Cover: Grandmaster Wang Hao Da Qi Magazine is published by the Tse Qigong Centre. Its aim is to bring you information not readily available in the West.
Editor: Michael Tse In about 1920-1930, China was object that was thrown through the Deputy Editor: Darryl Moy in civil war. The Qing Government was window and when they picked it up, they Editorial Assistants: John Hayes over and the Republic of China had just found it was money. The money always Sarah Bloomfield been established. Mr Sun Yat-sen was seemed to come at Simon Bedford Caroline Garvey leading the People’s Government to just Mike Stenson unify all the areas of China from Marketing/Distribution: Jessica Blackwell province to province. However, Subscriptions: Jayne Rowlands Sweden: Barbro Olsson all the war lords were selfish to Consultants (Listed in alphabetical order): try to conquer other areas, and a lot of areas were still under the Grandmaster Chan Chi Ho Grandmaster Chen Xiao Wang colonial rule of different countries. Grandmaster Ip Chun Many innocent people were killed Grandmaster Yang Meijun and many people tried to take Columnists: Glen Gossling advantage of others. Often women J. Reynolds Nelson were forced to be prostitutes or Dr. Shulan Tang raped, not only Chinese but Tse Sihn Kei Adam Wallace immigrants from other countries. It was a very Readers may contact any of our contributors c/o Qi Magazine. chaotic time. We encourage all our readers to contribute articles, letters However, in Sichuan, or questions for possible inclusion in future issues of Qi Magazine. Ermei Mountain, there was a twenty year old beautiful Articles appearing in Qi Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editor. girl who had very good Adverts appearing in the magazine are not necessarily martial art skill. Sometimes endorsed by it or the editor. Exercises appearing in Qi Magazine are for reference people travelling at night purposes only. Thus anyone wishing to study should seek in that area would qualified tuition. see a shadow Michael Tse 2000. flying up to the sky All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be and practising reproduced, stored or transmitted in any way without the written permission of Michael Tse. sword techniques.
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Subscription: Costs per year: “Moon Lady”. needed it to save their family. UK £20 inc p&p. In Sichuan area particularly, there With all these incidents USA $35 inc p&p Europe £25 (airmail) inc p&p. were a lot of bandits and gangsters who happening, like the bandits and Worldwide £30 (airmail) inc p&p. took advantage of the civilians. However, gangsters being killed and their money For UK/Europe/Worldwide suddenly some of the leaders of the being stolen, people claiming to see a Please send payment in Pounds Sterling. Payment can be bandits and gangsters were secretly shadow goddess, people in that area by Credit Card or Cheque, drawn on UK bank, payable to killed and the money that they had stolen began to imagine that there really was a Qi Magazine: from others was taken. This happened Moon Lady who gave them help. Qi Magazine PO Box 59 Altrincham, WA15 8FS, UK many times. At the scene of the murders, Therefore, the name, Moon Lady, Tel:0161 9294485 Fax:0161 929 4489 they always found a circle drawn and became very popular. The poor people email: [email protected] written in it, “Moon Lady”. liked her, but the bad people were afraid For USA/Canada This was a poor area and the of her. Please send payment in US Dollars. Payment can be by people there had no money and not even At this same time there was a Credit Card or Check payable to Qi Magazine: enough food to survive. They relied on famous general, Cai Er, who belonged Qi Magazine the simple farm jobs to maintain the to the People’s Government. He had a PO Box 2697, Kirkland WA 98083 family, but then from time to time, they very good reputation and people loved Tel:(425) 823 0199 Fax:(520) 441 6578 began to find some money left outside him. They knew that he would do email [email protected] of their doorways. When they looked, everything he could to unify the whole http://www.qimagazine.com however, they just saw a shadow flying of China and help the people. While ISSN 1358-3778 away. Sometimes they received a heavy continued on page 7
Qi Magazine 1 1 Editorial with Michael Tse.
3 PO Box 116
8 Silk Reeling the Chen Family Way Silk Reeling is a fundamental part of Taijiquan. It governs the way Qi moves around the body making the practitioner healthy and also developing the energy for the martial side. By Glenn Gossling
9 Lady Chinese Doctor Continuing her journey to becoming a Chinese doctor Shulan tells of her studies at university and finally treating her very first patient By Dr. Shulan Tang 26 Fifteen Years – Travelling the World to Sell My Skill 11 Dayan Gong 2nd64 – Acupuncture Points and Channels For the past fifteen years Grandmaster Ip Chun has travelled all round Last issue we completed the movements of the 2nd 64 of Wild Goose the world teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu. Each year the number of (Dayan) Qigong. Now we start to look more in more detail at the people attending his seminars grows. Though he never imagined this acupuncture points and channels the movements use and work with. would be his life. By Michael Tse By Grandmaster Ip Chun, translated by Michael Tse
13 The Centre Line – Part 1 A Definition? 29 Essence of Harmony part 2 Wing Chun replies very heavily on the principle of the Centre Line. Following on from last issue the author looks at how important it is to Without a clear understanding of this, many misunderstandings and achieve harmony with everything around you, but also with what is misconceptions can arise. within you. By Darryl Moy By J. Reynolds Nelson
14 Controlling and Creating: Tien Guan – Di Zi 30 Book Review In Feng Shui, the 24 Mountains are very important. They contain a lot A new book by Michael Tse – Qi Journeys. of knowledge and include the Tien Guan – Heavenly Stems and the Dizi, Earthy Branches. These have many relationships and connections 35 Nine Strong Two Palm Hard Qigong Training which are vital to know for your Feng Shui or Bazi (horoscopes) Yin Yang Palm and Pushing Palm calculations to be accurate. Hard Qigong can make the body very strong. Here the exercises create By Michael Tse a strong palm. Some people call it “Iron Palm”.
17 The Face of Good Fortune 36 On the Path Face Reading is an ancient skill in China. By looking at your face you Life is a continuous journey. Where you end up can often be totally can see a lot of things. Different points of the face represent different different to where you thought or wanted to be. times of your life. By Tse Sihn Kei By Peter Shen 37 Siu Lim Tao part 2 19 More Than Just a Tree Continuing our series of the first form of Wing Chun – we complete In China trees represent many things. In Qigong practice they are the section to develop “Gong Lik”. very important. They provide us with oxygen and so with Qi. They can By Michael Tse be used in exercises to help strengthen your own energy. By Huang Yu Cheng 42 Taoist Practise Following the Tao is often not as people expect. You don’t have to pray and worship all your waking hours. Here we follow a day in the 22 Grandmaster Wang Hao Da. life of a Taoist. Following the Disappearing By Khris Larthe Footprints of Yesterday Grandmaster Wang Hao Da is part of 44 New Religions part of an illustrious lineage. He is a As we head off into the new millennium we take a look at the religions student of the late great Ma Yue Liang, of the modern age and what they have meant for us. one of the great masters of Wu Style By Adam Wallace Taijiquan. Grandmaster Wang is the keeper of many of his master’s 45 Palm Reading treasures. His reputation in Pushing Within your palm you have the Bagua. If you can see it then you can Hands is well renowned and he is a true tell a person’s nature. (This includes a reprint of the first part given in teacher in the old tradition. last issue). By J. Reynolds Nelson By Michael Tse POBox POBox POBox... News, views and your letters and questions answered
The Goose the health of the internal organs and so on. Are there Qi Gong exercises that Danny Connor strengthen the physical body and make it & the Kiwi A friend of mine, Danny more capable of exertion, and where do I Connor, passed away on New Year’s Dear Qi Magazine, find out more about them? Thank you for the informative, well Day. We worked together from 1988 Thank you, TB presented magazine which I look forward to 1990. He was a person whom I worked with doing Qigong in to receiving and reading. Dear T, England. We set up a “Qigong The memory of the Wye summer There are many different kinds of Institute” to help promote Qigong and school still lingers freshly as I Qigong but of those, there are two main help people improve their health. He remember encouraging words areas, Hard Qigong and always had new ideas and contacts and adjustments to Soft Qigong. and so we got quite a lot of publicity movements as the goose is Hard Qigong in newspapers and even some slowly finding its wings in helps develop television during the time I was with New Zealand. the muscle, skin him. At the The most amazing and bone of the same time, I body, using stayed with event happened while dynamic breath- him at his practising Wild Goose ing exercises, home. He has early one morning in my movements and a wonderful local park. I was just meditation. wife and she moving into “Flying over Sometimes this is took care of the Sea” when two called Iron Shirt me, fixing Canada Geese (honking Qigong and you meals and as they flew) passed have probably seen making me over. I was so moved photos of people feel like part bending spears of their family. that the hairs on the back against their throats or She was a very nice lady. Even my of my neck stood up. I thought afterwards breaking bricks teacher Ip Chun says that. I was dreaming, did I just imagine that against their body or even lying on a bed Danny was a very charming happening, as all that happens now is the of spikes. Many martial artists use this as person who could make you laugh bad tempered sea gulls moaning at me as a way of protecting their body from injury. very easily. He had a lot life experience they compete for space in the early Soft Qigong helps relax the body and he helped me learn more about morning tranquillity. and improve health. It specifically works the Western culture. He also helped I’ve now taken more interest in the to release blockages in the body and me improve my English which at that bird movement, especially the goose and restore natural Qi flow throughout the time was not very smooth. Although body, also using movements and later we had certain difficulties, I miss what I have seen is totally different to what meditation. The movements in Soft him. He did a lot to help promote the I used to see. In fact, since finishing the Qigong are usually much more gentle martial and healing arts in the UK and Wild Goose form everything in my life is and connect with various acupuncture was well known by many people. taking on a new and deeper meaning. points in the body. If it is Hard Qigong in Michael Tse I thank you all for your being there which you are interested, I will be holding and helping people, more than you can a Level I seminar of the Heavenly River as an accountant. For about fifteen years I imagine. For me it has inspired my life Monastery Hard Qigong in March 2000 have suffered with Psoriasis. My lower legs, immeasurably and all the people that visit in Bellevue, WA (USA). I hope that this elbows and scalp are particularly diseased. me in my Chinese Medical practice. has answered your question. I am presently advised by a young Yours sincerely, Best wishes from New Zealand Michael Tse Asian practitioner in Traditional Chinese N. New Zealand Medicine. Acupuncture has been unsuccessfully attempted. My diet is pretty Qigong for Strength Internal Heat bland. Nothing roasted, fried, baked, Good day Michael, barbecued. I eat steamed chicken or white Hello, I have recently purchased your fish, and boiled vegetables. Apples and I have just been looking at the web- book on “Qigong for Health and Vitality”. pears are allowed. White rice, white bread page, and saw Bruce Lee on the front of Can you, perhaps, help me with my present are eaten by me as the wholemeal variety the Magazine. I would like to ask you a state of ill health? I am aged 61 and work seems to be too harsh. I have purchased a question - a lot of Qi Gong centres around book or two in an attempt to learn the
Qi Magazine 3 Qigong form, but the forms applied by some specially prepared mixtures, like Wu me have, so far, been of no help. Have Fa Cha (five flower tea) which is for Sweden - you had any experience with the treatment releasing fire from the body. of psoriasis, as I should like to overcome When there is Balancing Gong the illness. too much fire, then it is like anything Instructors Course HG, Cardiff thatsitsnear ahot oven, it will lose its In Sweden, on the weekend of 28 Dear HG, January, over twenty people moisture and Thank you for your letter. Your become dry. We received their qualification as an condition is very common these days can help the body authorised instructor for the Tse and you have taken the right steps to to produce more oils Qigong Centre to teach Balancing reduce the foods mentioned from your by improving Gong. Everyone worked very hard diet. Fried, roasted and spicy foods all circulation and Qigong over the weekend. It was very nice create fire in the body. The same for should certainly aid you in doing this. to see how those more experienced chocolate, caffeine, certain fruits However, my suggestion in the first place with the exercises helped those just (tangerines, peaches) and vegetables. You would be to take as much fresh air as learning. can also try drinking some cooling teas, possible. Try slapping gently from the like chryanthemum, peppermint or even shoulders down to the wrists on the AA Great Great Recovery Recovery
Dear Michael: I wanted to take a few moments to drop you a few lines to give you an update and say thank you. When I talked to you last I was in despair that my Some people came as they wanted doctors wanted to put me on complete bed rest as my heart condition was getting serious. After much discussion and persuasion, I convinced my to set up their own classes while cardiologist to allow me to maintain some simple exercises. The one that was others wanted to become qualified the most relaxing and easiest for me was Beautiful Woman Turns the Waist so that they might use the Balancing from your book. Gong exercises in their clinics and I also massaged my feet and arms to stimulate circulation as you work as therapists. Stefan and advised. After a few weeks I was scheduled for a major surgery that was to Barbro, who are the Swedish have me in bed for a few weeks recovering. The day after surgery I felt good contacts for the Tse Qigong Centre, enough to be up and walking, I began doing my Qigong exercise routine worked very hard to make the again within a day of my operation. My surgeon and doctors were amazed at course run smoothly and bring my ability to move so easily so quickly. I was amazed too. I am making great everyone together as a family. They strides in my embarkment on a new life. I thank you for your time and are all looking forward to the suggestions. I believe that the way you helped prepare me is the reason I Healthy Living Gong instructor made such a complete recovery so quickly. Thank you, again. course in the future. KA, Indiana
World Taiji & NOTICE! If there is a story you would like to share about how Qigong or the Qigong Day martial arts, Taoism, Buddhism has improved your life and well-being, please send us a letter to: April 8th 2000 The goal is to promote Tai Chi & UK: PO Box 59 USA: PO Box 2697 Qigong, & to promote local classes Altrincham Kirkland, WA 98083 and the important work of local WA15 8FS email: [email protected] teachers worldwide through a email: [email protected] GLOBAL EVENT. The ultimate goal Please let us know whether or not you wish your name withheld and is to vastly improve world health by only initials put in its place. We would like to help encourage others who may educating the world to the be experiencing some of the same difficulties that others have overcome. incredible potential for healing and That way, we can help each other and be like a family together. healthcare that Taiji & Qigong offer.
