Table of Contents

Nine Temple Qigong

About

The Temple Qigong (Chi Kung) form consists of nine exercises. It was popularized by Master Marshall Ho (1910-1993) of Los Angeles, California. It is also referred to as the Nine Temple Exercises, or the Marshall Ho Temple Exercises.

History and Creation

Marshall Ho'o wrote a book 1968 which included an explanation with photographic illustrations of the Temple Qigong set. The black and white photos in that book were of poor quality and the editing was unsatisfactory. An instructional DVD also teaches this form.

It is commonly believed that Marshall Ho (Ho Kam-Ming) created the Nine Temple Qigong exercises based on the Shaolin Luohan Qigong. The Luohan Qigong, which is rooted in the traditions of Shaolin Temple martial arts, consists of exercises designed to cultivate internal energy, improve health, and enhance martial abilities. Marshall Ho adapted and refined these exercises, integrating them into his Wing Chun practice and teachings.

By drawing from the principles and movements of Luohan Qigong, he developed the Nine Temple Qigong exercises to provide a structured set of practices that could be easily learned and practiced by his students. This adaptation allowed him to preserve the essence of the traditional Shaolin methods while making them more accessible to modern practitioners.

I once had a quote from Marshall Ho'o that he created the exercises from some basic Shaolin qigong he had learned, in order to help people get better at Tai Chi. I will have to look this up again.

A Book

Tai Chi Chuan By Marshall Hoo. Burbank, California, Ohara Publications, Inc., 1986, 1993. 111 pages. ISBN: 0897501098. VSCL. The Nine Temple exercise set is briefly described in this book on pages 18-42. Each movement is clearly illustrated by four to eight clear black and white photographs of a woman doing the form. The Taijiquan is the Standard 24 Form in the Yang Style.

A DVD

Tai Chi Chuan: The 27 forms by Marshall Hoo . Instructional DVD, released in 2005, by Marshall Ho'o. Black Belt Videos, 90 minutes. Includes the Nine Temple Qigong.

About Marshall Ho

“Dr. Ho'o was instrumental in the certification of acupuncture in the State of California. He was the first Tai Chi Master to have been elected to the Black Belt Hall of Fame. He was Dean of the Aspen Academy of Martial & Healing Arts, on the faculty of California Institute of the Arts, and taught Tai Chi and Acupressure at many educational institutions. In 1973, he created a series for KCET public television, in Los Angeles, teaching Tai Chi. He was a consultant to Prevention Magazine's The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies. A Chinese American, Dr. Ho'o was America's first Tai Chi Chuan Grandmaster. His influence is far-reaching in both the fields of healing and martial arts.” - The Lineage, Teachers of Two Birds Tai Chi

Names of the Movements

Names of the Movements

Temple Qigong

Standing Meditation, Resting Position: Wuji

  1. Turning the Prayer Wheel
  2. Rotating the Knees
  3. Crossed Arm Rotation
  4. Picking Fruit
  5. Swinging the Leg
  6. Leg Bounce
  7. Retreat and Advance
  8. Grinding Corn
  9. Polishing the Mirror

Closing Posture: Collecting and Storing Energy

These are the names used by Master Marshall Ho'o for the movements of the “Nine Temple Exercises” found in his 1986 book “Tai Chi Chuan.” The instructions by Master Ho'o for performing each exercise are very succinct, since the main focus of that small 111 page book is on teaching the Standard 24 Tai Chi Form. Other Qigong teachers have given the Temple Qigong movements different names, and I have listed these alternative names within my more lengthy instructions for each movement. I do not always do each movement exactly in the same way as briefly described by Master Ho'o, and I make special notes about the differences in the text below. Since other Qigong teachers have done similar movements, especially from the Shaolin Temple Lohan Qigong tradition, I include notes and links to other resources for each movement.

Detailed Information

Standing Meditation

Preparation or Resting Position, Opening Posture

This is the Wu Ji Position or Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

This position is called the “Return to Wuji” or the “resting position.”

Return to this position after each exercise and take a number of deep breaths. Keep shoulders down and relaxed.

Breathing during each movement is in through the nose and out through the mouth, except as noted. Beathe deeply into lungs as you relax your abdomen; tighten your abdomen gently as you exhale.

