New Interpretation of Dantian by Master Han Jingchen

Articles by Master Han Jingchen

New Interpretation of Dantian
I never intended to comment on whatever Dantian is interpreted by others in
society. As one of the basic principles of Han Shi Yi Quan, we should always be
ourselves. So I hereby would like to present to society what I have verified by
myself. I wish that people of virtue and ability would discuss my discovery.
Let me start with the literal meaning of the term Dantian. The
word Dan (meaningPill) is an ancient scholastic term. It means literally
consummation or perfection. The ancient people used Jie Dan (meaning that the
Dan is made) as a metaphor to describe when the end or result of a thing is seen.
To push it further, Dan is used by the wise in ancient times to indicate how they
seek perfection or the highest achievement. So, in Daoism, the highest kung fu is
when you do not leak. The non-leaking kung fu is exactly what Hunyuan
means.
As to the word Tian (meaning field), land is the basis for the survival of the
agricultural Chinese nation. In ancient days, the central area of China was a land
culture. That the earth generates everything is rooted in this land culture. Also the
land is a symbol of wealth. This national root remains unchanged today, even after
thousands of years of vicissitudes. What do we do when we are rich? We buy houses
and land. One who owns a lot of land is called a landlord or wealthy man. So, for
the Chinese nation, Tian or Field is the basis of survival and should be cherished
and protected.
Now, the meaning of Dantian cannot be more obvious.
The land is the basis of survival and closely bound up with peoples lives. So, it
should be cherished and protected by people with double efforts. The same
principle also applies when ones life is concerned. The life should be cherished and
protected by oneself. Only in this way can a consummate or perfect result be
achieved, i.e. a healthy and sound life.
As the Han Shi Yi Quan founder, I believe that the term Dantian was devised by
the people in remote ages long ago in their discussion and exploration into the
phenomenon of life. It was a mandatory subject for Daoism practitioners in those
days. In modern categorization, it should belong to the category of physiology, as
it was the ancient physiology. As a scholastic term, it was used by the ancient
people to reveal the truth behind the life.
Why do I categorize Dantian into physiology? I will explain it in detail below.

The ancient people used Dantian to refer to the most important part or function of
ones life. The life is divided to consist of three essential parts or functions, which
are essentially correlated to the soundness and healthfulness of the life. These parts
or functions were termed as Upper Dantian Middle Dantian andLower
Dantian by ancient people.
In the human body, the Upper Dantian is located in the forehead to refer to the
brain. As the important organ of perception and thinking, the brain was called by
the ancient people as Yuan Shen (meaning the primordial spirit) that manages
the spirit.
The Middle Dantian is located in the chest to refer to the heart and lungs. As the
important organs that move Qi and blood, the heart and lungs were called by the
ancient people as Yuan Qi (meaning the primordial Qi) manages the Qi.
The Lower Dantian is located in the belly to refer to the liver, kidneys and spleen. As
the important organs that produce and store fine elements, the liver, kidneys and
spleen were called by the ancient people as Yuan Jing (meaning the primordial
fine elements) that manages the fine elements.
To make it easier for readers to understand, I replace the above into the following
table. You will soon find out how the interesting answer is reached.

Name

Upper Dantian

Middle Dantian

Lower Dantian

Position

Forehead

Chest

Belly

Corresponding
organ

Brain

Heart and lungs

Liver, Kidneys, Spleen

Primordial
substance

Yuan Shen
(primordial spirit)

Function

Manages the spirit

thinking

Basic

Shen (Spirit)

Yuan Qi

Yuan Jing

(primordial
power)

(primordial substances)

Manages Qi

Manages the fine

elements

movement
of Qi & blood

Qi

production & storage

fine elements
Jing (Elements)

constitutive
conditions of a
life

This is how I reach Shen (Spirit), Qi and Jing (elements), which are the Three
Treasures of ones life in the words of the ancient people. They happen to coincide
with the answer from the modern physiology. Bravo! Our ancestors have made this
great interpretation and achievement in their exploration into the phenomenon of
life a few thousand years ago.

Here is a poem:

Dantian is as perfect as a pearl.

Divided into Spirit, Qi and Elements, it represents the treasures of life.

By grasping and maintaining these natural conditions,
..the basis is built, with no mystery in it.

Han Jingchen
March 16, 2015 Han Jingchen