Bear  (XIONG XING)  

          

Bears have unbelievable chi strength . Bears' ability to hibernate was thought by the ancients to be representative of their facility to store reserves of chi. There are three different tan-t'ien "Sea of Chi" (energy) "fields within the human body.

The lower tan-t'ien is one inch below the navel.

The middle tan-t'ien (also known as the Golden Palace) is centered at the solar plexus.

The upper tan-t'ien is centered between the eyebrows. The Ajana or Third Eye Chakra, is located between the brows in the inward, center of the forehead. Its name means command, perception, knowledge, authority. It is associated, in the body with the pituitary gland, eyes, brain,

The tan-t'ien are thought of as cauldrons within which the three energies are refined until they have acquired their original purity. Within the tan-tien, there is also a transmutation of lower energy into higher energy (i.e. from generative to vital to spiritual energy). The lower Tan Tien (Dantian)," Thé Sea of Chi", RN6 / Qi Hai (JM 6) (CV-6), at the midline of the abdomen 1.5 inches below the front umbilicus, is the focus meridian point for bear training. It is the usual point of concentration for many oriental meditation practices. Fosters original Qi; Bear represents outside YIN and inside YANG. Sound is breathing out both nose and the mouth. Palms are expressed as bear-fist with fingers curled yet spread and thumbs tucked in, and wrists bent and curled in. Neck is stretched out and shoulders are sunken downward.

Dead(weight) Jing Training:

                        Ready Position (Bear posture)

                        Stepping

                        Shaking Body

                        Pushing Downward

                        Hugging to Uproot Tree

                        Pressing Forward

Live Chi Training:

                        Head & Tail Shaking, Pushing, Climbing,

                        Head & Tail Shaking, Pushing, Climbing

Shen Tien Chi:

                        Stand Upright and Twist Body

                        Foreleg Press Down

                        Shake Body, Hand Push Down

                        Plaything Position

                        Fight Enemy

                        Point to the Sun

                        Rotate Body, Hand out to Moon

Once very common in China, today bears have been hunted to the brink of extinction because their paws are considered a delicacy and their gall was believed to be a potent medicinal.