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www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk |
Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain |
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| Longfei Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 2 | |||
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www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk |
Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain |
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| Longfei Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 2 | |||
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Some time ago whilst driving to a taijiquan class, I stumbled across a radio show, in which people were discussing the evolution of the English language. It wasn't until they started to mention the topic on English slang words and swearing that my ears pricked up. They where discussing the way our language, like taiji, is in a constant flux and how new words are coming into our language as indeed many of the older words and texts are being eradicated and even lost. Being born in London of parents from London and working and living in London for many years, I take for granted many of the words I hear. They are just there and are part of my everyday vocabulary.
Yet it was when they spoke about the word "squirt" my attention was quickly captured. Apparently it is an old slang word and most generations are familiar with the term "You little squirt". They went on to say the term is a derogatory term that came from the fact that many Victorian children and indeed adults suffered from dysentery. I will leave the rest up to your imagination!
You are probably wondering what this has got to do with taijiquan, let alone the Dantian?
However this period in our history is a relatively short one. But it brings me on to a conversation I had with an eminent Chinese expert on a similar topic. I would like to share this with you. In the early 70s the Chinese excavated the early Han Dynasty tomb, dating back to 168 BC. The excavation took place at Mawangdui near Changsha in Hunan province. They found within the tomb a length of silk , on which was painted a series of 44 figures performing what was clearly qigong. The figures were of both women and men and later became named the "Daoyin Chart". Now here's where it starts to get interesting. The man I was talking to then went on to say that that particular area of China at that time would have been covered in water, or damp bog land and marshes, and that this had an enormous impact and influence on the people in and around that area. The main two effects this had on them would have been:
1. Due to the damp conditions this had an adverse effect on the joints and mobility of the inhabitants of that area.
2. It had a big influence on the entire stomach and digestive function and process of the body.
It is the second of the two which fascinates me, purely from the fact that if we cast our minds back to the disastrous flooding we have had in recent years, the areas that are flooded also suffer as a result of the detrimental effects on the state of the water. In other words germs and disease will follow. Also in many areas of the world, such as third world countries, the poor quality of the water has a marked impact on human life.
Its worth mentioning here my point of departure and return to our cultural background, where we experienced the same problems in old England hence the word squirt.
The ancient Chinese, like many other primitive cultures in history enjoyed dancing (for social reasons, may be boy meets girl at the local hop) or from a martial perspective (like the American Indians or African tribes in an endeavour to psyche themselves up for a battle or conflict). For whatever reason that may not be entirely evident, what became apparent was that after moving the body in this dance-like manner people experienced the following phenomena:
1. The body temperature was drastically increased therefore improving mobility and helping the relief of joint pain. And this is the more fascinating of the two. The exercise of the body increases its capacity for the elimination of waste and also stomach problems and functions were improved.
2. It is widely accepted that the origin of martial arts and qigong started by this process and then because of the need to hunt, or fight in tribal warfare two branches appeared. Firstly the struggle for survival and secondly mans fascination with immortality and interest in self cultivation, and fascination and pursuit for longevity.
When I asked the man in China the naive question why qigong did not remain a dance like in many other cultures he said, because of the huge influence of Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism which all went into the melting pot to make it what it is today.
This may be a contributing cultural reason for why not only movement but the huge importance of the stomach area (Dantian) has such a great significance in the maintenance of human health.
Dantian literally means cinnabar or red field and loosely translates as elixir field. It is described as an important focal point for internal cultivation or even meditation.
Ancient people who knew how to preserve their health and promote longevity attach great importance to the Dantian. They all place significant emphasis for success in qigong on this part of the human body and believe this part of the body is where the pills of immortality (a Daoist practice) are made.
It is worth mentioning here that we are only referring to the lower Dantian (employed in the 5-minute exercise).
The Dantian is not a small dot or isolated acupuncture point. Instead it is thought that the Dantian is an area, zone or field. For example, a place for growing wheat is a wheat-field and a place for growing rice is called a rice-field. A place where coal is mined a coal-field etc. Therefore the place, area, zone inside the human body where the pills of immortality (the name for such pills in Chinese translates as Dan. Also the word for field is pronounced Tian in Chinese) are cultivated is called Dantian. (This field in which pills of immortality are produced is a Daoist concept practiced since ancient times in China).
In ancient times in China, research and evidence suggests that the Daoists who strived for immortality thought this could be achieved by placing a metal material into an oven to produce pills of immortality and once made were taken. As a result, many of them were fatally poisoned instead of enjoying longevity and immortality. It was later thought that the idea of making pills of immortality inside the body with the aim of preserving health and long life could be achieved by breathing techniques and using the mind to focus attention on particular ares of the human body.
The people of ancient China believed that the Dantian was an important place which could supply nutriment for the whole body. It was also thought that the breath came into the Dantian and that Yin and Yang opened and closed in this place. The Dantian was believed to warm every part of the body without fire and moisten the visceras without water. Life depended on this part of the body and its relationship with other parts. It was part of the whole, not separate. If nurtured, life and vitality would be sustained.
