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 second exercise. It is performed as follows: Using three fingers of each hand, one massages vertically downwards from the pit of the stomach (xinwo - heart's nest), walking as one does so. One stops when one reaches the 'prominent bone' (gao gu) in the abdomen.