Names of Movements in Hun Yuan Qi-Gong
混元氣功行功簡要
hun/1 yuan/ qi\ gong- xing/ gong- jian~ yao\
Brief Notes on the Energy Exercises that Cultivate Mixing of Pre and Post-Natal Elements
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降濁洗臓功
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jiang\ zhuo/ xi~ zang\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Lowering, Impurity, Wash, Organ, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Lower Impurity, Flush Organs
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三丹環抱功
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san- dan- huan/ bao\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Three, Pill, Circular, Embrace, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Embrace Energy through three Dan Tians2
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三丹採氣功
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san- dan- cai~ qi\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Three, Pill, Collect/Pluck/Pick, Energy, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Collect Energy through three Dan Tians
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天陽抓墜功
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tian- yang/ zhua- zhui\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Heaven, Yang, Grab, Drop, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Gather Yang3 Energy from Heaven and Sink
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地陰提抓功
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di\ yin- ti/ zhua- gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Earth, Yin, Lift, Grab, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Gather Yin4 Energy from Earth and Lift
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採氣抓閉功
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cai~ qi\ zhua- bi\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Collect/Pick/Pluck, Energy, Grab, Close, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Gather Energy and Hold
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開合聚氣大力功
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kai- he/ ju\ qi\ da\ li\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Open, Close, Gather, Energy, Big, Strength, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Open close, gather Energy for strength
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左右收氣入丹功
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zuo~ you\ shou- qi\ ru\ dan- gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Left, Right, Save, Energy, Into, Pill, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Gather Energy from both sides into Dan Tian
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Practice Note:
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Repeat for all three sections i.e. Upper, Middle and Lower
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雙手開合拉氣功
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shuang- shou~ kai- he/ la- qi\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Double, Hand, Open, Close, Pull, Energy, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Double Hand Open Close Pull Energy
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Practice Note:
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Repeat for all three sections i.e. Upper, Middle and Lower
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環形前後開合採氣功
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huan/ xing/ qian/ hou\ kai- he/ cai~ qi\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Circular, Shape, Front, Back, Open, Close, Collect, Energy, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Circle arms, front and back, open close, collect Energy
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雙手心相向轉勞宮
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shuang- shou~ xin- xiang- xiang\ zhuan~ lao/ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Double, Hand, Heart, Facing, Direction, Spin, Labor, Palace”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Rotate Lao Gong5 with palms facing
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旋轉日月功
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xuen/ zhuan~ ri\ yue\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Whirl, Spin, Sun, Moon, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Circulate the Sun and Moon6
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洗頭順氣健腦功
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xi~ tou/ shun\ qi\ jian\ nao~ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Wash, Head, Sooth, Energy, Health, Brain, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Clear the Head and Brain with Energy for Health
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胸部順氣五臓熨磨功
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xiong/ bu\ shun\ qi\ wu~ zang\ yun\ mo/ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Chest, Area, Sooth, Energy, Five, (Digestive) Organ, Heat, Massage, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Sooth Chest Energy and Massage Internal Organs
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雙腿陰陽提降功
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shuang- tui~ yin- yang/ ti/ jiang\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Both, Leg, Yin, Yang, Lift, Sink, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Guide Energy Up and Down the Ying Yang leg meridians7
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轉腹還原氣血熔化功
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zhuan~ fu\ huan/ yuan/ qi\ xue~ rong/ hua\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Rotate, Abdomen, Return, Origin, Energy, Blood, Smelt, Melt, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Rotate abdomen, return to origin, fuse energy and blood
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Note:
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Perform all the above exercises in multiples of nine repetitions
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After practicing each of the above exercises, one should do the following exercises:
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降氣歸丹功
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jiang\ qi\ gui- dan- gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Lower, Energy, Return, Pill, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Lower Energy to return to Middle Dan Tian
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Repetitions:
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3 times
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無極守丹功
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wu2 ji/ shou~ dan- gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Nothing, Ultimate, Guard, Pill, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Ultimate Emptiness8 except Inward9 Focus on Middle Dan Tian.
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Duration:
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At least 1 minute after each exercise or at least 10 minutes when doing this on its own
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附錄fu\ lu\ Appendix
The previous section is translated from a piece of hand written note from Master Feng Zhi Qiang, Master Zhang Xue Xin’s teacher. The translator adds the following to cover some excluded exercises that are commonly practiced in conjunction with the above.