Throughout the various exercises emphasize:

Refer to my remarks about the Wuji Posture and “Return to Wuji” in the webpage The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung, The Magic Pear Qigong, and Standing Meditation. The Wuji Posture is called the Mountain Pose or Tadasana in Hatha Yoga.

1. Turning the Prayer Wheel

Prayer Wheel, Circling Arms, Turning the Prayer Wheel

Commentary

(I) tend to begin each Qigong exercise on the left side, then move to the right side. I think this is an arbitrary decision. Most Taijiquan forms begin by stepping out with the right foot to the left side, so moving to the left at first is a habit I've formed.

This exercise is called “Merging Heaven and Earth” by Daniel Reid in his book A Complete Guide to Chi-Gung, p. 235+. This book includes a complete description and illustration of this exercise movement. Daniel Reid has the exercise done in the horse stance. This sequence is also found in the opening moving of the Yang style Tai Chi Chuan.

“This exercise balances Yin and Yang, merges Heaven and Earth, and fuses Fire and Water, establishing polar equilibrium within the energy system. Terrestrial energy is drawn up through the energy gates in the soles and palms, while celestial energy is drawn down from the crown. The two merge and fuse at the chest on a completion of inhalation and are packed down into the 'Sea of Energy' in the lower elixir field on exhalation.” - Daniel Reid, p. 236

It should be noted that traditional Chinese medicine does not ascribe to the same views on anatomy, physiology, or causation that are used in contemporary scientific bio-medical theories. The “Spleen Organ” or “Heart Organ” in traditional Chinese medicine have functions and attributes of a somewhat different nature than we might understand the heart or spleen in contemporary scientific anatomy and physiology. For an excellent explanation of these concepts please read the book The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine, by Ted J. Kaptchuk, O.M.D..

“The first exercise is know as the prayer wheel. In this one exercise, the whole body is toned. It invigorates the four systems: the vascular, the lymphatic, the nervous and the chi systems.” - Marshall Ho'o

“Imagine you have a wheel in front of you, your hands touching either side of the outer edge. As you move your hands out in a circular path, follow the wheel until your hands return back to the original position. Never extend your knee beyond your toes. According to Tai Chi belief, the prayer wheel exercise tones the whole body. For this reason, it is the first of the nine temple exercises. Practice the exercises slowly and without tension to increase the flow of “chi,” or life energy. The results will calm the mind and benefit mental health.” - How to Perform the Prayer Wheel Exercise in T'ai Chi

2. Rotating the Knees

Commentary

Rotating the knees or circling the knees is a widespread warm up exercise in martial arts and kung fu. For example, look at “The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way” by Sifu Shi Yan Ming, 2006, p. 109. The Lohan Qigong system include many of the same exercises.

3. Crossed Arm Rotation

Crossed Arm Rotation, Opening Left and Opening Right

Part 1

Part 2

Commentary

“The crossed arm rotation posture is a challenging stance from which you strike alternatively with one hand and then the other. This exercise activates the spleen and the kidneys.” - Marshall Ho'o

4. Picking Fruit

Picking Fruit, Picking Plums, Reaching for the Fruit, Picking Nuts, Picking Peaches

Commentary

Compare this movement with “Separating Heaven and Earth”, Movement 3, of The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung Set.

Marshall Ho'o does not bring the arms back down to the waist, just down about 12” inches from maximum upward reach as the other arm reaches upward. More like climbing up a ladder.

Lifting the arms high above the head and stretching upward is common in Hatha Yoga. A common variation of the Mountain Pose (Tadasana) has both arms stretched high above the head.

“In this exercise imagine that you're picking fruit from a tree. This is one of the oldest movements of mankind. We have done this movement throughout a million years of history. It is a survival practice - searching for food, reaching for something to eat. This exercise activates the kidneys, the spleen and the pancreas. These organs are all activated and the joints are lifted. This is a very important movement. Simple, very simple to do, but very, very complex insofar as the meridians are concerned.” - Marshall Ho'o

5. Swinging the Leg

  1. Marshall Ho'o

6. Leg Bounce

Leg Bounce, Bouncing 100 Times, Jolting the Body, Shaking the Body

Commentary

This movement exercises the thighs, calves, and hips; and shakes the inner organs.

