Abstract: In modern society, people need to understand health preservation and traditional sports health preservation thoroughly. Most people think that sports health preservation does not meet the needs of the background of the times, which leads traditional sports health preservation to be marginalized. The authors comb through the literature research method and experiences summary method to summarize Shaolin Ch'angong's（少林禅弓）technology and health function so that the reader realizes that multi-dimensional means can be adopted to achieve the purpose of health preservation. The technical points and training methods of Shaolin Ch'angong coincide with the related specialized types in traditional sports health preservation, which provides another guide for modern people in traditional sports health preservation.

Preface

China is in the 21st century, where people's living standards are increasingly rising with economic development; At the same time, the problems of an aging society and occupational diseases are also increasing. Therefore, attention and devotion to health preservation have become the new fashion in the new era. However, there are some problems, such as the lack of scientific theoretical support for the concept and way of health preservation, people's lack of interest in traditional sports health preservation, and the cognition of health preservation being too one-sided. Shaolin Ch'angong（少林禅弓）is a new form of sport launched by the Songshan Shaolin Temple in the new era, combining the traditional sport form of archery with the flavor of Ch’an culture. Through the assistance of modern sports science, it is dedicated to creating a composite cultural activity and providing action guidelines for those who love sports and health.

The Concept of Health Preservation

The term "health preservation" was first mentioned in "Zhuangzi"（庄子）. The theme of "Zhuangzi · Inner part" （Zhuangzi nei pian 庄子·内篇) is "health preservation," discussing the program of health preservation: "By following the natural course of events, we can protect our bodies, preserve our lives, provide for our loved ones, and enjoy our lives to the fullest." Zhuangzi believes that the Way to keep healthy is to conform to nature. [1] "Health preservation" in the Plain Question · Four Qi Tiao Shen Da theory（素问･四气调神大论）for "maintenance of spring gas" meaning, in Suwen · Linglan Secret Treatise（素问･灵兰秘典论）and Lingshu · Benshen（灵枢･本神）two are "maintenance of life" meaning, such as the "Spiritual Pivot ·Benshen," said: "Therefore, the wise man's health also, will be four times suitable for cold and summer, and the emotions and live in peace and contentment, a section of Yin and Yang and adjust rigid and soft. If so, it is rare evil not to, long lifelong sight". The meaning, principle, method, and purpose of "health preservation" are the same as those in "the same as those in Zhuangzi, which reflects the cultural gene that Chinese people attach importance to longevity since ancient times. Therefore, Zhang Jiebin's Lei Jing Tu Yi・Zixu（《类经图翼・自序》） says: "Things that can create things have the great virtues of heaven and earth, and doctors, on the other hand, praise those who create things. Human beings live in these two realms, and what is there to calculate in life and death? All virtuous people have the experience of heaven and earth, the fear of life, the ability to clarify the principles, and the sincere practice of benevolence and filial piety, which is the primary concept of health care and cannot be violated by anyone. Zhang Jiabin has a deep understanding of the meaning of "health preservation". Therefore, the Neijing（内经） refers to those who know the methods and meanings of health preservation as "sages" and "wise men". To let more people understand the diversified means of health preservation, the authors believe that "health preservation" is to achieve physical and mental health, prevent and cure diseases, and finally achieve the purpose of prolonging life through deliberate and targeted adjustments to all aspects of personal clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

Regarding the concept of "health," many people are easily confused with the concept of "fitness" and "sports." To further differentiate, we distinguish the following aspects: First, the purpose of the difference, health preservation is valuable in "health" through a variety of ways to nourish life, through specific methods to enhance physical fitness, and prevent disease, to achieve the purpose of longevity.  [2] The purpose of fitness is to obtain a strong and healthy body through the Western science of exercise, which is "the science of sport that transforms the human body shape." [3] Physical education aims to educate the educated through physical training, focusing on the "education" aspect. one is the difference of means. The means of keeping healthy can be adjusted from all parts of clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. The means are diverse, and the body behavior is mainly "static" in the "static and dynamic." The means of fitness a primarily characterized by "initiative" and often increase in quantity and intensity to achieve the desired effect. Moreover, the identification of "static and dynamic": the body technology in the modern concept of sports emphasizes the subjectivity of "dynamic" and pursues the concept of the limit of physical quality such as strength, speed, and height, which determine that its subjectivity must be manifested as motion. However, the body technology under traditional sports health preservation emphasizes the combination of static and dynamic with "static" as the subjective feature. [4] Therefore, understanding that "health preservation," "fitness," and "sports" are not the same will be beneficial to the public's understanding of the traditional sports of our people.

II. The Concept of Traditional Sports Health Preservation

The word "tradition" is interpreted in Cihai（辞海）as "the ideas, cultures, morals, fashions, arts, institutions and ways of behavior handed down from history. It is usually inherited as historical and cultural heritage, in which the most stable elements are fixed and expressed in various aspects of social life. Such as national traditions, cultural traditions, moral traditions, etc." In the authors’ opinion, if you want to attach yourself to traditional health preservation sports, you should choose a health preservation program with values and characteristics. As we all know, the information age has provided unprecedented convenience for culture. Still, the resulting problem is a decline in the quality of information and many low-level, even erroneous, health preservation concepts and practices flooding the media. Therefore, there is an urgent need to clarify the concept of traditional sports health preservation to improve the public's recognition of traditional sports health preservation. Traditional sports health preservation can express the ancient people's desire to prolong life. It is the wisdom of the ancient people in the process of exploring the connection and laws of heaven, earth, and humans summed up the crystallization of wisdom, body techniques, and theories include the sensory process of "unity of heaven and human," the purpose and process are inseparable from the connection between human and nature. It has the logical essence of movement and the conceptual essence of healthcare.

