows

aim far behind

Pulling left and

pulling right,

open bows aim

far behind

Looking left;

looking right

Form Three

Lifting high with

Single hand,

keeping

gallbladder and

stomach in the

hand

Lifting high with

Single hand,

keeping

gallbladder and

stomach in the

hand

Moving hands

high and low,

keeping

gallbladder and

stomach in the

hand

Standing in the

wind like a

towering tree

Form Four

Looking back to

the heels internal

injury clears

Looking back to

the heels internal

injury clears

Looking back to

the heels internal

injury clears

Dancing in the

field like a fairy

crane

Form Five

Shaking head and

moving tail rids

Shaking head and

moving tail rids

Folding fist,

looking fierce

Holding tall and

high, like a pillar

6 http://jsqg.sport.org.cn/home/tp/2004-10-11/57527.html7

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E6%AE%B5%E9%94%A68 http://www.chinashaolintemple.com/chinese/data/2005/1111/article_144.htm9 http://www.chinawudang.com/wdjhb/wdys_show.asp?ID=1085125464951


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the internal fire the internal fire boosting energy

high and up

reaching the sky

Form Six

Bending down,

reaching the feet

makes the kidney

strong and sound

Clicking heels

seven times a day

keeps all diseases

away

Clicking heels

keeps all diseases

away

Drilling into the

ground

Form Seven

Folding fist,

looking fierce

boosting energy

high and up

Folding fist,

looking fierce

boosting energy

high and up

Lifting head and

moving tail rids

the internal fire

Open up the tails

like a swallow

Form Eight

Clicking heels

seven times a day

keeps all diseases

away

Bending down,

reaching the feet

makes the kidney

strong and sound

Bending down,

reaching the

knees makes the

kidney strong and

sound

Rolling a ball into

the field

A brief introduction to the Eight Extra Meridians ()

The Eight Extra Meridians have been documented as early as in the scriptures of

Lingshu and Suwen ( and , The Internal Medicine of Emperor Huang). In

The Classics of Medical Problems (, Nan Jing Ben Yi), the Twenty-Seventh

Problem asked, Outside of the twelve meridians, there are eight extra meridians;

Why is it so? There are Yangwei, Yinwei, Yangqiao, and Yinqiao; there are also

Chong, Du, Ren, and Dai Mais (meridians). These eight meridians are in a system

apart from the main twelve meridians; therefore, they are called the Eight Extra

Meridians.10

The Study of the Eight Extra Meridians ()11 by Li

Shi-Zhen has more detailed discussions on the Extra Eight Meridian System. In thefollowing table, we will make a brief summary of the Eight Extra Meridians based on

The Classics of Medical Problems (, Nan Jing Ben Yi) and The Methods of

Acupuncture ()12.

10

11

The Study of the Eight Extra Meridians (

)

http://www.tianyabook.com/zongjiao/daojiao/020.htm12

Huang Wei-San, The Science of Acupuncture, Oct. 1989, Taipei, Zheng Zhong Publishing, P, 154,

155 (

1989.10

P.154

155) and Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of

Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 220 224 (

1987.11

P220~244).


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Meridian Circulatory Routes Symptoms Regulated Function

Du

1. Du mai starts from the kidneys and

enters the perineum.

2. passes posterior and goes up toGuanyuan.

3. At the back of the throat, all yang

meridians meet.

4. Du mai continues to the nape of the

neck and from here enters the brain.

Ailments of the Du

Main are resolved by

strong spine.

Du Main is a Yang

Main regulating the

whole body;

therefore, it is called

the Sea of Yang Mai

Ren

1. Ren Mai starts from the kidney and

moves to the Perineum and forward to

the pubic region.

2. It then flows on the surface layer to

the throat.

3. At the throat, the Ren mai divides into

two branches, which move along the lips

and gums, up to Qing Ming (bottom part

of the eyes) and then into the eyes.

4. As it passes the upper lips, the two

branches converge at the philtrum.

Ailments of Ren are

mostly internal

problems.

Ren mai connects the

entire Yin mai

system in the body;

therefore, it is called

the Sea of Yin Mai.

