By Erle Montaigue
Baguazhang is truly an amazing art once you get past the basics. It, like Tai Chi, was invented by people of genius to incorporate healing as well as deadly self defence methods.
Each of the major postures from Bagua have a hidden meaning, either for the healing benefits or for gaining of power for the fa-jing and fighting system. And the hidden meanings are hidden in the very names of each posture. This information was only ever given out to very advanced students after they became proficient in the fighting side of the art as when once was proficient in self defence, one could then understand about the healing and Qigong side.
By knowing the names of each posture, we are able to find the hidden way to perform each posture as well as to find the hidden healing meaning or Qigong to gain power etc. For instance, the posture called 'Leaning On the Horse & Ask The Way' works upon the energy system of the body which is stored in the backbone. When we 'Lean On The Horse', we lean on his backbone, and as the backbone is so easily seen in a horse, this gives us a hidden meaning of this posture. The way to real power in Baguazhang is to access the combined power of each vertebra when it is connected to all of the other vertebra. Each separate vertebra is like a small capacitor which stores electricity (Qi). If we know how to set the backbone up correctly, and then drop each vertebra on top of each other, we are able to not only store Qi in the backbone, but also to issue it when needed. So when we hold this posture as a standing Qigong method, we learn how to gain access to our hidden reservoir of energy.
1st Palm Change: SINGLE PALM CHANGE
The posture called "Flower Hides Under Leaf" represents the Qigong that is responsible for taking that power that we develop through the backbone and issuing it to the forearms. The Flower represents the roots, (Earth Qi) while the Leaf) represents the forearms. So we can again take this posture and use it as a static Qigong method to gain great power in teh forearms and palms and of course this is necessary for Bagua.
Flock Of Wild Geese Flies (Bursts) Out, represents the Qi when it is issued forth. so we take this posture and use it not only as a static Qigong method but also as a moving Qigong. The action of the waist opposing the hips causes the Qi to be sort of squeezed out like stomping on a tube of toothpaste. In doing this we also heal ourselves by this action of the Qi being sent out through our own body thus healing our internal organs and re-balancing internally. This also works upon the Lungs.
Purple Lady Throws Fan: This represents the waist (the fan) and the way that the waist controls the action of the Qi. It also works upon the colon. The fa-jing of this movement is generated as always by the waist, so when we get this posture correct, we learn to use the waist in the most powerful manner. We can also use it as a static Qigong method to heal the colon.
Close The Door & Push The Moon: This refers to the Moon as the heart and the the door as the lock on that organ. We learn to lock out own Qi so that it will not float around aimlessly, we learn to control our emotions and Qi.
2nd Palm Change: DOUBLE PALM CHANGE:
Fierce Tiger Jumps Out: This refers to tiger bones. We use this posture to send the Qi into the marrow of the bones in order to generate very powerful and strong bones (like a tiger).
Colourful Rooster Stretches Wings: This posture is used as a Qigong method for the lungs. 'Wings' are always associated with the air and wind, hence the air we breathe into the lungs.
Pierce The Armour: This posture means that we learn how to send the Qi from the Tantien to all parts of the body and into the attacker to damage him. We 'pierce' not only HIS armour but our own blockages.
Take Flower Connect to Wood: This represents transplanting a different plant into another. Here we take the ROOTS of the flower and connect them to the WOOD, (Legs), so that we have a balanced flow of Qi. It also loosens up the ground Qi through the legs to give an over-all quality flow of Qi. Makes for a very stable stance.
Take His Head and Put It On Your Own: This refers not only to the fact that the martial application does this, but also we learn how to take someone's else's energy (the head) and use it for our own gain and against the attacker. We use this as a moving as well as static Qigong method.
Hold The Moon In Your Breast: The 'Moon' is often representative of the 'Heart', so we take the radiance of the moon into our heart to heal deep emotional scars and to get rid of unwanted deep emotions etc. We hold this posture as a static Qigong method.
3rd Palm Change: STRAIGHT PALM CHANGE
White Snake Coils Around: The snake represents the inner spirit but it still has a purely physical attachment. So when we are attacked, it is the tantien that first subconsciously reacts. SO this posture allows us to use it as a qigong to get the inner and outer connected so that WE reacts physically as soon as the tantien reacts. It also works upon the kidneys and Gall Bladder.
Pigeon Flies To Heaven: Represents the ability to get in touch with the Spirit as all birds have that connection with the 'sky' or spirit. So holding this posture allows us to get in touch with our inner spirit. It also works upon the lungs.
Nun Offers Food: This represents the Nun being shy so she is on her back leg, it tell sus how to do the posture in other words. it also represents the Spleen as it is the nourished of the body, hence 'offers food'.
Walk To The Mountain: This represents a connection between earth and heaven. We walk on the earth but climb the mountain to be closer to God. There is a slight break in the movement here as it is like a relaxed walk, slow and easy. It works upon the brain and the stomach.
Black Bear Looks Back: Represents Earth and the stomach. the way we do it is written in the name, very strong and stable with a look of no fear. Rooted into the ground. It is also good for the Lungs and things like TB.
