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 the aspect 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.

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 Form Two

Pulling left and pulling right, open bows aim far behind

Lifting high with Single hand, keeping gallbladder and stomach in the hand

Form Four

Looking back to the heels internal injury clears

Shaking head and moving tail rids the internal fire

Form Six

Bending down, reaching the feet makes the kidney strong and sound

Form Seven

Folding fist, looking fierce boosting energy high and up

Form Eight

Clicking heels seven times a day keeps all diseases away.

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.

Form Five

Form Three

Yang Wei

Yin Qiao

Yin Wei

Yang Qiao

Dai Mai
Chong Mai

Ren Mai

Du Mai

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

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 of such 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 the Eight 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

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. 4

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 a large 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 Liang Shi-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, all exercise 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 the exercises 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,

Major 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=34
4

http://jsqg.sport.org.cn/home/js/2004-09-18/57498.html 5

Form One

Lifting arms and turning Palms to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind Form Two

Left for liver,

right for lungs, fully strung to shoot an owl. Form Three

Single hand up east and west,

gallbladder and stomach in check

Form Four

Looking back and looking

Deng 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 again gifted to Deng Zhong-Shangs father. The names of the Ba Duan Jin forms are identical to the original copy. 6

(Southern Song Dynasty ( Encyclopedia, Channeling, ( Southern Song Dynasty ( Ming Dynasty ( ) ( ) ) ) Holding head Two hands Hands and lifting palms to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind Holding and holding up to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind stretching up to the sky Lifting upward puts Sanjiao in order

Qing Dynasty
5

Left for liver, Pulling left and pulling right, Fully strung right for lungs, fully strung to shoot an owl. Left for liver, right for lungs, fully strung to shoot an owl. open bows aim far behind and right

bows rings left

East lifting for ( ) Lifting high with Single hand, keeping gallbladder and stomach in the hand Lifting the gallbladder; East lifting for gallbladder passing all the way to the west for the stomach west holding up for the stomach like a wine glass

single-handed

Looking back and looking Looking back to Looking back and looking the heels internal injury clears across the shoulders forward, internal

Sword sweeps

forward, internal injuries disappear.

injuries disappear.

forward, internal injuries disappear.

Form Five

Pointing to the

sky head and tail, all five organs are cared.

Form Six

Swallow saliva for Qi flow, flicking hands left and right Form Seven

Sweep the tail

like an eel rid the ailments at the heart Form Eight

Quoted from

Sweep the tail like an eel, Shaking head Sweep the tail like a fish, the way to the heart goes afresh. and moving tail like an ape smooth air goes into the heart. rids the internal fire

Moving swift

Rotate waist, Clicking heels seven times a day keeps all diseases away Fierce like a bend for the feet Bending for the feet, ailments at the waist go away roaring tiger

Pointing to the Folding fist, Swerve like flying sky head and tail, five organs in check Flicking ears, looking fierce clicking teeth, 36 make the peace boosting energy high and up swallows Swallowing Reaching feet with left and right hands smoothes over ailments at the waist saliva; flicking fingers up and down The Bureau of Sports, China Liang Shi-Chang Edited (Qing

Covering ears side by side, clicking scull sound and sound Bending down, Stand proud like a horse reaching the feet makes the kidney strong and sound Shaolin Temple
8

Wundang Daoist Temple

Dynasty), Yi Jin Jing Illustrated Appendix Ba Duan Jin, author unknown

Form One

Form Two

Form Three

Form Four

Form Five

6 7 8 9

http://jsqg.sport.org.cn/home/tp/2004-10-11/57527.html http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AB%E6%AE%B5%E9%94%A6 http://www.chinashaolintemple.com/chinese/data/2005/1111/article_144.htm http://www.chinawudang.com/wdjhb/wdys_show.asp?ID=1085125464951 8

Two hands

Two hands

Two hands

Looking at the moon; reaching for the stars

holding up to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind

holding up to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind

holding up to the sky, mends Sanjiao in no time

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

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

Standing in the wind like a towering tree

gallbladder and stomach in the hand

Looking back to

Looking back to

Looking back to

the heels internal injury clears

the heels internal injury clears

the heels internal injury clears

Shaking head and moving tail rids

Shaking head and moving tail rids

Folding fist,

looking fierce

crane

Dancing in the field like a fairy

Holding tall and high, like a pillar

the internal fire

the internal fire

boosting energy high and up

reaching the sky

Form Six

Bending down,

Drilling into the ground

reaching the feet

Clicking heels

Clicking heels

makes the kidney strong and sound

seven times a day keeps all diseases away

keeps all diseases away

Form Seven

Folding fist,

Folding fist,

Lifting head and moving tail rids the internal fire

Open up the tails like a swallow

looking fierce boosting energy high and up Form Eight

looking fierce boosting energy high and up

Bending down,

Bending down, reaching the

Rolling a ball into the field

Clicking heels

reaching the feet makes the kidney strong and sound

seven times a day keeps all diseases away

knees makes the kidney strong and sound

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 the following 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.

