Eight Pieces Brocade positions hint list

People all around the world often use rhymes as memory devices, little poems like "Thirty days has September; April, June, and November…" to remember the number of days in each month.

The Chinese have just such a poem to remember the positions in the Eight Pieces of Brocade Qigong! In Chinese it rhymes; unfortunately in English it does not, but is still a handy reminder list so you won't forget any of the positions if you like to practice at home between classes!

From the Eight Section Brocade webpage of Michael P. Garofalo (click the Chinese writing for better visibility):

"I saw you included the list of movements in Chinese in your webpage on Baduanjin. Very good! It might be interesting to add that this is a Chinese (didactic) poem, made for easy remembering the eight movements and their effect. This poem has the classical Chinese format with 8 lines of 7 characters each and rhyme in line 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8."

Translation:

1. Both hands carry heaven to regulate the triple burner.
2. Draw the bow left and right as if to shoot a vulture.
3. Regulate spleen and stomach by lifting one hand.
4. Remedy the 5 symptoms and 7 disorders by looking backward.
5. Turn the head and swing the tail to eliminate heart-fire.
6. Two hands grab the feet to strengthen kidneys and waist.
7. Clench fists and look angry to increase qi and strength.
8. Jolt the back 7 times and hundred illnesses will disappear

Thanks to Hielke Hylkema for sending me the above information and translation.