Chong

1. Chong Mai starts in the kidneys, goes

Ailments of Chong

Mai are sudden thrush

of Qi.

Chong main units the

innate Qi and the


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down to the Uterus, where it separates

into two branches.

2. One branch goes up fro the back to

the center of qi and the other goes up to

the naval and up to the chest.

3. The flow disperses in the chest to

meet the Du mai.

4. Along the Du mai, Chong mai

branches reach all organs; therefore, it is

well deserved to call it a sea.

acquired Qi from

food; therefore, it is

called the Sea of

Meridians.

Dai

1. Dai mai is part of the leg Shaoyin

point.

2. It goes up along the yang side (outer

side) to the 14th

spine at the kidney area

and up to the Jixie point (on the side of

the ribs).

3. It then starts again to circulate the

body.

Ailments of the Dai

mai are mostly water

retention at the

abdomen and waist.

Regulates the

meridians.

Yangqiao

1. Yangqiao starts from the inner side of

the heels.

2. It goes out to the heels and up to

Sanyang.

3. It then moves up along the thighs,

sides of the body, into the sides of the

necks, cheeks, and then brains.

4. It travels on the Yang side; therefore,

it is a yang meridian.

Ailments of Yangqiao

are caused by over

thrusting yang Qi and

weak yin Qi.

This is a

sub-meridian of the

leg Taiyang

meridian, governing

the left and right side

the yang meridians.

Yinqiao

1. Yinqiao starts from the middle section

of the feet.

2. It goes upward in the yin (inner) side

of the thighs into the perineum, chest,

throat, and then eyes.

Ailments of Yangqiao

are caused by over

thrusting yin Qi and

weak yang Qi.

This is a

sub-meridian of the

leg Shaoyin

meridian, governing


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the left and right side

the yin meridians.

Yangwei

1. Yangwei starts from the leg Taiyang

point and move on the yang side (outer

side) of the legs.

2. It reaches the Back, shoulders, neck,

and then face and converges to Du.

Ailments of yangwei

are mostly chills and

fever.

Connects all yang

meridians, governing

all meridians at the

surface.

Yinwei

1. Yinwei starts from the leg Shaoyin

point (middle section of the foreleg) and

the goes up along the inner thighs into

the Zhubing point (side of perineum).

2. It then moves along the abdomen, to

the nipples, up to the prominentia

laryngea, and ends at Ren.

Ailments of Yinwei

are mainly heart

problems.

Yinwei connect all

yin meridians,

regulating all internal

meridians.

Notes

Yangwei and Yinwei flow over the body,

only they are not connected into a

circulatory loop.

Yangwei flows on the

yang side and Yinwei

at the yin side, only

Yin and Yang are not

connected into a

circulatory system.

Although the Eight Extra Meridians are in a different system from the main twelve

meridians, certain relationships still exist. The relationships are indicated in the verses

about the eight joining acupuncture-points to the eight meridians. The chapter of The

Methods of Acupuncture () in the book Encyclopedia of Medicine (

) states, the Chong Mai converges into the Gong and Sun points and the Yinwei

flows into Neiguan; The meridians merge into the area of stomach, heart, and chest.

Lin and Qi located on the Dan Jing (Gallbladder Meridian) connect to the Dai Mai

and the Wai and Guan points meet Yangwei; the meridian meets at the center of the

eyes. Hou and Xi points meet with Du Mai at the center of the neck; Yangqiao merges


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at Shen and Mai points. Lie and Que points extend into the Du Mai along the Lung

