http://spirithealers.blogspot.sg/2013/08/8-exercises-for-fitness-healing-and.html
...................................................................................................................................................................I found this great article on Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Research by Michael P. Garofalo
The Eight Pieces of Beautiful Silk Brocade Chi Kung (Ba Duan Jin Qigong) is a very popular Chi Kung Form. Chi Kung (Dao-yin, Yang Sheng Gong, Qigong) are Various Ancient Chinese Exercise and Fitness Practices.
八段锦气功
Introduction
The use of calisthenics, stretching, and breathing exercises to maintain good health, fight disease, and enhance the quality of life is of great antiquity. This type of physical activity has a long documented history in both India and China.
Interesting theories abound about the origin and development of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung. It is likely that ancient dances, medical theory, military drills and exercises, shamanistic rituals, and Buddhist and Taoist practices were all sources for the specific and formal movement routines of Dao-yin or Chi Kung (Qigong).
Literature that talks about such health and fitness exercise postures or routines, with some movements quite similar to movements in the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung, goes back nearly 2,500 years.
"All Chi Kung exercises are intended to improve health, increase energy, revitalize the body and mind, prevent or control disease, tone the internal organs, improve balance, reduce stress, boost the immune system, remove toxins, tone the muscles and tendons, uplift mood, contribute to longevity, and provide an integrated mind-body practice leading towards enlightenment and harmony with the Tao. Take some confidence in this promise, "Every person who uses Qi cultivation methods consistently experiences some form of health improvement and personal access to greater energy and power"
- Roger Jahnke, OMD, The Healing Promise of Qi, 2002, p. 31.
Learning the Eight Section Brocade
I enjoy doing the movements of the Eight Section Brocade at a moderate pace, doing up to 8 repetitions of each movement, and using the breathing patterns and the order of the movements as presented below. I tend to do the set in a relaxed and easy manner, and primarily for loosening and stretching. Occasionally, I do the Eight Treasures very slowly, with emphasis placed on breathing, energy movement and gathering, and for meditation. What is most important is doing the entire set once each day, and using a pace that is suitable to your current level of physical conditioning.
Move with intention. Imagine willing a movement and executing the movement precisely. Imagine gently and carefully moving an infant. Imagine driving a motorcycle in bad road conditions as if your life depended on every movement you make. Use whatever imagery or mind-set you need to concentrate on the exercise movements. Be focused!! Pay full attention to the movements while moving, knowing exactly where and how to move, and where and when to stop on a dime.
In traditional Taoist practices, the teachers speak about the need to do this exercise routine for a minimum of 100 days before any benefits become noticeable, and before you decide to stop doing the exercise. The cultivation of the "Dan Tien" or "Field of Elixir", like the cultivation of any garden or field, requires work (Kung) over an extended period of time before the crop grows to harvest size. The long term cultivation of the "Field of Elixir" or "Orchard of Elixir" demands that we continue these qigong exercises for many years to assure longevity and to aim towards attaining the special powers of a chen-jenor "realized being." The ancients Taoists said,
"Only after a hundred days of concentrated work is the light real;
Only then is it the fire of spirit.
To set up the Foundation requires a hundred days."
- The Secret of the Golden Flower, Translated by Thomas Cleary, p. 17, 49.
Most people will enjoy and benefit greatly from doing the Eight Section Brocade in a relaxed (Sung) manner. The use of intense muscular contractions, excessive stretching, or aggressive movements are counterproductive.
Relax, breathe naturally and fully, move slowly, sink into the earth, become like freely moving water, be soft, be gentle. Don't be attached to your ordinary mind of free associations, worries, and concerns - observe them and then release them into the past. Free your mind of mundane concerns and cultivate calmness, inner peace, and not thinking. Allow yourself to feel your body and take pleasure from it during the movements. Be present in the here and now.
There are many books, manuals and videos that are available to help you to learn the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung. I have provided below a detailed bibliography including references to books, DVDs, links, resources, authorities, etc.
Millions of people practice Ba Duan Jin Qigong and could teach you to do the form in less than an hour. I have also tried to provide you with some instructions for learning the form, as well as related background information. For each movement I give the variations of the movement, alternative names, health benefits, and general comments.
In this post I am only going to go over the starting position and the first movement. There is just too much information to be included in one post.
"Breathing in and out in various manners, spitting out the old and taking in the new, walking like a
bear and stretching their neck like a bird to achieve longevity - this is what such practitioners of
Dao-yin, cultivators of the body and all those searching for long life like Ancestor Peng, enjoy."
Chuang-tzu, Chapter 15, circa 300 BCE.
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Starting and Resting Position, Wuji
1. Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands
2. Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly
3. Separating Heaven and Earth
4. Wise Owl Gazes Backward
5. Big Bear Turns from Side to Side
6. Punching with an Angry Gaze
7. Touching the Toes then Bending Backwards
8. Shaking the Body
Ending Practice Options: Self Massage, Wuji, Standing Meditation, Magic Pearl Qigong, Dragon Qigong, Taijiquan
"Both hands carry heaven to regulate the triple burner.
Draw the bow left and right as if to shoot a vulture.
Regulate spleen and stomach by lifting one hand.
Remedy the 5 symptoms and 7 disorders by looking backward.
Turn the head and swing the tail to eliminate heart-fire.
Clench fists and look angry to increase qi and strength.
Two hands grab the feet to strengthen kidneys and waist.
Jolt the back 7 times and hundred illnesses will disappear."
- Translated by Hielke Hylkema
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Starting and Resting Position while Standing: Wu Ji
Stand up straight.
Your feet should be close together - touching each other. This aids in the improvement of balance; however, a stance with the feet 7"-15" apart may be more productive and efficient for many persons.
The toes should be pointed straight ahead.
Both feet should be flat on the floor.
The weight should be equal on both feet.
Don't lean to one side or the other.
Relax your body.
Stay balanced and centered.
Clear you mind and set aside the work and worries of the day.
Your face should seem happy, joyful, reflecting an "Inner Smile".
Smile! Refer to Mantak Chia's comments on the "Inner Smile."
Keep your head up and look forward.
Your eyes should be open, with a soft and wide angle focus.
Breathe in and out in a relaxed, easy, and regular manner.
Keep your lips parted slightly.
Your arms should hang down in a relaxed manner at your sides.
The palms of your hands should face your thighs.
Relax the shoulders and let them hang down.
Some recommend that you keep the tip of your tongue lightly touching the roof of your mouth.
This posture is often called the "Wu Ji Posture" in Taijiquan.
Students should note that the Wuji posture is very similar to the Yoga posture of Tadasana - the Mountain Pose. It is also called the Samasthiti pose in Hatha Yoga. We should stand like a Mountain: strong, stable, unmoving, grand, still, aloof, above the mundane, powerful, accepting but unbroken by the storms of ideas, emotions and worries. The arms are held out from the body by 8"-10" in Tadasana. Reference: Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar, 1977, p.61-62.
The very best book on the power of Wuji qigong is by Jan Diepersloot: Warriors of Stillness: Meditative Traditions in the Chinese Martial Arts. Also refer to Jan Diepersloot's Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts.
Simply standing can have great benefit to body and mind.
After completing each of the eight movements in the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung, then use Wu Ji as the transition:
Return you left foot back into the Wu Ji position to rest and realign the body-mind.
Wu Ji signals the end of one movement and the beginning of the next movement.
Wu Ji is called "Mountain Pose" Tadasana in Hatha Yoga.
Bring your feet closer together or have heels touching.
Keep the knees slightly bent.
Enjoy some cleansing breaths. Opening/Closing.
Stand up straight and tall. Lift the head. Tuck the chin inward a little.
Loosen Up, Soften, Merge and Relax.
Feel yourself sinking and rooting into the Earth.
Free up the mind, reduce thinking, forget, become outside more.
Wu Ji is the fertile nothingness that precedes Yin and Yang, an empty and free state of being conscious, the still place before movement, the Zhong Ding of the Tao, a stop-rest-pause stop, an orgasm of the Chaos of Emptiness at the Big Bang, a transition point in the exercise routine, etc.
"When you see excellence, you should try to surpass it.
When you see the opposite, examine yourself."
- Lao Tzu
1. Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands
Starting Position: Wu Ji
Movement Name: Pressing the Sky with Two Hands, Lifting the Heavens with Two Hands, Holding Up the Sky
Step out with your left leg into a comfortable and wide horse stance.
The toes should point at about 45 degrees to the outside.
Lift your arms up to your shoulders, palms down. Inhale.
Your palms should be up, with your fingers slightly apart.
Draw the arms down in front of the body as you squat down and bend your back. Exhale.
Bring both hands together, palms facing up.
Imagine energy from your body intermingling with energies from the Earth through the Yong Quan (Bubbling or Gushing Well) acupressure and acupuncture point on the front center of your feet. Yong Quan is an endpoint on the Kidney meridian.
Imagine scooping up some water from a lake or the ocean.
Draw both hands, palms up, up the center line of the body as you rise up out of the squat and straighten the upper body.
Inhale as you draw the arms up to your face. When moving up imagine your internal energy (Chi) moving up from your waist, up your spine, and into your head.
Imagine the energy of the air, sky and the Heavens filling your lungs and whole being.
The fingers of each hand should point to each other, and be kept about 2 to 4 inches apart.
When your hands reach your face, turn the palms to face outward.
Raise both hands up until you reach your forehead.
Press your arms upward and outwards in front or your body. Exhale.
The arms should press out at a 20 to 45 degree angle from the body, do not press the arms straight up.
Keep your wrists bent so your fingers point to each other.
Keep your fingers 2 to 4 inches apart.
Gently stretch the whole body upward as the arms press upward.
Rise your heels up slightly as your hands reach their maximum height.
Keep your head looking forward as your arms move up, keep a wide angle focus to your eyes, and follow your hands with your eyes.
Imagine energy from your body intermingling with energy from the Heavens through the Lao Gong (Palace of Labor) acupressure and acupuncture point on the center of your palms. Lao Gong is connected with the Heart and is a pericardium meridian endpoint.
Stretch your arms up to the limit of your comfort zone, then begin the downward cycle of the movement.
Turn the palms outward and down as you circle both arms out and down.
Continue to slowly exhale as your arms move down.
Return your feet to a flat footed position.
Gently tighten your abdomen as your exhale.
When moving your hands down imagine moving energy from the Heavens and from your head and lungs down the front of your body into your waist area - into the center of your being in your Dan Tien or Field of Elixir (about three inches below and behind your navel).
Keep your head looking forward as your arms move down, keep a wide angle focus to your eyes, and follow your hands with your eyes. Keep both hands in your field of vision as your hands move down.
Begin to squat and bend forward as the arms reach the legs in their downward arc.
Draw the arms down in front of the body as you squat down and bend your back. Exhale.
Bring both hands together, palms facing up.
Imagine scooping up some water from a lake or the ocean.
Draw both hands, palms up, up the center line of the body as you rise up out of the squat and straighten the upper body.
Inhale as you draw the arms up to your face.
Generally, inhale when moving up, exhale when moving down. Make adjustments in your breathing as needed.
Repeat "Pressing the Sky" 2, 3, 6, 9, or 12 times. Whatever number of repetitions are chosen for the first exercise should be duplicated in each of the other exercises. I prefer 6 repetitions with a count of four to six seconds on the inhale, and a count of four to six seconds on the exhale.
Return you left foot back into the Wu Ji position to rest and realign the body-mind.
Wu Ji signals the end of one movement and the beginning of the next movement.
Bring your feet closer together or have heels touching.
Keep the knees slightly bent.
Enjoy some cleansing breaths. Opening/Closing.
Stand up straight and tall. Lift the head. Tuck the chin inward a little.
Loosen Up, Soften, Merge and Relax.
Feel yourself sinking and rooting into the Earth.
Free up the mind, reduce thinking, forget, become outside more.
Wu Ji is the fertile nothingness that precedes Yin and Yang, an empty and free state of being conscious, the still place before movement, the Zhong Ding of the Tao, a stop-rest-pause stop, an orgasm of the Chaos of Emptiness at the Big Bang, a transition point in the exercise routine, etc.
Breathe naturally a few times. These are often called "cleansing breaths." Sometimes the arms are raised up in front of the body to about chest height while breathing in through the nose, and then the arms are lowered to the sides as one exhales through the mouth. Use as many "cleansing breaths" as needed to help you relax, lower your heartbeat, and compose yourself. Another transitional movement could be the Opening Hands and Closing Hands (He Shou, Kai Shou) movement of the Sun 73 Form.
Again, this neutral, standing position is often referred to as Wu Ji - the place before movement, an empty and free state of being, the fertile nothingness that precedes Yin and Yang. Some Chi Kung enthusiasts stand in this position for many minutes, doing nothing, bothering nobody, not interfering, minding their own business (wu wei).
Variations of the 1st Movement (Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands) The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
a) This is the most common version of Pressing Up Heaven with Two Hands that I have seen, done, or read about.
Don't squat. Keep the knees slightly bent.
Remain standing up straight during the whole movement.
Bring the hands to the Dan Tien (waist area) with your palms facing up.
Draw both hands up the center line of the body, palms up.
Inhale while drawing the hands up.