This exercise is the same as “Shaking the Body,” Movement 8, of The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung, as I have described it. The explanation includes many more comments about the role of shaking and jolting movements in Chi Kung.

“This exercise invigorates the spine, up and down. Invigoration of the spine is very important to your health. Many healing arts are based upon the well-being of the spine [e.g., yoga, chiropractics]. Energy goes all the way up to the post-pituitary and the cortex to affect even the thinking process. Do this movement for about five minutes and you will feel quite thoroughly invigorated.” - Marshall Ho'o

7. Retreat and Advance

Retreat and Advance, Moving Back and Moving Forward

Qigong Movement Directions

A. Retreating Movement

Face towards W9.

B. Advancing Movement

Commentary

The lower the stance the more demanding the exercise.

It takes some practice and adjustments of the legs and feet to learn this two movements. Move very slowly and gently with this movement if you are a beginner to the form.

“This is what we have to do in life all the time - retreat and advance. The kidneys, the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, gall bladder, ascending colon, transverse, and descending colon are all set in motion.” - Marshall Ho'o

“From a forward facing stance with your feet shoulder-width apart, turn and face your left side while inhaling deeply. Bend your left knee and sink down a little as your exhale and turn your body 180 degrees to the right side. Keep your weight on your left leg as you turn. Shift your weight to the left side as you inhale. Bend your left knee and sink down a little. Repeat the back and forth, and side to side movements at least nine times before you return to the resting position. Your head should face the front of your body at all times and the 180 degree turns should be completed in a count of six.” - Tai Chi Temple Exercises

8. Grinding Corn

Grinding Corn, Polishing the Stone, Milling Wheat

Commentary

Marshall Ho'o instructs you to bend your knees quite a bit in a squat, and bring both hands to the level of your knees. You then make the circles in both directions keeping your hands at knee level. I do this exercise with my hands circling at the level of my waist or hips. The lower you go in your squat and the closer your hands are to the floor the more challenging this exercise becomes. If you have any low back pain or issues, be careful about bending forward too deeply and keep the hands at a level above the hips.

The movement in this form is similar to the initial movement of Kai Gong Shi (Bow and Arrow) found in Instant Health: The Shaolin Workout for Longevity by Shifu Yan Lei, p. 154-155. Also, look at this movement, done in a bow or lunge stance, in the Magic Pearl Qigong set, movement #3, “The Magic Pearl Glows in the Moonlight” done with a Tai Chi ball or medicine ball.

How to Perform a Grinding the Corn Exercise in T'ai Chi. Description and Photos. 36Kb.

“In this exercise imagine there's a stone table in front of you which comes up to the height of your knees. The stone table is a place where you will grind cereal. Imagine further that you are holding two bricks, one in each hand, and with them you are grinding corn on the table.” - Marshall Ho'o

9. Polishing the Mirror

Polishing the Mirror, Washing the Walls, Wax On and Wax Off

Commentary

The woman in Master Hoo's book who demonstrates this movement squats very deeply. Her hips are lower than her knees and her palms are level with her knees. This very low squat may be dangerous for the knees of some people. Be careful!

Some kind of squatting movements are essential to strength training and are found in all exercise, Yoga, and Qigong routines. Bringing the arms out from the body as you squat may help with balance in #9, 1) above.

“For this exercise, you should imagine that you are polishing a large round mirror. Your feet should be facing forward about shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms to just above your head with your palms facing forward. Move your hands apart as you “polish” the mirror. Your left hand should move to the left and your right hand to the right in a circular fashion. Slowly lower your body into a deep squat while keeping your back straight as you continue to polish with your hands. At the bottom of the movement, bring your hands together and slowly rise to the starting position. Repeat the exercise nine times.” - Tai Chi Temple Exercises

“This exercise has a tremendous effect on the lower back, on the backs of the knees, which are rarely exercised, and on the inside of the thighs. Many martial artists work the exterior muscles but do not exercise the interior muscles of the thighs. This exercise is good for the kidneys. Do this exercise and you won't get hemorrhoids.” - Marshall Ho'o

Closing Posture