CHAPTER ONE

HOW TO MASTER THE TECHNIQUES FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND “64 ACTIONS” OF DAYAN QIGONG

This book is intended to be an elementary manual for Qigong practitioners and enthusiasts.

The first and second “64 Actions” of Dayan Qigong are two sets of the exercise.The practitioner will feel the Qigong effect and “internal Qi” in various parts of his body after doing the exercise for some time,provided that he does the exercise strictly according to the requirements for its movements and techniques described in the book.The flow of the “internal Qi”follows a regular pattern corresponding to the Qigong movements.Once the “internal Qi” flows orderly,a balance of Yin and Yang will be achieved in the Qi field of the channels and collaterals,internal organs,arms and legs.The “internal Qi”helps optimize the nervious circulatory systems.As a result,the function tissue is nourished.

The “internal Qi”,once intensified, can help remove virus and poisonous cells in the areas with pathological changes.In the course of practising Qigong,the virus will disappear from acupuncture points along the principal channels and collaterals.

Thanks to the Qigong effect, the practitioner absorbs userful energy and materials automatically from nature while doing the exercise.In Qigong terms, it is also called absorbing Heavenly Qigong Earthly Qi which plays an important role in nourishing the human body.

Dayan Qigong will not only help the practitioner relieve his ailment if he has any,but also build up his health and put his physiological functions in top shape. It will enable healthy people to greatly improve their henlth and increase the regenerative capacity of the whole functional system.

The practice of Dayan Qigong calls for attention to be given to the following main points:

A. Three principles must be abided by.

1. Upright: It is important for the practitioner to maintain upright both in mind and posture.

The practitioner must try to attain moral integrity and mental tranquility while refraining from being capricious and half-hearted. It is no good to be unhappy with what one has. Instead,the practitioner should adopt a correct attitude towards Qigong. In other words,he should do the exercise with sincerity and determination only for curing diseases and keeping fit.

2. Practicality:Qigong exercise calls for true and conscientious effects to study and understand its essence. It is not advisable for the practitioner to be impatient for quick results and to seek flourishes. In a word, emphasis should be laid on pracyical results.

3. Accuracy: It is important for the practitioner to accurately complete the movements of the Qigong exercise and guide his thinking accordingly. It is not advisable for him to do the exercise carelessly,neither is it advisable to do the exercise while thinking something else nor to invent new movements and postures.

B. The practitioner should remian relaxed and tranquil while doing the Qigong exercise.

It is necessary for the practitioner to relax his body and dispell all distracting thoughts so that his mind can acquire tranquillity. The relaxed and tranquil state is the Qigong state.

For the starting position, the practitioner should first of all adjust his body posture and regulate the state of mind. To achieve that, he may think of relaxing from head to toe and bring the “internal Qi” down to Dantian while drooping shoulders,hollowing the armpit,drooping elbows,relaxing the waist,drooping eyelids,relaxing eyes and facial muscles,shutting the mouth with the tongue touching the upper teeth ridge and nose doing the breathing. Consequently, he is completely relaxed and tranquil without any distracting thoughts.It is time for him to start Qigong movements. It is imperative to remain relaxed and tranquil throughout the exercise.

Since it is the body movements which are instrumental for generating the “internal Qi”,it is not advisable to conscientiously guide Qi. On the contrary,the practitioner should breathe naturally and concentrate his thinking on his movements with his mind following his body movements and eyes his hand movements. Therefore,he looks but sees nothing and listens but hears nothing.He may swallow the saliva and conscientiously guide it down to Dantian if he has too much in his mouth.

After completing the closing position,the practitioner should continue to stand relaxed and tranquil for about 2 minutes or longer and concentrate his thinking on Dantian to conscientiously guide both the “internal Qi” and “external Qi”from his surroundings down to Dantian.

C. Understanding and manipulating the sensation of Qi.

The practitioner remains relaxed and tranquil throughtout the exercise and coordinates his body movements with mental guiding.The whole process from the starting position to the closing one sees a cycle of regular and orderly flow of the “internal Qi”.

As far as Qi is concerned,there are both “internal and external”.The “external Qi” in fact is the radiating of the “internal Qi” outside of the body. “Qi”or vital energy can be sensed for we can see the “external Qi”and feel the “internal Qi”.