Qi Magazine 4 outside of the arms. You can also do the same on legs, slapping down the outside of the thighs and calves to the ankles. This will help the body release negative Questions asked of energy. You can also rub the soles of your feet at night before sleeping as well, as Michael Tse from his Classes this too will help release negative energy. Q. Why when I am taught in If you find you would like to do some Qigong exercises, you can try some class by an instructor, is their of the Balancing Gong exercises from my movement different than video, starting out slowly and finishing by your movement? doing the meditation. If you can do the A. No body will do a form exercises outside, this is even better. If not, exactly like someone else, you can open a window to help the air even if under the same exchange. Even ten minutes a day teacher. This is because practised regularly should show some everyone has different size improvement in your condition. If you bodies. However, the have any further questions, please let me principle should be the know. same. In Qigong the Wishing you better health, principle should be on Michael Tse relaxation. The mind should be relaxed and calm. The movements should all connect with your body and energy. The acupuncture points used in various movements should be correct and Wing Chun Books this will also help form a guideline. You should follow the meaning of Hi there! each movement, like gathering the energy to the Dantien, etc. I am German. Right now I live in We are all are slightly different when we do the form. It is just like our Darlington, Wisconsin because I’m an handwriting. Everyone’s writing is not the same, however, the spelling exchange student. This is my problem. I must be correct and you should be able to clearly read what has been have been studying Wing Chun Kung Fu written. This is following the principle. for two years now, but here it’s hard for me to practise because Q. Can we, at the same time I am studying with the Tse Qigong Centre, I don’t have a study with someone else? partner, but I’m A. It is not a problem to study with other teachers. Many famous masters still in touch in the past have been studying from more than one teacher. The point with Wing is how you treat your teacher. You should be sincere and honest to tell Chun. The your teacher that you want to study with another. A good teacher will only thing I not have a problem for this and will probably even give you advice. However, if you secretly study with someone else and your teacher practise does not know, then this will betray your teacher and you will lose his trust. The best is to ask your teacher before you go to study with another. Also, if you go to study with another teacher, you should always be honest about your background and tell that teacher you are studying with someone else.
is Siu Lim Tao and Chum Kiu. here without a partner. Like some exercises So I saw your book which I think is which improve my speed or is there a way excellent to help me out a bit. how I can still improve my sensitivity? Unfortunately there isn’t anything about What would you suggest to do? I really the Chum Kiu or using it. need your help, and I think you are really This leads me to my first question: “Wing Chun smart”. It would be great if Is there another book for advanced Wing you could mail me back as soon as possible Chun? So a second part? But mainly I write and give me some advise. Thank you very to congratulate to you on this great book much. and I would like to know if you could give M. Darlington USA me any tips how I can improve my practice
Qi Magazine 5 Dear M, Thank you for your letter. At this moment, we are working on the other Grandma Gets Going with Her Stick. Wing Chun books and so they will be ready soon. As for your question about practising alone, this is a common “You look like an army!” said Darryl, with a huge grin, as he surveyed the problem but it does not mean you cannot twenty-five of us, standing with our staff at the ready, prepared to be instructed in train. I remember when I first began the art of the Shaolin Damo Staff. Well, at least one soldier was shaking in her boots, studying, I used doors or posts to practise my upper body work or just practised feeling very unsoldierly, more like a funny old witch with her broomstick! punching in the air. For footwork, there It was all very strange on that first day. The staff, which was meant to be my is much you can do, practising moving friend, felt unwieldy, and my main preoccupation was to avoid knocking myself or in all directions, forwards, backwards, anyone else with it. We started by doing some basic exercises, that was OK, and the sideways, circling, using the Wing Chun fact that I had done some juggling in the past helped me. Then on to the form, and principle. You can even use a chair to this was hard work indeed. The postures, the movements, the rhythm, were totally practise hitting with one foot. This will new to me, and I often found myself in the wrong mind set. I was seeking reassurance help train your stance on one leg and help you keep the upper body still and relaxed. So keep practising. “I was a little less clumsy, Yours sincerely, Michael almost flowing at times. At the end of Tse the week-end, I felt amazingly energised and supple. Qigong Fan in familiarity, for instance thinking in terms of “Laogong to Third-eye” when I was Dear Sir meant to think of protecting my head from a potential opponent. The sequence was Happy New Year. I received the impossible for me to memorise. But it was fun, and everybody was relaxed and “Balancing Gong” video. You’re very friendly. So I persevered and found the second day much easier. In spite of many fortunate to have Mr. Tse in your neck of errors, I could remember the movements which were being taught, and I felt I was a the woods. The exercises are easy to follow little less clumsy, almost flowing at times. At the end of the week-end, I felt amazingly although I don’t have the courage to do energised and supple. the “Peeping Monkey” exercise in public. I was not the only beginner on the course, but the majority of participants Living in New York City, that’s a sure fire had some experience of martial arts. It must be a real challenge to teach such a way to end up in Bellevue Hospital. mixed bunch, and that was done with great skill and patience by Darryl and Shahriah. Although I’ve been meditating for Although I was so slow in learning, I received nothing but encouragement, and was more than 25 years, Qigong is an excellent never made to feel that I was slowing down the learning process of others. Every addition to my daily routine. I began student was able to learn at their own pace and according to their capabilities. This is learning Taiji last year and this has led a great credit to the teachers. directly to Qigong. Because of the years I also found much help and encouragement among the other participants, a spent meditating, I can feel the Qi energy smile, a kind word, a bit of helpful advice. The general attitude was one of respectful in my body. Storing it in the lower Dantian tolerance and mutual support. That is one of the factors which made the week-end is something that I wasn’t previously aware so special. Many thanks to all involved. of. No matter how long one lives, there is Marie Ball. Wimbledon. always something new to learn. I’d like to thank you, Mr. Tse, and other staff If there is anything you want to discuss, if there is anything you want to share with others, any news or any announcements you would like to make, send them to us. We members for your prompt attention in also welcome articles (800 - 1000 words in length) on topics appropriate to mailing the video and book. Qi Magazine. Mr. Tse must be a fan of “Martial Readers in the UK can write to: Law.” Samo Hung also likes to use Qi Magazine, PO Box 59, Altrincham WA15 8FS. UK. outtakes at the end of his show. email [email protected] Sincerely, M Readers in the USA can write to: PS - I enjoyed reading your Qi Magazine, PO Box 2697, Kirkland, WA 98083. USA. article at Garri Garripoli’s website. email [email protected]
Qi Magazine 6 General Cai’s troops to see how she They knew that Warlord Yuan could help. It was very easy because the wanted to be the Emperor instead of government needed a of lot people to listening to the People’s Government. help expand their revolution. Moon Lady When they checked the rest of the camp travelling, he and his army came to the was very careful of her behaviour and and soldiers, they found that one soldier Sichuan area to try and recruit patriotic was talented to cover herself well, so no was missing. By the side of the body of young people to the army and help the one knew that she was a lady. She also the dead assistant, they saw a circle country. tried to secretly help General Cai and so drawn and written in it, a name, …” many times she went to his Moon Lady”. area at night to look around Moon Lady left General Cai and to see if there was anything went to Ermei Mountain. After one year she could do to help. she heard the news that General Cai was One night when she ill and staying in Japan for treatment. went to General Cai’s camp Unfortunately, he died whilst in the as usual, she suddenly saw hospital. General Cai was a sincere and someone else sneaking into true person who really fought for the the general’s camp as well. people. The whole government was very When she came close, she upset that they had lost such a good recognised that it was an general. In Ermei Mountain people could assistant of General Cai and hear a lady crying loudly and saying “There will not be another person like “Before the General Cai. The country is still suffering assassin knew what and who knows when can we was happening, have peace.” They heard this many times. something hit After a while no one heard of the him.” crying or saw who usually helped him the Moon Lady’s symbol any more. Some during the day. So quietly she people believe she jumped from Ermei followed him. Suddenly, she Mountain to kill herself in memory of saw him pull out a pistol and General Cai and some believed she left point it towards the general Sichuan because General Cai was dead. who was sleeping. Before the People understood that Moon Lady had assassin knew what was fallen in love with General Cai. happening, there was Life is very short, we want to do a something flying through air lot of things and we always say to and he felt it hit him. Then ourselves, “When I have time or when I he fell to the ground. Even have more money, I will do that.” But at with this happening though, the end of the day, when we are lying in it was all very quiet and so the hospital, we look back. We have no not even the sleeping more time and have not done all that general had been disturbed. we wanted to do. Then we pass away. The next day when Do not think that we will always have the general woke up, he saw another chance. The most important his assistant lying on the thing is to decide what do you want to ground beside his bed. When do in your life and complete your aims. Moon Lady was a very patriotic he checked, he found that he had been Otherwise, you will be like these people person and also wanted to apply her dead for some hours. On his body, they who look back and regret that they have talent to save chaotic China and to let found two knives, one in his hand where not done the things they wanted to do. all the people have a secure life and a pistol lay next to it and the other was peaceful society. She had heard of in his back. It had gone right through his General Cai, whom people thought was back into his heart. After the investigation the right person to help the country. So the assistant was found to have been a she dressed like a boy and joined spy of another war lord, Yuan Shi Kai, who wanted to kill General Cai.
Qi Magazine 7 Chan Si Gong or Silk Reeling exercises, as they are called in the West, are the foundation of Chen style taiji. These profoundly simple movements show how Qi circulates during the practice of taijiquan. Silk Reeling the.... Chen Family Way nce the principle of these moves is stillness. This is why taijiquan always second movement involves an axis that understood it is easy to bring clarity begins by preparing posture and runs through the body from right to left Oto the many thousands of moves consciousness before starting any around which the Dantien rotates that make up the taiji system, whereas movements. The breath is sunk to the forward and back, up and down. without them one could easily learn many Dantien. By maintaining the centre of the The old frame begins with a move thousand moves without ever attaining Dantien it is possible to become still while that only uses the second movement a high level of skill or clarity. in movement and in movement while still. principle and follows this with one that During his recent This paradox is at the heart of taiji and is only uses the first. However, in most other visit to the UK Sigong what gives taiji its unique spirit. taiji moves the Dantien is rotated in more Chen Xiaowang The two movements of the than one direction at a time. The silk elucidated the Dantien are circular and occupy reeling exercises are useful precisely fundamental prin- because they ciple of taiji. He isolate the stated that the taiji i n d i v i d u a l principle is composed “By maintaining rotations of of one posture the Dantien. combined with two They make it n movements. The posture is the Dantien it is easier to learn a based on the Zhan Zhuang the principle of u meditation stance and the two possible to taiji movement q movements refer to the two and with the i directions that the Dantien is basic principle j i rotated during taiji. become still in place it The basic Zhan Zhuang b e c o m e s a posture provides the framework easier to clarify T
for these two movements of the while in the detail of all
n Dantien to direct the Qi about taiji move- the body. In the Zhan Zhuang ments. e stance the spine is upright with movement” S i l k h the head, shoulders, Dantien and reeling exer- C feet in vertical alignment. All the cises use a repeating circular spiralling joints are slightly bent and loose. Movement 1 movement to train the body in a number It is vital that the whole body is still of ways. Silk Reeling trains the circulation and relaxed. This does not mean that the of the Dantien, it trains the waist body is allowed to collapse, it means that movement, and the Qi circulation. The good posture is maintained but without first of the silk reeling exercises is called any tension. With the body relaxed, the Zheng Mian Chan Si which translates as movement of the Dantien is able to spiral ‘front silk reeling’. The second is Heng out from the centre to the periphery of Kai Bu which means ‘walking to the side’. the body in a logical way. The third is Shuang Shou Chan Si – ‘both The silk reeling energy spirals hands silk reeling’. The fourth is Qian Jin from the Dantien to the shoulder, to the Bu – ‘walk forward’. The fifth is Hou Tui elbow to the wrist and finally the fingers. Movement 2 Bu which translates as ‘walk backward’. The rotation of the Dantien takes the These are the first set of silk reeling body from a neutral relaxed posture into exercises and were all covered in detail a state where the body becomes yin then the two vertical planes. Movement one by Sigong Chen at his London lecture. yang, or yang and then yin. In a sense consists of the body being penetrated by These exercises will be detailed in the the movement of the Dantien can only an imaginary axis that runs through the next issue of Qi Magazine or they are take place because of the way that middle of your stomach from the front of available on Sigong Chen’s Chan Si stillness is able to culminate in the Zhan your body to the back. The Dantien then Gong videos Zhuang posture. Therefore when rotates like a wheel around the centre of by Glenn Gossling movement culminates it returns to this axis left and right, up and down. The email [email protected]
Qi Magazine 8 Although my university is quite close to my hometown, like other students, I only went home twice a year for summer and Chinese New Year vacations. Lady Chinese Doctor
stablished in l955, the Nanjing herbal prescriptions from a little pocket University of Traditional Chinese handbook. Medicine is one of the five earliest Lectures begun at 8.00am and E back to the classroom to study again for and most famous universities of TCM in continued until 12.00 noon. After our the whole evening up to about 11pm. China. It is situated only three hours canteen lunch we would return to our Everyone studied very hard. coach journey away from my hometown room for a short break. My five room- Towards the end of term before exams Li Yang. The establishment houses three mates would love to chat or sing along we studied until even later. I remember thousand students including to the radio. My favourite pastime was the university officials were worried about undergraduate students, Master, Ph.D. listening to serialised stories and T
our health, they would turn off all the r and overseas students. lights in the student dormitory a There is a staff of four building, in an effort to make d hundred lecturers, over us go to bed, but some of us i one hundred assistant t
bought candles and continued i professors and seventy o to study. I remember living like professors. In addition n that for five years. My entire to thirty universities of a mind was focused on TCM TCM there are also l
Studies. The university thirty-five colleges of C encouraged this because they TCM in China. h did not allow undergraduate On September i students to have a boy friend n 1st l979 I was among or girl friend, as this would e two hundred and forty distract us from our studies. s new students arriving e This rule was strongly enforced. on the same day. Six
We could not choose where to M of us girls were sit in the class - desks were allocated to the same e allocated to us. A boy sat next room, (see picture) d to me. We sat next to each which was about i other for lectures and c fifteen metres square. i
private study for two n I slept on a top bunk.
