Health Qigong • Liu Zi Jue is the fitness method taking the expiration and inspiration as the main means, combining with the simple Tao Yin actions. Therefore, we should form such a concept that the expiration and inspiration is the key point, combining with the body movements in the practice process. In that practice, exercisers should pay attention to the process of respiratory medicines, but also pay attention to body movements and breathing each other. Of course, due to the different levels of the practitioners, every movement is not required to complete accurately at this stage. The exercisers should accomplish that an articulation, one breath, and one action. In other words, the process of articulation should coordinate with the breathing and movements. When the pronunciation and breathing is completed, the routine is completed.

Here we will talk about the theoretical knowledge and notices in the practice in the preparing form and XU Exercise in the Health Qigong • Liu Zi Jue.

Practice purposes and essentials of the preparing form

The main function of the preparing form is to allow practitioners to calm the body and mind, so as to enter into the state of the practice. Generally, there are three features in the good practice state, i.e. no distractions, physical relaxation and breath smoothly. The primary practitioners are difficult to enter the practice state from the living conditions rapidly. In order to allow practitioners to enter the practice state as soon as possible, the research team has designed a series of relatively simple body movements, to assist the practitioners to make the body, mind and qi concentrate on the body movements, so as to achieve the combination of body, mind and qi. Of course, the preparing form is helpful to enter the practice state, initially mobilize qi and blood of the body, exercise the joints of the body, so as to achieve the fitness results. Therefore, the practice essentials of the preparing form are as the following. Accompanying with the body movements, exercisers should reach the state that no distractions, physical relaxation and breath smoothly.  

Practice purposes and essentials of the XU Exercise

Practice purposes of the XU Exercise. According to the traditional health science, the XU Exercise corresponds to the liver, which is mainly to regulate the liver. The expiration and inspiration, as well as the body movements are mainly designed for the liver.

In order to further develop the regulation effect of the liver in the XU Exercise, we need to understand the liver in the context of the traditional Chinese health culture. The article will mainly introduce three basic functions and features of the liver. First, the liver is the general that is responsible for dredging the blood and regulate the emotions. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that the liver in human body is the general. ("Su Wen"). From the perspective of philology, the left side of the liver is the flesh, on behalf of its texture, the right side of the liver is the word GAN, which means the intervention and implementation. It also shows the characteristics of the liver to intervene and coordinate the various internal organs. The storage and distribution of the blood is one of the most important responsibilities of the liver. The demand for blood of different organs in different situations will change a lot. The liver can regulate and control the blood according to the demand as the general. Being angry is related to the liver, because the liver on a dysfunctional emotional catharsis. Second, the visual function of the eyes depends on the functions of dredging and discharging of the liver qi and the nutrition of the liver. The physiological and pathological conditions of the liver can be reflected by the eyes. "Su Wen" said, "the liver qi connects the eyes" and "liver nourishes the eyes", which explains that the strength of the sight is directly related with the function of the liver. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine clinic, some eye diseases are cured from the liver, which are also the application of this principle. Third, the liver corresponds to the wood in the five elements and the tone of Jue in the five notes. In the traditional Chinese philosophy, the wood in the five elements is characterized by upward growth and outward stretch. The things with the features of growing and dredging correspond to the wood. The liver can smooth the emotions and soothing the circulation of blood and qi, and "the liver corresponds to the tendons" ("Su Wen• Wu Zing Sheng Cheng"), the tendons are like the branches of the trees, so it corresponds to the wood. The tone of Jue corresponds the wood in the five elements, and "its sound is harmonious and long." The music composed by the tone of Jue is the melodious song tone, vibrant, people feel vibrant spring. The functions of the liver are related to the energetic tone of Jue, e.g. storing the blood, blood transfusion, and detoxification and so on. It is the theoretical basis of the ancient five notes regimen.

Practice essentials of the XU Exercise. The teeth voices in the XU Exercise can regulate the liver. The research group has set the following provisions on the expiration and pronunciation in the XU Exercise. "Tighten and lead backward the corners of the mouth, with molars opposing up and down and leaving gaps, there are gaps among the molars and the tongue side. In the sound production, qi is exhaled from the molars and both sides of the tongue. The most important goal of these provisions is to make the teeth voice in the XU Exercise. The sound emitted from the molars is called "teeth voice", while the sound emitted from the front incisors and canines is called "apical consonant". Under normal circumstances, due to the influence of different dialects and pronunciation habits, it is easy to make the apical consonant by mistake when making the sound of XU. "Apical consonant" matches gold and correspond the lung. The “teeth voice" matches wood and correspond the liver. Therefore, the teeth voice in the XU Exercise can regulate the liver. The key to the teeth voice is to make the sound in the place of molars. To accurately grasp the pronunciation method, we summarize it as follows. Close the stitch left, open molars slightly and make the sound of "XU".

Exercise effects of the body movements on the liver. Although Health Qigong • Liu Zi Jue is the fitness method taking the expiration and inspiration as the main means, the design of body movements comply with the gasification features with corresponding internal organs. The design of the XU Exercise also complies with this principle. We will talk about the relationship between the three key body movements and the liver. First, put palms near the waist. Precisely, put palms near the Zhangmen acupoint (acupoint selection see attached drawing). Zhangmen acupoint is the important point of the liver meridian, which is an important gateway of the qi movement. This acupoint is conductive to soothing the liver and strengthen the spleen, as well as regulate qi and remove the stasis. Palms moving up and down near the Zhangmen acupoint can massage and stimulate this acupoint, to soothing the liver. Second, palms moving along the diagonal. The liver has the functions of dredging and discharging, and it is good to develop and smooth the liver. Palms move through the Zhangmen acupoint and along the diagonal, its purpose is to guide and dredge the liver qi. At the same time, it can evacuate the stagnation, relax the unhealthy emotions of the liver heat. Third, two eyes staring with the sound of XU. As mentioned above, "the liver qi connects the eyes", "liver nourishes the eyes", so the eyes are closely linked with the liver. On the one hand, the visual function of the eyes depends on the function of dredging and discharging of the liver qi and the nutrition of liver blood. On the other hand, the function of dredging and discharging of the liver can also be affected by the open and close of the eyes. The key points of these three actions can be summarized as the following. Palms move through the Zhangmen acupoint and along the diagonal, and two eyes staring with the sound of XU.

(Chao Shengjie)