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磨盤功
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mo/ pan/ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Grind, Plate, (Grindstone) Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Rotate Waist
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探臂功
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tan\ bei\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Stretch, Arm, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Stretch Arm (while holding the “Sword” finger)
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旋臂功
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xuan/ bei\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Whirl, Arm, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Rotate Arm (while holding the “Sword” finger)
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斜開合功
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xie/ kai- he/ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Diagonal, Open, Close, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Diagonal Open Close Arm
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拍打功
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pai- da~ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Slap, Hit, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Slap and Hit various major acupuncture points
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保健功
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bao~ jian\ gong-
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Literal Translation:
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“Keep, Health, Exercise”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Face Massage for Health
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Another set of related exercises are the traditional standing meditations or stances:
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三環樁
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san- huan/ zhuang-
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Literal Translation:
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“Three, Ring, Stance”
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Descriptive Translation:
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High Natural Stance, hold arms in a circle (upper, middle or lower section)
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Duration:
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At least 3 minutes per each section
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坎離樁
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kan~ li/ zhuang-
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Literal Translation:
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“Water10, Fire11, Stance”
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Descriptive Translation:
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Horse Stance, one palm in front of chest, form a hook with the other hand and place at the back, between the kidneys
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Duration:
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At least 3 minutes
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Brief Discussion on 氣, qi\, “Energy”
In Chinese traditional medicine, the concept of Energy is highly pervasive yet remained incredibly vague. The phrase “Life Force” is probably more easily understandable by Western language speakers, but it is also equally ambiguous. Qi is not scientifically measurable directly, but its effects like heat flow, tingling, numbness of certain body parts can often be felt by Qi Gong practitioner, not to mention the general feeling and effect of well being and strength.
Brief Discussion on 丹, dan-, “Pill”
Under the context of Chinese mythology and Taoist alchemy or mystical knowledge, the concept of Pill refers to the concentration of Energy into a small ball inside the body of some highly elevated “beings”, such as long term meditation and Qi Gong practitioner, deities or demons. Great martial or even magical power can come from the development of such a Pill. For example, mystical beings such as dragons and demons in Taoist religious paintings are often drawn with a fiery pearl coming out of their mouth to demonstrate this point.
Translator’s Disclaimer
None of the material in this note, including the appendix, is meant to be official. In fact, the original note is rather informal, and so is this translation. The translator tries to remain as objective as possible, and attempts to provide some information to bridge the inevitable cultural gap between Chinese and Western speakers. However, some personal interpretation is unavoidable when discussing such arcane and abstract terms like Energy, Pill, etc. The translator would like to urge the readers to use the information presented in this note with some flexibility and to not insist on scholarly precision with any concepts or words. Such insistence can be a common occurrence among Qi Gong and Tai Ji practitioners, which can be counter productive as it often lead to time consuming endless debates, which take away time from personal practice! J
Most importantly, this translation does not represent Master Feng or Master Zhang’s opinion or teaching in any official capacity.
Foot Notes:
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The marking after the phonetic pronunciation (according to the Pin Yin system) is the tonal inflection of the vowel(s), i.e. the symbol ‘-‘ is for high pitch but constant tone, ‘/’ is for rising (in pitch) tone, ‘~’ is for dropping then rising, ‘\’ is for dropping.
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上丹田, shang\ dan- tian/, “Upper Pill Field”, the energy spot on the forehead, where one cultivates 神, shen/, “Spirit”. 中丹田, zhong- dan- tian/, “Middle Pill Field”, the energy spot in the lower abdomen, where one cultivates 氣 qi\, “Energy”. 下丹田, xia\ dan- tian/, “Lower Pill Field”, the energy spot at the perineum, the general region between the anus and the genital organs, where one cultivates 精, jing-, “Essence”. Please refer to the appendix for more information on the word “Pill”.
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陽, yang/, a concept in 易經, yi\ jing-, or I-Ching, “Change, Scripture”, the Book of Change, that symbolizes Positive, Masculine, Active, Heavenly, etc.
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陰, yin-, a concept in the Book of Change that symbolizes Negative, Feminine, Passive, Earthly, etc.
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勞宮, lao/ gong-, “Labor, Palace”, an acupuncture point in the middle of the palm.
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日月宮, ri\ yue\ gong-, “Sun, Moon, Palace”, the left and right side of the chest and abdomen, respectively.
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足三陽, zu/ san- yang/, “leg three Yang”, the three Yang meridians along the outer side of the legs, namely, the Stomach, the Spleen, and the Bladder meridians. 足三陰, zu/ san- yin-, “leg three Yin”, the three Yin meridians along the inner side of the legs, namely, the Kidney, the Liver, and the Gall meridians.
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無極, wu/ ji/, “Nothingness, Extreme”, Ultimate Nothingness, a concept proposed by scholars of the Book of Change that refers to the Absence of Substance, Action, or in this context, absence of Movements and Wandering Thoughts.
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Specifically on 中丹田, Zhong- Dan- Tian/, “Middle, Pill, Field”, where one cultivates 氣, qi\, “Energy”.
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坎, kan~, “Water ”, the symbolic name for water in the Book of Change. In this context, it signifies the kidney.
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離, li/, “Fire ”, the symbolic name for Fire in the Book of Change. In this context, it signifies the heart.
By Brian Guan at 2006-07-20 21:42 | login or register to post comments
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