Hawk Swoops On Fowl: This is done very swiftly and without breaks as a hawk would do this. Works upon the heart.
Monkey Takes the Fruit: This indicates how the monkey takes his food just in case there is any danger around. his other hand will wave as he takes the fruit. The taking hand is smooth and cautious. Works upon the Small Intestine and Spleen.
Monkey Eats the Fruit: Ever watchful and crouched down so as not to be seen. Works upon he body's energy system and boosts the way the body uses energy.
Monkey Spits (vomits) the Fruit: This indicates a sub-conscious reaction to something that has happened. It is done with fa-jing and a leap upward. It works upon the elimination organs, Colon and Lungs.
Duck Lands On Water: This posture indicates coming back to earth, coming home. In other words, it is a way of bringing the body into a state of balance as far as Heaven and Earth are concerned. if we are too 'heaven' then we are always up in the air so to speak and cannot do the normal things that humans of the earth have to. If we are too 'earth', we are too much like the animals with no heaven. This posture works upon the life force meridians of kidneys, spleen, liver and indeed all meridians.
4th Palm Change: BACK FACING PALM CHANGE
Part The Clouds To See The Way: This posture represents what its name is. We are clouded by extraneous thought (the clouds) which is stopping us from relaxing and from listening to our spirit guide. So we use this for parting that extraneous thought and seeing right through it. It works upon the brain to calm it.
DRAGON TWISTS WAIST: This posture used as Qigong will help you to change the Qi into Jing. The waist is a very important part of one's health training and is therefore also good for keeping a youthful appearance and for boosting the Kidney Qi. it is also good for the lungs. This one will also help in the internal understanding of fa-jing in that it teaches how the body releases and re-loads instantly.
Grab Opponent From Horse: This posture is good for getting rid of invading pathogens such as virus and bacteria. A horse was always considered to be a part of the owner's body, they were one. So taking an attacker from the horse is self explanatory. It tones up the immune system. However, it is my belief that this should also be used in conjunction with a total change of diet and life-style!
Lifting The Clothes To Walk: Indicates the old style 'dress' that the Chinese used to wear. they had to lift it in order to move! Works upon the colon. The colon must be clear and working correctly in order to move correctly. It helps to take the shit out of the body, both physical and emotional.
Push Mountain Into Sea: This is a carry on from the previous posture and is often used with it. The mountain refers to the mountain of shit that most people carry around inside of us, both emotional and physical. So this posture will help also to 'push' that mountain into the sea. However, it comes with a warning. The 'sea' is the kidneys and so all of the poisons that are built up in the body will be forced out through the kidneys! So if you are not very clean internally through eating rubbish for years, then it is advisable not to perform this Qigong! You should do a couple of short fasts prior and only eat apples for a couple of days. Then go onto a green drink made from all green leaves, such as spinach, lettuce, celery, kale etc. Then perhaps try this qigong after the previous one for only a few minutes at a time until you do not feel any sickness!
Bat Drops To Earth: This one is also not recommended for normal western people who perhaps eat junk food etc., as it works upon the kidneys and liver and cleanses them both. It will also help to cleanse the blood. The Bat falling to earth is all of the junk that is within falling from the body and out. It is also not good for sick or older people to try as it is quite strenuous when done for anything more than a couple of minutes.
5th Palm Change: Reversing Palm.
Monkey Builds Nest: This posture used as Qigong represents the body and how it relates to sleep. During sleep, all of your experiences are backed up and on a physical level, your body is repaired by the production of HGH and others. So this posture will help your body to heal itself during sleep. It gets your 'bed' ready for sleep in other words.
Monkey Offers Food: Represents the 'Monkey' something that is inside of us always active, telling us what to do. When the Monkey offers the food, it is helping us to digest our food correctly. So this posture works upon the stomach, small and large intestine.
Phoenix Spreads Wings: This posture works upon the lungs. Held as a Qigong it will help to give the body more internal power.
Embrace The Universe: This posture used as Qigong works upon the Heart and Lung meridians. It also helps communication with the Shen or Spirit.
Follow The Motion of One's Clothes: Meaning that if we are to turn suddenly, the line that our clothing makes (Chinese Dress) dictates the physical movement that we make. A sort of counter clockwise circle like and omega sign. This Qigong method is a balancing Qigong. It helps to give us more Yin Qi if we are Yin deficient. In other words if we are to Yang.
Sweep the Thousand Enemy: This works upon the Gall Bladder, Liver, Kidneys Lungs and Spleen when held as Qigong.
Pigeon Rights Itself: Tells us how the hands and arms work, like a pigeon rolling over in the air to evade attack from above. This Qigong involves doing the whole thing and then holding the last posture. It helps us to get back on track after we have fallen off the path so-to-speak. Also works upon the Triple Heater Meridian.
Cockerel Fighting: This set of postures when done and held at the end posture of Hold The Moon In Your Breast, works upon the fighting spirit. The rooster is selfless and has no fear, he will fight to the end.
6th PALM CHANGE: Scraping Palm.