When the hands reach the face area, turn both palms and face the palms outward and slightly upward.
The thumbs can touch the forehead.
Begin to exhale.
Press both arms up from the forehead, keeping the wrists flexed and the palms facing out.
Press up the arms has high as you can.
Raise the heels slightly.
Stretch upward.
Also called "Supporting Heaven" or "Holding up the Void."
When you reach the maximum upward press, then release the arms.
Allow the arms to trace a graceful arc downward.
Exhale completely on the way down and begin to inhale.
As the arms come down, the palms face down.
When the hands reach the waist area, then bring the hands back to the center line, palms facing up.
Breathe in when lifting arms up, breath out when pressing upward.
Some teachers have you interlace your fingers as you move your hands from the forehead upwards.
Demonstration by Mike Garofalo of Movement #1: Pressing Heaven with Two Hands (2005, 175Kb, Animated GIF)
b) My version involves some squatting as the arms come down to scoop up water. I think that the squats or deep horse stances of Drawing the Bow (2), Punching with Angry Eyes (6), and Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands (1) give the body a more challenging workout. Most teachers of Movement 1 of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung do not squat. Their movement concentrates on the shoulders, arms, upper back, and chest muscles. I prefer a little more leg work in my version.
I would like the title for this Movement 1 to be "Scoop Up the Sea and Carry to the Top of the Mountain" or "Scoop Up the River Water and Present It to the Heavens." Earth low, Heavens high, Water both low and high. I liked Maoshing Ni's (R12) titles of "Water and Fire Meet, Bringing the Sea to the Top of the Mountain."
c) Don't Squat.
Remain standing up straight during the whole movement.
Use Reverse Breathing (Taoist or Reverse breathing).
Breathe out when your arms are pressed upward/outward, breath in when your arms return down.
When breathing in gently tighten your abdomen and expand your chest.
When breathing out expand your abdomen and sink the chest.
Do the movements very slowly when you begin Reverse Breathing techniques.
Note: It is best to begin with Regular breathing (Buddhist style): relax and expand your abdomen as you inhale and slightly compress/tighten the abdomen as you exhale. Breathe into your belly. Don't expand the chest very much.)
d) The arm movements of this exercise can be done while seated or while walking.
e) Some emphasize lifting the elbows up, with the hands, so to speak, being just along for the ride. This style lifts the scapula and shoulders up for a stretch, and flexes the trapezes muscles more. I recommend keeping the shoulders down in Movement #1.
f) Some begin the movements by stepping out with the right leg instead of the left leg. Having a Yang style taijiquan background, I generally open with the left leg stepping to the right. Feet are parallel, toes facing forward.
g) You can practice the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung indoors alone or with a small group. Select a quiet room or space in your home. Taoist and Druid artwork indoors is enhancing. Silence is cultivated during your practice. However, sometimes, you might try doing Chi Kung to some soft, NewAgey, melodic, ethereal music.
h) Doing Chi Kung outdoors in the early morning, when it is not windy or bitter cold, is always recommended by Chi Kung teachers and masters. I enjoy doing the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung on my screened back porch.
i) You can raise your heels and balance on your toes when you push both arms up to the sky.
j) Do only two repetitions in a very slow and deliberate manner with little muscular effort. Keep your feet flat on the floor at all times during the movement.
Health Benefits of Movement 1: Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands) The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Deep soft breathing helps to lower your heartbeat and blood pressure.
Stretching helps contribute to the relaxation of stiff and tense muscles.
Standing up straight helps realign the back muscles and the spine.
Many Chinese healers believe that this exercise helps regulate and improve the heart, lungs, stomach, spleen, and liver. It stimulates the internal organs in the upper trunk area. The Triple Warmer or Triple Burner (Sanjiao) refers to the heart, lungs, and stomach.
A clear and peaceful mind reduces negative stress on the body.
Shoulders, pectorals and triceps are exercised a little in this exercise.
Bending the knees exercises the front thighs.
Squatting down exercises the leg muscles including the thighs (quadriceps), hamstrings (biceps femoris), buttocks (glutes), calves (gastrocnemius), iliopsoas, and increases demands on the cardio-vascular system.
Disclaimer
Sat Chuen Hon, in his book Taoist Qigong, includes a movement sequence very similar to "Press Heaven with Two Hands" and using the healing sound "Hey", and considers these actions to be of great benefit to the health of the Triple Heater.
Ba Duan Jin Exercise Set 1 Instructions, illustrations, video. "Support the heaven with both hands regulate the three visceral cavities housing the internal organs (san jiao)."
It should be noted that traditional Chinese medicine does not ascribe to the same views on anatomy, physiology, or causation that are used in contemporary scientific bio-medical theories. The "Spleen Organ" or "Heart Organ" in Chinese medicine have functions and attributes of a different nature than we might understand the heart or spleen in contemporary medicine. For an excellent explanation of these concepts please read the bookThe Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, by Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D..
Comments about Movement 1 (Pressing Up the Heavens with Two Hands)
The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Observations, Notes, Quotations, Reflections, Questions and Answers
"In order for this to have any beneficial effect on your health, approaching it with confidence, sincerity, and perseverance in practicing the exercises is very important. Only with confidence can you develop sincerity and focus your mind while exercising; only with sincerity can you persevere to practice and gain the essence of the exercises; and only with perseverance can you get the beneficial effects of the exercises and develop more interest in them."
By Jiawen Miao, Eight Section Brocade Simple Fitness Exercises: Traditional Chinese Movements for Health & Rejuvenation.
Each movement of the Eight Section Brocade has specific techniques for using your eyes. Exercise your eyes in accordance with the instructions, e.g., following the movements of your hands, looking off into the distance, looking upward, keeping a wide angle focus of vision, etc. In some ways, these exercises are similar in style to those developed by optometrists and vision improvement advocates such as William H. Bates, Jacob Liberman, Martin Sussman, or Aldos Huxley. Learning to use your eyes in new ways and exercising your eye muscles are thought to be of benefit to your general well-being. Chi Kung and internal martial arts are seen as intertwined; and acute, careful, alert and lively visual skills are essential to self-defense and success
as a martial artist. Your safety is dependent upon seeing what is going on around you, keeping your eyes out for trouble, keeping your eyes peeled, and seeing what is coming up. Do not neglect this important dimension of the Eight Treasures. More
Most Qigong and Taijiquan routines emphasize "Respecting the Curves of the Body." Your neck, back, legs, and arms are all naturally curved or bent in a particular direction. It is always best for any posture in Qigong or Taijiquan to respect the natural curves. Legs should be slightly bent; don't lock your knees. Arms should be slightly bent; don't lock your elbows. You should not move in ways that bend or curve the body away from or counter to their natural curve or bend. To do so is to risk hyperextension, dislocation, and painful injuries to your muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, joints, or bones. Whipping you neck backwards or twisting your back backwards are extremely dangerous. Highly conditioned athletes (e.g., dancers, gymnasts, acrobats, jumpers, divers, contortionists, etc.) might be able to push the limits; but, ordinary folks, sensible people, need to be very careful and use restraint when doing some qigong exercise movements and postures. Many fitness instructors remind their students to "mainatin a neutral spine" to avoid injury. This general caution applies to all the postures of the Eight Section Brocade, and especially to some of the movements such asTouching the Toes and Bending Backwards.
Generally, we begin a movement by lifting our left foot and moving it to the left. We inhale as we lift the foot and exhale when the foot settles down into the floor. Many taijiquan forms also begin with a step to the left.
Every beginner should stay within their comfort zone, don't over stretch, and be gentle with your body and mind. Don't try to "exactly" imitate a fellow student who is an intermediate or advanced Chi Kung player or the teacher. Know and respect your own body and mental state. Don't go beyond your own personal bodily conditioning, skills, abilities and limits. Some advise reducing your exertion levels and doing 30% to 40% less than you can do. Be reasonable and kind to yourself. Take your time, advance slowly, be careful, be patient, and remain injury free. Sometimes, an old or new injury, or joint disease, will limit your range of motion. Know your own strength and limitations - the practice of Chi Kung andTai Chi forms will reveal to you your strengths and limitations. Resolve to make two positive contributions today. Stay within your comfort zone, explore with the body-mind, and renew-recreate both self-awareness and awareness of Self, and come to experience your comfort zone. Float on the Wu-wei raft on the Tao River; when standing on Earth then root, soften,move.
The late Jane Hallander calls this movement "Holding the Moon (Peng Yue)" and describes and explains the purpose of the movement in "Tai Chi Chuan's Internal Secrets" (pp.16-17).
This movement is called "Hold the Moon and Reach for the Sun" and is described and illustrated in the book "Secrets of the Dragon Gate" (2011, pp. 36-39) by Steven Liu and Johathan Blank. As you rise up from the squat your arms are positioned as if embracing or holding a large beach ball, i.e., the moon.
The word "Heavens' (tian) has a number of meanings, including the abode of our ancestors, the cosmos, the universe of which we are part, a source of energy, and the skies above. In part, the ideas of our civilization and our language do "hold up" that which we know about the "Heavens" and our ideas of the world beyond; and, in part, these realms are beyond our comprehension - beyond our grasp and holding power.
In many ways this is just the delightful, restful, and natural movement of raising the arms and stretching upwards. Some would say "nothing special" with a wink in their eye. This is good!
Bibliography, Resources and Links
The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
八段锦气功
A Note to Readers: The Cloud Hands webpages have been online continuously since 2001. In 2009, over 1,350,000 webpages (excluding graphics) were served to readers around the world from theegreenway.com websites: Cloud Hands T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Valley Spirit Chi Kung, Walking, Taoism, Yoga, etc. Since 2005, I have also provided information about Taijiquan, Qigong, Walking, Gardening, Mysticism, and the Eight Ways at my Cloud Hands Blog. Since the these mind-body arts websites are very well-established and stable websites, they provide readers with a good and secure starting point for their online research into Chi Kung, Taijiquan, Walking, Meditation, and the Daoist-Druid matrix. The Cloud Hands websites are funded entirely by Green Way Research, with volunteer efforts by Michael P. Garofalo.
Unfortunately, as everyone knows, many other websites and webpages, documents, and videos appear and then disappear from the Internet scene. Authors do not pay to keep up their web hosting services, loose a "free hosting" option, change filenames, recode away from HTML, or decide to remove the webpages for various reasons. Consequently, links to some good webpages or videos become invalid and the files are no longer found on the Internet. You may find a some of these "dead links" to nonexistent webpages or videos cited below; and, there is no way to avoid this troublesome situation. For this reason, when you do find a good and useful webpage, be sure to save the webpage to a folder on your hard drive or server.
I welcome your suggestions for how to improve this webpage. Your comments, ideas, contributions, and constructive criticism are encouraged. Send your suggestions to my email box.
Acht Delen Brokaat (Qi Gong: Acht Kostbare Schatten) German language webpage. 15Kb.
Alphabetical Index to Cloud Hands Website
Aligned, Relaxed, Resilient: The Physical Foundations of Mindfulness. By Will Johnson. Boston, Shambhala, 2000. 137 pages. ISBN: 1570625182. MGC.
Alphabetical Index to Cloud Hands Website
Alternative and Complementary Medicine: A Focus on Qigong. A Master's Thesis by Shannon Larry Sumrall.
The American Yoga Association Beginner's Manual. By Alice Christensen. New York, A Fireside Book, Simon and Schuster, 1987. Glossary, index, bibliography, 203 pages. Spiral bound. ISBN:0671619357. Chapter 2, "Getting Ready to Exercise: The Yoga Warm-Up," pp. 19-34, has many similarities with the Eight Section Brocade.
Anatomy of Hatha Yoga: A Manual for Students, Teachers and Practitioners. By H. David Coulter. Foreword by Timothy McCall. Honesdale, Pennsylvania, Body and Breath, 2001. Index, bibliography, appendices, 623 pages. ISBN: 0970700601. 2002 winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award for Health, Wellness and Nutrition.
Anatomy of Movement. By Blandine Calais-Germain. Seattle, Washington, Eastland Press, 1985, 1993. Translated from the French by Nicole Commarmond. Index, 289 pages. ISBN: 0939616173.
Ancient Way to Keep Fit. Compiled by Zong Wu and Li Mao. Translated by Song Luzeng, Liu Beijian, and Liu Zhenkai. Paintings by Zhang Ke Ren. Foreword by Kumar Frantzis. Bolinas, California, Shelter Publications, 1992. 211 pages, glossary. ISBN: 0679417893. Outstanding illustrations by Zhang Ke Ren. MGC. The notes and illustrations for the "Brocade" Exercise in Eight Forms (pp. 110-132) were take from Dao Shu complied during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 CE).
Animal Frolics, Wu Qin Xi, Daoyin (Chi Kung, Qigong): Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links, History. By Mike Garofalo. Animal Frolics: Crane, Bear, Tiger, Monkey, and Deer.
Arthritis Therapy - Exercise - Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong Bibliography, links, notes, quotes, and references to medical studies. 25Kb.
The Art of Chi Kung: Ba Duan Jin. By Sifu Wong Kiew Kit. 25Kb.
The Art of Chi Kung: 18 Lohan Hands. By Sifu Wong Kiew Kit. 30Kb.
