www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk	Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain
		Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 3

Daoyin Theory

The main reason for the following article arose from what I thought to be a simple but unanswered question put to professor Zhang: "why do we massage the face at the end of the 5 minute exercise?"

These notes although of modest interpretation, understanding and research are a direct result of my studies with professor Zhang. Since coming back from China I have been greatly inspired by his whole approach to qigong and striving for a greater understanding of the practice and study of Daoyin, how this relates to the external and internal movements to the deep and profound science and theory of human development. This connection will enable students to perform the exercises with a greater depth and comprehension, which in turn will give them greater benefit and confidence.

As the famous saying by China's first great poet Qu Yuan says: "The road to learning is endless, we must reach high and low".

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Richard for allowing this to happen and also to Diana Choy for setting up a unique chance and opportunity for the two of us to study intensely and directly on a one-to-one basis and for her patience translating and tireless enthusiasm. From my experience with Professor Zhang I think one of his messages is that the student must use his own initiative and strive to gain a deeper understanding, acquiring as much knowledge as he or she can.

I beg the indulgence of the reader and hope this small contribution is thought provoking. I will be returning in the spring with Richard and Diana to continue our studies.

Part I: the Face

Countenance is an external mirror of the body. It is a part in which the appearances of Qi and blood centralise. Every small external change is a sign of change inside the body. In particular the condition of the face potentially influences senility and relates to physical decrepitude. Human psychology interacts with physiology. Psychology can promote physical decline and delay the process as well.

So, maintaining facial beauty plays a subtle role in preventing the decline of the whole body. Therefore preventing the decrepitude of the face is of great importance. Although facial massage and exercise are necessary in order to prevent facial decline. Facial health care and maintenance must be based on the meridians. The face is a gathering point for meridians, as Xie Qi Zang Fu Bing Xing states in Spiritual Pivot, "Twelve channels, three hundred and sixty five collaterals, the blood and Qi all run up to the face and penetrate through the seven openings" (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and the mouth). Among these are the following meridians, foot Yangming stomach meridian, hand Shaoyin heart meridian, hand Taiyang small intestine meridian, foot Sun bladder meridian, foot Sun gall bladder meridian and hand Shaoyang triple warmer meridian. Their meridian Qi all run to the face. The foot Yangming stomach meridian has plentiful Qi and blood. Its circulatory area is the widest.

Also, Shang Gu Tian Zhen Lun in Plain Questions says "Women....35, Yangming channel declines, face begins to decline. Men....48, face dry." This means that facial decline becomes the sign of decrepitude when women are 35 years old and men 48. Because of this, to achieve the health, radiance and beauty of the face, stress should be laid on the meridians, especially on the foot Yangming stomach meridian.

Method: how do we achieve this?

There are various techniques and methods used: mental attention (i.e. guiding and directing energy by mental attention that can include visualisation) and manuipulating the vital points. The focus of attention and guiding of energy should be based on circulation within the 12 meridians with special attention paid to the meridians that circulate through wider areas, such as the meridians of the foot Yangming stomach, hand Taiyang small intestine and hand Yangming large intestine. Massage should be done along the course of these meridians or along their distribution, the course of the channels and the muscles.

The vital points to manipulate are:

· Zusanli (gathering point foot Yangming stomach meridian, on the anterior lateral side ot the leg, 3 cun* below Dubi, one finger breath from the anterior crest of the tibia) benefits and promotes stomach function.

· Sanyinjiao (on the medial side of the leg, 3 cun* above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia) is an acupoint on the foot Taiyin spleen meridian, having beneficial effects on the function of the spleen and stomach. It can also adjust the balance of Yin and Yang.

· Hegu (hand Yangming large intestine origin acupoint, on the dorsum of the hand, between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones, and the radial side of the midpoint of the 2nd metacarpal bone) adjusts the Qi and blood in the head and face.

· Sibai (foot Yangming stomach, on the face, directly below the pupil, in the depression of the infraorbital foramen) can adjust the Qi and blood in the head and face as well as brightening the eyes.

· Quanliao (hand Taiyang small intestine, on the face, directly below the outer canthus, in the depression below the zygomatic bone) can adjust facial blood and Qi.

· Yangbai (foot Shaoyang gall bladder, on the forehead, directly above the pupil, 1 cun* above the eyebrow) adjusts the Qi and blood in the forehead.

· Dicang (foot Yangming stomach, on the face, directly below the pupil, beside the mouth angle) plays a significant role in improving the Qi and blood of the mouth, lips and jaw.

· Xiaguan (foot Yangming stomach, on the face, anteroir to the ear, in the depression between the zygomatic arch and mandibular notch) can adjust facial Qi and blood.

· Jiache (foot Yangming stomach, on the cheeks, one finger breadth anterior and superior to the mandibular angle, in the depression where the masseter muscle is promonent) affects the face and facial nerves.

The above nine acupoints, six on the face, three on the limbs, are easily located. Manipulate and press until you feel a tingle, then Qi is obtained and it is best to stop practice. If such manipulation is regularly practised, the effects of enhanced facial health, radiance and beauty can be achieved.

The effect will be heightened if the hands are warmed before massaging, manipulating and pressing the acupoints. Some predecessors advocate rubbing the face with saliva (like an animal when washing). This can be taken as a reference.

* Cun is a Chinese word that translates to "anatomical inch". It is a measurement relative to the patient's body that is used to find acupuncture points. Generally speaking one cun is equal to the space between the distal interphalangeal joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint on the middle finger.

Daoyin website

For further information on Daoyin, James Drewe has created a qigong website that outlines the Daoyin Yang Sheng Gong system with diagrams and photos. Visit www.qigonghealth.co.uk

Simon Watson

Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 3Table of Contents