Chinese woodcut: Qigong exercise to nourish essence and Qi

Xiuzhen miyao, a gymnastic (daoyin/qigong) text of unknown origin, was rediscovered and published with a preface by Wang Zai in 1513 (8th year of the Zhengde reign period of the Ming dynasty). It records 49 exercises. This illustration depicts Lü zu yang jing fa (Ancestor Lü's technique for nourishing essence), a technique used to sustain and nourish essence (jing) and Qi. It is practised as follows: One sits upright and cross-legged. While rubbing the sole of the right foot with the left hand, one circulates Qi for 24 breaths. Then, while rubbing the sole of the left foot with the right hand, one again circulates Qi for 24 breaths.

PICTURE TITLE: Lü zu yang jing fa (Ancestor Lü's technique for nourishing essence)