LESSO

4
2 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
OF SHIBASHI
HOURS

Taiji Qigong also called Shibashi

Taiji Qigong or Shibashi one of the most popular and simplest to learn qigong systems. Consisting
of 2 sets of 18 Movements, usually referred to as Taiji Qigong 1st 18 and Taiji Qigong 2nd 18 they
are a series of individual movements that are accessible to all ages and physical abilities which
can be easily adapted to those with special needs.
These exercises have become increasingly practiced across Europe in recent years and have
been enjoyed by students from many backgrounds and environments including schools, colleges,
hospitals, care homes and prisons.
By doing these movements in conjunction with soft, even breathing and a sense of mindfulness or
intent you can also enjoy the many benefits including increased relaxation, reduced tension, better
body awareness and a calm, focused mind.

1. Undertake physical activities and physical fitness assessments.

2. Discuss the History of Shibashi

Writing Characters

Instruction: Copy the Characters which says “TAI JI QI CHONG SHI BA SHI”. Write it 5 times on a
different sheet of paper.

太極氣功十八式
What are your first thoughts upon hearing the word “Shi Ba Shi”?

_________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.

Taiji Qigong Shibashi 太極氣功十八式

Shibashi means 18 forms/movements. Created in 1979 by the renowned Professor Lin
Housheng, former director of the Shanghai Qigong Research Institute (Shanghai University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine). Taiji Qigong Shibashi combines the beauty of Taiji (Tai Chi)
movements with the healing effect of Qigong and Meditation. Simpler then Taiji, the fluid
movements follow your breathing, creating a soothing sensation flowing through your body. The
mind is relaxed and observes the movements or creates an image inspired by the name of each
movement: “Expanding the chest”, “Rowing in the middle of the lac”, “Fisherman casting his net”.
This Qigong leaves you relaxed and fully energized in less then 20 minutes.
Taiji Qigong Shibashi is taught in Chinese Medicine University. It develops vitality and
longevity in healthy people and is recommended for people suffering from hypertension, lung
disease, digestive issue, back pain, etc… It is also used to support patients during Cancer
treatments.
 Taiji Qigong Shibashi is also promoted as a health exercise by the government of
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapour and Thailand. In 1991, the United Nations Development
Programme recommended the promotion of Taiji Qigong Shibashi worldwide.

The system has a total of 8 forms, created between 1979 and 2010. Deceivingly simple, it is
easy to miss the subtle internal development it provides. Since a “light” practice produces health
benefits, many practitioners won't search to develop the “inner form”. But with a deeper practice, it
becomes a powerful tool that incorporates all the variations of energy movements within the body.

Lin Housheng (林厚省) – A Short Biography of the Creator of Shibashi

Lin Housheng was born on the 16th of September 1939 in the city of Fuqing, in Fujian
Province, located in the lower southeastern corner of China. His father died when he was three
years old. From childhood on, he loved the development of the human body through physical
training. At age fifteen he began studying with a Southern Shaolin monk. As in the tradition, this
monk is never named.

Lin Housheng graduated from Shanghai Physical Education University in 1964. His major
was in aquatic sports and Wushu (martial arts, or what is popularly called "Kung Fu"). His
excellent grades enabled him to remain in Shanghai, where he took a job as a researcher at the
Shanghai Physical Education Science Research Institute, which soon was closed because of the
Cultural Revolution. Then he was transferred to a high school to teach physical education.

On May 6, 1966 The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was officially unleashed creating
social chaos throughout the country. In the State controlled press qigong was called "a rotten relic
of feudalism" - "rubbish of history" – "a poisonous weed." People who practiced qigong were called
"counter-revolutionary" or "class enemy."

Qi [or chi] [气 or 氣 - qì] [pronounced “chee”]. Literally means “gas” or “breath.” A fuller
definition is the “Energy of Life.”

Gong [功 - gung] literally means “Work” or “Accomplishment through Practice.”

Qigong [or “chi kung”] meaning “Energy Work” theoretically may include Chinese Traditional
Medicine, Martial Arts (therefore “Tai Chi”), Visual Arts; even certain Asian spiritual practices.
However, as commonly used (including in this article) Qigong is a set of breath, body positions
and gentle movements used to cultivate and balance life energy, especially for health. Its practice
grows richer when mental focused intention leads and guides the qi, even more so when
visualizations are added.

