C16 Chinese woodcut: Daoyin technique to treat sated feeling

Illustration of technique named 'The Immortals open up the barriers of stored Qi' (Xianren cun qi kai guan) from Shouyang congshu: Xiuzhen miyao (Compendium of Longevity and Cultivation Practices: Arcane Essentials of Cultivating Perfection), a text on daoyin (therapeutic gymastics) and Qigong, describing 49 daoyin techniques. The original author of this work is unknown; supposedly, it was discovered in 1513 (8th year of the Zhengde reign period of the Ming dynasty) by Wang Zai, who published it with an introductory essay.

According to the text, this daoyin technique treats a feeling of the belly being full up (xubao).

Method: As shown in the illustration, clasp the hands around the shoulders, gaze towards the left, and circulate Qi for 12 breaths.

Heading: The Immortals open up the barriers of stored Qi (Xianren cun qi kai guan)