Five Animal Frolics Qigong

Five Animal Frolics Qigong Links, bibliography, resources, quotes, and notes by Mike Garofalo.

"Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics," Zhou Lishang. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 4, August, 2005, pp. 42-49. Translation by Yan Shufan. Part 1. A detailed article on how to do the Frolics. This version of the Frolics set was developed by the Shanghai University of Sports and approved by the State Physical Culture and Sports Bureau. This article includes set by set photos, instructions, and some very interesting illustrations from the Ma Wang Dui Tomb No. 3 findings.

"Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics," by Zhou Lishang. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Vol. 29, No. 5, October, 2005, pp. 42-49. Translation by Yan Shufan. Part 2. This second article includes detailed instructions and photographs of the form. Includes information on the internal benefits of this form and TCM meridian theory related to the movements.

These two articles are the most detailed printed description of a version of the Five Animal Frolics that I have ever seen. Approval by the Chinese State Physical Culture and Sports Bureau will greatly contribute to the dissemination of this version of the Frolics, the production of DVDs, VCDs, and videotapes on the form, and more widespread teaching of this ancient popular qigong form.

Eight Section Brocade Qigong

“Chinese medical chi-gung emphasizes soft, slow, rhythmic movements of the body synchronized with deep diaphragmatic breathing. The purpose of these exercises is to stretch the tendons, loosen the joints, and tone the muscles, to promote circulation of blood, and to regulate all the vital functions of the body. The medical school adapted many forms of ‘moving meditation” exercise for therapeutic use, including the ancient Dao-Yin and ‘Play of the Five Beasts’ forms based on animal movements, martial forms such as ‘Eight Pieces of Brocade’ and Tai Chi Chuan, and special exercises developed specifically to treat various internal organs.”- Daniel Reid, A Complete Guide to Chi Kung, p. 52.

The Eight Section Brocade Qigong, Ba Duan Jin Qigong, includes a detailed description of the movements, information on the benefits of each movements, a historical introduction to the form, references to books and links, quotes, and other resources. The webpages is quite large - over 330 Kb. Written and researched by Michael P. Garofalo, and published by Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California.

Luo Han (Lohan) Qigong

Luohan Qigong, Lohan Qigong, Luohan Gong, Lohan Gong

Shaolin Buddhist Qigong
Resources, Lessons, History, Links, Bibliography, Notes, Research
http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/lohan.htm

"One tradition is that the Buddhist teacher, Bodhidharma (448-527 CE), a famous Grand Master of Chan (Zen),introduced a set of 18 exercises to the Buddhist monks at the Shaolin Temple. These are known as the Eighteen Hands of the Lohan. This Shaolin Lohan Qigong (i.e., the art of the breath of the enlightened ones), "is an internal set of exercises for cultivating the "three treasures" of qi (vital energy), jing (essence), and shen (spirit)," according to Howard Choy. The Kung Fu master, Sifu Wong Kiew-Kit, referring to the Shaolin Wahnam style, says "the first eight Lohan Hands are the same as the eight exercises in a famous set of chi kung exercises called the Eight Pieces of Brocade." There are numerous versions,seated and standing, of Bodhiidharma's exercise sets - including the related "Tendon-Changing and Marrow-Washing" qigong set. Some versions of the 18 Lohan (Luohan) Hands have up to four levels, and scores of movement forms for qigong and martial purposes."
- Michael P. Garofalo, Eight Section Brocade (330Kb)

For a comparison of some of the exercises in the Lohan Qigong with the Eight Section Brocade see my chart on the topic.

The Luohan Qigong includes a massage or patting training methods, and this is especially popular among Yin Fu Bagua enthusiasts. Master Xie Pei Qi has a DVD out on the topic.

Tai Chi Chuan Workshops in Northern California

January 14-17, 2006, Master Yang Jun, Hand Form and Saber Workshop
Stockton, CA. Information Website: Raymond Tom 209-952-8582

January 3-5, 2006, Daoist Master Oleg Tcherne, Alchemy of Tui Shou (Push Hands)
Sacramento, CA Information:William Cranstoun 916-965-0575

Yin and Yang Philosophy Course

There's a new on-line course on Yin and Yang Philosophy at the Way of Perfect Emptiness. For more information about the course's outline and registration, please contact Sarah Cole at the Way of Perfect Emptiness. Other courses on Taoism are also available at this website.

Cloud Hands Website

This blog is for public notification of additions to webpages at my main Taijiquan and Qigong website: Cloud Hands. The website includes detailed guides to Yang and Sun Taijiquan,
saber and sword weapons, and numerous qigong forms.

Technorati Profile

Wild Goose Qigong

Stretching Like a Bird

“Breathing in and out in various manners, spitting out the old and taking in the new, walking like a bear and stretching their neck like a bird to achieve longevity - this is what such practitioners of Dao-yin, cultivators of the body and all those searching for long life like Ancestor Peng, enjoy.”
- Chuang-Tzu, Chapter 15, circa 300 BCE.

The Wild Goose Qigong webpage includes references to books, websites, videos, DVDs and instructionalresources on this popular Chinese exercise system. A list of the 64 movements of the form is included.Information on all of the masters of the form are included. Lore and Taoist legends about geese andmythical birds are included.


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