Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t3: Indian-Style Massage
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t3
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Indian-Style Massage
v2.c12.s3.t3.1
Indian-style massage was a massage method introduced from India to China in ancient times. olume XXVII of ‘*Valuable Prescriptions for Emergencies*’ written by Sun Simiao in the Tang Dynasty mentioned this method, and said that, “it was a Brahmin method”. It was also collected in ‘*Seven Taoist Books in a Cabinet*’ compiled by Zhang Junfang (between late 10th century and mid-11th century) and ‘*Eight Treatises on the Nurturing of Life*’ written by Gao Lian (16th century) in the Ming Dynasty. The method has 18 sections totally, “First, the two hands splay and twist like washing hands.” Second, “the two hands cross and turn towards the chest.” Third, “the two hands cross and rub down the thighs, and the left is same as the right.” Fourth, “the two hands overlap and rub down the thighs,then, turn the body slowly, and the left is same as the right.” Fifth, “the hands look like pulling bow, and the left is same as the right.” Sixth, “the two hands make fists and move forward, and the left is same as the right.” Seventh, “the body moves like beating stones, and the left is same as the right.” Eighth, “fists suspend, and open the chest, and the left is same as the right.” Ninth, “sit with legs crossed and inclines like toppling mountains, and the left is same as the right.” Tenth, “the two hands lace behind the head and toss and turn on the thighs, and it is the method of moving head.” Eleventh, “put the two hands on ground, stoop in a twisting posture and raise for three times.” Twelfth, “the two hands pound the back, and the left is same as the right.” Thirteenth, “sit with legs crossed and stretch one leg with the other drawing forward.” Fourteenth, “put the two hands on the ground and looks back, it is a method of tiger view, and the left is same as the right.” Fifteenth, “stand on the ground and twist the body for three times.” Sixteenth, “cross the two hands and step the feet on the hands, and the left is same as the right.” Seventeenth, “stand up, step forward and back with feet, and the left is same as the right.” Eighteenth, “sit with legs crossed, stretch the feet, use the hands to draw the feet on the knees, and uses a hand to massage it.” A half of actions of this method are subject to massage, and another half of actions are subject to health gymnastics. This was the early method of massage in China, which had important influence on the development of massage in later generations.
v2.c12.s3.t3.2
(*Xue Keqiao*)
v2.c12.s3.t3.3
Qing Daoguang, Buyue lou edition, *'Zun shou ba jian'*, a picture painted from a woodblock of a canonical text on preservation of life,