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 Xianren ba jian (The Immortal draws his sword), a technique used to treat any form of pain in the heart. It is practised as follows: Standing with the arms held out straight to either side ('like the character ding' -- or the letter 'T'), one stretches the right arm upwards, while turning the body and the gaze to the left and holding the left arm behind the back. One circulates Qi for nine breaths. Then with the left arm raised, the body and gaze turned to the right, and the right arm behind the back, one again circulates Qi for nine breaths

PICTURE TITLE: Xianren ba jian (The Immortal draws his sword)