Authentic Shaolin Heritage: Training Methods of 72 Arts of Shaolin. By Jin Jing Zhong and Andrew Timofeevich. Lulu, 2006. 280 pages. Originally published in 1934. ISBN: 184728406X.
Ba Duan Jin: Amzaon Books Search
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Ba Duan Jin By Mike Symonds. Includes some good advice and cautions. 23Kb.
Ba Duan Gin. By Andreas W. Friedrich. Kirchheim Peter, 1994. 77 pages. ISBN: 3874100618.
Ba Duan Jin Features a videoclip of Professor Craig Turner performing this exercise. From his Wu style Tai Chi website.
Ba Duan Jin By Howard Reid. 35K Instructions and illustrations.
Ba Duan Jin Videotape by Andy Susanto und Lilo Ambach. In German.
Baduanjin Includes illustrations of the eight postures. Brief descriptions. 64Kb.
Baduanjin. By Howard Choy. 60Kb. Detailed instructions and photographs.
Baduanjin 24Kb.
Ba Duan Jin and Shi Er Duan Jin 28Kb. In German.
Baduanjin " Brocade" Exercises in Eight Forms The Eight Treasures or Eight Sections (Baduan) Brocade (jin). Seated and standing forms are explained and illustrated. 17K.
Ba Duan Jin: Eight-Section Qigong Exercises Compiled by the Chinese Health Qigong Association. Beijing, China, Foreign Languages Press, 2007. 158 pages, charts, and instructional DVD included. ISBN: 9787119047812. VSCL.
Ba Duan Jin Chi Kung - Google Search
Ba Duan Jin Chi Kung - UTube Search
Ba Duan Jin: Chinesische Heilgymnastik. Instructional videotape in German.
Ba Duan Gin - Die Acht Brokate. Instructional videotape in German.
Ba Duan Jin: Eight Section Brocade. Instructional videotape featuring Master Tang Lai Wei. Qi Productions.
Ba Duan Jin: Eight Section Qigong Exercises. Chinese Health Qigong Association. Singing Dragon, 2008. 60 pages. ISBN: 1848190050.
Ba Duan Jin - Eight Strands of the Brocade 35Kb.
Ba Duan Jing - Eight Section Brocade. Instructional videotape by Sifu Michael Gilman. 60 minutes, VHS.
Ba Duan Jin Exercises - Google Search
Ba Duan Gin (Hachi Dan Kin) Les huit exercices del la soie. Phillipe Munn. Instructions in French and photographs.
Ba Duan Jin: Les Huit Pieces de Brocart. Explanation in French. 27Kb.
Ba Duan Jin Music. Martial arts music for Physical Fitness. 38 Minutes, CD. Produced by Wang, Xu-Dong.
Ba Duan Jin or Eight Piece Brocade. By Jim Dees. 12K. Experiences
Ba Duan Jin or Eight Section Brocade Qigong By Michael P. Garofalo. 370Kb+. Includes detailed descriptions of each of the eight movements, extensive comments, noted variations, comprehensive bibliography and links, history of this popular qigong form, many quotations, and numerous charts.
Ba Duan Jin Qigong Exercises. The Chi Kung Warm Up Exercises. Mike Jacques. Brief descriptions. 14Kb.
Ba Duan Jin Qigong. Instructional videotape by Dr. Ji Liang Chen.
Ba Duan Jin - Shaolin (Gli Otto Broccati) In Italian. 76Kb.
Ba Duan Jin: The Octupled Brocade. By Dinghai Yu. Instructional DVD. Beauty Culture Communication, 2005. ASIN: B000S9JZHW.
Ba Duan Jin Qigong (Eight Section Brocade). Instruction DVD by Brad Wagland.
Ba Duan Jin Qigong: The Standardized Form of The Eight Strands of Silk Brocade. By Mike Symonds. Five Elements Publications. ISBN: 0954293215. Eight Strands of Silk Brocade Ch'i Kung (Qigong). "Professor Mike Symonds discovered that there are more than thirteen variations of this wonderful and gentle exercise set. Nowadays safety is paramount and some variations were far less than safe for beginners. Over several years, Professor Symonds gathered and analyzed information and came up with the 'Standardized Form' of Pa Tuan Chin."
Baduanjin Qigong - Wikipedia Article
Ba Gua Zhang ( Pa Kua Chang): Bibliography, links, resources, quotes, and notes. Circle walking internal martial arts. By Michael P. Garofalo. 100Kb+.
Beat Stress with the Eight Treasures. By Faye Yip. 45 minute instructional videotape.
Beijing Short Form, Simplified Standard 24 Movements, Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Style. By Michael P. Garofalo. List of the movements (.html and .pdf), links, instructions, lists of movements in four languages, bibliography, quotations, and notes.
Big Bear Turns from Side to Side. Movement #5 in the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung.
Blog - The Cloud Hands Blog: Taijiquan and Qigong
The Bodhisattva Warriors. The Origin, Inner Philosophy, History and Symbolism of the Buddhist Martial Art within India and China. By Shifu Nagaboshi Tomio (Terence Dukes). Boston, MA, Weiser Books, 1994. Index, bibliography, extensive notes, 527 pages. ISBN: 0877287856. VSCLC.
"Born to Move: Qigong." By Linda Shelton. Eight Section Brocade. Natural Health, June, 2004, pp. 40-44. Photographs.
Bouncing on the Toes (Shaking the Body). Movement #8 of the Eight Section Chi Kung.
Breathing Practices: Qigong, Taijiquan and Yoga (Pranayama)
A Brief Introduction to Ba Daun Jin. "Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians" by Lee Chang-Chih May 10th 2005.
Brocades - Artwork, banners, scrolls, mats.
El Brocado de las Trece Posiciones del Qigong. Por Alberto Navarrete López Presidente de la Sociedad Estatal de Taichi "Himpo" A.C. 223 Kb.
Cane, Zhang, Short Staff, Gun Weapons and Exercise Methods
Chen Style Taijiquan
Chi Kung and Other Alternative Medicine Options Index. 2K
Chi Kung: The Chinese Art of Mastering Energy. By Yves Requena. Healing Art Press, 1996. 120 pages. ISBN: 0892816392. Includes instructions for Eight Section Brocade.
Chinese Kung Fu 5K
Chinese Healing Arts: Internal Kung Fu. Edited by William R. Berk. Burbank, CA, Unique Publications. 209 pages. ISBN: 0865680833. VSCL. Includes numerous translations of classic works.
Chinese Healing Exercises: The Tradition of Daoyin. By Livia Kohn. University of Hawaii Press, 2008. 268 pages. ISBN: 0824832698. History of Daoist health practices. The Eight Brocades are discussed on pages 180-195.
Chinese Qigong: Eight Section Brocade. Ba Duan Jin Gong Fa, Eight Section Brocade Exercise, 2 VCDs, Mandarin Chinese instruction; Beijing Youth Audio-Visual Publishing House; ISBN 788304060X.
Chinese Qigong: Eight Section Brocade VCD
Chinese Qigong. By Guo Yui. A Practical English-Chinese Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Publishing House of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1990.
Ch'i - The Power Within. Chi Kung Breathing Exercises for Health, Relaxation and Energy. By Geoff Pike and Phyllis Pike. Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1996. 272 pages. ISBN: 0804830991. Section Six, pp. 122-146, on "Pa Tuan Tsin - Eight Precious Sets of Exercises." VSCLC.
Chi Tao, Ba Duan Jin Photographs and French descriptions. 14Kb.
Cloud Hands Blog: Taijiquan and Qigong
Cloud Hands - Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung. By Michael P. Garofalo. 1.5MB+.
The Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing. By Daniel Reid. Random House, 1994. 484 pages. ISBN: 0877739293. Includes a detailed explanation of the Eight Section Brocade. VSCL.
The Complete Eight Strands of Silk Brocade. Instructional videotape by Colin Orr. Produced by Andy Trohear.
The Complete Guide to Chi-Gung: Harnessing the Power of the Universe. By Daniel Reid. Illustrations by Dexter Chou. Boston, Shambhala, 1998. Appendix, index, 326 pages. ISBN: 1570625433. VSCL.
Comments and Praise for this Webpage
Crane Frolic of the Five Animal Frolics
Cross-Training for Dummies. By Tony Ryan and Martica K. Heaner. Foster City, California, IDB Books, 2000. Index, appendices, 350 pages. ISBN: 0764552376. Notes. VSCLC.
Cultivating the Chi: The Secrets of Energy and Vitality. Compiled and translated by Stuart Alve Olson. Revised and expanded third edition. Chen Kung Series, Volume One. St. Paul, Minnesota, Dragon Door Publications, 1993. Index, 166 pages. ISBN: 0938045113. VSCL.
Cure the 100 Diseases (Shaking the Body). Movement #8 of the Eight Section Chi Kung.
Da Duan Jin, Eight Sections Brocade Blog by Jiawen Miao In Chinese.
Dao De Jing by Laozi
Daoism: Ripening Peaches Taoist Studies and Practices
Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change By Damo Mitchell. Singing Dragon, 2011. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-1848190658.
Dao-yin = Qigong, Chi Kung, Shiu Liao, Nei Gong, Daoist Exercises, Yangsheng or Nourishing Life practices.
Diabetes Therapy - Exercise: Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong. Links, bibliography, quotes, notes.
Discovering Chi. A three part videotape series by Linda Modaro teaches the Eight Treasures.
Dao De Jing, Laozi. Prepared by the Librarian of Gushen Grove.
DaMo Qigong and Wudang KungFu
Dao House: Of Discourses and Dreams "A compendium of links to great online Daoist (Taoist) resources." An excellent selection of fine links with informative and fair annotations; all presented in an attractive and easy to read format. The in-depth and creative collection of links are arranged by 18 topics.
Daoist Perspectives: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes. By Mike Garofalo.
Daoist Quotations
Daoyin and Tuna Brief Explanation
Dragon Chi Kung
Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi. By Paul B. Gallagher. Guilford, VT, Deer Mountain Taoist Academy, 1988. Reading lists, lists, 128 pages. VSCLC. No ISBN given.
Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly Movement #2 of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung. Archer Draws his Bow, Taking Aim. Works shoulders, back, arms, and thighs.
Eight Animals Chi Kung
The 8 Brocade Descriptions for seated and standing forms with drawings. 58Kb.
Eight Brocades Resources.
Eight Brocades Seated Chi-Kung (Ba Duan Chin). Translated and compiled by Stuart Olive Olson.
Eight Pieces of Brocade (8 Pezzi di Broccato) In Italian
8 Pieces of Brocade. Instructional DVD by Professor Lu Shi Cai. "Elegant and slow but with no loss of content, Dr. Lu demonstrates this version of Qigong. Judging by certain key postures, he has taken the Shaolin style as the basis. This standing Ba Duan Jin is slower and less forceful than its predecessors. His graceful interpretation should be appropriate to just about anyone given, of course, individual considerations. His is, to our mind, one of the gentlest but most conscious versions. If you are used to the standard Ba Duan Jin. there will be a few expressly different interpretations of some movements but everything here is intact. Dr. Lu sits on many boards and is particuarly interested in a blend of Western and Eastern medical methods and spreading Qigong for health." Plum Publications
8 Pieces of Brocade. Willamette Valley Tai Chi. By Dwight Campbell. 23Kb.
"Eight Pieces of Brocade Ch'i Kung." By Yang, Jwing-Ming, Ph.D.. Internal Arts, Vol. 3, No. 3, May, 1988, pp. 20-22.
Eight Pieces of Brocade-Chi Kung. By Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming. Videotape and DVD.
The Eight Pieces of Brocade: Improving and Maintaining Health. By Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Yang's Martial Arts Association, YMAA, 1988. Appendix, x, 70 pages. ISBN: 094087105X. Includes many photographs and drawings. Includes both a seated and standing version of this form. Cover title: "The Eight Pieces of Brocade (Ba Duann Gin), A Wai Dan Chi Kung Exercise Set for Improving and Maintaining Health." Includes a glossary of Chinese and English terms. VSCLC.
Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong. By Susan A. Matthews, M.S.. VHS
Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong for Relaxation, Health and Longevity. By Michelle Wood, Stress Management Expert. From Living Stress Free Naturallly Blog.
The Eight Pieces of Silk. By Dan Holahan. Breathe Deep Qigong Newsletter #11
Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade
Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade Includes illustrations.
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Starting and Resting Position, Wuji
1. Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands
2. Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly
3. Separating Heaven and Earth
4. Wise Owl Gazes Backward
5. Big Bear Turns from Side to Side
6. Punching with an Angry Gaze
7. Touching the Toes then Bending Backwards
8. Shaking the Body
Ending Practice Options: Self Massage, Wuji, Standing Meditation, Magic Pearl Qigong, Dragon Qigong, Taijiquan
Comments on the Sequence of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade
List of Movements of the Eight Section Brocade, 1 page, PDF file, read or print. A handout for my for Qigong students.
Eight Section Brocade: Amazon Books Search
Eight Section Brocade. Instructional videotape by James McNeil.
Eight Section Brocade Choi’s Kung Fu – Bul Mu Do Association
Eight Section Brocade Brief instructions with photographs of movements. By Jiawen Miao. 30K.
