Chinese woodcut: Qigong exercise to free the flow in renmai

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 a technique used for freeing the flow in renmai (the Director Vessel, often translated as Conception Vessel). It is practised as follows: Sitting upright and cross-legged, one places one hands on the acu-moxa loxations at each side of the chest. One does this nine times and circulates Qi for 14 breaths.

PICTURE TITLE: Renmai (The Director Vessel, often translated as Conception Vessel)