Woodcut from Yi shen ji (Physical Culture Compilation), published in 1852 (2nd year of the Xianfeng reign period of the Qing dynasty). The Yan nian jiu zhuan (Life-prolonging nine revolutions) method is an ancient technique intended to strengthen the body. It consists of nine exercises. This illustration depicts the fourth exercise. It is performed as follows: Using three fingers of each hand, one presses vertically downwards from the pit of the stomach (xin wo - heart's nest) to the 'prominent bone' (gao gu). One does this 21 times.