Eight Section Brocade - Google Search
Eight Section Brocade - Google Images Search
Eight Section Brocade Qigong By Marcus James Stanter, Qigong 15.
Eight Section Brocade - Wing Lam Kung Fu. Videotape. Song Dynasty Qigong Eight Section Brocade
Eight Section Brocade: Song Dynasty Qigong. Instructional DVD by Shifu Jiang Jian-ye. Videotape 76 minutes. Teaches the ever popular Song Dynasty qigong system. "Eight Section Brocade is one of the more popular among the many styles of Qigong. It requires no equipment, very little space, and is easily practiced by old and young alike. Good for improving health, preventing disease and treating existing health conditions."
Eight Section Brocade Qigong Cane. How to practice this form using a wooden cane. Notes by Toma. Based, I think, on the Northern Energy Taiji Cane by James Bouchard.
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung A webapage by Mike Garofalo.
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung: A List of Movements. 1 page, PDF file. By Mike Garofalo.
Eight Section Brocade Qigong Research by Michael P. Garofalo. Provides information about the history and purpose of this popular Chi Kung practice. Detailed descriptions are provided for each of the eight movements; including information on movement variations, health benefits, qigong meaning, and cautions. The document includes the most extensive bibliography, link guide, and comments on Ba Duan Jin Qigong resources available anywhere. Some animated graphics are provided in linked files. This document is updated as new information is discovered. This qigong set is the most popular set practiced around the world, and is also known as: Baduanjin, Pa Tuan Jin, Eight Silken Treasures, Ba Duan Jin, Pal Dan Gum, Ba Duan Gin, Pa Tin Kam, Otto Pezzi di Tesoro, Acht Delen Brokaat, Les Huit Exercices del la Soie, Eight Silken Treasures, Brocade Qigong, Wudang Brocade Qigong, Brocade soft qigong (Rou Gong), Eight Treasures inner qigong (Nei Gong), Silk Treasures Qigong, and the first eight Buddha Lohan Hands. This document is about 110 pages, 26,000 words, and with a filesize of 340Kb. Last updated on April 15, 2008. Web File Location: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/esb.htm.
"The Eight Section Brocade: Qigong from the Shaolin Temple." By Gene Ching. Kungfu Magazine, May/June 2001.
Eight Section Brocade Links
Eight Section Brocade Standing Qigong. Instruction by Sifu Franklin Fick. Instructional DVD.
Eight Section Brocade - UTube Search
Eight Sections of Silk. By Joe Hing Kwok Chu. 67K. Information on acupressure massage and stretching movements. This author tries to make the case that the exercise is more accurately related to the "pull and break tendons" exercise set of the Shaolin Buddhist training regimen. I believe that Da Mo's (Bodhidharma) bone marrow washing and tendon changing exercises are not the same as the Eight Section Brocade qigong. The ability of the tendons or ligaments to stretch is very limited, most stretching occurs in the belly of muscle fibers.
Eight Silk Movements. Tak Wah Kung Fu Club. Illustrations and descriptions for each movement. 10Kb.
Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health: The Eight Pieces of Brocade By Yang Jwing Ming. Boston, YMAA Publication Center, 1997. 96 pages. ISBN: 1886969523. DVD and VHS available, 1999, ASIN: 188696954X.
Eight Simple Qigong Exercises for Health DVD. The Eight Pieces of Brocade. By Yang Jwing Ming. Boston, YMAA Publication Center, 2003. 140 minutes, color DVD5-NTSC - All Regions. ISBN: 1594390037. DVD B00016USR8.
Eight Steps of Brocade Instruction on a videotape by Yu Ding Hai.
Eight Strands of the Brocade 5K.
18 Buddha Hands Qigong: A Medical I Ching Exploration. By Larry Johnson. White Elephant Monastery, 1999. 299 pages. ISBN: 0924071990.
Eighteen Hands Lohan Qigong (King Mui Version) Description and photographs.
Eighteen Hands of the Lohan (Lohan Shi Ba Shou). Shaolin history. 34Kb.
Eight Treasures Chi Kung - Google Search
Eight Treasures System of Tantric Qigong by Rev. Keith Hall
The Eight Treasures: Energy Enhancement Exercises By Maoshing Ni, Ph.D.. With a preface and commentaries by Hua-Ching Ni. Santa Monica, California, Seven Star Publications, 1996. Index, glossary, 196 pages. ISBN: 0937064742. VSCL. A VHS videotape is also available. This is a very good book. The qigong practices presented, discussed, and illustrated in this book are very extensive and go far beyond the eight movements presented in this webpage.
"Eight Treasures from Old China: Baduanjin - The Eight Brocade Exercises" by Foen Tjoeng Lie. Taijiquan and Qigong Journal, Volume 4, Issue 2, 2001.
Eight Treasures Qi Gong By Michael P. Garofalo. 325Kb. Descriptions of the movements, comments, links, bibliography, quotations, and charts.
The Eight Treasures: Energy Enhancement Exercise. By Maoshing Ni, Ph.D.. With a preface and commentaries by Hua-Ching Ni. Santa Monica, California, Seven Star Publications, 1996. Index, glossary, 196 pages. ISBN: 0937064742. VSCL.
Exercise Danger: 30 Exercises to Avoid plus 100 Safer and More Effective Alternatives. By Grant Donovan, Jane McNamara, and Peter Gianoli. Wellness Australia PTY LTD, 1989, 1997. ISBN: 1875139036. 29 pages.
"The Eye of the Beholder." By David Life. "The practice of Drishti is a gazing technique that develops concentration and teaches you to see the world as it really is." Yoga Journal, February 2002, pp. 73- 76.
Feedback or complaints about this webpage?
Fitness and Well Being
Five Animal Frolics, Wu Qin Xi, Daoyin (Qigong): Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links, History. By Mike Garofalo. Animal Frolics: Crane, Bear, Tiger, Monkey, and Deer.
Five Elements and Eight Brocades of Silk. Chi Kung Series, Volume 1. VHS videotape, 45 Minutes.
The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power. By Christopher S. Kilham. Healing Art Press, 1994. 96 pages. ISBN: 0892814500. Although this book draws from Tantra and Kundalini yoga traditions, rather than from Chinese qigong, the comments on forward and back bending are instructive. VSCL.
Friedrich, Andreas W: Qi Gong, Ba Duan Jin, Die Acht Edlen Ubungen.
Gil Otto Broccati or Ba Duan Jin. Studion de un'antica pratica de qigong ancora molto diffuse in Cina. By Maria Luisa Vocca. Good instructions, with photographs, in Italian. Includes bibliography. 38Kb.
Ginnastica Cinese: Stretching e Pa Tuan Chin. In Italian. 24Kb.
Google: Ba Duan Jin
Google: Eight Section Brocade
Baduanjin Qigong - Wikipedia Article
Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California
Gymnastic Qigong: Eight Section Brocade. Audio CD. By GZ Beauty.
The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi. By Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.. Chicago, Contemporary Books, 2002. Index, notes, extensive recommended reading list, 316 pages. ISBN: 0809295288. VSCL.
Health and Fitness with Chinese Arts: Pa Tuan Chin
Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way. An integrated survey of Chinese health practices, from acupuncture to inner alchemy. By Livia Kohn. Three Pines Press, 2005.
Herbalshop - Ba Duan Jin Seated version of Eight Section Brocade.
How Can I Get My Product Reviewed or Listed Here?
Index to the Cloud Hands Website
Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity. By Shifu Yan Lei. Yan Lei Press, U.K., 2009. 227 pages. ISBN: 0956310109. The author also offers instructional DVDs; The Shaolin Warrior, the Way of Qi Gong. An oversize book with color photos by Manuel Vason. Includes theory, stances, stretches, routines, and a Shaolin version of the Ba Duan Jin. VSCL.
Knocking at the Gate of Life and Other Healing Exercises from China. Official Manual of the People's Republic of China. Translated by Edward C. Chang. Pennsylvania, Rodale Press, 1985. Index, 202 pages. ISBN: 0878575820. The Eight Section Brocade, Pa Tuan Chin: pp. 24-29.
Kudos and Praise for this Webpage
Kuldtikandi Harjutus: Baduanjin 18Kb.
Lifting the Heels (Shaking the Body). Movement #8 of the Eight Section Chi Kung.
Light on Yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar. New York, Schocken Books, 1966, Revised Edition 1977, 1979. Glossary, index, 544 pages. ISBN: 0805210318. Subtitle: Yoga Dipika. I use the revised paperback edition, 1979. VSCL.
List of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade in Chinese
List of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade in English. 1 page, PDF file. By Mike Garofalo.
List of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade in English
Living Stress Free - Naturally: The Eight Pieces of Brocade
Lohan Qigong System. By Howard Choy. 23Kb
Lohan Qigong, 18 Buddha Hands Qigong, Shaolin Buddhist Qigong
"Longevity and the Eight Brocades." The Empty Vessel: A Journal of Daoist Philosphy and Practice, Summer 2002.
Longevity Arts of Tibet and China
Luohan Qigong. Sifu Gaspar Gaspar, M.D. 14 Luohan forms description.
Luohan Qigong, Lohan Chi Kung, Shaolin Buddhist Qigong Bibliography, links, resources, history, notes, lessons.
Magic Pearl Qigong: A Tai Chi Medicine Ball Exercise Routine and Meditation Technique. Developed by Michael Garofalo.
Meditation: Links, Bibliography, Notes, Quotes.
Mount Wudang Qigong and Kung Fu The Shaolin Buddhist Temple is associated with northern China's Buddhist qigong and kungfu, while Mount Wudang is associated with southern China's Taoist qigong and Taiji. The legendary Master Zhang Sanfeng is associated with the Taoist qigong and Mount Wudang. Numerous references to the Eight Section Brocade are found in Wudang qigong sources.
Muscle and Tendon Transforming Classic Qigong (Yi Jin Jing)
Names of the movements of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung in languages other than English.
Nan Bei Wushu – Chi Gung Some information about making specific sounds while doing the ESB.
Las Ocho Piezas del Brocado - Google Search
Las Ocho Piezas del Brocado: Ba Duan Jin. Very good instructions in Spanish, with drawings. 30Kb.
Las Ocho Piezas del Brocado Sentado: Ba Duan Jin. Instructions in Spanish for the seated version. 13Kb.
Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: The Tao of Energy Enhancement. By Bruce Kumar Frantzis. Illustrated by Husky Grafx. North Atlantic Books, 1993. Second Edition. 174 pages. ISBN: 1556431643. VSCLC.
Pa Kua Chang, Bagua Zhang, Circle Walking: Links, Bibliography, Quotations.
Pa Tuan Chin (8 Section Brocade) Information from the UCT Tai Chi Club. 4K. A list of the benefits of each movement.
Pa Tuan Chin Includes photos and instructions. In the German language. 15Kb.
Pa Tuan Chin Course Norfork, England.
Pa Tuan Chin. By H. F. Xue. Wan Li Book Co., Hong Kong.
Pa Tuan Chin and Pa Kua German language.
Pressing the Heavens with Two Hands Movement #1 of the Eight Section Brocade. Press Heaven with Two Hands, Lift water from the Lake, Splash Your Face, Press Heaven with Two Hands. Level I: Works upper back, neck, shoulders. Level II (splash water version): Works the thights, calves, waist, upper back, neck, shoulders.
Punching with an Angry Gaze. Movement #6 of the Eight Section Brocade.
Qigong. Kodai No Bushido. 16Kb.
Qigong: A Legacy in Chinese Healing: The Eight Treasures With Qigong Meditations By Dean Y. Deng, M.D., and Enid Ballin. Qigong International, 1998. 162 pages. ISBN: 0965756084.
Qigong and Tai Chi Chuan: Health Benefits
Qigong and Taoism
Qi Gong Ba Duan Jin: Die Acht Edlen Ubungen. By Andreas W. Friedrich. Book. ISBN: 3874100618.
Qigong Basics. By Ellae Elinwood. Tuttle Publishing, 2004. 192 pages. ISBN: 0804835853.
Qi Gong: Bibliography, Links, Resources. By Michael P. Garofalo.
Qigong (Chi Kung) - Red Bluff, California
Qigong Empowerment: A Guide to Medical, Taoist, Buddhist, and Wushu Energy Cultivation. By Liang, Shou-Yu and Wu, Wen-Ching. Edited by Denise Breiter-Wu. Rhode Island, Way of the Dragon Publishing, 1997. Index, glossary, 348 pages. ISBN: 1889659029. This is an excellent reference and instruction book. VSCLC.
Qigong Essentials for Health Promotion. By Jiao Guorui. Translated by Jiao Tielan. Beijing, China Reconstructs Press, 1988. ISBN: 750720100. ASIN: B000B6TA54. The text includes illustrations (line drawings). The Eight Section Brocade is discussed on pages 152-162. VSCL.
Separating Heaven and Earth #3
Las 8 Piezas del Brocado
Qi Gong for Beginners: Eight Easy Movements for Vibrant Health. By Stanley D. Wilson. Photographs by Barry Kaplan. Sterling Publications, 1997. 148 pages. ISBN: 0915801752. Very good photographs, clear descriptions, useful supplementary information and instruction. VSCLC.