years, but never spoke e Most of the girls were a word, as we were two years older than I, the eldest “My entire mind shy. was six years older. Like in my In the summer family, at university I was still the Nanjing is extremely youngest one. In all I had to study was focused on TCM hot and humid. It is twenty-five subjects of which two known as one of the thirds were Chinese Medicine and three ‘oven’ cities of one-third, western medicine. Studies.” China, along with At 6am the university radio Chong Qing and Wu started and everyone had to go Han. It was too hot to stay in the to the playground to do formation practising my Chinese calligraphy. classroom. In the evenings I usually stood exercises. Before lectures commenced we would outside under a road lamp to read. Because we lived on the fifth floor have a little nap. We followed this ritual On rare trips home I enjoyed we usually took our metal plates and every day. Afternoon lectures began at reading on the coach. I would take so spoons with us, so that at 7am, after 2.00pm. On days when there was not a many books home that my brother in law exercises, we could all save time and go lecture we still went to the classroom to would have to meet me at the coach straight to the canteen for breakfast. In study again up to 4.30pm or 5pm. Then station, as I could not carry them all. the long queue for breakfast I read and we played sports such as volleyball and One New Years Day all my sisters were memorised the classical theory of TCM badminton for about an hour until chatting while I was still engrossed in my and learned the ingredients of classical dinnertime at 6pm. After dinner it was studies. My second sister insisted that I
Qi Magazine 9 join them. I got very frustrated and started to cry. In the end everyone blamed this sister for upsetting me. My father used to buy cinema tickets for me as a treat, but I always refused to go, much preferring to study. I felt there was so much medical knowledge to learn, as well as philosophy and science, so many herbs, prescriptions and acupuncture points to remember. For me, the studying was like satisfying a hunger or thirst. I was aware that some of my classmates complained that it was boring. They thought that TCM was established thousands of years ago and it was out of fashion to study it. I always believed that nature would never fail, it must be useful for human beings. First proof of that was during the third year of TCM study when I had the opportunity of three months practice in Yan Chen hospital in Jiang Su Province. The first patient I saw was a twenty four- year-old gentleman who was an actor. He suffered from hair loss with general tiredness, dizziness and insomnia. He had pale complexion and poor appetite. He couldn’t do his job properly and was very distressed. I diagnosed deficiency of Qi and blood of the heart and spleen and prescribed Gui Pi Tang. My supervisor, Dr Fu Lei Chen, marked me 100% correct. He didn’t change a single herb in my first prescription. A week later this patient came for a check up and was pleased to tell me that his hair loss had already stopped, he felt more energetic and slept better. His complexion looked healthier, but he still hadn’t got his appetite back. This time my supervisor added two herbs into the prescription to improve the patient’s digestion. Dr Chen explained to me that the first prescription had a lot of tonic herbs in, which did a lot of good. Additionally the patient had a poor appetite so it was better to add two more herbs to help the digestive system so that Tse Qigong Centre UK he can absorb the tonics better. PO Box 59 “Why didn’t you correct anything at first?” I asked Altrincham WA15 8FS “It was your first prescription to a 0845 838 2285 real patient. You made the correct diagnosis and chose the right +44 161 929 4485 prescription. I didn’t upset it because I [email protected] want to protect your confidence perfectly,” he said. How great good supervision is. How lucky I am. I treated my first patient successfully by Dr Shulan Tang email [email protected]
Qi Magazine 10 Dayan Gong 2nd 64 Dayan Gong 2nd 64 Dayan Gong 2nd 64 Dayan
DayanDayan Gong Gong 2 2ndnd 6464 acupunctureacupuncture points points and and channels channels
Principle Dayan Qigong 2nd 64 is stronger than the 1st 64, excess heat which causes ulcers in the mouth. In movement 3, although both connect together. The 2nd 64 begins with the ” Looking for the Wind”, we lift up the chin and look forward movement, “Sleep peacefully and recover the Qi”, not with to gather the Qi from outside to this point. the standing relaxed position. 2nd 64’s movements, timing and techniques are also longer, although it still has only 64 3. Jianjing movements. The 2nd 64 not only works with acupuncture points Jianjing belongs to Gall and channels, and uses more than the 1st 64, but it also makes Bladder channel and means the Qi and blood circulation stronger. This improves the function “Shoulder Well”. It is located in of the internal organs and balances the heat and damp inside the deep area of the shoulder, the body. So while practising the 2nd 64 youwill feel like having at the middle between the a bath, warm and clean inside the body. Dazhui (which is on the neck at Some of the movements of the 2nd 64 include pointing, the seventh vertebra) and the slapping, transmitting and smoothing the acupuncture points tip of the shoulder. It is good and channels. During the movement we also find some for relieving shoulder aches, stretching and jerking to work the muscles, tendons and joints. chest ache, neck ache and Thus it is very good for keeping the body flexible and functional. tiredness. In movement 4, It can help your body become rejuvenated. “Draw the Claws Against the Shoulders”, it is used to Acupuncture points and channels stimulate the shoulders, allowing the Qi to flow to the neck and shoulders. 1. Jingmen This is an acupuncture point 4. Shenting for the kidney and means “Capital Shenjing belongs to Du Gate”. It belongs to Gall Bladder Channel and means “Spiritual Channel and is located at the tip of Courtyard”. It is located at the middle the last rib. It is a very sensitive point of the forehead at the hairline. It is and when it is touched, it will easily good for headaches, migraines, make you laugh as it can feel very helping the eye sight and nose ticklish. In the second movement, blockages. If this area is hit hard, “Draw Arms”, we close five fingers then the person can easily be together and stimulate this point knocked unconscious. In movement slightly. 10, “Bring Qi in and Release Qi Out”, we hold the Qi to bring it in to this point. We then continue 2. Lianquan to smooth the Qi to other acupuncture points like the Baihui, This point belongs to Ren Fengfu, Fengchi, etc. This clears the channels of the upper part Channel and means “Tongue of the body. Spring”. It is located underneath the chin at the bottom of the root of throat. Normally it is hidden when 5. Fengfu we look forward, as if this point is This point belongs to the Du channel as well, and means hit, it will cause breathing problem “Windy Mansion”. It is located 1 inch (cun) above the hairline and damage the nervous system. on the back of the head, on the centre line. It is good for When we find that we lack of saliva, headaches, migraines, dizziness, infection of the throat, loss we can lift up the chin and thus, of eye sight, stroke and unconsciousness. It is a very important open the Lianquan point. This will point for the upper body. Acupuncturists use this point a lot. In help to start to create saliva. This movement 10, “Bring Qi in and releasing Qi out”, we use this point is also good for releasing point and it has the same effect as in the previous movement.
Qi Magazine 11 9. Ganshu This belongs to the Urinary Bladder Channel and means “Liver Shu” ( Shu - strong Qi area). It is located 1.5 inch (cun) to the side of the ninth vertebra. It is good for the liver, any eye problems and circulation. In movement 13, “Stroking the legs”, we stroke up along the spine along the Urinary Bladder Channel. The movement will go through all the acupuncture Fengfu points in that area. Fengchi 10. Danshu Danchu also belongs to the Urinary Bladder Channel. It means “Gall Bladder Shu”. It is located just below the Ganshu point 1.5 inch (cun) to the side of the tenth vertebrae. it is good for the gall bladder, nausea and chest pain. It is used the 6. Fengchi same way as movement 13. This point belongs to Gall Bladder Channel and means “Wind Pond”. It is located on either side of the Fengfu point 11. Pishu about 1 inch (cun) away. It is good for headaches, dizziness This point belongs to the Urinary Bladder Channel and and feeling faint caused by cold wind that gets into the brain. means “Spleen Shu”. It is located just below the Danchu point It also good for eye pain and infection as well as shoulder and 1.5 inch (cun) to the side of the eleventh vertebrae. It is good neck pain. In movement 10, “Bring Qi in and Releasing Qi for the spleen, digestive system problems and sickness of the Out“, we use the Fengchi points. We actually use these points stomach. It is the same movement 13. in many movements. If the hand covers the back of the head, then this will relate with all of these points like Fengfu and Fengchi.
7. Zhongchong Zhongchong belongs to the Pericardium Channel. It means Ganshu “Middle Rush”. It is located at the middle part of the middle fingers. It is good for irregular heart beats and Danshu the circulation. Touching this point can make us calm. If a baby cries a Pishu lot at night, you can touch this point so they can sleep better. It is also Weishu good for any emotional problems. Sanjaoshu We can touch this point with the thumbs together for meditation and it will calm down the mind. In movement 11, “Going Through and Releasing Out”, both middle fingers will touch each other and then we quickly release both arms. In this way the heart will be stimulated. At the same time the 12. Weishu Qi between the legs will be released allowing the new Qi to Weishu belongs to the Urinary Bladder Channel and come in to open the lower part of the body. means “Stomach Shu”. It is located just below the Pishu point 1.5 inch (cun) to the side of the twelth vertebrae. It is good for stomach sickness, digestive problems, good for calming sounds 8. Jiexi from the stomach and ulcer of the stomach and intestine. Same as movement 13. This belongs to Stomach Channel and means “Cleaning the steam”. Located at the front of the 13. Sanjaoshu ankle, at the joint between the lower Sanjaoshu belongs to the Urinary Bladder Channel and leg and the feet. It is good for means “Triple Warmer Shu”. (The Triple Warmer covers three stomachache, digestive system parts of the body:- upper, middle and lower warmer which problems, ankles and paralysis. In starts at the throat to the Wuiyin point). It is located 1.5 inch movement 12, “Transmitting Qi to the (cun) to the side of the first waist vertebrae. It is just below the Ankles”, we transmit Qi to the Jiexi Weishu point. It is good for the liquid circulation, swollen arms point. and legs. It is the same as above movement 13. to be continued... byMichael Tse
Qi Magazine 12 One of the most important principles in Wing Chun is Centre Line Theory. In essence, this is a simple principle and once understood will help your practice no end. However, to understand Centre Line Theory we must take into account three “different” Centres. The Centre Line Part 1: A Definition?
he Centre Line, as jumping. It is at this point we can be seen in Fig 1, Fig 1 Jik Sin start to consider the third Tis the Centre Line “Centre” and this is actually his which divides the body Centre of Gravity. into two running vertically All this does sound very from the top of the head Fig 2 complicated, but there is way to down through the body. It Meridian Line simplify things a little. Ji Ng Sin is this line that Wing Chun When standing upright, emphasises when attack-
your Centre of Gravity actually W ing and defending. This lies on the Jik Sin. Personally I line is called Jik Sin. When i find this to be a very important n standing directly opposite point in defining the Jik Sin. In g your opponent, then your fact I would go as far to say that Jik Sins will also face each the Jik Sin is defined by the C other. In this case, it is perpendicular line that runs h simple to work your line through the Centre of Gravity. u n of attack. Fig 2. Therefore no matter what angle
Now we can your opponent is leaning, you K introduce another can work out his Jik Sin and so u “Centre”. This is a line that find the Meridian Line. e joins your Jik Sin to that All that remains is for you n of your opponent. This to be able to see naturally where line is called the Meridian his Jik Sin and so his Centre of Line or Ji Ng Sin. More Gravity is. But the only way to often than not, it is this do this is through a lot of practice line that we should really and “training your eyes” so you be concentrating on. Your can see it straight away. Jik Sin on its own is merely Fig 3 Now I hear you say, “Ah, another part of your body, Meridian but what if the opponent is Line with the what is important is its Fig 4 leaning so his Jik Sin does not opponent Meridian Line with relationship to your turning pass through his head? Surely it opponent’s Jik Sin. This the opponent standing off to one is better to attack the head relationship or connection side rather than the Jik Sin?” This is is defined by the Meridian a good question, since it is the Line. If your opponent was head that does control the body. to turn so that he was not Even if you attack the opponent’s facing you such as in Fig Jik Sin/Centre of Gravity, he may 3 , you can still draw a the fall, but if he can think clearly Meridian Line between he can attack back. This your Jik Sin and his. In fact highlights a very important you can draw in this line point. The Jik Sin is very at whatever angle you important, but it is not the only This is not too complicated so long and your opponent are facing (Fig 4). thing to consider. As for the answer … as your opponent remains upright. Where the Meridian Line makes contact you can decide for yourself with your opponent is in fact where you However, the situation changes when he should aim your attacks. begins to lean forwards, backwards and To be continued... By Darryl Moy takes up different postures or is even email [email protected]
Qi Magazine 13 For studying Feng Shui, the Twenty-Four Mountains are very important. It covers Tien Guan, Di Zi and the Bagua. Controlling and Creating Tien Guan - Di Zi Tien Guan Di Zi Combination Creation
Wood Fire Earth Metal Water
Two different elements combine together and become another element. This is very important and we must remember this when we use them in Ba Zi (Chinese Horoscope) and Feng Shui.