Sensations of warmth,hotness and warm flow are produced by the sound Qi whereas sensations of coldness,numbness and prinking pain by turbid or sick Qi.Sensations of numbness and soreness symbolize dispelling the serious sick Qi. In cases of tumors and other diseases caused by stagnation of vital energy and blood stasis, the practitioner may feel pains,even severe pains,in the location of his illness.However, it is normal to have such feeling for it shows that the “internal Qi”has been mobilized successfully to attack the disease and driver away the virus.If he sticks to the Qigong exercise, the practitioner will increasingly experience sensations of warmth and hotness in various parts of his body and gradually find himself relieved of the disease. However,the Qi sensations differ from person to person.Some may have their disease cured by Qigong without any tangible Qi feeling.In short,the purpose of doing Qigong exercise is to treat and cure disease and improve health.Sensations of the Qi effect are not an important factor.

D. To ensure harmonious body movements.

Our health depends on the degree of the synchronization of the activities of the nerve centre and those of the functional tissue.Dayan Qigong suits this requirement best. The movements structure of the first and second “64 actions” of Dayan Qigong are harmonious and orderly,which facilitates the generation of the Qi mechanism and Qi field on the one hand and a harmonious balance between the tissue and its functions on the other.

Generally speaking, the movements of Dayan Qigong are mostly of closed structure with the body’s gravity on one leg in stead of on two legs equally and with the two arms stretching out to from a circle which is good for shaping a strong Qi field.Both and “internal Qi” fields come from different body postures, the “internal Qi”may radiate out the body while the “external Qi”can be recovered into the body to enable them to interact to the benefit of intensified and stablized Qi fields.

With regard to Dayan Qigong,there are different movements for the body,hands and feet which move from one motion to another in an orderly way to get the expected Qigong effect such as the rise,fall,recovery,emission and nourishing of the “internal Qi”.

In doing Dayan Qigong exercise,the practitioner bends his body backward and forward,stretches his ams outward or inward and lifts his feet up or down.Dayan Qigong features changeable hand movements-hands in a hollow fist,in the form of a claw or in a flat shape.Some of the hand shapes are listed below:

Flat hands-Spread the five fingers naturally straight and keep them apart with thumb and forefinger forming a curve so that Qi fields are formed between the fingers.This is the way to guide the flow of the “internal Qi”.

Arched hands-Slightly protrude the back of a hand with sunken palm and slightly flex the five fingers so as to facilitate the intake of the “external Qi”from gingers and palms.

Claw-shaped hands-Curl back the five fingers and concentrate the Qi fields of the palm so as to pass through the Qi into certain acupunctural points in the human body.

Hands in a hollow fist-Spread the five fingers first and them quickly clench the hand into a “hollow first”.This kind of handshape is good for collecting the “external Qi”.

Wrist-pressing hand shape-stretch the arm downward,force the palm down,spread the fingers and keep them apart with thumb and forefingers forming a curve and apply a little force onto the wrist so as to push out the sick Qi(or turbid Qi)from the palm and finger-tips as well as from the underside of the foot.

Vibrating hands-Hang the arms and hands naturally straight at the two sides and then vibrate the hand and ram together at a fast pace but in a small amplitude so as to accelerate the dredging of channels and blood circulation, and help eliminate the sick Qi.

Pulled hands-Pull back the arm first and then push it out with some force.Spread the five fingers by pushing out the palm and fingers to emit the sick Qi.When the sick Qi is all out,keep the hand relaxed and still for a while to absorb the “external Qi”.

In a word,whether Dayan Qigong works or not depends on harmonious and coordinated movements of various parts of the body.Therefore,only by harmonious coordination of movements of different parts of the body,can the harmony be achieved between the upper and lower parts,superficies and interior,vital energy and blood,bones and muscles,channels and collaterals as well as the solid and hollow organ.Besides,the practitioner should refrain from paying conscientious attention to the effect of the body,hand and foot posture on the flow of the “internal Qi”.Instead,he should follow the natural cycle for the flow of Qi or vital energy inside and outside the body.