Leaving much of the medical or cultural stuff aside, for the martial arts practitioner the Dantian is an area of utmost importance. Firstly from a practical martial arts perspective by coming concisely attached to it we can use it to generate mechanical and physical power by turning this area to facilitate the upper and lower limbs. Every martial arts school emphasises the waist and hip rotation etc. The second reason is that, other than the head, it is the most targeted area in fighting. Not only is it a very large and a vulnerable place for attack with both hands and feet or indeed weapons, it should be a place of great importance to strengthen and condition, also a place that should be relaxed in order to move freely to get out of out of harms way. Most teachers place great attention to this area as a focal point to which one should direct not only energy but a place to expand and contract with the breath. Of course we cannot physically breathe into the lower abdomen, but if we stop the shallow breath in the chest and expand the lower abdomen when breathing in it allows a greater function and aids better use of the lungs and diaphragm. This plays a special role in the bodys centre of gravity and stability and increases the respiratory action and function.
Finally, and of equal importance is that the Chinese take on these characteristics and theories on human health.
Bringing the attention to the Dantian helps to balance the mind and calm the heart. Bringing energy to the area of the Dantian also helps with the stimulation of blood circulation in the abdomen which allows for the following:
1. Stimulates the function and action of the stomach and intestines, thus aiding digestion and the assimilation of food in order to reinforce the bodys central energy Zhong Qi and to invigorate the original energy Yuan Qi.
2. Eliminates abnormal and scattered emotions to reduce inappropriate emotion and reactions; to reduce over activity of the brain; to regulate the central nervous system for prevention, care and maintenance of general health.
Combining mental activity with deep abdominal breathing is a practical way of approaching this. Todays research in China shows that abdominal breathing as well as physical movement can provide an effective internal massage for the stomach, spleen, liver, intestines and therefore increase the capacity and function of intestinal peristalsis and help to push the bolus towards the anus. Abdominal breathing also helps to:
1. Stimulate and secrete the digestive fluids
2. Eliminate stagnant blood in the liver
3. Increase the secretion of bile
4. Humidify the stools
5. Consolidate the abdominal ligaments.
Here are just some of the reasons that I am aware of that make the Dantian such a potent area of consciousness during the practice of Taijiquan. It encapsulates massive cultural, physical and practical benefits.
An essential principle and characteristic feature of the 5 minute exercise is abdominal breathing. The ancient Chinese have for thousands of years been fascinated by the mysteries of longevity. During this long-term struggle against diseases and fascination with longevity, they have observed nature and animals in an attempt to understand and cultivate this phenomenon.
It has been observed by the ancient Chinese that most animals that have avoided extinction and have lived long breathe mainly with their abdomens such as the tortoise and the snake. The tortoise breathes with its abdomen and the snake crawls with its abdomen, so both of them live a long life. Why is breathing with the abdomen so closely associated with life? Because all the internal organs except the brain, heart and lungs are contained within the abdomen. It includes most of the tube like organs of the digestive tract, as well as several solid organs.
Hollow abdominal organs include the stomach, the small intestine, and the colon with its attached appendix. Organs such as the liver, its attached gallbladder and the pancreas function in close association with the digestive tract and communicate with it via ducts. The spleen, kidneys, and adrenal glands also lie within the abdomen, along with many blood vessels including the aorta and inferior vena cava. Anatomists may consider the urinary bladder, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries as either abdominal organs or as pelvic organs. Finally, the abdomen contains an extensive membrane called the peritoneum. A fold of peritoneum may completely cover certain organs, whereas it may cover only one side of organs that usually lie closer to the abdominal wall. Anatomists call the latter type of organs retro peritoneal. For this reason the abdomen is extremely important. However through evolution the human species now stands and walks upright. The result being we mainly breath with the chest. Consequently the way of breathing with the abdomen began to degenerate, causing the movement of the abdomen to weaken. The result is that wastes, toxins etc. are liable to accumulate, the blood is liable to stagnate, and when this become serious, the supply of blood to the brain may be affected due to the narrow blood circulation in the abdomen. Therefore, it is most important to encourage and enhance the correct method and technique of breathing with the abdomen and thus improve its movement and function.
A major advantage of abdominal breathing is that it can promote peristalsis of the intestine to help accelerate the discharge of toxic elements and decrease the chances of being poisoned by ones own body. As the intestinal system is the primary source of poison in the human body, the amount of bacteria in the excrement is prodigious. The detainment of the excrement may not only speed up the reproduction of bacteria but also the absorption of poisonous elements. Abdominal breathing is an effective cathartic remedy. This has great significance for combating senility as well as being an effective method of preventing colon diseases and haemorrhoids.
Furthermore abdominal breathing can be viewed as kind of internal massage of the internal organs in the abdomen and is also good for activating them. If practised regularly, it will be helpful in eliminating fat from the abdomen, removing waste, improving blood circulation and promoting and maintaining life activities of the internal organs and the pelvic cavity.
Simon Watson
Longfei Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 2 Table of Contents
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