Fire
C re at io n
Wood Controlling Earth
Water Metal Even just two of the Di Zi can create another element:
Controlling WATER WOOD
FIRE METAL
Qi Magazine 14 Meeting Cutting
WATER Self Cut
WOOD
FIRE
METAL
Chong Hurt (Against)
Qi Magazine 15 In the Di Zi, Creating and Meeting are the most Breaking important and these can overpower all. In the Ba Zi (Chinese Horoscope) and Feng Shui, with the Twenty-Four Mountains it is important to know all their elements. If you do not, then you will miss the accuracy you need. In example below, when you have these elements in the Ba Zi, you can see that although each individual symbol has its own element, when these are in certain combinations, they combine to create another element. In this case water by Michael Tse
Ba Zi Example Time Day Month Year METAL
Tien Guan
Dizi
WATER
Combination Feng Shui Example WATER
FIRE W AT ER
M ETAL FIRE SOUTH
W OOD E ARTH
Windows EAST WEST Front Door
NORTH
Qi Magazine 16 In the Chinese art of face reading, the position points of the floating year are among the most interesting aspects. Each point represents a year in life and reveals some aspect of your personality or destiny. The Face of Good
hese points allow you to fix your position in life and learn the significance of the place at which you now stand. You can discover the primary influences of your present year and the pursuits that are most favoured at this particular time in your life. Consequently, you Fortune Twill be better able to take advantage of the opportunities offered and also of your strengths, putting to work the energies that are most likely to be effective.
Finding Your Current Position Point If the colour is Your current position point is your present glowing and age plus one. The Chinese measure life from appropriate to the area conception, so you are at position point one on occupied by the the day of your birth and position point two on particular palace in your first birthday. Or, to think of it another which you are way, on your first birthday, you start your interested, your second year of life and thus should be promise of examining position point two. You will see success is all the position points for ages 1-100 on strong. If the the following illustration. area appears When you have found your position dull, the colour is point, it is important to observe whether it is wrong for the on the left side, on the right side or in the area, or the palace middle. You may find that when it is located appears sunken, on the left side, you are more subject to the dark or blemished, influence of your father, more like your father’s you are warned of side of the family and more concerned with the Yang possible disappointment (aggressive) side of your life – for example, your work. and perhaps should delay When the position point falls on the right side of the your venture or take an face, you are more like your mother and your mother’s alternative course. side of the family, more subject to maternal influence Basically there are and also more concerned with the Yin (home, emotions twelve palaces, however, those and recreation) part of your life. When your position point which lie on either side of the face falls in the middle, you are more likely to be your own person. are double whereas those in the middle of the face are only single palaces. Meaning of the Position Points 1. Palace of Achievement The floating year is your current year of life. Each year 2. Palaces of Parents you move to a new position point. The face represents a map 3. Palaces of Friends and Siblings of the Chinese Imperial Court. It is occupied by palaces, areas 4. Palaces of Transfer in which the functions of the court are carried out. In the face, 5. Palaces of Happiness and Good Fortune the palaces are the areas to be checked for the probable 6. Palaces of Property outcome (either good or ill fortune) of any significant life 7. Palaces of Marriage enterprise, i.e. marriage, love, travel, money, real estate and 8. Palaces of Offspring so on. Regardless of what activity you plan, the enterprise will 9. Palace of Life fall into the provenance of one of these palaces. You can check 10. Palace of Health the state of any particular palace at any time to preview your 11. Palace of Wealth possibilities for a successful action. 12. Palaces of the Household
Qi Magazine 17 Just as the palaces represent areas of activities in one’s Mid Face Points life, then the position points represent the places or offices of Point 42 (Age 41) Delicate Cottage. This represents the various court officials. So with each year, you move (float) a place of seclusion and intimacy and also a time of retreat from one office to another.Your responsibilities and experiences from the outer world for the development of the inner world. vary with your position. The position point indicates This is a year when you may buy a vacation home or seek a opportunities you can take advantage of in your career and place of seclusion and when you will want to spend time in life style. It spells out a personal attribute and destiny for each self-evaluation and introspection rather than forcing yourself year and indicates whether you should be outgoing and upon others. It may be only that you will spend more time in aggressive about your goals or receptive, letting things come your own company or in that of your family, but it should be a to you. year of pleasure and rest. The position point is also an indication of your present vitality. If you are healthy and in good emotional balance, your Lower Face Points position point should show a kind of luminescence or glow. It becomes another checkpoint for your well-being. If it seems Point 58 (Age 57) Guardian. This is a year when your dull greenish or pale or greyish, you may need physical care or animal instincts are usually strong and are brought under emotional support. You can then make life changes to bring control. There is a tendency to act rashly, sometimes to yourself up to par. encounter pitfalls, to be accident prone. It is time when you There is not enough space to cover the meaning of all of the position points, we will cover a few. Points 23 and 24 represent the Lands that Lie to the “You can use face reading Side. These points are concerned with travel, exploration of opportunities as well as new locations, moving in and out for providing insights into of business and social environments and getting experience of the world. They represent times when people change jobs and often locations, try out new fields of a person’s nature” enterprise or travel extensively between may sometimes feel threatened by outside forces and overreact, finishing college and taking a job. or when inner urges become overpowering and you seek a last fling. It is certainly a time you need to defend yourself and Forehead Point guard the inner and outer forces that may be disruptive. Point 71 (Age 70) Buried Treasure. This is the last of the Point 23 (age 22) – The Fringe. This is the Yang point, significant middle points and represents finding of the “gold” representing travel for opportunity, changes in business and of life, the buried treasure of joys of a life well spent, the intellectual explorations. Usually this is the year you finish pleasures of the family and the wisdom you have acquired college, take a long trip or do something that will further through your life. enlarge your new lines of work – and may be sent by your firm The Points 76 to 99, which run around the perimeter of to an outlying district. The important thing about this year and the face represent the age points for the later years (ages 75- the next is not to tie yourself down too rigidly, to leave room to 98), but they also represent the twelve signs of the Chinese explore and move about and make changes before your career animals of our birth year. Each point shows a special becomes fixed. It is a time when you can take chances and characteristic of the animal to which it corresponds to. The last expect good results; movement in anything makes for point on the face, 100, means Completion. This represents the improvement. The personal attribute of this point is adventure. balance point of the cosmic energies Yin and Yang. Its destiny is movement. You can use face reading for providing unique insights into your own or another’s nature. It can help you make the Eye Area Points best moves at the best time. You can use face reading as a Point 34 (Age 33) Kaleidoscope of Colour. This is the guide to reading potential partners, either personal or business. Yin point corresponding to the Yang point, 33. This is again a You can also use it to help others realise their potential and colourful year, with interesting events and people entering your keep their energies up to par. Sometimes people do not life, but it is a time when you consolidate your values and appreciate their true potential and sometimes feel they have viewpoint and form patterns for your future. The same as a nothing to look forward to. If we can call attention to someone’s kaleidoscope takes random bits of colours and integrates them good features, then this can create a positive attitude. Face into a pattern. reading can help give people a promise for the future but it Point 38 (Age 37) Middle Yin. This is the receptive middle also reveals limitations helping to guide you and perhaps others state of development, when you strengthen your position and out of blind alleys and helpless endeavours. Many people consolidate your gains of the past year. Recognise that this is become misdirected in life, striving toward things they cannot again a brilliant year, when you star. But it is a receptive period, attain, simply because they have never been given any when your energy is replenished and when you do better to let guideline. Often, such people can reach higher goals in a more things come to you rather than to make positive efforts to extend rewarding field if they have the courage to change your sphere of influence. In your personal growth, you tend to by Peter Shen rely more on intuitive wisdom than on rational thought. Exerpt from the book “Face Fortunes”, one of Peter Shen’s books on Fortune Telling.
Qi Magazine 18 The Willow The slender tree is dressed in emerald all about, A thousand branches droop like fringes make of jade. But do you know by whom these slim leaves are cut out? The wind of early spring is sharp as scissor blade. He Zhi-Zhang (659-744 AD) 1
MoreMore Than Than JustJust A A Tree Tree rees have always held an energetic, symbolic and poetic place in Chinese thought. This is undoubtedly because trees provide us with many benefits: beauty, shade, oxygen, symbolism Tthrough their strength and rootedness, food, shelter for animals, a source of medicines, building materials, fuel - and in Qigong terms - energy. Qigong, an ancient form of Chinese Meditation, provides methods that allow a person to access a tree’s energy, link with, and absorb it. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Qigong are concerned with the body’s energy or Qi (Chi, Ki, prana). The goal of the meditative study is to keep the Qi balanced and free flowing through the body. Qi can be divided into Yin
Qi Magazine 19 (negative, moon, cold, earth, etc.) and Yang (positive, sun, hot, heaven, etc.); two Method 1 opposite forces of the universe which seek The first method, which is a good balance and harmony while remaining in introduction to meditating by a tree, is to opposition. In addition the two forces are simply sit by the tree and concentrate on constantly transforming one to the other. Dantien (central energy centre located Most often when there is an imbalance in slightly below the navel, inside the body). the body it is because of too much or too This will create a natural and automatic little of one of these two types of energy. exchange of energy between you and the In addition to Yin/Yang/Neutral tree. While any amount of time spent by energetic relationships, different types of the tree is helpful, sitting (standing, etc.) energies can affect and therefore nourish there for 30 minutes to 2 hours is best. various organs. A chart of specific trees and their energetic natures is shown elsewhere in the article. Because of these associations trees can be used to obtain different types of energy (Yin/Yang/ Neutral and those associated with specific organs) and to therefore assist in maintaining our own energy is a strong, balanced and free flowing condition. Method 1 Most trees have Yin/Yang energetic properties. The intensity of those energies for an individual will vary based on the person’s sensitivity to and ability with energy. Many trees have a number of varieties. Generally, you can sense the nature of the tree and whether or not it is suitable, even without knowing the exact energy of a tree. By standing near the tree, relaxing, quieting the mind and body, and opening yourself to the tree’s energy, you will usually be able to sense whether or not the feeling is positive and that it feels good to you. Try to select a healthy tree. One traditional belief is that older trees are often preferable because they have stood the test of time and have also stored up more energy. Over time, you will develop your own personal relationship with a Method 2 tree (or trees), and will then be able to judge which trees, distances and postures are best for you. If you have any negative reactions or experiences in working with the energy of trees, Method 2 you should discontinue practice and consult a teacher. You can This method assists in absorbing energy from trees. It can be use the same tree repeatedly and when practising Qigong with performed while sitting or standing. trees and in general, always maintain a positive mental attitude. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong believe that 1. Wash before you begin – to do this visualize a man is inseparable from nature and that it is therefore necessary mass of water around you, then mentally think to maintain a harmonious and balanced relationship with of bringing the water up and into the top of the nature. While you may have always appreciated trees for their head. Mentally guide the water down through beauty and general usefulness, I hope that this article provides the body as you think of cleaning each part as a better understanding and appreciation of their energetic uses you pass through it. Finally all the water is in as well. the bottom of the feet. Think of leaving the water in the bottom of the feet. 2. Assume posture as shown in picture. Methods of Working 3. Think of energy going from tree into palm of the hand. with Tree Energy 4. Move energy up the inside of the whole arm. 5. Move energy across to the centre of the chest. There are many methods of working with trees and 6. Move energy down Zhongmai (centre energy energy. The ones discussed below are particularly good for Channel of the body that runs directly down the those beginning to work with tree energy. At more advanced centre of the body) to Dantien. levels the energy can be used in many ways including moving 7. Concentrate on energy in Dantien for at least a energy through the Small and Large Circulations. However count of nine; longer is better. students should begin with simple exercises such as those 8. Do exercise (i.e., moving energy through arms) described here in order to learn to work with the tree energy 9-36 times. by moving energy into and through the body in a safe and 9. Meditate (that is concentrate on energy in the gentle manner. Dantien energy centre) for a period of time.