Qigong for Health. By Emilio Gonzalez and George Wedemeyer. Instructional videotape set, 2 Volumes.
Qigong for Meditators: Eight Section Brocade 46Kb
Qigong for Self-Healing 12K
Qigong Links Over 1,000 links from DMOZ/Google.
Qigong: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotes, Lessons By Mike Garofalo.
Qigong Styles
Qigong Teachings of a Taoist Immortal. By Stuart Alve Olson. 12K.
Qigong Teachings of a Taoist Immortal: The Eight Essential Exercises of Master Li Ching-yun. By Stuart Alve Olson. Rochester, Vermont, Heavenly Arts Press, 2002. Index, bibliography, appendix, photographs, illustrations, 192 pages. ISBN: 0892819456. Excerpts VSCL. The best book I have read on the seated version of the Eight Section Brocade. "Throughout history Taoists have promoted the development and restoration of the Three Treasures - body, breath, and spirit - through the gentle practice of qigong. At the center of the qigong practice are the Eight Brocades, a series of postures that developed during the 3,000 year Taoist quest for longevity and vitality. Now qigong expert Stuart Olson translates into English Master Li Ching-yun's treasured teachings on the Eight Brocades. One of the most famous qigong masters of this century, Master Li Ching-yun is reliably chronicled to have lived more than 250 years, during which he practiced the Eight Brocades on a daily basis. His longevity and personal endorsements attest to and validate the Eight Brocades as the quintessence of Taoist health and qigong practices." The Tao of Books This book explains the seated form of the Eight Section Brocade, the "Eight Diagram Active Kung" by Li Ching-yun (1678-1934). The photographs and explanations of the movements are very good. The layout and illustrations are exemplary. The introduction, notes, and comments are very useful. Persons interested in qigong and taijiquan and their relation to the Eight Tri-grams and I'Ching will find Mr. Olson's many books invaluable. VSCL.
Quest for Longevity: A Taoist Perspective By Francesco Garri Garripoli. 31Kb.
Relaxing Into Your Being. The Water Method of Taoist Meditation Series, Volume 1. By Bruce Kumar Frantzis. Fairfax, California, Clarify Press, 1998. Reader's Edition. 208 pages. Republished by: North Atlantic Books, 2001, ISBN: 1556434073. Sifu Frantzis's lectures on "dissolving" are important for the Wu Ji meditation posture.
Relaxation (Sung, Song): Links, bibliography, quotes, notes.
Rochester Chen Taijiquan Ba Duan Jin Excellent and clear instructions. 15Kb.
The Root of Chinese Chi Kung: The Secrets of Chi Kung Training. By Yang Jwing-Ming. YMAA Chi Kung Series #1. Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Yang's Martial Arts Association, 1989. Glossary, 272 pages. ISBN: 0940871076. VSCL.
Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life. By Deng Ming-Dao. Harper San Francisco, 1990. Index, bibliography, 351 pages. ISBN: 0062502328. MGC.
Seated Version of Ba Duan Jin Seated version of Eight Section Brocade. Herbalshop.
The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani: 58 Movements for Eternal Youth from Ancient Tibet. By Asanaro. Jeremy P. Tarcher, 2003. 210 pages. ISBN: 158542241X. Some speculate that general Chong Li-quan might have learned some yoga/qigong from Tibetans and Taoists living near Tibet. VSCLC.
Separating Heaven and Earth Movement #3 of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung. Separate Heaven and Earth, Press Up to Heaven, and Press Down to Earth. Works middle and upper back, shoulders, wrists, and stretches spine.
Shaolin Buddhist Temple Ba Duan Jin Qi Gong Wellness Practice Instructional DVD, 88 minutes, by Master Shi Young You. Directed by Ben Jones.
Shaolin Ba Duan Jin In the Check language. 15Kb.
Shaolin Ba Duan Jin. Brief directions for each movement and larger instructive photographs of a demonstration of the form by Shi Xing Xi, Shaolin warrior monk and head coach.
Shaolin Buddhist Qigong: Luohan Gong Bibliography, links, resources, history, notes, lessons.
Shaolin Eighteen Lohan Hands. By Sifu Wong Kiew Kit. 14Kb. Compare the first 8 movements of 18 Lohan Hands with the Eight Section Brocade. Includes illustrations of movements. Comments.
One can clearly see the similarities between:
18 Lohan Hands
Eight Section Brocade
Lifting the Sky 1
Pressing the Heavens with Two Hands 1
Shooting Arrows 2
Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly 2
Plucking Stars 3
Separating Heaven and Earth 3
Turning Head 4
Wise Owl Gazes Backward 4
Thrust Punch 5
Punching with Angry Gaze 5
Carrying the Moon 7 and
Nourishing Kidneys 8
Touching Toes and Bending Backwards 8
Note, however, that the performance of the Luohan Qigong set is one continuous flow from one named form to the next. There is no repetition of a form multiple times as is done in the Eight Section Brocade.
Bodhidharma Lifting the Sky
The great Zen teacher, Bodhidharma (448-527 CE), supposedly created the Eighteen Hands of the Lohan Qigong
Shaolin Wahman - 18 Lohan Hands
Shaolin Meditation
The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way. By Sifu Shi Yan Ming. Rodale Press, 2006. Index, 293 pages. ISBN: 1594864004.
Silken Treasures Qigong By Michael P. Garofalo. Descriptions of the eight movements, comments, variations, links, bibliography, quotations, animated .gif photographs of the movements, and charts.
Simple Fitness Exercises: Traditional Chinese Movements For Health & Rejuvenation By Jiawen Miao. Llewellyn Publications, 2000. Index, 192 pages. ISBN: 1567184952. Both a basic form (The Gentleman's ESB, pp. 31-54) and a more advanced form (The Warrior's ESB, pp. 55-76) taught in this book using descriptions and photographs.
Six Daoist Healing Sounds
The Spiritual Legacy of the Shaolin Temple: Buddhism, Daoism, and the Energetic Arts. By Andy James. Foreword by Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson. Summerville, MA, Wisdom Publications, 2004. 208 pages. ISBN: 0861713524. VSCLC.
Song Dynasty Qi Gong Eight Section Brocade. Eight Section Brocade Instructional DVD by Shifu Jiang Jian-ye. Videotape 76 minutes.
Standing Meditation (Wu Ji)
Stand Still and Be Fit: The Way of Energy. By Master Lam Kam Chuen. Videotape. Includes instruction on the Eight Treasures.
Strength Training Anatomy. By Frederic Delavier. Champaign, Illinois, Human Kinetics, 2001. 124 pages. ISBN: 0736041850. Revised edition of "Guide des mouvements de musculation" Paris, Ditions Bigot, 1998. An outstanding illustrated guide to muscles at work. Both male and female models are used. VSCLC.
Strength Training: Taijiquan, Qigong, Kung Fu and Yoga
Subject Index to Cloud Hands Website
Sung (Song) - Relaxation
Sun Lu Tang's Internal Martial Arts: Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, Taijiquan, and Qigong. Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Resources, Instructions.
Sun Style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Standard Competition 73 Movements Form. Research by Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.. Webpage: 450Kb, June 2008. This webpage includes an introduction, information on the history of the Sun Taijiquan forms, a detailed bibliography, extensive links, references to video resources, a large collections of quotations about Sun Taijiquan, recommendations on the best media resources on the topic, and suggestions for learning the 73 competition Sun Taijiquan form. A detailed comparative list of the names of each of the 73 movements is provided, with source references, and the movement names are given in English, Chinese, Chinese characters, French, German, and Spanish. This webpage includes detailed descriptions of each of the 73 movements with black and white illustrations for each movement sequence along with commentary and comparisons. Many additional nomenclature lists and section study charts in the PDF format, photographs and graphics are also provided - over 1.3 MB of information. This webpage is the most detailed and complete document on the subject of the Sun Taijiquan Competition 73 Form available on the Internet. This document was published by Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Taijiquan, Red Bluff, California, 2008. URL: http://www.egreenway.com/taichichuan/sun73.htm.
Sun Lu Tang's Style of Internal Martial Arts: Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes, Notes
Sword: Standard 32 Sword Form, Yang Style, Practice
Tai Chi Basics and Eight Pieces of Brocade. By Wong, Doc-Fai. San Francisco, CA. Demonstration videotape, 70 minutes.
Tai Chi Chuan: Chen Style
Tai Chi Chuan: Standard 24 Form in the Yang Style
Tai Chi Chuan: Sun Style
Tai Chi Chuan: Yang Style
Tai Chi Connections: Advancing Your Tai Chi Experience. By John Loupos. Boston, MA, YMAA Publication Center, 2005. Index, 194 pages. ISBN: 1594390320.
Tai Chi for Arthritis. DVD. Narwee, Australia, East Action Video, 1997. 80 Minutes. DVD format. In 4 languages: English, Spanish, French, and Chinese (Mandarin). Created by Paul Lam, M.D., a family physician in Sydney, Australia and internationally acclaimed Tai Chi Chuan teacher. This work is supported by the Arthritis Foundation of Australia. Reviews A VHS videotape is also available. Some of the warm up exercises in this program are part of the Eight Treasures.
Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly #2
Shaolin Ba Duan Jin
T'ai Chi for Seniors: How to Gain Flexibility, Strength, and Inner Peace. By Philip Bonifonte. New Age Books, 2004. 216 pages. ISBN: 1564146979. Includes the Eight Section Brocade. VSCL.
Taijiquan for Good Health, Fitness and Vitality
Taoism and Taijiquan
Taoist Classics. The Collected Translations of Thomas Cleary. Boston, Shambhala Press. Four Volumes: Volume One, 296 pages, 2003. Volume Two, 640 pages, 1999. Volume Three, 304 pages, 2001. Volume Four, 464 pages, 2003. VSCL.
Taoist Eight-Sectioned Satin Chi-Kung. By Leung Ting. Hong Kong, Leung's Publications, 1995. 126p. ISBN: 9627284181.
Taoist Qigong for Health and Vitality: A Complete Program of Movement, Meditation and Healing Sounds. By Hon, Sat Chuen. Boston, Shambhala, 2003. 208 pages. ISBN: 1590300688. For an audio recording of the Healing Sounds is online. Three of the six exercises can be compared with movements in the Eight Treasures: Spleen, "Fu", Press Heaven and Earth (3); Lungs, "Xi", Draw Bow (2); Triple Heater, ""Hey", Hold Up the Sky (1); Kidney, "Chu"; Heart, "Ho"; Liver, "Xu". VSCLC.
Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. Prepared by the Librarian of Gushen Grove.
Taoist Ways to Transform Stress into Vitality: The Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds. By Mantak Chia. Healing Tao Books, 1991. 115 pages. ISBN: 0935621008.
Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts. Volume 2 of the Trilogy: Warriors of Stillness. Meditative Traditions in the Chinese Martial Arts. By Jan Diepersloot. Walnut Creek, CA, Center for Healing and the Arts, 1999. Index, notes, 272 pages. ISBN: 0964997614. VSCL.
Ten-Section Brocade Qigong Exercise. A poster with instructions by Lin Housheng.
Thirteen Treasures Walking Qigong. By Michael P. Garofalo.
Taijiquan Classics
Thanks to Tristan and Carole for sending me a some good links and references for this webpage.
Tips and Suggestions for Qigong Practice. By Mike Garofalo.
Touching the Toes and Bending Backward. Movement #7 of the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung.
Traditional Valuable Health Preservation Series: Eight Section Brocade Exercises. Instructional DVD. 2007. Featuring Pan Shaozu. 64 Minutes. ASIN: B000W0H5JC. Narration in Chinese with English and Chinese subtitles.
Trigrams of the I Ching and Qigong
24 Form, Yang Style Short Form
Tuna and Daoyin Brief Explanation
Valley Spirit Center Red Bluff, California. Instructor: Michael P. Garofalo.
Valley Spirit Qigong
Valley Spirit Taijiquan
Video Clips Online
Ba Duan Jin Chi Kung - UTube Search
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung - UTube Search
Ba Duan Jin Exercicio, 1 minute and 5 seconds
Eight Simple Qigong Exercises, Yang Jwing-Jing, 47 seconds
Master Jesse Tsao: Qigong 8 Pieces of Brocade, 5 minutes
Videos - German
VSCL = Valley Spirit Center Library Collection, Red Bluff, California
Walking and Tai Chi Chuan Quotes, links, bibliography, and notes.
Walking - General Fitness Exercise
Walking Meditation
The Big Bear Turns From Side to Side, #7
Drawing by Nadezda Kotrchova
Shaking the Head and Wagging the Tail to Eliminate the Heart-Fire
The Way of Energy: Mastering the Chinese Art of Internal Strength with Chi Kung Exercise By Master Lam Kam Chen. New York, Fireside, Simon and Schuster, 1991. A Gaia Original. Index, 191 pages. ISBN: 0671736450. The Eight Section Brocade, Chapter 4, Preparing for Energy, pp. 63-81. VSCL.