Rhinoceros Looks At The Moon: The moon represents the heart. When holding this posture as a static qigong method, you will be taking a look at your heart and fixing any minor problems that are beginning to arise. In the self defense area we are striking just under the nose (the horn) and also to the heart, (the moon).
Tin Wong Holds The Statue: This one is s little more difficult as we in the West have usually no idea what 'Tim-Wong' is. This posture is good when held as a static Qigong method, for lifting things up in the same way that the Spleen meridian is also. So it works upon the Spleen as well as when we have problems with prolapsed anything. it is also good for lifting the Qi when we are feeling a little drained or down etc.
Snake Spits the Venom: Represents that we are getting rid of our own poisons when held as a qigong method. So this one is good for when we are perhaps on a cleansing diet or a 'liver' diet etc. It also tells us how we must perform this posture in the application sense. Firstly we break his elbow using both hands indicating that the right hand (or left) will come in an arc close to the left and then 'spit' outward for the final strike to the lower rib area.
Hawk Posture: This posture is wonderful as it represents the eyes and the reflexes when held as a static Qigong. It is also good for regaining one's natural balance and for re-balancing left and right sides of the brain.
7th PALM CHANGE: Thrice Penetrating Palm.
Lion Embraces The Ball: The Lion is the most violent of all the Bagua animals. He is solemn, explosive and aggressive. His power is awesome and his organ is the head/mind. He represents ‘Heaven’. His family member is the ‘Father’. So this posture works upon the head/mind. 'Embraces the ball' means that you accept the Qi that is generated from this posture for the fighting art. It is useful just before an exam for instance, or when going for a job interview. it creates Yang Qi, so is not one to do if you are very angry, red in the face etc.
Lion Rolls The Ball: The Previous posture creates Yang Qi while this one creates Yin Qi. So it is good to do them one after the other to get a balance. This group of two postures works upon the lower abdomen area. It teaches us to make good use of the Qi generated in the previous posture, (rolling the ball).
Lion Pounces on Ball: This posture is used to store or 'pack' the gathered Qi from the two previous postures. We use it to store the excess Qi from the previous two postures. It is also good for the digestion in that it helps to get the nutrients to where they should be,
Lion Opens Mouth: This posture takes any bad Qi or hidden sub-conscious emotional stuff, out of the body. It is good to use when fasting or if you just need to get rid of emotional junk from years ago. Take it easy with this one though as it can cause some mental pain! if it is just too much and you notice that you are crying all the time etc., then do the above posture of Lion Embraces The Ball.
Lion Rolls Over To Get Up: This is used as a moving Qigong method, so you must perform the whole set of postures and only hold the final posture. Very good for the central nervous system. It is also good for balancing the right and left parts of the brain. It is good to do just after waking up in the morning as it gives a lift to begin the day.
8th PALM CHANGE: Turn The Body Around.
Shoot Bow From Horseback: The backbone must be linear not bent. The body must look like an arrow with the positioning of the hands to the body. You must perform the "Nun Throws Fan" posture before doing this Qigong. Works upon the Colon, Spleen, Liver and Kidneys. It is used an a general tonic for the whole body. 'Shoot Bow' not only indicates the physical shape of the posture, but also that the Monks would ride a horse in the night by the moonlight to shoot an arrow with a red tie on the end, into the earth just near a ready Ginseng plant. In the morning they would come back to pick it. Indicating that this posture is a Yang Tonic and usually used by males. However, I have found nothing wrong with women doing it also as it gives them a bit more Yang Qi.
Golden Serpent Twists Around Willow Tree: This indicates that the body is twisted. It works upon the whole body especially the waist/hip area. It also indicates that if we become too 'heavenly' or spiritual and are unable to perform our daily mundane physical tasks, we are able to use this qigong to get some grounding (willow tree). The snake (spirit) is would up on the tree so cannot float away. The willow tree is also a healing tree as it is from where aspirin comes, (salicylic acid). So it is a general body healing posture.
Acting Like A Wild Horse: The backbone must be vertical. The Qi is stored in the backbone ready for use. Each vertebra link to each other adding their individual power together. This posture will give great Yang Qi, however, it must be contained for fear of it exploding. so this posture not only creates this energy but also contains it and allows the body to use it when necessary.
Fish Splashing in the Water: Here we have both and animal of the water and water together. Indicating that this posture is great for the kidneys and bladder. However, if one has for instance kidney stones, they could be passed! And that is not pleasant especially if they are large! It is good for taking poisons out of the body as well.
Wild Horse Kicks: Indication that arms and legs are thrust outward and upward, like a wild horse leaping up and then kicking out. You cannot hold this posture, you can however, perform it ten times on both sides to build up 'Spine Force', the power that comes directly from the spine. it is also used for people who are too Yin and perhaps introverted. I have seen some amazing changes in people once they have been doing this Qigong morning and evening for two weeks only.
Serpent Tries to Coil Up: Is used for when someone is too much of the 'earth' and not enough 'Shen' or spirit. Problem is that someone who is, would know know it anyway. Stomach problems, elimination problems are all helped by this Qigong.
I have completed the definitive series on the above on Video in Four Volumes.