Qi Magazine 20 10. Do a Quick Close to your energy. This closes and returns all energy to the Dantien energy centre. The Quick Close is done by taking 9 breaths. Each time you inhale think of good, universal energy coming to your whole body. Each time you exhale think of sending all energy to Dantien and storing it there. After each gathering breath, a few natural breaths can be taken while concentrating on the Dantien before taking the next gathering breath. When you are done continue to concentrate on the Dantien area for a few moments until you feel all energy has been returned and stored.
Notes. (1) Inhale as the energy comes in and up the arm and exhale as the energy moves down the Zhongmai. An alternate-breathing pattern is to inhale energy all the way to Dantien, then exhale as you hold the energy in Dantien. (2) Either hand can be in either position during the exercise. by YuCheng Huang Adapted to English by Laurie Manning & Robert Poile. Photographyby Russ Berkman About the Author Yu-Cheng Huang, L.Ac., has a background that combines aspects of both traditional Chinese healing and Chinese Martial Arts. He is a 31st generation disciple from the Shaolin Temple in China, Qigong Advisor at the South China Teaching University, NCCA certified in the U.S., an author and lecturer in his field and Master of the Ching Ying Tai Chi Kung Fu Association in Skokie, IL. He is author of many books, which includes Change The Picture and Master Yourself as wellas other works and articles on Qigong and TCM. This article is an excerpt from his soon to be published book, Openings. 1 Zhong, Xu Yuan, Song of the Immortals, Beijing, New World Press, 1994, p. 49
Examples of Trees and their Energies
Apple tree: Neutral and slightly Yin, works with Magnolia tree: Yang, works with the Lung, the Stomach and Spleen Channels. Stomach, Gallbladder, Large Intestine, and Bamboo tree: Yin, works with the Heart, Lung, Spleen Channels. Gallbladder, and Stomach. Maple tree: Neutral, works with the Spleen, Birch tree: Yin, works with the Stomach Channel Kidney, and Large Intestine Channels. Cassia (Cinnamon) tree: Yang, works with the Mulberry tree: Yin, works with the Lung, Large Kidney, Spleen and Urinary Bladder Channels. Intestine, Stomach, Heart, Spleen and Urinary Bladder. Cherry tree: Yang, works with the Liver, Lung, Oak tree: Slightly Yang, works with the Large Stomach and Kidney Channels. Intestine, Spleen, Kidney and Heart Channels Chestnut tree: Yang, works with the Spleen, Stomach and Kidney Channels. Olive tree: Neutral, works with the Stomach, Lung, and Spleen. Crab Apple tree: Neutral, works with the Liver, Heart and Lung Channels. Peach tree: Yang, works with the Large and Small Intestine and Stomach Channels. Elm tree: Neutral, works with the Stomach, Large Intestine and Small Intestine Channels. Pear tree: Yin, works with the Heart, Stomach and Lung Channels. Fig tree: Neutral, works with the Lung, Spleen and Plum tree: Neutral and slightly Yang, works with Large Intestine Channels. the Liver, Spleen, Stomach and Kidney Ginkgo tree: Neutral, works with the Lung, Kidney Channels. and Heart Channels. Pine tree: Yang, works with the Heart, Lung, Large Hawthorn tree: Slightly Yang, works with the Intestine, and Kidney Channels. Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine and Lung Channels. Willow tree: Yin, works with the Heart and Spleen.
Qi Magazine 21 Grandmaster Wang Hao Da Following the disappearing footprints of yesterday.
Qi Magazine 22 In 1923 Shanghai was one of the outstanding cosmopolitan centres of our planet. In addition to the transient panorama of the time, including leading politicians, socialites, bold criminals, and imperialistic carpetbaggers, it was a great centre of Martial Arts. Regularly occasioned by the great Boxers of the day like Chen Fake, Yang Cheng Fu, Wu Chien Chieh, among others, there also lived a young Daoist named Ma Yueh Liang.
t was in this year that Wang Hao Da was thrust headlong affectionately known, will take on and defeat all comers, into the doomed city. Before he was a teenager he was enigmatic smile on his face, heart happy. already pressed into hard labour and by the time the This May he will travel to San Francisco for his fourth Japanese arrived to occupy the city he was used to year to train western students in the life-giving and empowering surviving 20-hour workdays on two bowls of rice. Before Art he was so fortunate to comprehend. Unlike so many, who Ihe was forty his body was racked with ruin, his health on the have all the wealth and power in the world yet seek more and verge of collapse. are never satisfied with their lot, Wang Hao Da is a happy and During the Cultural Revolution, when it was a crime to fulfilled man, humble to his core and genuinely desirous to associate with named criminals, he ignored the rule of law pass on those precious secrets. While only now becoming well and begged Master Ma to take him known in the west, Grandmaster on as a student to preserve his life. Wang is widely acknowledged by his While the majority of Shanghai contemporaries in Shanghai and has culture was bent on self-destruction, been shown the highest honours of Wang Hao Da spent his days secretly his city’s Martial Arts community. Last practising the Art he learned behind September we had the great good closed doors from one of Chinas’ fortune to introduce him to our greatest Masters. Unable to work community here in Great Britain, any longer, he devoted every where he shall return in September moment observing, listening, and 2000. Thanks to Master Xu Guo practising with his great teacher. Ming, who introduced us and One of only three students Master translated the words and meanings Ma dared to accept during these of the Grandmaster, we are able to dark years, Wang Hao Da had report here the essence of his exclusive access to, arguably, one of message. the paramount Grandmaster Wang & his teacher the late Grandmaster Ma Yueh Liang resources of the century. By the time the Cultural Revolution ended “His character was and Ma Yueh Liang was allowed to emerge from self- undiminished, for daily crictism, Wang Hao Da had learned many of the secrets of the Master. his health improved.” Day after day he would go to the local park and cross hands with all who would push him. For years he searched Correct central to understand the principles he had learnt by feeling the bodies equilibrium {Zhong Ding} and centre of others. He invested in loss, for time and again is the basis for his soft touch was overwhelmed by forceful and hard artists everything else in bent on the path of strength and power. His character was Taijiquan. One undiminished, for daily his health improved. A small man in must focus with any case, he had never expected to overwhelm those often their complete twice his size. His search was for the true internal power his intention {Yi} to teacher had shown and assured him could overcome any and differentiate that fulfil his need to recover. Finally, twelve years ago, after 33 which is external and years of practice and while his teacher still lived, he discovered separate from one’s within him the bloom of his teacher’s seed. Standing on the centre. The centre is the spot in any park in Shanghai, Short leg Wang as he is key; it must remain
Qi Magazine 23 straight and hidden, concentrated, deep inside the body constantly changing, spiralling into the earth for the most part. One must gather all the Qi {energy} to your centre. It is this structure that is the basis for internal power {Nei Jing} or Zhong Ding Jing, and essential for good health and longevity. The Dantien {lower abdomen} is alive! Not only does the Dantien push down inside the open hips but also it turns, spirals, bounces, and shoots; inside the structure is always full, always condensed. When you play the Taiji form you are performing the interaction of your Zhong Ding and Dantien. This hidden internal play moves the outside, not necessarily the entire body like a single lump of wood, rather by gathering everything to your centre, your outside body follows the direction of this internal command. It is because your inside works so intensively that you receive the health benefit of Taiji. If
“Spiralling“Spiralling stretches stretches the the vessels;vessels; cleanses cleanses the the organs,organs, strengthens strengthens the the bones,bones, and and invigorates invigorates thethe entire entire body.” body.”
one only works externally and has strong skin and muscles but weak organs, vessels, and bones, then the outside may thrive while internally you are dying. Spiritual concentration is crucial. Your Yi must be strong, focused, pure, intent, gathering, confident, and sensitive. It is the Yi/Qi that work together to develop Nei Jing, not ones outer display of strength, {Li} that epitomizes all that is Taiji. The Yi is used at first to search internally for correct alignment of the Zhong Ding, the Dantien and its range of motion, to differentiate between open and closed, empty and full, extension, rooting, and connections. As one develops this inner sensitivity the next goal is to practise control over these basic principles in the correct way, so that the body remains straight, connected, rooted, full, and spirals throughout the Taiji form. Yi is accountable for the gathering of the Qi, and works in harmony with it, in order for these principles to be applied. Yi is responsible for relaxing the external body, the muscle; for storing the Qi one develops in practice, for making smaller circles and spirals, for condensing movement to small Grandmaster Wang & Master Xu Guo Ming
Qi Magazine 24 frame, and eventually to no visible movement in order to develop Nei Jing. 8 SECRET QUALITIES WHILE Rooting three feet into the earth has a double meaning. PERFORMING TAIJI First one must make their Yi/Qi thick and sink heavy into the earth at least three feet down. Secondly one’s Zhong Ding, 1: Every position, every movement must have the quality like the tailbone, is a third leg and its foot must be buried into of I Chuan. Sink into the earth, remain stable, with a the earth. Rooting is a very important concept in Taiji. Your root powerful connected structure. 2: Practice pure internal exclusively. Train the Yi/Qi. must always be deeper than your opponent. In order to dig 3: Every movement must be spiral whether it is form, them out you must be below them. The Dantien and Zhong push hands, or fighting. Ding must be structurally sound and without correct root this is 4: Hip and waist must develop power differential. impossible. However you must not be rigid! You must be light 5: Every movement must be like a power stretch. Vertical and agile, changeable, quiet yet quick. You must learn to balance your power downwards and upwards; the bottom is and horizontal must open & close. 6: Develop invisible power by concentrating your power heavy, the top is light; connected. deep inside your body, not on the surface. In order to root you must have a good understanding of 7: Every inch you move you must open the hips, empty the hips. The hips are very complex, the inside hip {Kua} must the chest, carry the Dantien, tailbone into the earth. be free to open and close, spiral into the earth. The outside hip 8: Every joint must connect with your centre; it must be must be strong and flexible to grip the earth, and the sacrum and tailbone must be straight quickly changeable, yet concentrated. and changeable. The bowl of the pelvis, like a wok or cauldron must be round and accommodate the Dantien. When you develop an understanding of how these things work in 8 SECRET QUALITIES WHILE “Spiralling“Spiralling stretchesthe stretchesthe harmony your rooting will become more PRACTISING TUI SHOU profound. Learning to connect is fundamental, yet 1: Don’t let the opponent find your root; as soon as you I have been surprised how western students vessels;vessels; cleanses cleanses the the touch the opponent seek out their root. have missed out on this basic principle. Gripping 2: Five words when pushing hands are; remain light/ the earth, whole body structure power {Gatsa soft, quiet, slow, continuous, & real. (Attention to Jing} cannot be neglected. Just because one actual results) organs, strengthensthe concentrates to the centre, develops correct organs, strengthensthe 3: “One body” bottom big (like a construction crane), Zhong Ding, the outside body is not tofu. middle alive, top connected. Extension is the basis of connection, yet many 4: Keep the root below the ground, extend the Yi far people wave their arms around in an beyond the opponent, keep the Qi full on your back, bones,bones, and and invigorates invigorates unconnected and disharmonious method. attack the ground with your foot, (60% goes down, As a minimum requirement the three external 40% goes out.) harmonies should be observed, the arms and legs emerge from 5: Any force that comes to the body must go down the spine and work as such. Yes I say work the internal through the hips. exclusively, deep internal soft movement like water, full like an 6: Keep the opponent on your outside circle, don’t let air bag, but not at the expense of basic connection – extension. them touch your inside circle. Use your outside circle Silk reeling power {Chan Si Jing} is a significant to get their inside circle. component of the Wu style. Every movement must be a spiral. 7: Use Yin/Yang changes to reveal and disrupt the One spirals into the earth and one spirals away from the Zhong opponent’s root. Ding for discharge of energy, simultaneously. Learning Chan 8: Use Ting Jing to match the opponent’s Jing. Stick, Si is implicit in the form, and form practice should be serious, adhere, and follow. Don’t attack; respond. without tension, without the energy coming up. When I play Taiji my whole body spirals, my feet spiral into and on the earth, my Zhong Ding spirals, my Dantien spirals, my Yi/Qi spirals. mindful of many principles. I have included 8 basic ones for My structure outside hides my snake inside. Spiralling stretches you to contemplate. In my Qigong practice Yi/Qi and pure the vessels; cleanses the organs, strengthens the bones, and internal work is my guide. I Push Hands in the park every day. invigorates the entire body. It has been one of the components Win or lose is of no significance. I lose every time if I use Li. I that restored my health. Now I am like a baby, soft yet win if I am quiet, if my Nei Jing is pure, my Zhong Ding Jing tenacious, heavy yet changeable, flexible yet powerful; each correct. Over the years I pushed hands with many people. The day I become younger more rejuvenated and my spirit is thus one quality I respect most in an opponent is their ability to affected as well. What could be more valuable than good health listen. One can only progress if they have the power to listen and happiness? {Ting Jing}. If their character is so flawed that they must win at Taiji form and push hands {Tui Shou} have been my all costs, if they must resort to such base instincts and low level method of rejuvenation and progression. One uses Taiji form techniques and force, I have no misgivings about returning to practice in order to understand the self, Push Hands to them what they aim at me. understand the Nei Jing. Each day I practice Wu form, Master The harder they attack, the further they fly Ma’s Longevity Qigong, and Tui Shou. In my form practice I am by J. Reynolds Nelson
Qi Magazine 25 Fifteen Years TravellingTravelling the the World World toto Sell Sell My My Skill Skill When I was little, I used to see people doing martial art demonstrations in the streets. When they were finished, they would sell Chinese medicine to you. These people would travel from province to province and in this way, they would make their living. I never imagined, that when I got older, that I would be doing a similar thing. Instead of showing my martial art skill in the street, I teach seminars on Wing Chun Kung Fu.
