Chinese woodcut: Qigong exercise to treat heart pain

Xiuzhen miyao, a gymnastic (daoyin/qigong) text of unknown origin, was rediscovered and published with a preface by Wang Zai in 1513 (8th year of the Zhengde reign period of the Ming dynasty). It records 49 exercises. This illustration depicts Tongzi bai Guanyin (The infant prays to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara), a technique used to treat pain in the heart and chest. It is practised as follows: Sitting still with legs extended and hands resting on the tops of the thighs, one concentrates the attention and circulates Qi for 12 breaths.

PICTURE TITLE: Tongzi bai Guanyin (The infant prays to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara)