Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s4: Works

Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s4

Language: English

v2.c12.s4.t1 Tendon-Strengthening Sutra — 4 parts

Works

Tendon-Strengthening Sutra

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Tendon Transformation Exercise was an ancient Chinese work about body building. Its exercise skills are a set of complementing hygienic gymnastics and have great influences in China. It is said that it was propagated by Bodhidharma from Indian, but there was no basis, and it’s quite possible to be written in the name of Bodhidharma

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*Twelve ways of tendon strengthening sutra*

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in the 12ᵗʰ or 13ᵗʰ century. Many versions of *Tendon Transformation Exercise* were handed down, among which, the book obtained from Shaolin Temple during the reign of Xianfeng Period in the Qing Dynasty (1851-1861) had 12 gestures with verses, which expounded the main points and integrated Buddhist and Daoist contents. During the reign of Daoguang Period in the Qing Dynasty (1821-1850), Ma Yizhen (19ᵗʰ century) bought several versions of transcripts of *Tendon Transformation Exercise* from the market, and then proofread and printed the two scriptures including *Tendon Transformation* and *Marrow Purification*. The book proofread and printed by him was divided into 21 parts, including an overall review, treatise on inner strength, method for collecting solar and lunar essences, method for taking medicine, method for practising skills, eight trigrams boxing, and so on. In the late Qing Dynasty (late 19 century and early 20^th century), Zhou Shuguan added more gestures on the basis of *Tendon Transformation Exercise*, and compiled *Illustrated Explanations on Inner Practices Developing Tendon Transformation and Tendon Transformation*, which was divided into seventeen volumes: volume I expounded the two scriptures of *Tendon Transformation and Marrow Purification*; volume II deduced *Illustrated Explanations on Inner Practices of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Purification*; volume III was *Illustrated Explanations on Main Body*; volume IV was *Illustrated Explanations on Side Body*; volume V was *Illustrated Explanations on Half Body*; volume VI was *Illustrated Explanations on Bending Body*; volume VII was *Illustrated Explanations on Turning Body Back*; volume VIII was *Illustrated Explanations on Twisting Body*; volume IX was *Illustrated Explanations on Inverting Body*; volume X was *Illustrated Explanations on Turning Body Over*; volume XI was *Illustrated Explanations on Walking*; volume XII was *Illustrated Explanations on Sitting*; volume XIII was *Illustrated Explanations on Hold Person*; volume XIV was *Illustrated Explanations on Lying*; volume XV was *Illustrated Explanations on Benefiting Tendon Transformation and Intensifying Courage*; volume XVI was *Collection of Branches of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Purification*; and volume XVII was *Integration of Outer Practices of Tendon Transformation and Marrow Purification*.

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Yijin jing, Bodhidharma facing the wall