he places I travel is not province to province, but to different countries. TSince 1985, I have travelled to teach in over sixty different countries and more than one hundred cities and towns. I have done this over 300 times. All the seminars are organised by local martial art organisations, using many different kind of venues, sometimes universities, hotels, sports halls or their own club. People who take in the seminars have been studying from anywhere between 1- 5 years. There can be anywhere from fifty to over one hundred people. In the West, people are very practical. It does not matter how famous you are, they will like to try and challenge your skill. Therefore, every time in the seminar, I always try to practise Chi Sau (Sticking Hands) with at least eight to ten people for an hour. Although I said practise, they really want to try and test you and will with all kinds of methods. Even if they can get past my defence and just barely touch me, they
Qi Magazine 26 are so happy. All of these people are young and strong but I Flying also gives me a headache and it is a very long can always sort out and redirect their energy. time on the aeroplane, sometimes ten to twenty hours staying This is based upon the very principles of Wing Chun, in a small seat. Unfortunately, I have never been able to sleep how to use energy, how to give energy. If I did not know how in any transport. Therefore, recently I thought about retiring. to apply these principles, how could an old man like me, over Also, when I am away for a quarter of the year, it also makes it seventy years old, 1.6 metres tall and weighing less than a hard to cover my own classes in Hong Kong. I usually teach at hundred pounds, still manage to handle all of these people the Hong Kong Wing Chun Athletic Association, Sha Tin City comfortably. Hall, City University and Scientific Polytechnic University and All this skill is not based upon magic or some secret after this I feel quite tired, so I have given the last two power. Not at all. All is Wing Chun skill of how to use and Universities to my students to teach. control your opponent’s energy. It is very scientific and based Once, the English magazine, Fighter, asked me, “Do upon geometric principles. Every time, I try to make them you like martial arts?” I answered without thinking, “No. In understand this and show them how they can apply the skill. the past, I didn’t. Now, I also don’t. Even in the future, I still Therefore, many people welcome me. For fifteen years now I have given over 200 seminars in England. Every time there are more and more people. Last time when I visited, I was even given an honorary diploma from the University of Salford for my achievements in the martial arts. A life like this, giving seminars in different countries, makes others envious. I feel very successful and satisfied. Sharing my skill has given me a chance to travel the world. However, there is also a hard part. First you have to maintain the atmosphere in the seminars and to do
Once, a magazine asked won’t.” Then the interviewer asked me, “How is it that if me,“Do you like martial you don’t like martial arts, your skill is so high?” I answered that it is based arts?” I answered without upon respect for your job. I chose this to be my career so I have to be good in my thinking, “No” career. He asked me then, “If you don’t like this kind of this, I have to keep myself very fit. At my age, this is not easy job, why did you choose this kind of career?” and sometimes I also feel pressure. Also, it means being away I answered, “First, this is my father’s wish that I carry on from my home for nearly three months of the year and I find his teachings. At the same time when I studied, Kung Fu was this difficult, not used to different foods, language and lifestyles. immensely popular and it was an easy way to make money.” Sometimes it is even hard for me to go anywhere so I have to The interviewer asked me, “So what do you really like to do stay in my room. Therefore, Chinese say, “A thousand days at then?” What I really like is literature and music. home is even better than half a day outside.”
Qi Magazine 27 From this, you can see the attitude like to share some of my of my whole life to martial arts. I can experiences. Five years explain this by the lines of a famous ago British Combat poem:- magazine asked me a Somebody wants to plant a flower, but the question, “How do you flower never opens. get to be a good Wing Chun Sifu?” I answered But the willow grew next to it without there are three things:- planting. 1. You should be honest When I was seven years old, my to your student. Honesty father taught me the first form Siu Lim is the principle of being a Tao. I did not complete the form until I person. Everybody should was over thirty years old but I carried on. do this. Particularly for When I studied in school, I studied opera. students, this is more When I got a job, I taught music. By important because the teaching I learned many things, including students will trust and the best way to teach people. I believe what their teacher understand the psychology of the student says. If the teacher lies to and this has been very helpful to me. the students and makes In 1962, I went to Hong Kong, up stories, it will cause where I worked as a book-keeper for a more problems. Today, so long time. At nights I stayed at my many people study Wing father’s school. Every night I had to wait Chun. There are many until my father finished teaching, so that people who try to make then I could set up my bed. So I listened their position higher than a lot and started to understand more it really is. Some make up about the Wing Chun principle and I a story but should not do started to like it. At that time, however, I this. was still not practising until I was thirty- seven, then I started to practise again. Because I already understood the principle very well, 3. Everybody wants to be good, I improved quickly. I “Honesty is the the Sifu as well. Therefore, every was always an assistant style likes to hold back some skill of my father when he so that later they can control the was still alive. student. If this happens, though, Then in 1972, principle of being then every generation will be my father died and weaker and weaker and will then I started to have eventually become zero. my own students and a person.” Therefore, in this case, you will teach professionally. never see a student better than Before I finish, I would their teacher. As a good teacher, 2. When you practise Chi Sau with the you should not hold back any skill. You students, never hit them hard. As my should teach everything. If you like to be father Ip Man said, anyone who likes to good, you should develop your skill and beat up his students, means they are not find out new methods and compete with confident for themselves. It means they your students. Then the art you study will have low self esteem. They are scared develop better and better in every that the students may beat them back as generation. well, therefore, they beat up the students Everybody says Chinese martial first. That way the student is scared to arts are like a deep sea and so profound. do that in the future. Basically, if you beat However, if the best skill is hiding under up the student, then they will scared and the sea, then it still needs people to dig will only concentrate on defence. Then it up. Otherwise, it will be destroyed by they will miss learning the skill and the the sea. Therefore, do not hold back the techniques. So if a teacher always does skill and compete with your students and Chi Sau with you and never beats you dig up the treasure under the sea. This is hard and always opens himself to let you the best way and I think every martial attack and can show you the techniques, artist should follow this principle this means you have found the right by Grandmaster Ip Chun. Translated by Michael Tse. teacher.
Qi Magazine 28 Harmony can be sought inside and out. Why should we look for it? How do we develop it and in the internal arts, what use is it?
Essence of Harmonypart 2 armony with those around us movements or motives. They may be many years training his Ting Jing by teaches us about ourselves, both asked to listen to the power aimed at purposefully losing every day in order to H our good and bad points, and by surrender his strength or Li so doing we learn about others. In the in order to develop his martial application of Jing this is vitally Nei Jing. He said important. The Classics say ‘If my “One’s ability to opponent does not move I do not move; listen to another’s if my opponent moves I have already intention is fun- struck.’ This quality is developed by our damental to under- ability to know others by knowing standing the basics ourselves, by training with others in of Tui Shou training. I
harmony thus understanding clearly Without Ting Jing n how energy is expressed through Jing you are as a blind t
in both ourselves and others. man rowing against e Spiritually it is an advanced
the tide.” r
goal to be in harmony with our Learning the n environment in order to avoid conflict, many principles of a to develop our senses to perceive the Chinese In- danger, and to understand the discord l
ternal Arts is a
in others in order to assist them to a lifetime’s work. In M more balanced perspective. the early stages of In a classroom setting learning our training we find a
may begin by challenging student’s ourselves part of a t capacity to perceive movement on group, practising t e their periphery and asking them to these principles move in harmony with it. They may together. The r s be asked to perform their practice in development of the a darkened room or over rough individual is honed surfaces in order to expand their by group practice awareness of their surroundings. and furthered by Outside the class, close observation of our ability to human behaviour and physical frailties h a r m o n i s e may further train the student to expand ourselves with those around us. The essence of this development is “The essence of this based upon our willingness, in the early stages of our training, to move and act in harmony with our development is based fellow students. Later, as with many of the principles of the Chinese Internal Arts, it is hoped upon our willingness.” that we will be able to extrapolate these lessons to our their awareness and understanding of them rather than resist or attack it in everyday life and find tranquillity in the their environment. order to develop better Ting Jing. tumult around us In two person training students Grandmaster Wang Hao Da, now by J. Reynolds Nelson may be asked to invest in loss in order to in his seventh decade and an undefeated email [email protected] increase their sensitivity to other’s Push Hands Master of Shanghai, spent
Qi Magazine 29 Book Review
w Qi Journeys – Volume I e i By Michael Tse v
e This book is a selection of collected revised stories written
R by Michael Tse which have been published in both Qi Magazine and his column in Combat magazine over the last ten years. k The book has been divided into six sections covering Qigong,
o Life, Martial Arts, Feng Shui, Teacher/Student and Philosophy and Culture. It is in an easy to read format that will please anyone o particularly interested in Chinese culture and its various aspects. B It will also appeal to anyone who just likes a good story. There are many stories which regular readers of Qi Magazine will never have seen and so is a must for Qi Magazine collectors.
Price £8.95 plus £1.00 postage $9.95 plus $4.00 postage
Tse Qigong Centre UK PO Box 59 Altrincham WA15 8FS 0845 838 2285 +44 161 929 4485 [email protected]
Qi Magazine 30 YinYinYin Yang Yang Yang Palm Palm Palm & & & Pushing Pushing Pushing Palm Palm Palm Nine Strong Two Palm Hard Qigong Training Method One Method Two 1. Sit on a chair. Place right palm out After seven days, your palm strike 1. Sit on a chair with right palm up and and left palm facing inwards toward will be very powerful. If you hit someone left hand down, both resting on the chest. Both hands are at the level with your right hand, then they feel hot thigh. Recite this poem three times:- of the middle Dantien. and swollen and it will leave a red mark. “Yin Yang two Qi pass through my When the left palm strikes, then the hands. Left hand cold. Right hand 2. For ten minutes, push and pull the person hit will feel cold and it will leave hot. “ hands in and out, still keeping a black mark on their skin. the same palm position as 2. Now, simultaneously lift the right described. Imagine the right hand up and lower the left hand hand hot and left hand cold. down. Imagine the right hand hot and the left hand cold. Keep repeating this movement for about ten minutes. Method Three 1. Once a day:- Face a tree and 3. After ten minutes, shake the hands palm strike the tree 200 times loosely three times and then upon with the right palm. The left foot stopping, with right palm up and left should be forward and right palm down, immediately imagine foot backward. the right hand hot and left hand cold.
Pushing Empty Palm Hard Qigong Training
Method One Relax the whole body so it is like cotton. Method Three Inside the Qi is like fire. 1. Stand with left foot forward and right 1. Hold a piece of wood with the left Shooting the palm, releasing power. foot back. Left hand forward and hand and then strike with the right Attack the enemy they will be damaged. right hand back, palms loosely open. palm. Use same method as above Bring back the hands, relax the body. method two. Inside firm, outside calm, like a dragon. 2. Push forward strongly with the right by YuChong Hwa palm simultaneously releasing a Translated by Michael Tse forceful, “Haaa” sound from the Method Two Dantien. The movement comes from 1. Place bricks on a steady table. Editors note: the waist. The left palm pulls back Strike at the bricks with the right These exercises are for reference but does not actually touch the palm, releasing a forceful, “Haaa” only and should not be practised chest. Repeat 200 times a day for without proper tuition and supervision. seven days. sound. At the same time close the Wuiyin point.
Qi Magazine 35 There are many roads open to us in life. Some may lead us in the wrong direction and other are more suitable. So how do you know the right way to go? Along the Road
ven though it would take me much lions always face outwards not inwards think we need also to see what the road longer, I decided to walk to the park towards the occupants of the house. looks like. We may sometimes need to Eto practise instead of driving. It was Numbers too hold a special power drive through snow, so we should accept overcast and I thought it would rain in Chinese society. The number eight is these difficult times and try to keep before I finished but I did not mind. It particularly common. It is connected with ourselves safe. Other times the rain may was worth being out in the fresh air and the eight trigrams or “Bagua”, which are fall and make the road slippery, so the long walk helped settle my mind the foundation for Feng Shui and Yijing perhaps it is best to pull before practice. After an hour, I thought calculations. Eight is also the lucky over and rest I had better head back as it seemed to number for money and some people will aw h i l e be tempting fate too much to ask the use it on their car number plates, hoping rain clouds to hold off any longer. I this will bring them luck. When I read his decided to go back a different way than poem, it affected me deeply, as if the I had come. At one of the intersections, I boy had received some noticed a lot of flowers and a sign with premonition of his coming death. cards and letters posted on it. As I got Sunrise is an image that means g closer I realised it was a memorial to a time of renewal. The image someone who had recently died. It n of eight friends for me could i turned out to be an eighteen year old be the eight Immortals
n boy named Chris. As I read the letters of found in Chinese literature i classmates, some who had known him who have come to meet a well and some who had just watched him someone who is passing r from a distance, I began to feel the from this world to another.
