Esoteric Martial Arts

Jing, Chi and Shen

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Jing, Chi and Shen are the 3 types of internal energy which are cultivated and utilised in martial arts practice.
Jing, sometimes given in English as Ching, is the densest and most material of the thre. In Daoist teachings Jing is associated with sexual energy and is cultivated in sexual practices such as those of the Jade Dragon and White Tigress teachings. In this sense it is somewhat similar to the western psychological term 'libido' as it is used in the work of Carl Jung to refer not only to sexual desire but more generally to describe the psychic energy of the subconscious mind. Recognising the unity of mind and matter Jung said that below the level of the subconsciou mind there is a level of reality which is neither mind nor matter but reconcilles these two nature into one. Jing may be thought of as existing at this point where mind meets matter.
Chi, or Qi, is the most widely known of the internal energies. But despite this it is perhaps the most difficult to describe or analyse. Chi is more refined and etheral than Jing, but less so than Shen.Chi is stored within the 'Dan Tien' whic resides in the centre of the torso about two inches below the level of the navel and can be drawn from this source to be used. All 3 kinds of energy are connected and work together, and being in the middle of the three Chi is often used as a convenient description for phenomena which involve all three. Perhaps the best way to conceptualise Chi is to describe it accoring to its effects - a sense  of vitality and vigour, positivity and joy.
Shen is the highest and most rarified of the three. It can be literally translated as 'mind'# but what would be referred to as the power fo Shen is very different from that which a westerner may consider to be the power of mind. In may ways the estern concept of mind described by Shen is closer to western ideas of spirit than to the psychological concept of mind. When a westerner talks about the mind they most often refer to the contents or processes of mind - thought, logic, feelings and so on. Shen does not refer to the contents of mind but rather to the underlying reality of 'pure mind'. It may be more accurately translated as 'attention' or 'awareness' instead of 'miond', although something of its nature would still be lost in translation.
It is said that Shen leads the Chi which leads the Jing, and that Jing may be refined and transformed into Chi which can be transformed into Shen during the course of spiritual development.

Shaolin e-book
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LUOHAN GONG Shaolin Internal Training Set
The history of the creation of this book goes back to Master Fan Xu Dong (life time: 1841 – 1925, according to another data - 1936). At the turn the 19-th and 20-th century Fan Xu Dong several times visited Shaolin Temple where he studied heritage of the monastery. That’s what Master Jon Funk writes about it: “Fan made several trips to the Shaolin temple and spent time there researching with the monks. From these trips to the Shaolin temple, as well as his other work with the Seven Star Praying Mantis system, he wrote five volumes titled "The Shaolin Authentic". These handwritten manuals contained concepts on fighting skills, medical information and historical aspects of kung fu. Contained in one of these five volumes is the eighteen exercises of the LUOHAN GONG complete with replicas of the original drawings of the Shaolin monks demonstrating the postures of each exercise.” These five books were later hand copied in Hong Kong by shifu Huang Han Xun. The original illustrations and calligraphy on LUOHAN GONG by shifu Fan Xu Dong was reproduced in shifu Huang's book in which he added photographs to depict the movements. Click the picture (top left) to download.

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Lam Sai Wing "TIET SIN KUEN"
Provides a detailed description of the old Shaolin method of "Internal Training" - TIET SIN QI GONG. A master of the "Iron Thread" can withstand, with no consequences, the strongest of blows, including ones with heavy objects or cold steel arms, bend thick iron rods with his hands, and his "rooting power" is so strong that he cannot be displaced by a group of strong people. In addition, this wonderful method strengthens all internal organs, bones, muscles and sinews. The entire body thrives and rejuvenate. Click picture to download.

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