Qigong: The six sounds

Six shaped out-breaths

六字诀 Liù Zì Jué

Each sound accompanies a long, gentle exhalation, with a small gesture and no increase in volume. Tradition associates each with a Zang-Fu system, and it is worth knowing that pronunciation and gesture change across schools and dialects.

Xū

Traditionally associated with the Liver

Hē

Traditionally associated with the Heart

Hū

Traditionally associated with the Spleen

Sī

Traditionally associated with the Lung

Chuī

Traditionally associated with the Kidney

Xī

Traditionally associated with the San Jiao

Common mistake: Arguing about the correct pronunciation. It changes across schools and dialects, and it is not where the practice lives.

Each sound with the system it is associated with

The cue for the Chuī sound is to exhale “as if cooling a drink”. What does that image teach?

1. A slow, continuous out-breath with soft lips, not explosive
2. That you should blow hard and all at once
3. That you exhale with the teeth clenched
4. That the exhalation should be loud and audible from afar

Put the six sounds in the order they are practised

1. Xū↑↓
2. Hē↑↓
3. Hū↑↓
4. Sī↑↓
5. Chuī↑↓
6. Xī↑↓

Someone practises the six sounds loudly, almost singing. What do you correct?

1. The pitch: each sound has its note
2. The volume: the gesture is small and the voice soft
3. The posture, which opens up when projecting
4. Nothing, as long as they are intelligible