The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. By Kenneth S. Cohen. Foreword by Larry Dossey. New York Ballantine Books, 1997. Index, notes, appendices, 427 pages. ISBN: 0345421094. One of my favorite books: comprehensive, informative, practical, and scientific. The Eight Brocades are described on pages 186 - 194. He also has produced audio-cassettes and qigong instructional videotapes. Master Cohen is a fine writer and very knowledgeable about qigong. I recommend that a person new to qigong purchase this book first! VSCL.
The Way of Harmony By Howard Reid. A guide to self-knowledge through the Arts of Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing I, Pa Kua, and Chi Kung. London, Gaia Books Limited, 1988. Index, 191 pages. ISBN: 0671666320. Instructions and illustrations of the Ba Duan Jin set can be found on pages 26 - 33. VSCL.
Weblog - The Cloud Hands Blog by Mike Garofalo
The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. By Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D.. Chicago, McGraw Hill Contemporary Books, 2nd Edition, 2000. Index, bibliography, appendices, notes, 500 pages. Foreward by Margaret Caudill, M.D., and by Andrew Weil, M.D. ISBN: 0809228408. MGC. An excellent introduction to traditional Chinese medicine and modern research on the topic. VSCL.
Wei Qi Gong In the German language.
Where can I purchase these books and videotapes?
The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings from the Oral Tradition of Lao-Tzu. By John Bright-Fey. Crane Hill Publishers, 2006. 376 pages. ISBN: 1575872471. The Reverend Venerable John Bright-Fey, Sifu Fey, is the 12th generation lineage holder of the Blue Dragon Order of Esoteric Zen Buddhism, a distinct line of knowledge descended directly from Shaolin Temple. VSCL.
The Whole Heart of Zen: The Complete Teachings from the Oral Tradition of Ta-Mo. By John Bright-Fey. Crane Hill Publishers, 2006. 296 pages. ISBN: 1575872331. This book includes a good discussion of the 18 Hands of the Lohan. Review of Book by Ned Mudd. VSCL.
Wild Goose Chi Kung: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotes, Notes
The Wise Owl Gazes Backward Movement #4 of the Eight Section Brocade. The Wise Owl Looks Backward from side to side. Works the neck and upper back.
The Wonders of Qigong. A Chinese Exercise for Fitness, Health and Longevity. Compiled by the China Sports Magazine, Beijing, China. Published by Wayfarer Publications, Los Angeles, CA, 1985. 111 pages. 275 line drawings. ISBN: 0935099077. Includes the Eight Section Brocade (pp.28-33). VSCL.
Wudang Mountain Badunjin Qigong 20Kb. Original (in Chinese) written in Hong Kong by Woo Kwong Fat, the 28th Generation Master of Dragon Gate Branch, Wudang Mountain.
Wudang Chi Kung
Wudang Qigong: China's Wudang Mountain Daoist Breath Exercises. By Yuzeng Liu and Terri Morgan. International Wudang Internal Martial Arts, 1999. 244 pages. ISBN: 0967288908.
Wuji Chi Kung
Wu Qin Xi, Five Animal Frolics, Daoyin (Chi Kung): Bibliography, Resources, Lessons, Links, History. By Mike Garofalo. Animal Frolics: Crane, Bear, Tiger, Monkey, Dragon, and Deer.
Yang Family Traditional T'ai Chi Ch'uan Long Form, 108 Movements. By Michael P. Garofalo. 215Kb+ Provides a list of the movements divided into five sections for teaching (.html and .pdf versions available). Includes a bibliography, links, notes, and quotations. Provides a list comparing the Yang Long Form 108 to the 85 postures sequence. Many Yang style Taijiquan players warm up with the Eight Section Brocade qigong set.
Yi Jin Jing (Muscle and Tendon Changing) Daoyin (Chi Kung)
Yoga: Guides, Links, Bibliography, Quotes, Notes
The Yoga of Breath: A Step-by-Step Guide to Pranayama. By Richard Rosen. Foreward by Rodney Yee. Illustrations by Kim Fraley. Boston, Shambhala, 2002. Index, notes, 304 pages. ISBN: 1570628890. VSCL.
Yuli Qigong. By Jeff Smoley. Wujigong, Zhan Zhuang, 5 Animal Frolics, Jade Power Qigong, and Eight Section Brocade. Jeff borrowed my disclaimer.
Zhong Li-quan, Zhang Liquan, (Chung Li-ch'üan, Zhongli Quan, Chong Li-quan): Notes 1, Notes 2,
Zhang Liquan (Chong Li-quan)
One of the Eight Taoist Immortals
Legendary Practioner of the Eight Treasures Qigong
Cloud Hands Blog
Valley Spirit Qigong
Quotations
The Eight Section Section Brocade Chi Kung
八段锦气功
"This exercise consists of eight sections (forms), which the ancients thought as beautiful as brocade, hence its name. To practice this exercise one must keep a tranquil mind, concentrate the mind on Dantian (elixir field), pose as if the head is suspended, keep your mouth shut with the tongue-tip resting on the palate, keep the eyes looking straight forward, relaxing the body as a whole, and breathing naturally. It's practiced in the morning and evening in fresh air for 15-30 minutes each time. In addition, Baduanjin can be used as a warm up exercise."
- Baduanjin
"Wen Ba Duan is the essential basic set of exercises practiced by Shaolin Monks both prior to, and following their daily long hours of training. The Shaolin Temple, famous as the birthplace of Chinese Martial Arts, was built in 495 AD, and this set of exercises has been documented as having a history in excess of 800 years. The exercises known as Eight Golden Treasures consist of two main parts: the standing forms (Wu Ba Duan) and the seated forms (Wen Ba Duan). Wen Ba Duan emphasizes the internal nature of these exercises in that its principle aim is the cultivation of qi without excessive physical movements of the externalWu Ba Duan. Wen Ba Duan combines the qi cultivation of the mind (yi), deep breathing (tu na), gentle exercise (dao yin) and therapeutic self massage (an mo)."
- Tai Chi Australia
"These are mainly stretching exercises coming from the Shaolin Monastery which is well known for its martial arts. They are the preliminary exercises of the martial arts, including eye exercises, massaging points, stretching, and punching. Traditionally these are not classified as neigong exercise. The name "eight sections of silk," also translated as "eight pieces of brocade," is a misnomer. The correct name is "pull and break tendons.""
- Joe Hing Kwok Chu, Eight Sections of Silk
"Chinese medical chi-gung emphasizes soft, slow, rhythmic movements of the body synchronized with deep diaphragmatic breathing. The purpose of these exercises is to stretch the tendons, loosen the joints, and tone the muscles, to promote circulation of blood, and to regulate all the vital functions of the body. The medical school adapted many forms of 'moving meditation" exercise for therapeutic use, including the ancient dao-yin and 'Play of the Five Beasts' forms based on animal movements, martial forms such as 'Eight Pieces of Brocade' and Tai Chi Chuan, and special exercises developed specifically to treat various internal organs."
- Daniel Reid, A Complete Guide to Chi Kung, p. 52.
"The Eight Treasures are called Shien Jia Ba Duan Jin in Chinese, meaning "The Eight Groups of Exercise From the Immortal School." I also refer to these movements as the simplified form of Ba Gong Dao-In, which means "Energy-Conducting Exercises of the Eight Old Ones." They have also been called the "Practice of the Eight Immortals," and became more widely known after Prince Liu encourage people to use them as a way integrate the body with the mind and spirit.
The simplified form of the Eight Treasures is more popular than the original form of Ba Gong Dao-In. Later the Eight Treasures were combined with kung fu to become T'ai Chi Ch'uan. The Eight Treasures is a good foundation for learning T'ai Chi Ch'uan because it is easier for people to learn, clears energy blockages, strengthens Chi, and teaches the fundamentals of movement.
The Eight Treasures are comprised of eight sets of movements that combine toning and strengthening exercises, stretching, and specific breathing techniques for the purpose of maintaining health and preventing disease. It is an ancient system of energy enhancement based on the natural motion of the heavenly bodies. This is one way of experiencing that each life is a small model of nature. Moving the body in this fashion guides your internal energies to flow according to the same natural laws that keep the planets on course and the galaxies propelling through space harmoniously."
- By Maoshing Ni, The Eight Treasures Energy Enhancement Exercise.
"China's health-preserving ways of long standing - the technique of Daoyin, meant to activate limbs and the trunk through mind-directed exertion of inner force with simultaneous movements of body-bending and back-inclining, and the extending with withdrawing of limbs; and the technique of Tuna consisting of deep breathing exercises of the abdomen - are recorded in the writings of such fourth century B.C. authors as Lao Zi, Zhaung Zi, Meng Zi, and Qu Yuan."
- Chen Style Taijiquan, 1984, p. 4.
"Many scholars attribute the development of the Eight Section Brocade to General (Marshall) Yeuh Fei in the 11th century AD. Others have a different opinion. Stuart Alve Olson, a scholar and Tai Chi Chuan master states: "Pa Tuan Chin, the Eight Pieces of Brocade, is a very ancient form of Tao Yin (Taoist breathing exercises) attributed to Chung Li-ch'uan (also known as Han Chung-li) of the Han Dynasty. Chung Li-ch'uan was the teacher of Lu Tung-pin, one of the Eight Immortals and founder of the Complete Reality Sect. The exercises of Pa Tuan Chin have also been attributed to Chen Tuan, the teacher of the famous Taoist immortal, Chang San-feng, who is credited with inventing T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Pa Tuan Chin has both seated and standing
exercises, in both hard and soft styles."
- Stuart Alve Olson, Cultivating the Ch'i, 1993, p. 138.
"Hua T'o (110-207 A.D.) is one of the famous physicians of the Han Dynasty. In The History of the Later Han, Hua T'o wrote: "Man's body must have exercise, but it should never be done to the point of exhaustion. By moving about briskly, digestion is improved, the blood vessels are opened, and illnesses are prevented. It is like a used doorstep which never rots. As far as Tao Yin (bending and stretching exercises) is concerned, we have thebear's neck, the crane's twist, and swaying the waist and moving the joints to promote long life. Now I have created the art called the Frolics of the Five Animals: the Tiger, the Deer,the Bear, the Monkey, and the Crane. It eliminates sickness, benefits the legs, and is also a form of Tao Yin. If you feel out of sorts, just practice one of my Frolics. A gentle sweat will exude, the complexion will become rosy; the body will feel light and you will want to eat."
- Pual Gallagher, Drawing Silk: A Training Manual for T'ai Chi, Page 6.
"Down through the ages, the exercises as practiced at Shaolin Temple have developed into the largest wushu school with hundreds of routines in different styles, from which many other schools have been derived. Of these mention may be made of Long boxing, "cannon and hammer" boxing, "six-in-one" boxing, baduanjin ("brocade" exercises in eight forms) which is said to have been revised by General Yue Fei (1103-1142) on the arhats' routine in 18 forms, the "stepping exercises" and "heart-and-will" school derived respectively from the dragon's and tiger's sections in Monk Bai Yufeng's routine imitating the five animals' movements, and the long-range boxing in 36 forms compiled by the First Emperor of the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The routines can be practiced solo, duet or trio, and bare hand or with ancient weapons, particularly the cudgel which has earned great reputation for Shaolin Temple."
- China Sports Publications, Shaolin Temple Wushu
"Ba Duan Jin means literally "Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade." These eight exercises are elegant, graceful, and essential methods of qi cultivation. They were first described in an eight-century Daoist text, Xiu Zhen Shi Shu ("The Ten Treatises on Restoring the original Vitality"), in the Daoist Canon. Daoist tradition attributes the exercises to one of the Eight Immortals of Chinese folklore, Chong Li-quan. Chong is frequently represented in Chinese art as a bald-headed, potbellied figure, with a white beard reaching to his navel. Chong had been a general during the Han Dynasty. When his army was defeated in a battle against the Tibetans, Chong withdrew into the mountains rather than face the Emperor's wrath. There he met a Daoist who transmitted to him dao-yin (qigong) "recipes" to create an inner elixir of long life. The Eight Brocades was one of these methods. Before he died, Chong inscribed the exercises on the walls of a cave. When another general, Lu Dong-bin, discovered the cave several centuries later, he followed the diagrams and also became a sage-Immortal. According to a statement in the Ten Treatises, it was General Lu himself who first described the exercise on stone.
- Kenneth S. Cohen, The Way of Qigong: The Art and Science of Chinese Energy Healing. 1997, p. 186.
Zhang Liquan (Chong Li-quan)
One of the Eight Taoist Immortals
Legendary Practitioner of the Eight Treasures Qigong
"Ba Duan Jin first appears in writing in an eighth century Taoist text, Ten Treatises on Restoring Original Vitality. It is also explained in an ancient Chinese text call the Dao Shu, compiled during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 AD). This version is derived from still another Chinese military hero, Marshal Yeuh Fei (1103-1142 AD). He recorded each of the movements in the form of a poem that explained its execution and purpose, and taught them to his soldiers to improve their health, stamina and martial art skills."
- Stanley D. Wilson, Qi Gong for Beginners, 1997, p. 19
"The Eight Strands of Silk Brocade are indeed a fine suit of clothes. It has been said that Baduanjin is the most popular qigong exercise set in the world. It is plain to see why. By practicing the whole set of eight exercises in a similar manner to Taijiquan one can expect to see significant changes in health and vitality within six months, more subtle changes within a year and greater changes within five years."