Meridian; Yinqiao merges into Zhao and Hai points at the throat.13

In the following

table, we will make a side-by-side reference to compare the Eight Extra Meridians to

the Twelve Meridian System

The Eight Extra

Meridians

Acupuncture

Points

The Twelve

Meridians

Notes

Du Houxi

Hand Taiyang

Small Intestine

Meridian

Connects to

Yangqiao

Ren Lieque Hand

Taiyin Lung

Meridian

Connects to

Yinqiao

Chong Gongsun Leg

Taiyin Spleen

Meridian

Connects to

YinweiDai Linqi Leg

Shaoyang

Gallbladder

Meridian

Connects to

Yangwei

Yangqiao Shenmai

Leg Taiyang

Urinary Balder

Meridian

Connects to

Yangqiao

Yangqiao Zhaohai Leg

Shaoyin Kidney

Meridian

Connects to

Yinqiao

Yangwei Waiguan

Hand ShaoyangSanjiao Meridian

Connects toYangwei

Yinwei Neiguan

Hand Jueyin

Pericardium

Meridian

Connects to

Yinwei

DiscussionBased the above table, we proposed two issues for further discussion; the first is the

relationship between the exercise forms and the effects, and the second is the

relationship between the order of the forms and the Eight Extra Meridians.

Issue One

Tracking back in history, we know that Ba Duan Jin probably have been passed down

by Daoist Monk Zhong Li-Quan () or Song General Yue Fei (). Ba Duan

13

This only a rough translation, please

refer to other documents for more precise interpretations.


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Jin comes in forms of sitting, standing, soft, and hard trainings. It is rather difficult for

us to get the complete picture of how the forms are practiced from the verses;

therefore, we will not discuss the history or attempt to categorize the practice forms.

Instead, we will focus on the effects and the possible relationships between the effects

to the Eight Extra Meridians.

By such, we place the main focus on the effects and use the practice forms as

secondary references.

Issue Two

From the verses, we see that some of the practice forms are arranged in different

orders. Does it mean that the orders are closely connected to the theories of the Eight

Extra Meridians, like the orders of Yi Jin Jing forms, which follow the order of the

twelve meridians?

Different from the twelve meridians, the Eight Extra Meridians do not govern specific

organs, neither are they connected; therefore, there would be no specified orders or

relationships of interconnection. Rather, they are interconnected through the twelve

meridians.

Therefore, for this research, we use the most commonly adopted version (edited by

the Bureau of Sports, China) to interpret the relationships to the meridians and

practice forms. For easy reference, we compiled related information into the

following table.

Ba Duan Jin

Forms

Eight

Extra

Meridians

Circulatory

Routes and

Acupuncture

points of the

Eight Extra

Meridians14

Converging

points15

Brief Description

Form

One

Two hands

holding up to

the sky, Sanjiao

Yangwei

Starts from

Zhuyang and

connects all

Eyes, back

of years,

cheeks,

neck, and

shoulders.

14

Huang Wei-San, The Science of Acupuncture, Oct. 1989, Taipei, Zheng Zhong Publishing, P, 154

(

1989.10

P.154).15 Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p,

28-29 (

1987.11

P28

29).


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enter into the

mind

meridians The Waiguan

point connects to the

Yangwei16 meridian.

The Waiguan point is

part of the Hand

Shaoyang Sanjiao

Meridian; therefore,

up and down

stretching exercises

of this form relaxes

the full body and

cares for the Sanjiao.

Form

Two

Pulling left and

pulling right,

open bows aim

far behind

Yinqiao

Starts from the

middle section of

the heels, goes up

along the inner

angles, up to the

throat, and crossesthe Chong Mai

Lungs,

throat, and

diaphragm.

According to the

documentations, thisform regulates lung

functions. Yinqiao

passes the lungs. The

left and right pulling

exercises massage

the lungs and liver;

therefore, the Yinqiao

meridian matches

this form.

Form

Three

Lifting high

with Single

hand, keeping

Yinwei

Starts from the

converging point

of all yin

Stomach,

heart, andchest

17

16

Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 28

(

1987.11

P28).17


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gallbladder and

stomach in the

hand

meridians and

covers the whole

body.

The Yinwei Meridian

circulates the spleen

and stomach and

regulated the organs

in the chest and

abdomen. According

to the Verse about

Yinwei and Neiguan

point, Neiguan point

connects to the

Yinwei Meridian.

Neiguan point is also

an acupuncture point

for abdominal

illnesses; therefore,

this form matches the

Yinwei meridian.

