Filozofska istraživanja, Vol. 29 No. 3, 2009.
Original scientific paper
Philosophical Dimensions of Chinese Gymnastics (daoyin xingqi 導引行氣). Gymnastics as a Creative Imitation
Ivana Buljan
orcid.org/0000-0003-4538-0791
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Chinese gymnastics, daoyin xingqi 導引行氣, practised daily by millions of Chinese people, originates from ancient China and is rooted in shamanistic ritual dances. It is based on body movemements which imitate the movements of animals. Literally translated, daoyin xingqi means “guiding, pulling and moving qi 氣” i.e. the all-permeating vital spirit. Gymnastics in Chinese tradition, therefore, was never considered to be just a body exercise but also a form of cultivating the vital spirit, qi. Gymnastics, however, is the important medium of harmonizing man with heaven (tian 天) and earth (di 地). By reading of Warring States (Zhan guo 戰國) and Han 漢 dynasty writings, as well as the the oldest excavated visual representation of gymnastics in China “Daoyin chart” (Daoyintu 導引圖), in this exposure analysis will be on the understanding of gymnastics in the early Chinese culture. The interpretation of Chinese gymnastics will be set forth within the paradigm of change which shaped Chinese vision of cosmos. Special emphasis will be given to the connection between gymnastics and the concept of sheng 生, which means life, as well as birth, creation, renewal.
Keywords
daoyin 導引; qi 氣; sheng 生; he 和; transformation; animal mimesis
Hrčak ID:
46138
URI
Publication date:
22.10.2009.
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