Gymnastics 163
the sacred geographies of both faiths. It was the site of dozens of Daoist and
Buddhist shrines, the most famous of which were the Daoist Tongbai Temple
and the Buddhist Guoqing Monastery.^81
This ambiguity notwithstanding, “Purple Coagulation” does have a clear
Daoist ring. Purple is the color par excellence of Daoist mythology. It is the
elixir’s hue, and by implication the color of everything from deities and di-
vine palaces (many of which are located within the body) to sacred scrip-
tures. Coagulation (ning) is a stage in the alchemical production of the elixir,
and it also designates the meditative techniques of concocting the “inner
elixir.”^82 Hence, the “Purple Coagulation Man of the Way” could be rendered
as the “Purple Elixir Daoist.” This religious pen name is certainly justified by
the manual’s teachings. The Sinews Transformation Classic is premised upon
the Daoist notion of an internal bodily transformation. Its goal is “internal
robustness” (neizhuang) that will make the body resilient to injury, that will
eliminate all illness, and that will ultimately lead to immortality:
The contrast between internal and external is that between robustness
and enfeeblement. The difference between robustness and enfeeble-
ment is that robustness lasts. Comparing the internal and the external,
the external might be dispensed with.
Internal robustness is called firmness (jian); external robustness is
called valor (yong). Firm, and simultaneously valiant, is truly valiant.
Valiant, and simultaneously firm, is truly firm. Firmness and valor, valor
and firmness—by these an imperishable body of ten thousand eons is
obtained. It is the diamond (jin’gang; Sanskrit: vajra) body.
Any practice of internal robustness involves three principles: The
first is called “Guarding the Center” (shouzhong). “Guarding the Center”
is nothing but the accumulation of qi. The qi is accumulated by the eyes,
ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind (yi). The method’s subtlety is
apparent in the following massaging technique: During the massage
one should loosen his garments and lie facing upward. He should place
his palms between his chest and his abdomen. This is the so-called
“center.” The center is the only place where the qi is stored. It must be
guarded...
The second principle is called “Avoiding other thoughts.” At the
center of the body, the essence (jing), spirit (shen), vital energy (qi), a nd
blood are incapable of controlling themselves. Rather, they fully adhere
to the mind (yi): When the mind moves, they move; when the mind
rests, they rest. When practicing “Guarding the Center” the mind
should follow the palms downward [to the abdomen]. This is the
appropriate form...
The third principle is called “Keeping it Full.” Massaging and
storing it, the qi accumulates. When the qi accumulates, the essence
(jing), spirit (shen), and blood vessels all follow it. Guarding the qi, it