Bai Hui Xue (百会穴) and the Yu Zhen Quan (玉枕关) in Chinese Martial Arts

In Chinese martial arts, especially the Internal Arts of Taiji Quan, Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, and Liuhe Bafa, the Bai Hui Xue (百会穴) plays an instrumental role in correcting the posture and raising the Yang Qi (陽氣).

Bai Hui translates as 100 Meeting or 100 Convergences; I prefer the latter since this is the point where the skull bones converge and the Yang Meridians meet. The number 100 should not be taken literally since, according to acupuncture, there are only Six Yang Meridians. The Bai Hui point is the uppermost point of the body and of the Du Mai (督脈), a term most often translated as Governing Vessel.

The Bai Hui point plays a key role in opening the Yu Zhen Quan, or Jade Pillow Gate, which is located in the depression at the base of the skull where the spine connects to the head. The Jade Pillow Gate is important in Qigong and in the Internal Chinese martial arts noted above and is also relevant in all CMA styles that cultivate Qi, as well as in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

San Guan (三 關) – Three Gates

San Guan, or Three Gates, are three important energy gates that must be opened for Qi to flow, especially if one practices the Xiao Zhou Tian (小周天) – The Small Heavenly Cycle. The San Guan are: The Wei Lu (尾閭) or Tail Gate; the Jia Ji (夹脊) or Spinal Handle; and the Yu Zhen. The San Guan individually are also referred to as the Lower Gate, Middle Gate, and Upper Gate.

I will discuss the San Guan in more detail in a future post, but I wanted to mention them here since students who are serious about Qigong practice are likely to come across these terms.

Opening the Jade Pillow Gate

The Wei Lu and Jia Ji gates are easier to open, and you can achieve that by focusing on opening the Jade Pillow Gate because the Yang Qi will flow upward through the Du Meridian.

In Nei Jia (內家), or Internal Arts, lifting the Bai Hui point is instrumental in aiding the opening of the Jade Pillow Gate. This requires both physical adjustment and mental visualization. Physically, you hold your head erect and lengthen your neck. Visually, you imagine the Bai Hui point being pulled upward. This visualization is called Xu Ling (虛領) or Empty Lifting, meaning lifting without force.

Lifting the Ba Hui point upward stretches the Du Meridian, and when this is combined with clenching the anus it forces the Qi upward. Qi rising is Yang Qi, and this process is called Huo Bi Jin Xing, or Fire Forcing Metal. The Jade Pillow is often referred to as the Iron Wall since it is difficult to open, hence Fire Forcing Metal.

While practicing the Xiao Zhou Tian, students often encounter difficulty in getting the QI to pass through the Jade Pillow Gate. With diligence and persistence one can achieve this by practicing Zhan Zhuang, Post Standing, for 15 minutes every day.

In TCM the Bai Hui and Yu Zhen are widely used for a multitude of health benefits. In martial arts our focus is on developing Qi as it relates to grounding and to issuing energy. The health benefits derived from such practice, which are undeniable, are a natural byproduct of practice. Martial intent should not be overlooked.

Note: See the posts on Xiao Zhou Tian (Small Heavenly Cycle) and Zhan Zhuang Gong (Standing Pile Skill) on this blog.

I studied acupuncture briefly in Ohio more than 30 years ago. I have students and Chinese martial arts colleagues which I can reference when I have questions regarding certain terms or Chinese characters. Adding Chinese characters also helps me to recognize important characters that pertain to martial arts and Qigong.