Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing
From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians
Lee Chang-Chih May 10th 2005
All rights reserved
Abstract
Interpreting traditional Chinese health-keeping regimes from the theories of meridians (Chinese medicine) helps learners to understand the correct ways of practice (forms) and the effects of the exercises. Many scholars have attempted to interpret Yi Jin Jing (易筋經) from the theories of the 12 meridian system, but there has yet been any literature available up-to-date attempted to explore Ba Duan Jin (八段錦) from the aspect of Chinese Medicine theories of meridians.
In the development of Ba Duan Jin (八段錦), both sitting and standing forms have been found. Standing forms were developed into two schools (northern and southern styles) in the Qing Dynasty. The Northern School, said to have been passed down by Yue Fei (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[1] has been passed down during the period from Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, but all standing forms have evolved from the passages recorded in The Chapter of Wonders, Pivot of Dao (道樞·眾妙篇, Dao Shu, Zong Miao Pian, Song Dynasty) and sitting style from the forms recorded in The Ten 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). For the purpose of close study, we lock the focus on the standing forms of Ba Duan Jin.
Placing the circulatory routes of the Eight Extra Meridians (奇經八脈) and the systems regulated by them at the background, we compare this meridian system to the effects (main) and practice forms (secondary) of Ba Duan Jin in an attempt to find the relationships that associate with the intended effects and designs of the practice forms of this traditional health-keeping regime.
In this research, we compared nine of the more representative Ba Duan Jin (八段錦) in the table below. From the verses below, we can see the development of Ba Duan Jin, but the forms of the exercises are not comprehensively stated. Nonetheless, the effects expected are indicated in most of the verses.
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Form One
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兩手托天理三焦
Two hands holding up to the sky, Sanjiao enter into the mind
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陽維 Yang Wei
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Form Two
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左右彎弓似射雕
Pulling left and pulling right, open bows aim far behind
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陰蹻 Yin Qiao
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Form Three
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調理脾胃須單舉
Lifting high with Single hand, keeping gallbladder and stomach in the hand
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陰維 Yin Wei
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Form Four
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五勞七傷往後瞧
Looking back to the heels internal injury clears
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陽蹻 Yang Qiao
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Form Five
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搖頭擺尾去心火
Shaking head and moving tail rids the internal fire
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帶脈 Dai Mai
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Form Six
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兩手攀足固腎腰
Bending down, reaching the feet makes the kidney strong and sound
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衝脈 Chong Mai
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Form Seven
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攥拳怒目增氣力
Folding fist, looking fierce boosting energy high and up
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任脈 Ren Mai
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Form Eight
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背後七顛百病消
Clicking heels seven times a day keeps all diseases away.
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督脈 Du Mai
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In a reverse sense, interpreting Ba Duan Jin from such aspect also serves to introduce the concept of traditional theories of the meridians to Ba Duan Jin learners. Of course, this is only an attempt to initiate relevant discussions. We hope that better and more comprehensive studies will become available in the future. Well organized knowledge will not only provide learners an insight into the practices but also helps to prevent injuries.
Keywords: Ba Duan Jin (Eight-Section Brocade), the Eight Extra Meridians, Meridians
[1] Translator’s note: in the past, formulae or directions of Chinese medicine or martial art training were often ingeniously woven into singing or chanting verses for easy learning.
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