FormFour

Looking back to

the heels

internal injury

clears

Yangqiao

Starts from the

middle of the heels

and goes along the

outer ankle and up

to Fengci.

Eyes, ears,

neck,shoulders,

small

intestine,

and bladder

Looking backward

indeed promotes

blood circulation of

the Yangqiao

Meridian, and

turning back

stimulates the

Gauhuang point on

the Taiyang Urinary


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17

Bladder. This

acupuncture point is

often used for

exhaustion and

internal injuries18.

There is a close

relationship between

the Yangqiao

Meridian and the

Taiyang Urinary

Bladder Meridian;

therefore, this form

matches the

Yangqiao Meridian.

Form

Five

Shaking head

and moving tail

rids the internal

fire

Dai Mai

Starts from Jixie

and circulate the

body

cross-section-wise.

Eyes, back

of years,

cheeks,

neck, and

shoulders.

19

Dai mai

moves up along the

Leg Shaoyin

Meridian20

; therefore,

it cares for the

kidneys and

eliminates the heat in

the heart. According

to the Dai mai

therapy verse, Dai

18 Wu Guo-Ding, Anatomical Physiology, May 1989, Taipei, National Research Institute of Chinese

Medicine, p, 129 (

1989.5

p129).19

~ Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p,

230 (

1987.11

P230).20Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 31

(

1987.11

P31).


18/20

18

mai therapies cure

irritated eyes,

headache, and heat. It

is similar to the

therapies for heat in

the heart; therefore,

the effect of the

left-right rotating

form matches the Dai

Mai.

Form

Six

Bending down,

reaching the

feet makes the

kidney strong

and sound

Chong

Mai

Starts fromInching and moves

along the Leg

Yangming

Meridian; it movesup to the naval and

disperse in the

chest.

Stomach,

heart, and

chest

Acupuncture points

connected by the

Chong Mai aresimilar to that of the

Kidney Meridian21

.

Chong Mai is the sea

of all meridians.

Chong Mai flows

along the innate Qi

from the kidney into

the whole body;

therefore, the

up-lifting form

matches the Chong

Mai.

Form

Seven

Folding fist,

looking fierce

boosting energy

Ren Mai

Lungs,

throat, and

diaphragm

21


19/20

19

high and up Starts from the

kidney to the

perineum into theabdomen, up to

Guanyuan, into the

throat, along the

cheeks, and intothe eyes.

Dantian is the Sea of

Qi. The energy at

Dantian is the energy

of a person. All

punches or force

exertions depend on

the strength of

Dantian. All

exercises of punches

and force exertion

train Dantian and

gives energy. Ren

Meridian passes

through the Sea of Qi

(Dantian); therefore,this form matches the

Ren Meridian.

Form

Eight

Clicking heels

seven times a

day keeps all

diseases away

Du Mai

Starts from the Yu

point and enters

the spine; it goes

up to the Fengfu

and enters into the

brains.

Eyes, ears,

neck,shoulders,

small

intestine,and urinary

bladder.

The up and down

vibrating exercise

stimulates the Du

Meridian, that is, an

adjustment to the

neural system. The


20/20

20

Du Meridian flows

into the sea of

marrow, that is the

brains; therefore,

keeping the Du

Meridian in tune will

keep all disease

away; therefore, this

form matches the Du

Meridian.

Conclusion

Interpreting the theories of Ba Duan Jin from the aspect of the Eight Extra Meridians

is only one attempt out of numerous possibilities; of course, the Twelve Meridian

System is a good example. The coincidence in the numbers of the meridians and the

practice forms makes it convenient for comparison. The topic of Chinese

health-keeping regimes extends into a great extent; we could discuss the issues with

pathology, immunology, or even energy science, but interpreting the traditional

exercises with the meridian systems provides another aspect for relevant studies. We

take the initiative for creative studies and wish that better and more comprehensive

studies will become available soon, for knowing the background of any sports andexercises will help to not only enhance the effect but also prevent injuries.

http://www.kongfu.org E-mail:[email protected]

reinterpreting ba duan jing from the theories of the eight extra meridians

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