E. Environment and time for Qigong Exercise

An ideal site for Qigong exercise is in forest of pine and cypress trees or on a lawn where the air is fresh. If the condition is not available,one can choose a clean place with fresh air to do Qigong exercise or even in a room with good ventilation. A damp and polluted place with rotten materials and filthy air is not good for Qigong exercise .And it is not advisable to do Qigong exercise in the heavy rain and fog or under the strong wind or scorching sun.

As far as the time for Qigong exercise is concerned,it is beter in the following periods of time:

the hour of Zi- from 23:00 to 1:00

the hour of Yin- from 3:00 to 5:00

the hour of Mao- from 5:00 to 7:00

the hour of Wu- from 11:00 to 13:00

It is good for nourishing the vital energy to do Qigong exercise in the hours of Zi,good for nourishing blood in the hours of Wu,and good for prolonging life in the hour of Mao.

But if the time is not available,one may do it either in the mornning or at night before going to bed.

The length and intensity of Qigong exercise depend on the health of individual persons and on the conditions available to them.It is important to master the basic techniques of each movement for a beginner.When he has a perfect command of their techniques,one must practise it 2 or 3 times every day;do the first “64 actions” twice each time every day while doing the second “64 actions”once or twice each time.It is not advisable to greatly increase the intensity of the exercise.Ten minutes for each of the two sets will be enough.It is good,so long as the practitioner feels comfortable and relaxed after each exercise.In short,the most important thing is perserverance by the practitioner in doing the exercise every day rather than doing it once with great efforts.

F.Cultivate moral character and control the seven modes of emotions- joy,anger,grief,overthinking,sadness,terror and fright.

It is believed that a person’s mental state and moral character and integrity have important bearing on the functional activities of his body.Qiging theorists in China believe that the seven modes of emotions- joy,anger,grief,overthinking,sadness,terror and fright are internal pathogenic factors instrumental for disease.Therefore,one should be open-minded towards others,remain calm and open-minded whatever happens and feel happy and gay.Such an attitude is good for curing diseases,building up health and nourishing Qi.

Hard-working and thinking are not necessarily bad for one’s health.The question is to work and think in a proper manner. It is important to remain relaxed and tranquil and to keep one’s attention undivided in his daily activities.A relaxed body with peaceful mind will ensure a tranquil mind.

G. Point for attention for patients

Everybody can do Dayan Qigong exercise including patients suffering from various chronic diseases, Dayan Qigong has proved to have marked curative effect on neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases,gastric diseases, diseases of breathing system, renal diseases,gynaecological diseases,skin trouble,muscular strain,bone arthritis and other diseases,and have fairly good curative effect on tumor,cancer and hysteria(effect only if the patients can do Qigong exercise when he is not having an attack),epilepsy and other such diseases.But patients suffering from different diseases may have to master different techniques of the Qigong exercise.Patients with cancer,mental disorder or epilepsy can not practise the second “64 actions”or other actions but the first “64 actions”of Dayan Qigong before they completely recover from the diseases.It is advisable for the patients with mental disorder or epilepsy to do the first “64 actions”in a relaxed and comfortable manner without conscientiously guiding the flow of Qi. Those who have hign blood pressure or cerebrovascular diseases must not maintain low postures in doing Qigong exercise. Those who suffer from neurasthenia may do the first “64 actions”in a relaxed manner once or twice before going to bed, apart from their normal Qigong exercise.This will help coordinate the functions of their nervious system and allow them to fall asleep quickly. In addition to their normal Qigong exercise,those who have some trouble with their muscular tissue or bone arthritis are advised to pat themselves along the body’s channels and collaterrals from time to time, to press, massage or pat the acupuncture points, or to shake using their hollow fists the location of the disease so as to promote the flow of the “internal Qi” and the circulation of blood. Those who suffer from epilepsy should sit down immediately and quietly whenever they have a premonition of an epilepsy attack while conscientiously guiding the “internal Qi” down to Dantian so as to prevent them from dropping or falling down.

It is important for the practitioner regardless of what disease he is suffering from to bring the “internal Qi”down to dantian while doing closing position,by way of the above-mentioned method.The Qigong process is composed of the generation of Qi or the vital energy,the flow and intensification of the vital energy as well as its concentration and storage. To concentrate one’s thinking on Dantian while not practising Qigong exercise will help maintain vigour.

