Ba Duan Jin: Supporting the Sky
Eight Pieces of Brocade Qi gong, No. 1
This article is the first in a series of eight, each dealing with an exercise from the suite known as Ba Duan Jin or Eight Pieces of Brocade, one of the best-known and oldest forms of qi gong (see box below).
The form of Ba Duan Jin we teach is widely practised around the world today, and is accessible to all ages. It is an excellent complement to our therapies. Practised every day, it significantly improves health. To begin with, we recommend practising with a Qi gong master to avoid any energy imbalance. Qi gong is extremely powerful.
雙手托天 – Supporting Heaven with your hands
The first exercise in the Eight Pieces of Brocade is called Liǎngshǒu tuō tiān lǐ Sān Jiāo” (两手托天立三交), which literally means “Supporting Heaven with the hands regularizes the 3 warmers”.
This exercise improves the circulation of Qi as a whole. Raising the arms helps to unblock the meridians and promotes a smoother flow of vital energy, which in turn contributes to improved health.
Concentrating on raising the arms opens and stimulates the San Jiao (Three Warmers) meridian. Thanks to its action on this meridian, this exercise normalizes the functions of breathing, digestion and elimination.
In fact, the three warmers, or three foci, that give this meridian its name are:
- The upper warmer, located in the ribcage, which includes the Heart and Lung;
- The middle warmer, located between the diaphragm and the navel, which includes the Spleen and Stomach;
- The lower warmer, located between the navel and the pubis, which includes the Liver, Kidneys, Large Intestine, Small Intestine and Bladder.
Health benefits
Here are some of the medical aspects of this practice. Qi gong in general relieves physical fatigue and soothes the mind.
- Strengthening arms and shoulders:
By regularly raising the arms, this practice can help strengthen the muscles of the arms and shoulders, which can be beneficial for people suffering from pain or stiffness in these areas.
- Relaxation and stress reduction:
Qi Gong is known for its soothing effects on the nervous system. Controlled breathing and slow movements promote relaxation, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Improved posture and alignment:
This form of Qi Gong encourages upright posture and correct body alignment, helping to alleviate postural problems and associated pain. For example, it can help correct dorsal kyphosis.
- Stimulation of the lymphatic system:
The gentle, slow movements of Qi Gong stimulate the lymphatic system, promoting the elimination of toxins and waste products from the body.
- Promotes blood circulation:
By increasing the activity of the arms and shoulders, this form of Qi Gong can also contribute to better blood circulation.
“Supporting the Sky: practical
Preparation:
We recommend starting with simple movements and practising them regularly to learn to feel the flow of qi circulating in the body.
To practice Qi Gong well, you need to be regular, relaxed and not block the Qi. Breathing is slow, regular and abdominal. Loose-fitting clothing is recommended.
Legs slightly apart. Knees unclenched, arms hanging at your sides. The head is straight, in line with the trunk. This means that my posture allows me to remain relaxed on my feet, with the weight of my body distributed over the whole foot. I’m neither slightly forward nor slightly back. The gaze is frank and looks straight ahead, and far away (even if I’m in front of a wall).
Exercise:
- Hands cupped below the navel as you exhale.
- In a long, very slow inhale, the hands, palms up, rise in an extremely relaxed manner, as if they were being sucked upwards by themselves.
- Once at heart level, the palms turn to continue their upward ascent, as if pushing the sky. The shoulders remain relaxed.
- The gaze follows the palms without ever tilting the head up or down. Only the eyes move.
- Finally, at the end of the inhale, the hands support the sky, the arms remain slightly bent. Then the hands are reversed again, as if to bring Heaven’s energy back to the abdomen. All in a delicate, harmonious movement.
- Now begins a long, slow descent towards the abdomen, punctuated by the exhalation.
- Once again below the navel, the palms turn harmoniously to begin the next cycle. At no point is there a break, or a change of rhythm.
At the beginning, the practitioner can practice the ascent of the arms on an inhale plus exhale, and the same for the descent. Over time, the practitioner slows down his breathing and thus the rhythm of his routine. In Qi gong, slowness and harmony are the key to efficiency!
Ba Duan Jin, or the Eight Pieces of Brocade
Ba Duan Jin is one of the oldest and best-known forms of Qi gong. It consists of a series of eight exercises. There are over a hundred versions, including the Shaolin temple version. Ba Duan Jin is also known as the Eight Pieces of Brocade, in reference to the long brocade coats – a silk fabric embellished with gold and silver brocade designs – worn by dignitaries of the Chinese empire. They are a symbol of good health.
The exact origin of Ba Duan Jin is unknown, although legend has it that Bodhidharma developed it in the 5th century at the Shaolin monastery. The Northern form is known to have been practiced by the famous general, calligrapher and poet Yue Fei (岳飛), who lived in the 12th century under the Song dynasty. He developed the 8 pieces of brocade to strengthen the will, courage and health of his soldiers. This practice improves immunity, and develops inner calm and the strength to act in life. The posture of the rider, which is found several times in Ba Duan Jin, is particularly conducive to the development of this strength, self-presence and determination.
Martial arts are often associated only with fighting. However, a true martial art is much more than that. It is an art that involves the whole person: body and mind. The practice of a martial art is a real tool for personal development. Its ultimate goal is the plenitude of the being and serenity.