THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE EIGHT BROCADES BY FU HSI,

THE FIRST EMPEROR OF CHINA (3000B.C.)

THE FIRST BROCADE: THE HEAVENLY DRUM
Seated cross-legged, close the eyes to darken the heart. Grasp the hands
firmly and meditate on the spirit. Tap the teeth thirty-six times. The two
hands embrace K’un-lun Shan (head). The two hands are placed on the back
of the head. Breathe nine times without sound through the nose, so that
neither the in-breath nor the out-breath can be heard. Left and right, beat
the Heavenly Drum (base of the head), Sounding it twenty-four times.
Position the hands so that they cover both ears. Press the middle finger
against the index finger and then tap downward against the back of the
head, alternating left and right, twenty-four times on each side. [The head
must be held upright and the spine kept erect.]

Figure-1: The First Brocade

THE SECOND BROCADE: SHAKE THE HEAVENLY PILLAR

Gently shake the Heavenly Pillar(spinal column and connective neck bone).
Sway the head left and right while gazing at the shoulders. Do so
alternately in conjunction with the movements, twenty-four times. It is
necessary to first grasp the hands firmly. [Left turn: The right hand is
placed on top of the left palm, and the head is tilted upward and away from
the left shoulder. Right turn: The left hand is placed on top of the right
palm, and the head is tilted upward and away from the right shoulder.]

Figure-2: The Second Brocade(Left Turn)

 THE THIRD BROCADE: THE RED DRAGON STIRS THE SEA
The Red Dragon stirs up the saliva. The Red Dragon is the tongue, which
moves in a circle inside the mouth, teeth, jaws, and the cheeks, first to
the right and then to the left. This produces saliva for swallowing. Rouse
and rinse [the mouth with] the saliva thirty-six times. Until it swells
into one mouthful. Evenly fill the mouth with Divine Water (saliva); Each
mouthful is divided into three parts and swallowed. After rinsing [the
mouth with] the saliva, divide it into three equal parts. Imitate the sound
of ku ku when swallowing. When the dragon moves, the tiger flees. The
saliva represents the dragon and the breath the tiger. Move the tongue left
and right along the roof of the mouth thirty-six times. Rinse thirty-six
times. Divide the saliva into thirds in the mouth and, just as if it were
a solid substance, gulp each portion down. Afterward this procedure will
activate the fire.

Figure-3: The Third Brocade

THE FOURTH BROCADE: RUB THE COURT OF THE KIDNEYS

Stop the breath and rub the hands until hot; Breathe in pure air through
the nose and then close it off for a short period. Afterward, rub the hands
together rapidly numerous times until heat is produced. When this is
achieved, let the air exit from the nose slowly. On the back, massage the
court of the kidneys. The kidneys are on the back side of the waist, outward
from the spine. In unison, rub them with the palms. When finished, withdraw
the hands and firmly close them into fists. Entirely exhaust one breath;
Again close off the breath. Imagine the heat aflame at the Navel Wheel
(umbilical cord centre). The nose and mouth close off the breath. Use the
imagination to think the fire down from the heart, like a flame entering
the lower abdomen. Be aware of the warmth and, when it becomes extreme,
employ the following procedure.

Figure-4: The Fourth Brocade

 THE FIFTH BROCADE: THE SINGLE PASS WINDLASS
Left and right, turn the single Windlass (lulu: pulley). Bend the head
downward by moving it to and from toward each shoulder, thirty-six times.
Imagine the heat moving up from the lower abdomen into the Double Pass
cavity and then into the brain. The nose takes in the pure air and then
closes it off for a brief period.[Left turn: The back of the left palm is
placed on the back near the kidneys and the right hand is placed with the
palm over the lower abdomen. Right turn: The back of the right palm is
placed on the back near the kidneys and the left hand is placed with the
palm over the lower abdomen.]

Figure-5: The Fifth Brocade(Right Turn)

THE SIXTH BROCADE:THE DOUBLE PASS WINDLASS

Wind the Double Pass Windlass. Stretch out both feet loosely; Loosely place
both legs out.[ thirty-six times. Both hands are held open with the back
of the wrists placed on the waist. The eyes gaze straight ahead.]

Figure-6: The Sixth Brocade

 THE SEVENTH BROCADE:SUPPORTING HEAVEN
Afterward both hands support the Void. The fingers of both hands interlace
and are turned upward to support the Void, three to nine times.[Two legs
in a cross-legged position. The backs of the hands should be directly over
the topmost gate (the Hundred Gatherings cavity). After having raised both
arms completely, gradually lower them. Each movement, upward and downward,
is counted as one time.]

Figure-7: The Seventh Brocade

THE EIGHTH BROCADE:GRASPING WITH HOOKS

Repeatedly bend the head over and seize the feet. The two hands are made
into hooks. Move them forward and grasp the soles of the feet twelve times.[
One bowing motion and one rising action is counted as one time.]

Figure-8: The Eighth Brocade