The Study of the Eight Extra Meridians ( ) http://www.tianyabook.com/zongjiao/daojiao/020.htm 12 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). 9

11

10

Meridian

Circulatory Routes

Symptoms

Regulated Function

Du

Ren

Chong

Ailments of the Du Du Main is a Yang Main are resolved by strong spine. Main regulating the whole body; therefore, it is called the Sea of Yang Mai 1. Du mai starts from the kidneys and enters the perineum. 2. passes posterior and goes up to Guanyuan. 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.

Ren mai connects the entire Yin mai

1. Ren Mai starts from the kidney and

Ailments of Ren are mostly internal problems.

system in the body;

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.

therefore, it is called the Sea of Yin Mai.

Ailments of Chong

Mai are sudden thrush of Qi.

Chong main units the innate Qi and the

1. Chong Mai starts in the kidneys, goes

10

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

Yangqiao

Yinqiao

Regulates the meridians. 1. Dai mai is part of the leg Shaoyin point. Ailments of the Dai 2. It goes up along the yang side (outer side) to the 14 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.
th

mai are mostly water retention at the abdomen and waist.

1. Yangqiao starts from the inner side of the heels.

Ailments of Yangqiao are caused by over

This is a

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.

thrusting yang Qi and weak yin Qi.

sub-meridian of the leg Taiyang meridian, governing the left and right side the yang meridians.

1. Yinqiao starts from the middle section of the feet.

Ailments of Yangqiao are caused by over

This is a

2. It goes upward in the yin (inner) side of the thighs into the perineum, chest, throat, and then eyes.

thrusting yin Qi and weak yang Qi.

sub-meridian of the leg Shaoyin meridian, governing

11

the left and right side the yin meridians.

Yangwei 1. Yangwei starts from the leg Taiyang Ailments of yangwei are mostly chills and fever. Connects all yang 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. meridians, governing all meridians at the surface.

Yinwei 1. Yinwei starts from the leg Shaoyin Ailments of Yinwei are mainly heart problems. Yinwei connect all yin meridians, regulating all internal meridians. 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. Notes Yangwei and Yinwei flow over the body, only they are not connected into a circulatory loop.

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
12

Yangwei flows on the yang side and Yinwei at the yin side, only Yin and Yang are not connected into a circulatory system.

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 Acupuncture The Twelve Notes Meridians Points Meridians Houxi Du Hand Taiyang Connects to Small Intestine Yangqiao Meridian Lieque Hand Ren Taiyin Lung Connects to Meridian Yinqiao Gongsun Leg Chong Taiyin Spleen Connects to Meridian Yinwei Linqi Leg Dai Shaoyang Connects to Gallbladder Yangwei Meridian Shenmai Yangqiao Leg Taiyang Connects to Urinary Balder Yangqiao Meridian Zhaohai Leg Yangqiao Shaoyin Kidney Connects to Meridian Yinqiao Waiguan Yangwei Hand Shaoyang Connects to Sanjiao Meridian Yangwei Neiguan Yinwei Hand Jueyin Connects to Pericardium Yinwei Meridian

Discussion Based 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

refer to other documents for more precise interpretations. 13

13

This only a rough translation, please

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 points
15

Brief Description

Form One

Yangwei

Two hands

Starts from

holding up to the sky, Sanjiao

Zhuyang and connects all

14

15

Huang Wei-San, The Science of Acupuncture, Oct. 1989, Taipei, Zheng Zhong Publishing, P, 154 1989.10 P.154). Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 28-29 ( 1987.11 P28 29). 14

Eyes, back of years, cheeks, neck, and shoulders.

enter into the mind

meridians

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 Yinqiao

Pulling left and pulling right, open bows aim far behind

Starts from the

middle section of

the heels, goes up along the inner

angles, up to the

throat, and crosses the Chong Mai

Form Three

Yinwei

Lifting high with Single

Starts from the

converging point of all yin

hand, keeping
16

Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 28 1987.11 P28).

17

Lungs, throat, and diaphragm.

According to the

documentations, this form 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.

Stomach, heart, and chest

15

The Waiguan

point connects to the Yangwei16 meridian.

17

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. Form Four Yangqiao

Looking back to the heels internal injury clears

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

16

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 Dai Mai

Shaking head

and moving tail rids the internal fire

19

~ Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 230 ( 1987.11 P230). 20 Yang Hong-Ren, The Methods of Acupuncture edited, Nov. 1987, Tainan, Shi-Yi Publishing, p, 31 ( 1987.11 P31). 17

Wu Guo-Ding, Anatomical Physiology, May 1989, Taipei, National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, p, 129 ( 1989.5 p129).

18

19

Starts from Jixie

and circulate the body

cross-section-wise.

Eyes, back of years, cheeks, neck, and shoulders.

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

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 Chong Mai

Bending down, reaching the feet makes the kidney strong and sound

Form Seven

Ren Mai

Folding fist,

looking fierce

boosting energy
21

Starts from Inching and moves along the Leg Yangming Meridian; it moves up to the naval and disperse in the chest. Stomach, heart, and chest Acupuncture points connected by the Chong Mai are similar 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. 18

Lungs, throat, and diaphragm

high and up

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 Du Mai

Clicking heels seven times a day keeps all diseases away

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

19

Starts from the kidney to the perineum into the abdomen, up to Guanyuan, into the throat, along the cheeks, and into the eyes.

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 and exercises will help to not only enhance the effect but also prevent injuries. http:// www.kongfu.org E-mail:kongfu@tomor.com

20