T warmth of his personality come alive in And the last image, that of their words. One said e that he had a smile f
i for everyone, even people he did not L know. It said he “Many things would still say “hi” and smile. As I read on, I then came to a can happen on poem that he himself had written and it was this that affected me the the way” most. He said, “Last night I had a dream. It was sunrise and I driving on a moving road, was like an saw eight shadows. These were my explanation of life itself. till we friends. In my dream I was driving along So often we think we are in control can see more a moving road. I do not know what it and are the ones moving through life. clearly. Other times, means, but it must mean something as Actually, everything around us is moving the road looks lovely and clear and we that is what life is all about.….” and changing. When we drive, we think may be tempted to go too fast or take a Images are very powerful in that we are moving forward, going chance, but we never know if there is a Chinese society. Images are used in somewhere. When we go to school, we car who will pull out in front of us from prediction in the Yijing and they are also plan our lives and hope to get a good the side, or someone not watching step used to create power or ideas in Feng job and enjoy our future. However, there in our path. How we drive our cars Shui. We have all seen the statues of are so many things that can happen through life is more important than what lions used for guarding Chinese doors. along the way. The point is not to hold car we drive and/or what roads Their image is supposed to drive away tighter to the wheel of the car to try and we travel negative energy so that it does not enter keep it going in the direction we think is by Tse Sihn Kei the home or building. That is why the right, even when the road changes. I email [email protected]
Qi Magazine 36 Siu Lim Tao The First Section – Gong Lik continuing from last issue Tan Sau 1. From its resting position, open your left hand and slowly extend it forwards. The tip of your middle finger should stay in line with the centreline. Fig18. 2. As your elbow clears the side of the body it too should move towards the centreline. Your arm should not be tense, and your energy should be in the elbow. 3. Stop your hand before the forearm crosses over the centreline. Keep your fingers naturally straight, but not tensed or stretched. Your thumb should be naturally bent, but not Fig 18 Fig 19 Fig 19a Fig 20 pressed down. Fig 19-19a. This movement should be performed very slowly. Tan means opening. Sau means hand. Together they mean opening hand. Tan Sau is for meeting your opponent and is used either inside or outside position. From this contact with your opponent, you can decide whether you will attack or defend. Tan Sau is very difficult to train. When you meet your opponent’s hands, if you use too much energy then it will move your hand out of your centre. If too weak, you cannot block your opponent. Therefore, to develop the proper energy for this part of training is very important. While doing the Fig 21 Fig 21a Fig 22 Fig 23 Tan Sau, you should aim to do so very slowly. The more slowly you do, the more relaxed you can be. When you are relaxed, you can the feel the energy of your opponent. When you can feel their energy, you can then use the right amount of energy back to stop them. When you train Tan Sau, your arm should move forward from your centreline. When it is extended fully, your elbow should be one to two fists away from the body. The closer your elbow is to your centreline, then one fist away is enough. If you cannot manage this, then your elbow position should be then closer to two fists away. Otherwise Tan Sau will be too close to the body and you will not be able to use it to Fig 24 Fig 24a Fig 25 Fig 26 defend yourself properly. When we extend Tan Huen Sau Sau, you should use your skeleton, not the 2. Slowly rotate your wrist inwards in a 1. Relax your elbow and curl your hand muscles, to move the arm forward. Your muscles clockwise direction as far as it will go. slightly. should be completely relaxed. Fig 20.
Qi Magazine 38 Fig 27 Fig 28 Fig 29 Fig 30 Fig 31
3. Allow your arm to float slightly and extend your fingers outwards and upwards until your palm is facing outwards. Huen means circle and so together means circle hand. Huen Sau is for using to change from outside to inside hand, without using energy or force. However, we only apply Huen Sau as an attack hand when our opponent has attacked us and their energy is already committed. Otherwise, Huen Sau is just used for changing position in Chi Sau.
Fig 32 Fig 33 Fig 34 Fig 35 Jum Sau 1. As your palm faces outwards, sharply sink your forearm by chopping down with your wrist joint. 2. This will bring your palm to face the side with your fingers pointing up and your thumb bent. This is a small movement, so although your wrist joint will drop, your whole arm should not move down very much. Keep your fingers pointing up and in line with the centreline. Fig 21- 21a. Jum means press down. This is pressing down hand. Jum Sau is for blocking, usually when the hand is in Fuk Sau, when your opponent punches and you feel the energy coming towards Fig 36 Fig 37 Fig 38 Fig 39 you. Then you can use Jum Sau. When you Wu Sau have completed Jum Sau, then your forearm 1. Draw your palm slowly back towards During fighting, your protection of your should be completely horizontal. You should your body, maintaining its vertical centreline is very important. So when somebody not use too much energy so that the arm is position. Let your elbow relax and attacks your centreline, you can change the Wu point outwards as you bring your Sau to be Tan Sau or a punch, but when we extended lower than this point. If this palm back. happens, your opponent can hit you back. Most 2. You should stop when your palm is do this, your other hand should come back to of the time, when we have finished Jum Sau, about 8-10 inches (20-25cms) from Wu Sau to cover your centreline. Therefore, we will then immediately punch back with the your middle chest. Fig 22. when we only have one hand in contact during Jum Sau arm. Perform this movement very slowly. Wu means fighting, Wu Sau should always be there to protecting and so this is protecting hand. protect our centreline. Many people will find
Qi Magazine 40 themselves being attacked because their Wu Sau has dropped from the centre. This can also happen when the Wu Sau is held too close to the body and lose the space for responding. So during one hand contact with an opponent, you should always protect your centreline with Wu Sau. Only when you come to very high level can you sometimes drop the Wu Sau hand.
Fuk Sau 1. Relax your wrist and let your Wu Sau drop into the Fuk Sau position by letting your palm fall down naturally. 2. Turn your palm so that your fingers Fig 40 Fig 41 Fig 42 Fig 43 and thumb are horizontal to the ground and make a very loose claw shape. The elbow will drop down naturally. Energy should be in your elbow, not your wrist Fig 23. 3. Slowly extend your arm forward. Your elbow should move in towards the centreline (without going past it) as your arm goes forward. Your shoulders should not move or hunch forward. Do not force the elbow towards the centreline, or you will become tense. Fig 24-24a. This movement should also be performed slowly. Fuk Sau means resting hand. It is used to make contact with your opponent so you can Fig 44 Fig 45 Fig 46 Fig 47 judge their energy and know their intent through their energy. It is more passive so you Paak Sau meansslapping hand. It isused for instead. When you wait until your opponent attacks until you both defending and attacking. It must be use it properly, it defend. So Fuk Sau usually connects with Jum performed quickly, however. Once you slap your is even more Sau, Jut Sau and Huen Sau together. opponent’s hand, your hand goes back to your powerful than a centre straight away. If your opponent attacks, punch. Jik Jeung Huen Sau/Jum Sau/Wu Sau you can slap the hand, moving their energy off can be used with 1. When the Fuk Sau reaches its fullest course, then you can attack. Another situation Paak Sau extent, relax the elbow and wrist, and is if your opponent will not move their hand, together. When perform Huen Sau, Jum Sau and Wu you hit, you attack Sau again. Repeat the entire then you can slap their arm to create an opening sequence – Fuk Sau, Huen Sau, Jum for attack. However, it is important not to either on the face or Sau and Wu Sau twice more. Your slap too far past the centreline, otherwise you the centre of your hand should finish in front of your will leave your own centreline open for attack. opponent’s chest. chest in the Wu Sau position (see Usually the Fig 48 opposite). Fig 25-26. Jik Jeung opponent will 1. Relax your arm and bring your palm bounce back or fall over. Paak Sau back to the centreline. Now, change 1. From Wu Sau, relax your wrist and the direction of your palm so that it is Huen Sau/ Withdraw then push your palm quickly out to facing outwards. Then push it the Fist the right, as if warding off a punch. forwards from the centreline. Again, 1. Gather your fingers and circle your Your hand should not go past your energy is only used at the end of the wrist as in previous movement, Huen shoulder, and you should only use movement. Fig 28. energy at the point at which you Sau/Withdraw the fist. Fig 29-32. Jik means straight and Jeung means palm. would make contact with an Now repeat all the movements from Tan Sau opponent’s energy. Fig 27. Together they mean straight palm. This is the onwards using the right hand. Fig 32-48. same as punching attitude but using the palm to be continued...
Qi Magazine 41 TAOIST TEACHING, PRACTICE & TAOIST LIFE A personal view Most people starting out on the Way try to copy someone else, usually their teacher or facilitator. They seek guidance until understanding how to make their own way, but too much help can weaken them. In the early stages it is kind – and productive- for facilitators to help students along with their Frequently Asked Questions representing a quest for reassurance.
et me share some aspects of my practice with you. If you are an early seeker, you may find bits and pieces that are of use. If a seasoned traveller you may have a little fun at my expense and think how much better your own practice is or how superior your own teacher. You will Llearn something, even if only that you have nothing to learn. It doesn’t matter really – we are dancing the same spiral with different steps. Start the day with a Smile. In 1972 – just after leaving the essence of the Tao, honouring the Way which gave me my army and before my first meditation weekend – I went on a sales ancestors and descendants, opening the gateway through pleasure to bliss. If alone I will work with arousal energy, opening course where they said the same, these hard-nosed business chaps the microcosmic orbit and recycling the chi. If with a partner and who taught the mindfulness of skilful manipulation. We were advised to smile at ourselves in the mirror, to set ourselves up for plenty of time, we might practice dual cultivation or solo cultivation the day. Two decades later the Taoist Master Mantak Chia was together. Sexual practise in the morning has a wonderful clarity telling me to smile at my internal organs, the Inner Smile in the and spontaneity. tradition of four millennia. Must be something in it! People who Throughout the day opportunities arise for moving and still Taoism meditation: Qigong – imperceptibly adopting the ready position live beyond 100 are generally of a cheery nature, according to waiting for a bus or a train, Taoist reverse breathing sitting at the Deepak Chopra, who knows these things. So now, when I wake up, I smile. Nothing formal, not computer, “Taiji walking” up a flight of steps. A patch of green sitting up, let alone in seiza or lotus, just lying in bed watching grass offers a place for Bone Marrow breathing, or the powerful the light slip by the curtains. An Inner Smile, to myself, my being, earth-connection of the Taiji Qigong form, or the “Hands of Light” my energy field. A smile to my mum, long gone, and my dads – I form of Qigong Colour Healing Therapy. Parks and avenues become arenas for “embracing the tree” and the Yin-Yang breath had two, one who started me off before leaving this world, and exchange. his brother who took over for the hard part. A smile for my kids and theirs. My ancestors and descendants, teachers and students. Interacting with people, with other energy fields, No lists, no enumeration, just a big grin of gratitude to the whole opportunities arise to recycle the emotions of the Five Energy energy field around me. Phases or Elements, seeking to transform impatience into love, Time past and present condenses into the now, individuals worry into serenity, depression to courage, fear to gentleness, even anger into kindness, thinking of Mantak Chia’s blend in the moment of a heartfelt smile, and I am everyone I encouragement “every day we get many chances to forgive”. I have known and all that has happened to me. I thank the universe for the many gifts and blessings – records of my ancestors, use the Healing Sounds individually for each occasion as it happens knowledge of past lives, totems of insight and grace, leadership – a discreet hiss can dissipate some minor annoyance, or a loud and love. HHHAAA! dispel impatience…..when done with the right intention. Thus the day begins with Gratitude, awesome in its power Iron Shirt grounding, rooting and centering taught me how to take a push, physically in the first instance but, as I progressed and effect, and flowing naturally into the sexual practices, the Qi Magazine 42 Taoism through my training, extending my ability to take an emotional Teaching the Tao gives satisfaction; teaching the practises push or withstand financial pressure. I might practise the postures gives me the opportunity to practise myself. Longer courses enable while waiting to start a teaching session. One great attraction of me to facilitateTaoism a range of meditational experiences ranging from making my living from this work is the limitless landscape of basic initiation into Microcosmic Orbit, Inner Smile, Healing practice. It is my job to do what I love. Can’t get better than that! Sounds and Iron Shirt, through the heart-opening practices of Teaching helps me keep up my practice. I realised that my original Healing love or Taoist Tantra, the challenging self healing of Fusion, nature/conditioning (hard to tell the difference when you’ve been Taiji the Dance of Life, or Advanced Practice Development for doing this stuff a few years) swung me between activity and inertia. graduates of Kan and Li, with shamanic journeying, meditation This helps towards harmony. on death and ecstatic flight. Group work helps me with the Beyond the physicality of the Iron Shirt pushing-rooting, transmission to others. the psychic self-defence of Fusion of the Five Elements develops Teaching Shiatsu also gives the chance to incorporate the a kind of energy-armour. In the higher meditations of Kan and body of Taoist mysticism as a background or even a bedrock. Chi Li, armour becomes redundant as all pressures are allowed to Nei Tsang, the Taoist massage that releases the winds of stagnation pass through the being without harm, as we develop and transform and helps free the bodymind from emotional trauma, Qigong into the light body. What effect can pressure have when there is Healing Therapy, a derivative of pre-taoist shamanic practice calls nothing to press? No buttons to push! These esoteric practices on the energies of the cosmos, to heal energy fields. All these use are available to everyone, and if applied consistently they work the Healing Sounds, to recycle the energies to find harmony within well for everyone. But the work must be done by the practitioner: the being. use it or lose it. Mealtimes are occasions for practice too, eating what I Travelling around to appointments for teaching or healing, choose mindfully and letting go the strictures and restrictions of I use the time on the bus, train or tube to read, study and research. any formal dietary system, following the way as it manifests. If On these there is a time in the day when I catch myself journeys of the not practising, I give myself a pat on the back earth I take the for awareness. journeys of “Taoists share I use Healing Sounds throughout the heaven, dis- day for harmonising situations or recycling c o v e r i n g emotions and now, as I lay me down to connections purification by sleep, the Triple Heater sound sings sweetly between the in the three burners, a restful completion to heritage from a day of walking in the Tao the cradle of the by Kris Larthe earth. The sweat and evidence is there if you care to look. Taoists worship.” share purificat- ion by sweat and worship; by smoke with Native Americans; dream-time with Native Australians; animal (symbolic) sacrifice, ecstatic flight and shamanic dissolution with the Siberians; tutelary animals with South Americans; the protective circle of fire with Wiccans and the tantric circle with Indo-Tibetans. The Tao is my personal journey. I prefer to travel on foot or by public transport. This allows me to resist the temptation of a car with its ease and convenience of getting about. Better for me to do things the hard way, to push myself into discomfort, to try to understand myself better. What muscle ever got stronger by ease and comfort? So with my own energy field. And I am, after all, living the life of my choice – little shocks of discomfort help keep me awake. The bath is my think-tank, wallowing in the womb of water, the ocean of creativity, the palace of death and conception, inspiration. Archimedes knew it. Stuck on an article, a business situation, an emotional conflict, I lie in the bath and wait for possibilities. Few choices need to be made, and the right way seems to unfold. It’s not always what my rational mind would Tse Qigong Centre UK have chosen. PO Box 59 Most months I do sweatlodge with a native American teacher who calls in the directions like a Taoist shaman. He tells Altrincham WA15 8FS of a Lakota tribe called Shamen – the Chinese word is also 0845 838 2285 Shamen. In winter I travel to Thailand for a Kan and Li Retreat with my teacher, Master Mantak Chia, and in summer I facilitate +44 161 929 4485 my own, for the students who travel with me in the Tao. [email protected]
