Ba
Duan Jin, one of the books in the ‘Qi-Gong Life Nurturing Series’, is
written by Professor Zhuang Yajun, a senior Taichi, Qigong practitioner,
and scholar. He offers a deep introduction to Chinese Qigong Life
Nurturing, and also provides unique guidance for Qigong beginners and
enthusiasts. In this book, the author highlights a sitting version of Ba
Duan Jin (Eight pieces of brocade) and a standing version of Ba Duan
Jin. The former is referred to as the ‘Scholar eight pieces of brocade’
or the ‘Inner eight pieces of brocade’. This form pays more attention to
inner cultivation and preserves the ancient Chinese sign of sitting on
the floor or mat. The latter is also referred to as the ‘Martial eight
pieces of brocade’ or the ‘Outer eight pieces of brocade,’ which
emphasizes softness with hardness, strength, firm but graceful and
gentle in the whole routine.The reason why ‘Eight pieces of brocade’ has
a good therapeutic and body-building effect is that each movement has a
specific function that corresponds to the internal organs of the human
body. It is basically broken down into eight separate exercises. Each
movement focuses on specific Zang-Fu, all internal organs, and diseases.
Every phrase clearly illustrates the key requirements, functions, and
goals of each movement. All of them have the functions of lubricating
joints, strengthening muscles, enhancing internal force, hardening bones
and sinews, facilitating digestion, and balancing the nervous system.
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