“Tai Chi” is a common expression in the western world which refers to “Taijiquan.” However
most Americans improperly call qigong “tai chi.” These malapropisms may lead to
misunderstandings; for example, the “chi” in “tai chi” does not mean “energy” or “life energy.”

Taijiquan [太极拳 - tài jí quán] literally means “Supreme Ultimate Fist” or “Grand Boxing.”
Originally it was (and still is) a martial art primarily used for self-defense—although now it is very
often practiced as a kind of movement meditation.

Taij Qigong in 18 Movements [ 太极气功 十八式 ] often called Shibashi meaning “18
Movements” was first created by Lin Housheng in 1979. Strictly speaking there are six separate
sets of Shibashi. The first set is the most popular, followed closely by the second set.

Despite the possible threat of being mercilessly beaten, forced into slave labor, imprisoned,
or even brutally murdered along with his wife and infant daughter, Lin Housheng secretly practiced
his qigong and tai chi for many hours late into the night. This intensive hard work was to lead to
many amazing achievements in the years ahead.

"In 1968, at age 29, during his practice, an abnormal feeling suddenly began running
throughout his body. His nervous system suddenly became extremely stimulated. He became
excited, full of intense feelings of what it meant to be alive. The entire world around him turned into
magnificent golden light. He felt his life energy (qi), like a flowing spring, running inside his body,
smoothly circulating through the Governing and Conception Vessels [the energy meridians in the
back and front of the body]. Then suddenly, this circular flow split into two strong pathways of qi,
each flowing down from his shoulders, and out of his two palms. He realized this was exactly what
his teacher had told him before about External Qi." -- [translated from Lin Houxing Qi Gong Shi
Jie, 1992]

On October 6, 1976, one month after the death of Mao Zedong, the insanity of the Cultural
Revolution ended. Now Lin Housheng could come out of hiding and use the enormous skills that
he had acquired over the years. But first he needed to answer the many skeptics in the
government and elsewhere who claimed that Qigong was a meaningless superstitious relic from
the past. To this mechanistic scientific Marxist establishment he set out to prove that Qigong was
not some fake and fraudulent "witchcraft."

To do this he became the central subject of the experiments of a famous nuclear scientist, Gu
Hansen. On March 10, 1978 Lin Housheng projected external qi from his hands which she
measured with modern scientific devices. Low frequency, infrared ray modulations, and
electromagnetic waves were detected. Qi was now scientifically shown to exist [at least the Qi
that Lin was sending].

"It is the first time that the physical nature of qi was proven. The publication of the results of the
experiment created waves within the country, aroused interest and drew the attention of numerous
scientists towards qigong research. Their heroic undertaking had a determining effect on the rise
of qigong in contemporary China." David A. Palmer. Qigong Fever. Columbia University.

This lead to an increased interest in Lin Housheng and his abilities. The next year, 1979, Lin
successfully demonstrated his qigong skills at China's State Council (Beijing) to three Deputy
Prime Ministers and over 300 scientists.

In the same year, 1979, Lin Housheng combined elements of Tai chi and Qigong to create the first
set of eighteen exercises that made up Taiji Qigong – Shibashi.

1980 was an exciting year. His book, Qigong Makes Health (气功使人健康) was published. It was
the first book about qigong to appear after the end of the Cultural Revolution.

Then on June 21 a truly amazing thing took place:

"On June 21, 1980 at Shanghai No. 8 People's Hospital, a unique surgical operation took place
which made world news. A qigong master, Lin Hou Sheng from the Chinese Medicine Research
Institute stretched out his right hand and pointed his index and middle fingers at Yin Tang (an
acupuncture point) between the eyebrows of the patient. Through his fingertips he emitted wai qi
(externally projected qi) from a distance of about 3 centimeters on a 29 year old female patient.
After three minutes, he nodded to the surgeon who then picked up his sharp scalpel and
commenced a surgical operation on a thyroid tumor.

