Eight Sections of Brocade Classical Qigong
Exploring the Classical Form
Eight Sections of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin) is one of the best-known forms of traditional Qigong, with a long history of transmission and many different expressions. Its origins are often associated with the Song Dynasty, and the form has continued to evolve through different teachers and lineages over centuries.
This particular expression is a precise and physically engaging form, with differentiated movements that ask for strength, coordination, structure and attention. The practice works through a sequence of eight forms, each offering a distinct movement pattern and quality.
Rather than being simply a gentle introduction to Qigong, this form invites you to develop greater familiarity with the body through precise physical practice, while exploring the relationship between movement, breath and Qi.
What this develops
A deeper understanding of the Eight Sections of Brocade through guided tuition
Greater familiarity with precise, differentiated Qigong movement
Improved coordination, strength and physical responsiveness through practice
A stronger connection between movement, breath and Qi
An embodied foundation for exploring classical Qigong practice
The Practice of Precision
There are many expressions of Eight Sections of Brocade, ranging from relatively simple forms through to more physically demanding and highly differentiated versions. The expression taught in this module has a strong physical quality, with precise positions, transitions and movement patterns that ask for strength, coordination and attention to detail.
Working with the eight forms gives you an opportunity to become familiar with the structure and physical language of this particular expression. With practice, the movements become less about simply remembering a sequence and more about developing a relationship with precision, alignment, breath and the quality of your movement.
This expression of Eight Sections of Brocade was transmitted to Nicole Lee by Master Wang of the Wang Zhi Peng Tai Chi School in Yangshuo, China. Learning a form through a particular lineage gives us more than a collection of movements. It offers an opportunity to encounter a way of practising that has been shaped through transmission, repetition and embodied experience.
If you're drawn to classical Qigong and want to work with a form that asks more of the body, this is a practice to explore. It is physically engaging and precise, offering a different experience from the softer, more accessible expressions of Ba Duan Jin that you may have encountered elsewhere.
Study Natural Dao Qigong
Eight Sections of Brocade Qigong is available as a self-study module for $99.
Study the practice at your own pace, return over time, allowing your understanding and experience of the form to deepen.
A place to begin
If you're newer to Qigong, I recommend beginning with Establish Your Practice. It gives you time and support to establish the foundations and develop a regular relationship with Qigong.