The definition of sports health preservation: it is a system of physical techniques and methods to achieve physical and mental well-being and longevity of life by constructing a harmony of movement between humans and the universe, which is characterized by the combination of training and stillness with "static" as the main body, and the highest pursuit is to experience the sensory process of "unity of heaven and human".[4] The authors believe that sports health preservation is a body technology with the main form of moderate body movement and luck for nurturing, with the dialectical relationship between heaven and earth and man as the theoretical basis, and with the primary purpose of prolonging life.

III. Shaolin Ch'angong's Method of Healthcare

Shaolin Ch’angong Meaning

In ancient times, "archery"（yi 射） was one of the compulsory subjects among the "six arts" (liu yi 六艺）, and it was also used to build China's "civilization of ritual and music"（li le wen ming 礼乐文明). Archery has become a traditional sport, a body culture rich in Chinese humanistic spirit. A deep dharma relationship between Ch'an has given up the function of bow and arrow to injure life and death, making it a means to understand the right path and improve the body and mind and a way to seek spiritual sublimation.

Shaolin Ch'angong is a sport that integrates Ch'an （aka Zen 禅）culture into traditional Chinese archery, using the body and mind practice method of "drawing the bow into Ch'an and using the shooting to understand the way". Shaolin Ch'angong is the enrichment and supplement of Shaolin culture and is an innovative content launched by the Shaolin Temple in response to the development of the times. Formally, the Shaolin Ch'angong is both a component of traditional Chinese archery and an integral part of Shaolin's meditation practice. It takes the practice and realization of traditional archery techniques as a carrier and the cognition and internalization of Shaolin meditation culture as a driving force to promote the harmonious development of the human body and mind. Technically, the Shaolin Ch'angong inherits the mainstream of traditional Chinese archery techniques' forms and values.[5] The specific development path follows: "a holistic reconstruction of its cultural system in terms of both core values and standardization of artifacts; forming a harmonious symbiosis with modern archery; adhering to the principles of wholeness and participation in the historical transmission of traditional archery." Thus helping the rebirth of traditional Chinese archery culture in the context of the new era.[6] III. 2 The integration of Shaolin Ch'angong Theory and Practice with the Philosophy of Health Preservation

Ming Dynasty Wan Quan, in the Four Elements of Health Preservation (yang shen si yao 养生四要) has said: "There are four ways to maintain health: controlling desires, exercising excessively with caution, observing the laws of time, and expelling diseases. Those who are good at controlling desires have a strong will; those who are cautious of excessive exercise can maintain their true qi; those who observe the laws of time can understand the balance of yin and yang, and those who are good at dispelling diseases are good at using the medicine. Strong-willed people will not destroy their fundamentals; those who maintain their true qi will not make branches suffer; those who can balance yin and yang will not make evil mistakes, and those who are prudent in using medicine will not be poisoned. This is health preservation!" [7] Shaolin Ch'angong reflects the philosophy of restraining desires, guiding the natural Qi, and balancing yin and yang. 

In the Zhiguan Fa (止观法) method, Zhi is to stop evil thoughts, and the view is to observe all truths. Zhi is called "stillness," and the nature of the body is "quiet." Observation belongs to "wisdom," which is called "light," and the nature of the body is "clear."[8] Shaolin Ch'angong emphasizes "leading the bow into Ch'an and using the shooting to enlighten the way." Hence, its practice method is the traditional archery basic skills training and the sitting meditation and standing stance related to Shaolin meditation. Sitting meditation and standing stance help practitioners to enter silence gradually, eliminate distracting thoughts, and adjust the body, breath, and mind in a stable state, which is like stopping delusions and perceiving the subtleties in the Zhiguan Fa method.

Jikag's（嵇康）Theory of Health Preservation（yang shen lun 养生论） mentioned that people who are good at nurturing their bodies are different, quiet and vain, and serene and titanic, with less selfishness and less desire. Knowing that fame and status can harm virtue, neglect not to operate; knowing that excessive taste hurts the body, give up, do not patronize it, and suppress it without craving.[9] The Shaolin Ch'angong practice class instructor also frequently reminds students, "Focus on your movements, focus on your breathing, and don't focus on the bullseye. Focus on disciplined movements and breathing, and don't rush to shoot the arrow out to hit the bullseye." In the Ch’angong Ji Yu（禅弓偈语）, Shi Yongxin（释永信) also suggests, "One in and one out, bodhicitta is wonderful. Hit or miss, it is nothing but my mind." This state of mind, clear and quiet, with less selfishness and desire, can become a healthier way of life for modern people and echoes the concept of health preservation.

For A Brief Discussion on Shaolin Ch'angong's Concept and Practice of Health Preservation Part 2, click here.