- Shihfu Mike Symonds, Ba Duan Jin
"In the past, people practiced the Tao, the Way of Life. They understood the principle of balance, of yin and yang, as represented by the transformation of the energies of the universe. Thus, they formulated practices such as Dao-yin [qigong], an exercise combining stretching, massaging, and breathing to promote energy flow, and meditation to help maintain and harmonize themselves with the universe."
- Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Huang Ti Nei Jing, 800 BCE
"Later, during what is known by historians as the Warring States Period, 480-222 BC, we find the emergence of what are called Tao Yin (daoyin) disciplines, again special exercises for health that may, in part at least, have been derived from the much earlier era of the Yellow Emperor. Tao Yin means 'guiding and inducing' - guiding and inducing the flow of chi around the body. At the same time, special breathing techniques combined with meditation were also being introduced by the Taoist philosophers. These techniques, they claimed, were effective not only in the treatment of certain illnesses but also in the prevention of disease. It is important to understand that in those times a philosopher was also someone who meditated and probably also practiced medicine. All these subjects were linked, making up what we would today term an 'holistic' approach."
- History of Chi Kung
"The Eight Strands of Silk Brocade are an extremely fine set of eight Qigong exercises. They are learned and then practiced as one complete, unbroken form; each movement of each of the eight exercises being repeated eight times before doing the next exercise in sequence. Like most of the best things in life they are simple, easy to learn, easy to perform and taking only 14 - 18 minutes to do every morning and night. This is the way to improve health and well-being in a relaxed and easy manner. The only thing which stands in anyone's way is their own laziness or lack of self-discipline."
- The Eight Strands of Silk Brocade
"The most recent evidence of the long history of these movements [Qigong exercises] comes from a silk book unearthed in 1979, known as the Dao Ying Xing Qi Fa ("Method of Inducing the Free Flow of Chi"). The book dates from the Western Han Dynasty, which ran from 204 BC to AD24, and bears 44 drawings of men and women in exercise positions resembling the Ba Duan Jin."
- Master Lam Kam Chuen, The Way of Energy, 1991, p. 81.
Reproduction of the qigong exercises silk scroll (Dao-yin Tu) found in the tomb at Mawangdui, China, in 1973.
This scroll is from the period around 168 BCE. Photo from the Wonders of Qigong, China Sports Magazine, 1985
"The Dao-yin Tu is the finest example of the consistency and continuity of qigong healing
techniques. The majority of the exercises look so similar to the postures of modern qigong
that it is possible to deduce how they were performed. The rich themes found in the
Dao-yin Tu run like a fine thread through the fabric of qigong history and evolution.'
- Kenneth Cohen, The Way of Qigong, 1997, p. 19
“Baduanjin”, which literally translates as “eight pieces of silken brocade”, has always been a very popular exercise in China. Its unusual name derives from the fact that the Chinese character for silken brocade – ‘jin’ – also has the archaic meaning of that of a set of exercises composed of different movements. Hence the title “eight pieces of silken brocade” can be interpreted more accurately as “an exercise composed of eight sets of movements”. Baduanjin has a written history of over 800 years. During this period of time, many modifications and innovations have been added to the original form. Although the variations are numerous, they can be broadly categorized into themes related to the seated and to the standing postures, with the latter further sub-divided into the ‘Northern’ and the ‘Southern’ styles. "
- Howard Choy, Baduanjin
"For nearly a thousand years, Eight Treasures Qigong has been passed down to maintain overall health and increase vitality. There are many versions of this form, but all rely on the same basic principles and theory of Qigong practice. The Eight Treasures is effective in building up energy throughout the body, and particularly in the limbs, where it will then flow into and circulate supporting the internal organs. It thoroughly works all the energy channels in the body in a precise and effortless way. Practitioners of the Eight Treasures will enjoy the gentle stretching and twisting movements to release and relax the entire body, to increase blood and energy circulation and to strengthen their internal organs. The best thing about the Eight Treasures however, is that it is very simple to learn, easy to practice and good for you! Also referred to as the Eight Pieces of Brocade and the Eight Jewels."
- Embrace the Moon Seattle Tai Chi and Qigong
"Ba Duan Jing consists of eight different movements, each one of which is simple, short, and effective. Since time or location does not restrict one's practice, it is quite popular, and consists of two styles. The Wen or sedentary style adopts a sitting position with concentrated mind and attention to one's breathing. This particular type incorporates knocking teeth, shaking head, gargling throat, massaging the kidney area, swaying shoulder, pressing the scalp, stretching the sole of the foot, etc. In contrast, the Wu or active style adopts a standing position emphasizing body movement. These movements are called "Upholding the heaven and regulating Sanjiao," "Stretching the bow with both sides," "Regulating the spleen and stomach," "Looking backwards," "Swaying the head and tail," "Tapping at the back," "Holding fist and staring," "Stretching to both soles," etc."
- Ming Qi Natural Healtcare Center
"A Shaolin monk took eight groups of the most powerful movements from these two forms [Yi Jin Jin and Xi Su Jing]. This form is called Ba (eight) Duan (best) Jin (movements) or The Eight Treasures. This is the form that is taught in this book. When my Master transmitted it to me he told me it was one of the most powerful Qigong forms for health. Since coming to the West, I have seen many different interpretations of the Eight Treasures. This version is the Buddhist form that I was taught at the Shaolin Temple, which I have authenticated against the ancient Shaolin books."
- Shifu Yan Lei, Instant Health: The Shaolin Workout for Longevity, p. 41.
"The “Eight Brocades” are a static – dynamic Qigong technique widely diffused among the Chinese people. The technique is extremely ancient, with at least a thousand year history. It has been highly studied and perfected throughout the course of its history, to the point where it could represent a complete therapy. It is ideal for stretching the meridians and unblocking the energy channels (qi) in the human organism. It balances the energy in all of the internal organs and eliminates every type of nervous or emotional tension. It can be practiced in different ways, according to the predetermined scope, martial or therapeutic, or according to the person practicing it (young, old, healthy or sick). The exercises of which it is composed can be practiced individually or all together, one after the other separately or in a continuous sequence."
- Gli Otto Broccati
"The Eight Section Brocade exercise has been in existence for more than eight hundred years. Because of its effectiveness for keeping fit, it was accepted by Shaolin monks as one of the basic entering level exercises for Shaolin Wushu. Unlike Shaolin hard kung fu and the rest of Shaolin style for combat, the Eight Section Brocade is a form of soft qi gong. The Eight-Section Brocade is an ideal life time exercise for most people. It is especially recommended for people who work at desks every day. Regular practice of this exercise can strengthen one's internal organs as well as one's muscles and tendons."
- China Guide
"Badunjin Qigong originates from the Dao-Yin life-nourishing techniques of the ancient era. The medical professionals, longevity-research experts, Qigong masters of all ages developed this set of traditional body-strengthening exercise which was founded on the theory of Chinese medicine. The Dao-yin, Qigong, martial arts, gymnastics, massage, breathing arts, life-emulation and ancient dance is amalgamated to form into eight segments. The creation of these segments is based on the physiological condition and pathological changes of the human body, and the emulation of the self-strengthening and self-healing movements of flying birds, diving fishes, running animals and crawling species. The categorization of these uniquely selected segments is based on the concept of Pak Qua. This has been profoundly developed in the past through long-term practice and continual improvements and is rich in the ethnic characteristics of the Chinese race."
- Wudang Mountain Badunjin Qigong, by Dragon Gate Master Woo Kwong Fat, Wudang Mountain.
"The eight brocade is one of the most widely practiced classic exercise sets in China, which can be dated back over 1,000 years. Its long existence has resulted in its adoption by a diverse collection of practitioners, which has lead to numerous variations. This set of excises is often practiced with Qigong. The movements provide a comprehensive system of excise for people of all ages, toning up muscles and stimulating the flow of qi throughout the body. People are advised to perform it vigorously when in good health, to help build up the strength and suppleness. But if you are in illness or in later years you should practice more gently. It is widely regarded as the initial form set for any qigong or martial arts new practitioners. Every movement is designed
to regulate or strengthen organs or bowels."
- DaMo Qigong and Wudang KungFu
"The Eight Pieces of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin). The Eight Pieces of Brocade is a Wai Dan Medical Qigong exercise set. It is actually two sets of eight simple exercises each (a sitting set and a standing set) that can maintain your health and increase your energy reserves if you are healthy, and speed your recovery if you are ill. This set was created by Marshal Yue Fei (1103-1141 A.D.) in the Song dynasty to keep his soldiers strong and healthy. The Eight Pieces of Brocade leads the beginner to the door of understanding Qigong."
- Yang Jwing-Ming's Martial Arts Academy
"Baduanjin which literally translates as the "eight pieces of silken brocade," has always been a very popular exercise in China. Its unusual name derives from the fact that the Chinese character for silken brocade also has the archaic meaning of that of a set of exercises composed of different movements. Hence the title "eight pieces of silken brocade" can be interpreted more accurately as "an exercise composed of eight sets of movements." Baduanjin has a written history of over 800 years. During this period of time, many modifications and innovations have been added to the original form. Although the variations are numerous, they can be broadly categorized into themes related to the seated and to the standing postures, with the latter further sub-divided into the Northern and the Southern styles. The Northern style claims its legendary founder to be Yue Fei, who was a famous general in the Sung Dynasty (960-1279AD). It is considered to be more difficult to perform than the Southern style."
- Baduanjin
"These are the "Buddhidarma Lohan 18 hands" ("lohan kung" for short), the "siu lohan", the "da lohan" and the "wu chi". Together these four form a complete system of internal kung-fu to cover the whole range of choy lee fut qigong skills. We have grouped these four forms under the generic name of "lohan qigong", literally "the art of the breath of the enlightened ones". In its original form lohan qigong is an internal set of exercises for cultivating the "three treasures" of qi (vital energy), jing (essence), and shen (spirit). Done regularly it activates the flow of the intrinsic life energy along the meridians, strengthens the internal organs, increases longevity through maintenance of health and vigor of body and mind, exercises the joints and muscles, promotes relaxation and stress management, prevents occupational physical stress diseases, promotes postural awareness and correct posture, and provides the essence and base for many internal and external martial arts."
- Howard Choy, The Lohan Qigong System, 1999 The Shaolin 18 Lohan Hands system is much more extensive than the Eight Section Brocade. Refer to the bibliography above for more references. Notes on "Lohan."
"The Eight Treasures is an ancient system of Chi Gong or energy practice that is based on the natural motions of the heavenly bodies. The primary function of the Eight Treasures is to establish a balance of yin and yang energies and an activation of all twelve of the main energy meridians in the body. At the physical level, the Eight Treasures can help restore the body to a normal degree of health and beyond. It can provide you with the ability to directly affect and improve your health, and eliminate disease. At the mental level, this practice will help you experience sharpened mental capacity, a clearer mind, balanced emotions and a re-activation of the central nervous system. At the spiritual level, it can allow you to embrace the meaning of oneness with the universe and experience the unity of body, mind and spirit."
- Cindy Kienitz, Atlantic Institute
"The Eight Verses of Wudang Mountain Badunjin :
1. Lift the ground and hold the sky to take care of the three internal cavities
2. Draw a bow to the left and right, just like shooting a vulture
3. Lift the hand up singly to tone and caress the spleen and the stomach
4. Look backwards to cure the five strains and seven injuries
5. Reach down the leg by both hands to strengthen the kidney and the reproductive organ
6. Swivel the head and rock the bottom to calm down
7. Rotate fists and stare to add stamina
8. Vibrate the back seven times to expel illness
The first segment takes care of the three chiaos (internal organs), the second segment strengthens the heart and the lung, the third regulates the spleen and the stomach, the fourth cures strains and injuries, the fifth toughens the kidney and reproductive organ, the sixth calms the nervous system, the seventh increases stamina, the eighth gets rid of illnesses. It has materialized the merging of the theory and movements of Badunjin with clinical sports, as well as specified the importance of life-nourishment and health-preservation. Badunjin Qigong, uplifted by the modern medical confirmation from Chinese and western professionals and scholars, continues to be revitalized and made to perfection. Thus it has been made even more suitable and practical to serve the needs of the modern era, and advances with time.
The theory and movements of Wudang Badunjin is thorough; it is safe and easy to learn, and has a wide application on medical cure. Externally, it exercises the skin, muscles, tendons and bones; internally, it strengthens the organs, improves the circulatory system, and consolidates the spirit of well being. Its movements involve breathing naturally, and are smart & light, continuous and lively, elegant and beautiful, stretchy and graceful, alternating relaxing with tightening, synchronizing harmoniously, can be fast or slow but with distinct rhythm, can be complicated or simple, active or quiet, and cohere the opening with the closing. It stresses on the mutual use of toughness and gentleness, the training of the internal and external body parts, the merging of activity and quietness, the balancing of the left and the right, the top and the bottom, alternating the real and the virtual, and nourishing both the body and the spirit. The amount of exercise and the length of the practice session can be adjusted anytime, and it can be practised alongside with other exercises. Age, sex, body nature, location, equipment, time, season, etc do not restrict the practice. It can be practised individually, with the whole family, or with a group. The all-encompassing effect and value of its body-strengthening and medical aspects is evergreen."
