Tai Chi and Ba Duan Jin Cultivation Authentic Transmission

Taiji Nourishing Life True Essence

Tao Te Ching states: “Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Tao, Tao follows nature.” Taijiquan and Baduanjin, as treasures of Taoist health preservation, embody this cosmic truth in physical practice. Our lineage patriarch taught: “The elixir has no form, it dwells in movement” – these two arts are supreme methods of “cultivating stillness through motion.”

Tai Chi Secrets for Health Preservation

Taijiquan is far beyond ordinary martial arts – it’s a method to “manifest Tao through martial practice” that cultivates both vitality and spiritual nature. Three core secrets:

  1. Relaxation: Joints like beaded strings hanging (relaxed but not limp)
  2. Sinking: Qi settles in dantian like stone in water (rooted but not stiff)
  3. Circularity: Movements like endless rings (rounded and continuous)

Eight Pieces of Brocade Explained

These eight movements are "bridges to heaven", each corresponding to different meridians and organs:

With both hands holding up the heavens to regulate the Triple Energizer (regulating the qi of the upper, middle, and lower Triple Energizer)
Opening the bow to both sides as if shooting an eagle (unblocking the Lung and Liver Meridians)
Regulating the spleen and stomach requires single-handed lifting (coordinating the ascending and descending of the spleen and stomach)
Looking back at the five labors and seven injuries (activating the Yang energy of the Governor Vessel)
Shaking the head and swinging the tail to eliminate heart fire (balancing the water and fire of the heart and kidneys)
Both hands grasping the feet to solidify the kidneys and waist (nourishing the prenatal essence)
Clenching fists and glaring to increase energy (stimulating the energy of the liver and gallbladder)
Seven inverted throws on the back to eliminate a hundred diseases (shaking the Sea of Marrow to expel evil)

Practice Essentials：Time: The best time is from 5-7am, and the second best is from 5-7pm Breathing: Use "reverse abdominal breathing" (inhale and pull in the abdomen, exhale and bulge the abdomen) Mind: For each exercise, imagine the corresponding internal organ emitting light (such as imagining the spleen and stomach as yellow light in the third exercise)

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Stages of Practice

  1. Foundation (100 days):

    • Daily “Cloud Hands” practice during Chen hour (7-9am)
    • Paired with “He” breathing (inhale imagining cosmic energy, exhale silently chanting “He”)

  2. Initial mastery:

    • Naturally enter “Taiji state” (moving as in water)
    • Develop “qi sensation” (warmth/tingling in palms)

  3. Advanced achievement: “Formless form” (movements flow from heart) “Divine clarity” (spontaneous harmony with Tao)

Health Preservation Q&A

Q: How to schedule practice for busy modern life? A: “Taiji at dawn, Baduanjin at dusk” – 30min Taiji in morning, 15min Baduanjin in evening. This follows “nourish yang at sunrise, nourish yin at sunset” principle.

Q: Why tear/sigh during practice? A: These are “healing reactions” – tears release liver toxins, sighs regulate stomach qi. Continue practice when occurring.

Remember our 16-word mantra:”Body relaxed, mind expansive;Qi sinks to elixir field;Continuous like existence itself;Merge completely with Tao.”