Qi Magazine 43 Centuries ago in the West, religion and science were indivisible, as they were in Daoism, but as science progressed with important discoveries which contradicted the Church’s outdated theories, the two separated The New Religions through a $20,000 transmitter concealed operators employ many techniques to in his inner ear. keep callers on the line and return alileo, the 17th Century There are many ‘alternative repeatedly, earning millions in revenue. astronomer and physicist, was the religions’ which hold week-end, self- They claim the best ‘Master Psychics’ are G first to announce that the earth empowerment seminars and deny on-line, yet independent investigations orbits the sun and not the other way attendees food and water or the have revealed that the ‘psychics’ in round and was condemned as a heretic. opportunity to leave the room. These question are merely actors trained to Others were not so lucky; they were mind-control techniques, designed to inveigle. Despite this public knowledge, executed. The Church’s power later break one’s will, are the same used by how are these networks still prospering? diminished as science proceeded to captors to extract confessions and gather Consumerism is the newest discover the physical world, cure disease, intelligence. Status is substitute for religion. The media and develop communications and awarded to those who compels people to buy (on credit) weapons of mass destruction. recruit, bringing volumes of useless items, which lay People began to more earnings and unused, filling space in their homes and search for answers power to the propagates competition amongst peers amongst distorted organisation. Some for the latest techware and gadgets, religious splinter cults are notorious for sound systems, designer clothes, etc. groups and substitutes turning followers Purchasing yields only a temporary fulfil- for religion. s agai nst ment, which is why it becomes an
r Over the latter addiction, dis- half of the 20th
e turbing the mind
t century psychiatry and exciting the t became the new nervous system. a religion with When an indivi- practitioners like “Consumerism- dual can only M latterday priests derive true
i dispensing dan- pleasure from gerous drugs such as acquiring possess-
Q the newest substitute Prozac and Valium instead of ions he is led the holy wafer and wine. As the further away from psychiatrist dictates patterns of social for religion.” his true nature and behaviour - what is morally right and their parents and family. faces ‘spiritual wrong, how people should act, react, and What true ‘spiritual’ practice would death’. think - the ‘client’ never develops nor attempt to do that? Recently there has been much takes accountability for his own life, In 1995 David Koresh led eighty publicity surrounding a Qigong sect. With remaining spiritually immature. followers to their deaths at Waco, Texas millions of followers worldwide it has in Later, in the 80’s, out of America following an impasse with the FBI. His essence become a religion. However, it arose the Television Evangelists, who supporters believed he was the Messiah demonstrated political involvement by affected millions of people. They despite the fact he violated most of the attempting to undermine the Chinese preached humility while their personal women whilst banning physical contact government. The founder’s agenda assets inflated to astronomic proportions between others (even married couples). remains yet unclear, but nothing good and preached temperance while being He also possessed enough weapons to can emerge from combining Qigong with ensconced in scandals from start a war. Following this, thirty-nine religion and politics. embezzlement to immoral and salacious members of ‘Heaven’s Gate’ honoured Hopefully, the shifting behaviour. Reverend Jimmy Swaggart, a suicide pact in order to shed their, consciousness that the new millennium for example, consorted with prostitutes ‘earthly containers’ and board a promises will unify spiritual development and Reverend Jim Bakker absconded spacecraft following the tail of the Hale with science once again and re-establish with millions of dollars from his Bopp comet. There are currently many wholeness. Then people will be led back congregation, and then feigned insanity Doomsday cults which not only believe to the truth that they need to take to avoid prosecution. He went to jail but thatthe end of the world is imminentwith responsibility and develop themselves upon release his ‘flock’ welcomed him the dawn of the new millennium, butalso and not search for answers within back with open arms! Peter Popoff’s seem determined to fulfill the prophecies. dangerous, corrupting, and distorted weekly ministry earned half a million Presently ‘psychic phone religions and cults dollars per month tax free until it was networks’ are in operation, promoted by by Adam Wallace discovered that ‘God’ spoke to him ex-television actors and 60’s singers. The email [email protected] calls cost $4 per minute (or more) and Qi Magazine 44 Chinese philosophy always talks about yin and yang, five elements and Bagua. In our palm we also cover the Bagua. We can classify eight sections of the palm into separate areas which relate to a Gua, with the centre of the palm counting as nine. Palm Reading
a – means eight and Gua means confused, will not spend time to develop strong or weak. The Kan house should situation. Chinese like to classify one thing, is changeable and impatient. be quite full and strong, just a little bit Beverything to relate to nature. We They are also very mystical, not lower than the right and left side but break it down from yin and yang (which grounded. fuller than the middle of the palm. It are two opposite situations) to the five should be red colour. This area also elements (which are four different represents your family wealth and how situations plus centre). Together they Kan your family support you with money. If become five. From these four situations The next house is the Kan house, which this area is strong and full, you like to multiplied by two this then becomes is just above the wrist. Kan house belongs take care of the weaker people. You are eight. This shows more detail for a to the water element, which relates to generous and easily attracted to the situation. With the addition of the centre, the kidneys. This area also relates to your opposite sex. You like music and comfort eight becomes nine. Each of these eight sexual organs and whether they are things. If this area is dry or has too many situations are call “Guas”. Each Gua lines or veins, this tells the person did contains three lines. Each line is called a not have enough “Yao” and has two different identities, nutrition when they either yin or yang. The yang line is “Each Gua in the were little. Even represented by an unbroken line ( ) and when they grow up, P yin by a broken line (- - ) . they will easily be a Each Gua has three Yao or lines. tired. If this area is palm is called a l
This will tell us many situations, weak, then it will be m depending on how many yin and yang difficult to have in the Gua. This topic is quite complicated children. and can take up many articles in itself, “house” R so we will go back to the palm. e
Each Gua in the palm is called a Gen a
“house”. The next house is Gen which is on the d lower part of the palm beneath the i Qian thumb. Gen house relates to the n
element earth. Earth element g First we introduce the Qian relates to spleen and stomach and house which connects with the Qian Gua digestive system. This should be the which is located on the lowest part of the most full area in all of the palm and palm beneath the small finger. Qian be of red colour. Gen house also belongs to the metal element. represents brothers and sisters. If Metal relates to the lungs and this area is full, it means that there breathing condition. This area will more than two brothers and should be thicker and be one of sisters and that their relationship is the higher areas in the palm. The good. However, if this area is Li colour should be red with white weaker or dry, then it means that spots. If this area has too many Heaven Line they will not get on well and maybe crossed lines or hatches, then this Xun Kun even not see each other. Gen house means the breathing can be affected. Man Line represents a person’s ambition. If Another meaning of the Qian house this area is full they will have is that it represents father. Traditional Zhen Dui leadership and have own opinion. palm readers said this area should be If not full or only partially full, they more full, then you will have more will always worry, never make up children and they will be very good in Gen Qian their mind. Even if they are doing the future. The Qian house when full one thing, they will suddenly change means they are imaginative, creative, their mind and go for something and like beautiful things. They are also a Kan else. If you can see veins, then the bit innocent and like travel. However, if heart may have a problem. If the this area is not full and has a green colour is too green or the veins too colour, veins showing or overall white obvious this is not good. colour, then this tells the person is
Qi Magazine 45 will travel a lot. If this area has too many or too dry, then can have stomach Zhen lines or mixed up with crosses, then this problems and will go to the toilet often. Above the Gen house is Zhen. Zhen means the person can be a bit crazy If the area too bony and dry, then will house belongs to wood element which emotionally, screaming and shouting. It have difficulty in having a child. This area relates to the liver. This area should also can also mean they like to drink alcohol. tells about a person’s mother. So if full, be quite full and red in colour. This area you have a good mother who will take also relates to the emotions. If this is a care of you. If the area dry, then maybe healthy area without too many lines, this Li you do not see your mother often or she person should be very strong and brave. Li house is below the middle finger and will not take care of you. They would be good as a soldier in the belongs to the element fire. Fire relates military or something relating to to the heart. This area should be slightly discipline. They would also be a good raised and be of a red colour. This area Dui leader in the martial arts. If this area is also relates to the brain and eyesight. If The last house is the Dui house. Dui pale, you can see the veins obviously there are any small spots in this area, house relates to metal element. The with confusing, mixed this means the person can metal element relates to lungs and up lines, this means easily have a stroke or breathing. This area should be full, so if the person is heart attack. If you see you lay the palm flat, the area from the weak, nervous obvious veins, this Qian house, past Dui, up the Kun house and easy to means the person’s should be like a smooth hill, with the change their brain function and highest point at Dui and running down mind when they circulation is not that towards Kun. This area also relates to the are afraid. They good. They may have large intestine. This area also shows also can high blood pressure. whether a person has enough energy to surrender much This area also relates deal with things. If this area is healthy, e a s i e r . to your job or career. then they can carry out tasks without However, if this If there is a straight being disturbed or changing. This is area is much line running the Kan because their breathing system is very redder than the house up to the Li good. If this area has problem, then the other areas, house, then this digestion and breathing will have then the means the person will problem and the person will be weak and person can be be a leader and hold a tired and easy to catch colds. Dui house very brutal and high position. The more also relates to the children and their aggressive, stronger and clear, future. If the area is full, then it will be easy to lose without being broken, good for the children. If there is a line their temper even going past and up from Qian house to Dui house, then that and hurt other to the finger, then the person will have a good education and people. This area career will be very good and be good at mathematics and science and also connects with they will be well known and can reach a high level. If the line from husband and wife. If the area is good, famous. However, if a person does not Zhen house reaches all the way to Dui then husband and wife can support each have this line, it means you will keep house, then this means the person is very other. If not good, they will always be changing jobs and never find your smart and clear minded. They will not changing partners. direction. easily be influenced by other people. The centre of the palm should be the lowest area in the palm, like a Xun Kun shallow bowl. This area also belongs to Xun house is above the Gen house. This The next house is the Kun house which the earth element and relates to the heart area is similar to the Gen house as they belongs to the earth element. The earth and lungs. This area should be a little both belong to the wood element and element relates to the spleen and whiter than other areas but the palm relates to the gall bladder. This area stomach. It also relates to the Dantien, should still feel full and thick. The best is should be full but not as full as the other so also relates to the digestion. It also to have a triangle in this area. This tells areas. You will still feel certain muscles relates to the right shoulder, so if this area all about the person’s health condition. there. The colour should be red and not is stiff when moving the small finger, then If it is thick and forms a triangle, then have too many lines. This area also can have shoulder problem. This area this person will be generous and open- relates to the left shoulder and tiredness. should be full and red and not too white. minded, not easy to be upset and will be This area if you feel pain or feels stiff Kun house also tells a person’s sexual forgiving. They will also be healthy. If the when you move the index finger, it means energy and also mind creativity. If this palm is cold and narrow and you can see your shoulder has problem. If the colour area is strong, then they will have many green veins in this area, this person will is pale or a little bit green or yellow, this new ideas. If full, they will also be a kind worry and think other people criticise means the person gets tired very easily person and will enjoy life. If too full, them. They will be narrow-minded and and has too much dreaming. It will be however, then person likes to spend not happy. It will affect their stomach and hard for them to recover from their money and show off themselves, being breathing tiredness. If this area is a slightly raised, cocky and sometimes arrogant. If there by Michael Tse like a small hill, this means the person are obvious veins and the area is white email [email protected]
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