- Wudang Mountain Badunjin Qigong
Original (in Chinese) written in Hong Kong by Woo Kwong Fat, the 28th Generation Master of Dragon Gate Branch, Wudang Mountain. 20Kb.
Dr. Ken Andes, L.Ac, D.Ac. (RI) .a licensed acupuncturist, board certified herbalist, and medical qigong instructor, says this about Baduanjin in the January 2006 issue of “Qi Dao” newsletter:
"It is non-strenuous and can be done by anyone of any age.
It will regulate your digestion and metabolism, thus helping with weight loss.
It takes less than 10 minutes a day to perform.
It is very easy to learn...no matter how uncoordinated you are.
It will stretch and tone all of your muscles, thus increasing your flexibility.
It will help relieve neck, back, and shoulder pain.
It will make your muscles (especially your legs) stronger.
It will stimulate your lymphatic system and help detoxify the body of environmental poisons.
It will develop a calm, focused mind.
It helps relieve depression and anxiety.
It requires no special equipment and can be done anywhere, anytime.
It will make you look and feel many years younger.
It will harmonize and stimulate all of your acupuncture meridians, giving you a similar effect of
an acupuncture treatment....without the needles!!"
"The heart is associated with the negative emotions of arrogance and hate and the positive virtues of kindness and love. Recent scientific research shows that feelings of love and appreciation strongly influence the heart's rhythm and its relationship to the body's physiological systems. The lungs are associated with the negative emotions of sadness and depression, and the positive virtues of courage and righteousness. Emotional depression is often recognized by a physical depression and collapse of the chest and lungs. The kidneys are associated with the negative emotion of fear and the positive emotions of gentleness and kindness. Fear is closely related to the activity of the adrenal glands that lie on top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands secret adrenalin and noradrenalin when stimulated by the body's fight-or-flight response. The liver is associated with the negative emotion of anger and the positive emotions of generosity and forgiveness. Physiologically, the liver is important for storing and rapidly releasing glucose into the blood. The energy of anger requires the rapid availability of metabolic energy stores in the body. The stomach/spleen are associated with the negative emotions of worry and anxiety and the positive emotions of fairness and openness. Most people will be familiar with the "butterflies" and "knots" in the stomach related to worry, apparently related to a network of network of neurons and neurotransmitters in the sheaths of tissue lining the digestive system, known as the enteric nervous system."
- Inner Smile and Six Healing Sounds
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
Starting and Resting Position, Wuji
1. Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands
2. Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly
3. Separating Heaven and Earth
4. Wise Owl Gazes Backward
5. Big Bear Turns from Side to Side
6. Punching with an Angry Gaze
7. Touching the Toes then Bending Backwards
8. Shaking the Body
Ending Practice Options: Self Massage, Wuji, Standing Meditation, Magic Pearl Qigong, Dragon Qigong, Taijiquan
Comments on the Sequence of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade
List of Movements of the Eight Section Brocade, 1 page, PDF file, read or print. A handout for my for Qigong students.
List of Movements in the Eight Section Brocade in Chinese
Translation:
Both hands carry heaven to regulate the triple burner.
Draw the bow left and right as if to shoot a vulture.
Regulate spleen and stomach by lifting one hand.
Remedy the 5 symptoms and 7 disorders by looking backward.
Turn the head and swing the tail to eliminate heart-fire.
Two hands grab the feet to strengthen kidneys and waist.
Clench fists and look angry to increase qi and strength.
Jolt the back 7 times and hundred illnesses will disappear.
“I saw you included the list of movements in Chinese in your webpage on Baduanjin. Very good! It might be interesting to add that this is a Chinese (didactic) poem, made for easy remembering the eight movements and their effect. This poem has the classical Chinese format with 8 lines of 7 characters each and rhyme in line 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8."
Thanks to Hielke Hylkema for sending me the above information and translation.
"Other theories suggest that the Eight Brocades are a collection of various Taoist breath exercises with influences coming from the Buddhist patriarch Bodhidharma's works, the I chin ching and Hsi sui ching (Muscles Changing Classic and Marrow Cleansing Classic); or, that the Sung dynasty military leader General Yueh Fei invented the exercises. These two highly improbably founders serve more to validate the practice of the Eight Brocades within the Buddhist and martial arts schools. The development of the Eight Brocades is rather clouded. All the various schools have claimed it as their own invention, and have inserted their own ideas. It has even been presented as twelve exercises, or the Twelve Brocades (shih erh tuan chin). The exercises also appear in a more dissected manner with many additions, under the heading Internal Kung for the Four Seasons (nei kung szu ling), as twenty four exercises for specific periods of the year. In martial arts, the Eight Brocades have become a system of not only standing postures but also sword and staff forms. They are now being presented as a form of qigong, a term that did not appear until 1910 in a book entitledShaolin Tsung fa (Shaolin Orthodox Methods). The author used the term generically to cover a wide range of ideas, including respiratory and meditative exercises directed at mobilizing the breath. Qigong is not in any sense a traditional Taoist term, but has since been adapted to many Taoist works. Since no clear evidence exists as to when the Eight Brocades were first developed, the answer as to their origin really depends on which school or thought of Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, medicine, or martial art you wish to believe. Each school seems to have its own unique evidence and prejudice."
- Stuart Alve Olson, Qigong Teachings of a Taoist Immortal, p. 26
"The Baduanjin (traditional Chinese: 八段錦氣功; simplified Chinese: 八段锦气功) is one of the most common forms of Chinese qigong used as exercise. Variously translated as Eight Pieces of Brocade, Eight Section Brocade, Eight Silken Movements and others, the name of the form generally refers to how the eight individual movements of the form characterize and impart a silken quality (like that of a piece of brocade) to the body and its energy. The Baduanjin is primarily designated as a form of medical qigong, meant to improve health. This is in contrast to religious or martial forms of qigong. However, this categorization does not preclude the form's use by martial artists as a supplementary exercise, and this practice is frequent.
This exercise is mentioned in several encyclopedias originating from the Song Dynasty. The Pivot of the Way (Dao Shi) (c. 1150) 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, namely Zhongli Quan and Lu Tung-pin.
It is also mentioned in popular tales during the Song. Stories Heard by Yijian (Yijian Zhi) by Hong Mai (1123-1202) details a story about a practitioner who is shocked to learn that practicing this set "may lead to premature death. This is conveyed to him by his helper, who is a "Daoist sage in disguise."
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, 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."
- Baduanjin Qigong - Wikipedia Article
"As a traditional Chinese health and fitness Qigong exercise routine, Ba Duan Jin, or Eight Section Exercises, dates back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). With easy movements and impressive effects on the health, it is a gem in China's health and fitness culture. As a safe aerobic exercise, it features a movement intensity and format in line with the theories of kinetics and physiology. Added to the traditional eight movements, are sections on the preparatory posture and closing form, making the exercises more complete, standardized and rational. It has been proved that the practice of Ba Duan Jin improves the respiratory system, limb strength, flexibility of the joints, and fortifies the nerves, as well as enhances the general balance. It improves the cardiovascular function and helps to cure such illnesses as coronary artery scleroses and osteoporosis. It strengthens one's immune system to a degree, and delays the aging process, so as to increase the life span. It also improves one's mental health. A survey shows most Ba Duan Jin practitioners are satisfied with the practice duration, intensity, and routine format outlined below, and testify to Ba Duan Jin's effects on health improvement."
- Chinese Health Qigong Association, Ba Duan Jin, 2007
"The name “Ba Duan Jin” has been found as early as the Northern Song Dynasty. According to Hong Mai's (洪邁) Yi Jian Zhi (夷堅志, 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 Monk’s 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 regime.
Both sitting and standing forms have been found in the history of Ba Duan Jin (八段錦),. 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 (岳飛), has tougher forms, and the Southern School, claimed the lineage from Liang Shi-Chang (梁世昌), 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" (道樞·眾妙篇, Dao Shu, Zong Miao Pian, Song Dynasty) and verses of the sitting style from the forms recorded in "TheTen Books of Daoist Practices" (修真十書 Xiu Zhen Shi Shu, Ming Dynasty ). or "The Methods of Curing"(活人心法, 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."
- Lee Chang-Chih, A Brief Introduction to Ba Daun Jin. "Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians" 2005
"Interestingly, the first 8 qigong exercises from the 18 Lohan Hands qigong/chi kung set also form another set known as Ba Duan Jin or 8 Pieces of Brocade. There are many different versions of the Ba Duan Jin made up of different qigong exercises to the ones in this version (just do a quick search on UTube and you’ll see what I mean). Is that a problem? I don’t think so, I think it makes sense. When you consider that qigong has a history of over 5000 years you’ve got to expect a bit of variety! Especially when you factor in things like different religious and political views, different needs of different people and groups. So let’s not have any of that ‘my ba duan jin is better than your ba duan jin’ nonsense. Recall that Qigong is a composite of Form, Energy and Mind. As long as the 8 qigong exercises of a ba duan jin set are practiced as qigong (and not just qigong form) and a practitioner gets the benefits of practicing qigong from them – then that’s brilliant."
- Marcus James Santer
"Baduanjin is composed of eight sections of movements. The word “eight” not only refers to the eight movements, but also indicates the multiple elements of the qigong that are inter-restricting, inter-relating and in repeated cycles. This collection of movements is used regularly by Shaolin Disciples as part of the training regime because it is at the core of developing internal energy. Baduanjin, or “Eight Section Brocade”, is a type of Chinese qigong handed down from ancient times. It was created in the Southern Song Dynasty and caught on in the late Northern Song Dynasty. Baduanjin was collectively created by health experts and qigong practitioners through the ages. Ba Duan Jin is thought to have been created by Ling Qiushan, an eminent monk of Shaolin Temple who died at the age of 109. Ba Duan Jin has the function of spreading the bones and muscles, accelerate the circulation of blood, regulating the qi and blood, and promoting the metabolism of the body. By regular practice it can improve your constitution, increase your resistance to illnesses, prevent diseases, and prolong your life."
- Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi Centre
Names of the Movements in Languages Other Than EnglishThe Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung
I welcome email contributions corrections for other languages, and will give credit. I would like to improve this section and include more languages.
Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung (Qigong)
Eight Treasures, Eight Beautiful Tapestries Qigong (Chi Kung)
Las Ocho Piezas del Brocado Qigong Spanish
Ba Duan Jin Qigong Chinese Les Huit Exercices del la Soie Qigong French
De Acht Delen Brokaat Qigong German
Otto Pezzi di Broccato Qigong Italian
1. Pressing Up to the Heavens with Two Hands
Al Presionar a los Cielos con las dos Manos SpanishShuang Shou Tuo Tian Li San Jiao Chinese
En Appuyant sur Vers le Ciel avec les Deux Mains French Drücken in den Himmel mit zwei Händen German Premendo Fino al Cielo con due Mani Italian
2. Drawing the Bow and Letting the Arrow Fly
Dibujar el Arco y Dejar Volar la Flecha SpanishZuo You Kai Gong Si She Diao Chinese Dessin de la Bow et de Laisser la Mouche Flèche French Den Bogen zu spannen und den Pfeil fliegen Letting German Tendere l'arco Lasciare Andare la Freccia Italian
3. Separating Heaven and Earth
Separar el Cielo y la Tierra SpanishTiao Li Pi Wei Ju Dan Shou Chinese Séparation Ciel et la Terre French Trennung von Himmel und Erde German Separare la Cielo dal Terra Italian
4. The Wise Owl Gazes Backward
Búho Sabio Miradas Hacia Atrás Spanish Wu Lao Qi Shang Xiang Hou Qiao Chinese
Le Sage Hibou Gazes Arrière French
Die Weise Eule Blickt Zurüch German
Il Saggio Gufo Sguardi All'indietro Italian
5. The Big Bear Turns from Side to Side
El Grand Oso Gira de Lado a Llado Spanish Yao Tou Bai Wei Qu Xin Huo Chinese Grand Poeter Tourne de Droite à Side Der Grosse Bär Wird von Seite zu Seite German L'orso Grande Giri da un Lato All'altro Italian
6. Punching with an Angry Gaze
Perforación con una Mirada Enojada SpanishCuan Quan Nu Mu Zeng Qi Li Chinese
Poinçonnage Avec un Regard en Colère French Stanzen mit Einem Zornigen Blick des German Punzonatura con uno Sguardo Arrabbiato Italian
7. Touching the Toes then Bending Backwards
El Contacto con los Dedos de los Pies a Continuación, Doblándose Hacia Atrás Spanish
Liang Shou Pan Zu Gu Shen Yao Chinese Toucher les Orteils, puis se Penchant en Arrière French Berühren Sie dann die Zehen nach Hinten Beugen German Toccando le Dita dei Piedi Piegando Italian
8. Shaking the Body
La Agitación del Cuerpo SpanishBei Hou Qi Dian Bai Bing Xiao Chinese 摇晃的身体 Chinese
Secouer le Conseil French Schütteln des Körpers German Scuotendo il Corpo Italian Встряхивания тела Russian
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