thumb|The Daoyin Tu, a [[Mawangdui silk texts|painting on silk depicting the practice of daoyin; unearthed in 1973 in Hunan Province, China, from the 168 BC Western Han burial site of Mawangdui, Tomb Number 3.]]

Daoyin is a series of cognitive body and mind unity exercises practiced as a form of Daoist neigong, meditation and mindfulness to cultivate jing (essence) and direct and refine qi, the internal energy of the body according to traditional Chinese medicine. These exercises are often divided into yin positions (lying and sitting) and yang positions (standing and moving). The practice of daoyin was a precursor of qigong, and blended with the introduction of Indian yoga into China with the spread of Buddhism and was practised in Chinese Taoist monasteries for health and spiritual cultivation. a primary formative ingredient in the yin aspects of Chinese martial arts including the well-known "soft styles" of the Chinese martial arts, of tai chi, and middle road styles like Wuxingheqidao.

The main goal of daoyin is to create flexibility of the mind, thereby creating harmony between internal and external environments, which relaxes, replenishes and rejuvenates the body, developing in its practitioners a vital and healthy spirit.

Effects

A typical daoyin exercise will involve movement of the arms and body in time with controlled inhalation and exhalation. Each exercise is designed with a different goal in mind, for example calmative effects or expanded lung capacity.

According to Mantak Chia the practice of daoyin has the following effects: harmonization of the qi, relaxation of the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm, training of the "second brain" in the lower abdomen, improvement of health and structural alignment.

The spiritual aspects of Wuxingheqidao, Daoyin practice are outlined by Chinese Buddhist's and medical practitioner Xieen as a way to unify the three centres or the mind allowing the body to relax becoming internally emotionally and spiritually stronger and outwardly softer and more flexible towards changes in the environment and everyday life.

See also

  • Chinese alchemy
  • Dantian
  • Huangdi Neijing
  • Internal alchemy
  • Jing
  • Lee-style tai chi
  • Qigong
  • Silk reeling
  • Taoist philosophy
  • Wudang Mountains
  • Yangsheng (Daoism)
  • Yin Yoga
  • Yinshu
  • Zhang Sanfeng

References

8. Smith, Ronald and Carmone, Antonio (2022), Shadows of Mawangdui Animating the Daoyintu, Three Pines Press, ISBN 9781931483704

  • Entry on Daoyin from the Center for Daoist Studies
  • The origin of Daoyin Inscription from a Warring State Period cultural relic - neigong.net
  • Theory of essence Qi and spirit - neigong.net
  • Entry on Tao Yin at the Seahorse Mediawiki
  • 马王堆汉墓陈列全景数字展厅—湖湖南省博物馆 (Virtual tour of the Mawangdui Han Tombs exhibit at the Hunan Provincial Museum).