Nowadays, many people practice Dich Can Kinh - Photo: CN
Is Yi Jin Jing from Shaolin Temple?
Yi Jin Jing is also one of the martial arts that Kim Dung took inspiration from real life. And of course, it was exaggerated through the author's pen.
One of the most fictional details about Yi Jin Jing is its origin in Shaolin Temple. There is no historical evidence that this practice originated during the time of Bodhidharma or was ever the ultimate secret manual of Shaolin Temple.
According to historical documents, the oldest handwritten copy of the Yi Jin Jing was recorded in the 17th century, in a book called “Essentials of Internal Power”, which appeared during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The author of this book was Cheng Duanxiang, a Taoist priest and health practitioner, not a Zen master or martial monk.
Later popular versions often attributed it to Bodhidharma to increase its mystique. But most modern historians consider this a way of borrowing the legend to add value to the health exercises in the Yi Jin Jing.
One of the diagrams of Dich Can Kinh - Photo: CN
So what is Yi Jin Jing in real life?
This is not a martial art, nor is it a mysterious “internal energy method”. It is a series of qigong exercises – movement – breath regulation, combining whole body movement and controlled breathing.
A basic Dịch Cân Kinh exercise consists of 12 to 18 movements. And it mainly revolves around stretching, shifting the center of gravity, lifting the arms, and regulating the breathing.
The goal is to stretch the tendons, increase blood circulation, improve motor function, regulate the mind and help prevent some chronic diseases.
In recent years, Yi Jin Jing has been applied by many traditional medicine institutes in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam as a qigong exercise for the elderly or patients needing rehabilitation.
Has many health benefits
A 2020 study by the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine found that older adults who practiced Yi Jin Jing regularly for 12 weeks had significant improvements in blood pressure, respiratory capacity, and sleep.
A similar study at Nanjing Medical University also noted that more than 80% of patients with chronic neck and shoulder pain had significant pain relief after practicing this qigong exercise for two months.
Yi Jin Jing is similar to Tai Chi exercises - Photo: CN
“Yi Jin Jing may not make you a martial artist. But it is a gentle, effective and safe exercise method to maintain health,” said Dr. Yang Zhenyu, an expert in qigong and traditional Chinese medicine.
According to him, the Dich Can Kinh movements are simple but help the body move the whole body rhythmically. They are especially beneficial for office workers, the elderly or people recovering from illness.
According to the WHO, in the 2013 traditional medicine guidelines, qigong exercises such as Yi Jin Jing are classified as effective supportive disease prevention methods, alongside Tai Chi and Yoga.
Practicing Dich Can Kinh does not require a large space or equipment. Practitioners should warm up thoroughly to warm up their joints. Then perform the movements slowly, synchronized with deep, even breathing.
It is important to keep the mind calm, focusing on the movement and flow of air in and out. Each session should last 15 to 30 minutes, and can be done early in the morning or late in the evening.
Although not a martial arts manual to "unblock the eight extraordinary meridians" like in Kim Dung's novels, Dich Can Kinh is still a testament to the spirit of persistent health preservation movements of traditional Eastern medicine.
Amidst the stress and illness of modern life, maintaining a gentle, rhythmic exercise routine like Dich Can Kinh can be a simple yet effective key to long-term health.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/su-that-ve-dich-can-kinh-than-cong-thieu-lam-tu-20250729232540514.htm
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