The Holy land of the Shaolin

Muscle-Tendon Changing (chin.: Yi Jin Jing 易筋经) is one of the Venerable Bodhidharma’s timeless teachings and have been considered the key to long-lasting youth. The term Yijinjing can be translated also as regeneration of the Body and Tendon-Transformation and Marrow-Purification method.

Bodhidharma’s Yi Jin Jing is one of the most well kept Martial Arts (chin. wugōng 武功)technique of the Songshan Shaolin Monastery (chin.: Sōngshān Shàolínsì 嵩山少林寺). Practicing Bodhidharma’s Yi Jin Jing improve the external strength (chin.: Jìn 劲) of the body but also the body flexibility (chin.: róuxìng 柔性.)

The Yi Jin Jing taught the Shaolin Monks (chin.: Shàolínsēng 少林僧) how to build their internal energy (chin.: qi 气) to an abundant level and use it to improve health and change their physical bodies from weak to strong. After the Monks practiced the Yi Jin Jing exercises, they found that not only did they improve their health, but also they also greatly increased their strength. When this training was integrated into the martial arts forms, it increased their martial abilities. This change marked one more step in the growth of the Shaolin Martial Arts (chin.: Shàolín wugōng 少林武功.)

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Proper breathing or Qixi (气息) is the Advance stage of the Controlling the essence and vital energy technique (chin.: Shaolin Tong Zhi Jing Qi 少林统治精气) and is generally defined as rhythmic control of breath. Although this interpretation may seem correct in view of the practices involved, it does not convey the full meaning of the term.

The word Qixi derives from the Sanskrit term Prajnayama (chin.: banruo xiuxing 般若修行). In Sanskrit, Prajna means “Breath”, “Vital Energy” or “Life Force” (Qi) and Ayama means “Control or Exercise” (Xi).

Shaolin Qixi (少林气息) refers to the practice of mastering Qi, the life element in the body. Qixi holds the key to tapping this Bio-energy to attain improved physiology and spiritual elevation. As a result of the everyday stresses of modern, urban life, the increased air pollution, the increased levels of radioactivity in the atmosphere, and the depletion of the ozone layer, breathing has, in response, become much more shallow and rapid.

This in itself is a precursor to many chronic respiratory ailments. 

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Shaolin eight-piece brocade (chin.: Baduanjin 少林八段锦) can be considered as the Shaolin way of Stretching.

Shaolin Baduanjin is a kind of shaolin qigong (少林氣功) practice having the characteristics of both qigong and health-strengthening (chin.: daoyin道引) exercises and it is one of the earliest Martial arts forms (chin.: Wugong Taolu 武功套路) that was practiced by Shaolin Temple monks (chin.: shaolin heshang 少林和尚).

Everyone who want to do ancient body building (chin.: jianshen健身) exercise must understand that the exercises are for preserving health (chin.: yangfa養法), they are for people to build up health and promote skills in Martial Arts activities while provides rehabilitative activities aiming primarily at helping people to recover the various functions (chin.: jiefa 解乏).

Although we tend to generalize and classify the Shaolin baduanjin as “Shaolin qigong” it is considered by most Chinese to be a set of excellent general exercises for health and fitness. It can be practiced as a compliment for any sport or regime. But it is considered as a primary knowledge to Shadow boxing (chin.: Taijiquan太极拳) and Shaolin Wugong.

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