Moreover,a correct attitude should ba taken towards various kinds of reactions the practitioner has during or after practising Qigong exercise.We can rest assured that Dayan Qigong will do nothing wrong to our health, nor will it produce any side effect .Generally speaking,Dayan Qigong produces strong Qi field and consequently quick results.However, it may result in a focused attack by Qi and other normal Qigong reaction, for instance distension and uneven Qi fields,because of the different physique and conditions of the practitioner and uneven relaxing of the whole body.But they will disappear if the practitioner continues his exercise and gets used to it.

If one feels uncomfortable in any way because of his incorrect Qigong movements,he may remove those uncomfortable effects by correctly repeating the closing position and then standing quietly for a longer period of time, remaining truly relaxed and tranquil while in a relaxed manner concentrating his thinking on Dantian to bring Qi down to Dantian naturally or by sitting down quietly in one’s room for about ten minutes in the same manner after he finishes his Qigong exercise. It is normal for the Qigong practitioner to feel painful or have an intensified feeling of sickness when the “internal Qi”hits the location of a disease,whether diagnosed or not. We should not mistake them as a sign for new diseases and thus become nervious and even stop Qigong exercise. On the contrary,we should continue without paying too much attention to those effects,which will disappear automatically and the diseases will also be cures gradually when the “internal Qi”passes through the body and optimizes its functions.Anyhow,only very few people have ever experienced such uncomfortable effects.

H. Other specific points for attention

1.       Make a trip to the bathroom to relieve yourself before you begin the Qigong exercises. Wear loose clothes with the waist and chest unconstricted and flat shoes.

2.       Practise Qigong exercise preferably before breakfast and iunch so as to have a strong stomach for the food thanks to the Qi field. Refrain from doing Qigong exercise when the practitioner is too hungry or within the half an hour after a meal.

3.       Practise the first “64 actions” for the first 3 months during which period the practitioner should be moderate in sexual intercourse and wine drinking and control the seven modes of emotion. Then perform the second “64 actions”.When learning,one can leaen these two sets of Dayan Qigong at the same time and should review them periodically.But one should start the practice of the second “64 actions”three months later.

4.       Practise Qigong without interruption expect for the 2 or 3 days when a lady is having her period.Arrange a timeable for work,study and recreation properly and rationally.

5.       Ensure a normal intake of food without eating too much,for Qigong will stimulate one’s appetite.

6.       Practise Action 63 “Sleep peacefully and recover Qi” and the closing position properly.The action of “Sleep peacefully and recover Qi”is in fact the closing action of the first “64 actions”and the starting one of the second “64 actions”.This action is not easy to perform. Since it is discussed in detail in the chapter for the techniques for Dayan Qigong exercise,only a supplementary explanation will be given here.In the event of practising the first and second “64 actions”successively,it is advisable to do the former twice leaving the last action-the closing position of the first “64 actions”for the second time.In other words,Action 63 of “sleep peacefully and recover Qi”of the first “64 actions”will server as the starting position for the second “64 actions”.

Action 63 requires slow movements in which the practitioner should stand still first and lower his body slowly until firmly squatting down on both legs after turning the body.Then he should bend his head slightly forward together with his body but without lowering his head.If he is inclined to get dizzy with closed eyes,he may keep his eyes open looking straight ahead while concentrating his thoughts on Dantian so as to gather the “internal Qi”.Get up slowly while raising the head first,looking straight ahead without thinking anything.

The function for the closing position is to bring the external surrounding Qi into Dantian.After guiding and absorbing Qi with both hands,stand still for a while,relaxed and tranquil,while concentrating the thoughts on Dantian so as to return and nourish the vital energy.

7.       In case the Qigong exercise is interrupted,make sure to finish the movements of the interrupted action and practise the closing position to bring Qi down to Dantian before stopping the Qigong exercise for other matters.In case of outside interference (eg.frightening sounds etc.)in the course of Qigong exercise,the “internal Qi”may be dispersed because the practitioner is started by the interference and feels cold all over.If this happens,don’t be nervious,conscentiously concentrate the thoughts on Dantian,relax the body and continue the Qigong exercise.As a result,the “internal Qi”will gather again and the practitioner will enjoy the normal Qi effect again.