The patient received no additional anesthesia, remained conscious throughout, and did not show
even the least sign of pain during the 140 minute operation. When a walnut sized tumor was
removed and shown to the patient, a smile lit up her face. (Lin Housheng continued to perform
many other successful qigong procedures at the hospital.)
More About Shibashi
"The formulation of "The 18 Movements of Taiji Qigong was based on some movements of the
"Taiji Quan coupled with the Qigong breathing."—Lin Housheng

Lin Housheng took certain gestures from Taijiquan and modified, often simplifying, them to create
a new qigong of relatively easy to do slow and gentle movements. For example, Shibashi begins
with a version of the first movement from most tai chi forms "Step Out, Raise and Lower Hands."
Shibashi Set 1, no. 10 has "Waving Hands Like Clouds," which resembles a tai chi form of the
same name, but without the moving feet.

How It Came To Be
Question to Ping Lin (Lin Housheng's daughter): "Did any government commission — such as the
'State Physical Culture and Sports Commission' order your father to produce a qigong for all the
people? Or did he build Shibashi, and then present it to the government?"

Ping Lin: "The Government received good reports about my father and his work. He then got
permission to promote Qigong. That is why he came up with the Shibashi, an easy to do exercise
for regular people."

Unlike older historical qigong forms, the original version of Shibashi is easily obtainable. Using an
internet browser for video and typing "18 taiji qigong Master Lin Hou" will present you with the first
Taiji Qigong. However, thanks to Lin Housheng's creativity, there are many other Shibashi forms—
(his web site, linhousheng.com gives more information). What Lin actually did was to construct a
total six different sets of eighteen movements each giving a grand total of 108 exercise forms. Set
1 came out in 1979. Set 2 was available in 1988. Other Sets continued appearing in the 1990's
and into the new century. In 2009 a DVD was released consisting of Lin's favorite 36 movements
taken from the past Sets.

Shibashi, also called “Taiji Qigong in 18 Movements”, is a set of individual Qigong exercises, that
are practiced in a fluid, continuous manner. Shibashi combines elements from Yang style Tai Chi
and breathing and movement exercises from Qigong and has been described as a gentle,
beautiful and flowing Qigong exercise that is very relaxing. It is suitable for all ages and has been
shown to increase energetic vitality, rejuvenate the mind, body and soul, and gain more agility and
flexibility.

Shibashi introduces the basic elements of weight shifting, coordination of leg and arm movements,
along with controlled breathing. This makes it a perfect prelude to learning Tai Chi, or as warm-up
for Tai Chi and other types of physical exercise. Unlike many exercises which stretch and
stimulate the large muscle groups, Shibashi focuses on the smaller muscles, tendons and
ligaments in order to promote the strong elastic forces of Tai Chi. The gentle stretching and
releasing, combined with deep relaxed breathing, encourages tension deep in the body tissues to
soften and release.

All Shibashi movements are centered around a face-forward position. If you move to the side or to
the diagonal, you will return to the starting position. Therefore, Shibashi takes very little space. If
you can stretch your arms out to the side and turn full circle, you have enough room to practice. A
Shibashi set takes about 15 to 20 minutes to practice depending on your mood and speed. You
can start to feel the benefits by just doing a few moves each day.

Shibashi was created in 1982 in Shanghai, China. The exercises are always credited to Hou Shen
(Lin Hou Sheng, Lin Housheng). Some say he was a Chinese doctor and others a “healer” and
Qigong Master. Interestingly, today in China, all students of Traditional Chinese Medicine are
required by the Government to study the Shibashi of Lin Housheng. It is believed that the
exercises can be considered medicinal and used to complement treatment of a number of
common ailments. Shibashi can have both a sedating and tonifying effect on the meridians, which
allows Qi to flow freely and brings harmony throughout the body and mind.

Although Shibashi is practiced in most countries in the world and the movements are simple to
learn, to get the full benefit, Shibashi should be taught by an instructor familiar with the Tai Chi
Chuan principles. There are a few schools and/or instructors who specialize in Shibashi but one
may not be near where you live. Therefore, if you would like to try Shibashi, it would probably be
best to find an instructor certified in Tai Chi and/or Qigong and inquire about their experience with
teaching Shibashi.

Instruction: Briefly and comprehensively answer the questions below. Write your answer on
separate sheet on paper. (10pts each)

1. Why is it important to know about Shibashi's history?

2. Discuss your reactions about Shibashi’s development.

Quiz: Write your answer on the space before the number.

1. Who created Shibashi?

2. When was it Created?
3. Where was the place of origin of Shibashi?
4. When a did the unique surgical operation by Qiging Lin Hou Sheng took place?
5. From which other movement did Shibashi came from?