This form (sequence) of Qigong is estimated to be 800 - 1000 years old in its origins, dating back to the Song Dynasty in China.
Translated:
Ba meaning eight,
Duan meaning sections, pieces, parts
Jin meaning brocade, or silken woven fabric.
Over the millennia this popular form of Qigong has passed through almost as many teachers and practitioners, resulting in a multitude of names and variations.
- Eight Precious Chinese Exercises
- Eight Silk Brocades Qigong
- Eight Pieces of the Silk Brocade
- Eight Silken Movements,
- Eight Pieces of Brocade
- Eight Movement Qigong
- Eight Essences
- Eight Golden Treasure Brocade
- Eight Bolts of Silk
Some believe that the purpose of the form is to make the Qi of the body flow as smoothly as silk… This is no doubt true to some degree. The overarching purpose of Qigong from a health perspective is to release tension, stress and stagnation from the body, improving the functioning of virtually all of the bodily systems.
Much like how there are many names for the sequence, there’s also variations within the eight movements and their individual form names too. Essentially though their intention is to create spaciousness and expansion through the physical body, to elevate the spirit, and to improve the flow of Qi through the meridian system.
Classical Qigong is a practice of slow, precise, differientiated movement, presence and breath-work. This form is a great entry into Classical Qigong practice and is transmitted as received by Master Wang of Wang Zhi Ping Tai Chi School - Yangshou China.