II. "Entering quietly” into the practice state

In relative to the the routine of “swinging the head and lowering the body to relieve stress”, the external body movements of this routine of “thrusting the fists and making the eyes glare to enhance strength” are almost motionless. Actually otherwise, the quiet in this routine is the practice state of the generation and transformation of qi and blood, implying quiet in the move and sovereign-minister harmonious interaction, which possesses the following three obvious features.

First, keeping quiet in the external and move in the internal to promote the generation and transformation of qi and blood. There is a movement of griping in this routine, which seems stationary by the presentation. However, if it truly enters into the state of gripping, its essentials make the meridians of the general organ and minister organ connect closely together. Gripping  is a hand posture commonly used in Chinese traditional health practice, which is adapted from Laotse, namely "the weak bone and soft tendon achieving gripping." According to the ancient records, gripping is conductive to calm the soul and collect the essence and qi. Griping regularly is very good to improve the "deficiency fire". Practicing this gesture for a long term can significantly improve the symptoms, e.g. the recurrent dry nose, sore throat, brain pain, tinnitus, hot palms and dysthesia, etc. It can enhance the kidney essence and kidney water, so as to nourish yin for lowering fire. So it is helpful to the people, who suffered the habitual oral ulcers, chronic pharyngitis, chronic rhinitis, and easy to get angry. Traditional Chinese medicine also believes that "hair is the presentation of blood, the essence of kidney is reflected in the hair". Griping can strengthen the essence and nourish the kidney, which is favor of the black hair. It can be seen that the sovereign-minister harmonious interaction has held the lung meridians, liver meridians and kidney meridians in the hand.

Second, qi and mind comforting to each other to master the heaven and earth. Although qi and mind keep moving with the changes of hand in this routine, as they can not be observed by people, so it is called "entering quietly” into the practice state. Traditional Chinese medicine attaches great importance to the fingers, palms, wrists and all health status reflected by the hand. It is believed that the internal organs of body, the generation and transformation of qi and blood, as well as the meridians are closely related to the hands, so the diagnosis and treatment can not be separated from the hands. As for the physical and mental health, it is also closely related to the hands. The routine of "thrusting the fists and making the eyes glare to enhance strength" in Health Qigong Ba Duan Jin has attached great importance to the hands. The qi movement of the body, the mind and the organs are all moving quietly by the guiding of hands. On one hand, paying attention to the movements, e.g. turning the spinal column and waist left and right, the strength coming from the pubic region, rotating the wrist and griping with strength, make the eyes stare, etc. On the other hand, keep the mild flow of qi movement in the quiet state. That is, exercising anticlockwise abdominal breathing or breathing with lifting the anus coordinating with the practice. Its essentials are in the following. When punching the fists slowly, people should inhale, lift the anus, abdomen in and the diaphragm rising; when griping and drawing back the fists, people should exhale, loose the anus and abdomen, as well as the diaphragm lowering. As the continuously skilled methods, the technical level is continuously improved, the actions tend to smooth, forming a natural breathing and keeping peace of mind, which is bound to reach the coordination of actions, breath and mind.

Third, guiding the internal and external to enhance the physiological function of the general organ. The routine plays a very obvious role of nourishing and strengthening the general organ. The significance to practice the routine lies in four points: First, to enhance the functions of storing the blood and regulating blood flow. The blood in various parts of the human body change the flow rate with different physiological conditions, in order to supply the needs of the body's activities. If the liver is sick and fails to store the blood, it will affect the normal activities of the body and the blood lesions may also occur. It can repeatedly stimulate the liver meridians in the flanks and adjust the smooth circulation of blood and qi, by punching the fists, pulling and pishing the arms, which helps to improve the functions of liver storing blood and regulating the blood flow. Second, to enhance the functions of liver governing dispersing and the ascending of liver qi. If the dispersing of liver qi functions normal and the qi movement is normal and smooth, people can achieve the balance of qi and blood, and feel comfortable. It can regulate the qi movement by practicing "thrusting the fists and making the eyes glare", punching the fists, twisting the waist. the flow of qi leads to the flow of blood, and qi stagnation leads to blood stagnation. Therefore, in the case of smooth qi movement, the spleen qi and stomach qi can ascend and descend normally, and the function of digestion can be strengthened. Third, to enhance the function of the liver dominating tendon. The reason for liver dominating tendon is that the fascia of the body all dependent on the nourishment of liver blood. As long as there are sufficient liver blood, the fascia of the body can be nourished, so as to maintain the normal movements. The deficiency of liver blood and the blood not nourishing the muscle and tendon, it may cause the symptoms, such as tremors of hand and foot, numbness, failing to flexion and extension, etc. If the pathogenic heat invading the fluid, the fluid is injured and blood is consumed, the blood can not nourish the fluid, which cause the symptoms, such as limbs convulsions, opisthotonos, lockjaw and so on. "Claw is the presentation of the tendons", so it will also affect the vicissitude of the claw. Sufficient liver blood contributes to strengthen the tendon and the claw is tough and tensile; while the deficiency of liver blood contributes to weak tendons and the caw is thin and soft, and even deformation or being fragile. It can stimulate the Shu acupoints of the twelve regular meridians and the Du channel, namely “the sea of the yang meridians”, regulate qi and blood of the meridians and stretch the muscles and tendons of the whole body, to achieve the effects of strengthening the tendons and muscles and enhancing the strength, by practicing "thrusting the fists and making the eyes glare", squatting both legs, ten toes griping the floor, thrusting the fists, rotating the wrist, gripping the fingers gradually. Fourth, to enhance the function of the liver opens at the eyes. As the internal relations between the eyes and the internal organs, as well as the liver meridians are associated with the eyes, so the visual function of the eyes depends on the nourishment of the qi and blood of the liver meridians. So Ling Shu·Mai Du Pian said that "liver qi is associated with the eyes, the well-being of the liver contributes to the visual function of the eyes." Therefore, whether the liver functions well often demonstrated on the lesion of the eyes. Practicing "thrusting the fists and making the eyes glare" and griping repeatedly can stimulate the liver meridians, which is conductive to replenish the liver blood, dredge the liver qi, nourish the liver and eyes, and prevent the lesions of the eyes.

(By Wang Zhanhe)