The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-11-21
CHINESE GYMNASTICS.
MASSAGE rs A PRODUCT OF THE
FLOWERY REALM.

The Evil of Callow Marriages-The
New Gowns of the Empress Frederick.
The original gymnastic exercises of the
a~ncients consisted mainly of rhythmical
movements such as lance and pantomime
associated with religious worship and
feasts. Much later it was developed into
pedagogical training and warlike pur-
poses. and still further certain exercises
and movements were successfully en-
ployed with therapeutical designs. Con-
sequently, it is manifest that gymnastics
wore intimately connected with the inner
life of the people, being part of its relig-
ious ~observances, education n n.y.
gene.
According to P. Amiot, in his "L'Abrege
Chronologique de rHistoire de Empire
Chinals,,' the diseases during the Em-
peror Yu-Kang-Chi increased at an
alarming rate as a result of various CHM
attic changes and disturbances. With q
view of anieliorating this condition and
improving the hygienic condition OF his
people, the Emperor ordered the perform
ance OF his subjects of various military
exercises Il evolutions, and by this wise
measure the general health of the nation
vas in course of time maintained. 1t ap-
pears that diverse dances were included
in these man9uvres, with u without
the equipment of shield n flag. This
practice was persevered In until the reign
of Emperor Fou-Hi, who f1ourished about
3,46S years before the Christian era.
1t is, therefore, evident that gymnastics
were employed to the benefit of the peo-
pie in China at this distant age, ana much
earlier han is recorded by any other cul-
tured nation. 1t appears also that the
Chinese were conversant not only with
4L> 1,zN e. - frp,T N cffnn fnr
training and drill to the preservation of
health, but also conceived the physiology
cal efforts thereof on the organism in u
manner that ever to Harvey would have
appeared a most valuable hint. From
Chinese writings it Is ascertained that
their physicians and learned men held
that within the organism circulates sub
tie fluid matter, the motion of which was
supposed to decline or altogether stag
nate, If the body was not in motion. Var
ious maladies originated in consequence
of such ~stagnation. Ancient Chinese en-
cravings represent anatomical demon
STATIONS and gymnastic exercises not
only active. executed without aid, but
also passive and semi-passive, with the
help of assistants, who were also skilled
i'll kneading, stacking, pressing and all
the multifarious deXteritieS of rudlmen-
tary massage. 1t seems, therefore, that
the ancient Mongolians to a certain ex-
tent appreciated the ~therapeutical virtue
of gymnastics, and in this, as well as in
other respects, were ahead OF modern Gull
ture.
In China it was deemed inseparable
from a liberal education of the young to
dance and sing well, and in the most re-
mote times public schools existed there,
besides this accomplishment, instruction
was impaired in arithmetic, penmanship
and the art OF driving q carriage. 1t is
cold of thu uraaf nhi1naOnhar and rQlipi-
Gus founder Kon-Fut-Tse (Confucius),
that he participated in gymnastic prac-
tees with much skill and diligence. The
priests have in their possession a system
of gymnastics named kong-Fau, which
includes differen6 positions of the body
and various methods of respiration. The
principal positions are the standing, the
sitting and the recumbent.
First-From the standing position vari-
Gus different pastures are derived, by The
moving of the legs apart by the planting of
one foot forward, backward or to the side.
BY the posing of the arms vertically or hor-
~izontally, or by lifting one arm upward,
one downward, or by striking an attitude
akimbo. BY leaning the body forward,
sideward or backward, etc.
Second-From the sitting position divv
erse attitudes are obtained much in the
same manner as when standing.
Third-In the recumbent position ex-
pedient variations were gained by resting
either on the back, Frustrated face down,
or lying upon lone side, and by all the nu-
merous pointings of arms and legs pre-
viously mentioned, including different
positions of the head.
With a skilful and methodical system
of bending and stretching, raising and
lowering, extending and closing of arms
and legs, q peculiarly varying and almost
unlimited mass of gymnastic posLures,
movements, exercises and attitudes are
obtained il the system of KOng-Fan.
tending to the development of every mus
Gle and sinew of the body tremendously
and symmetrically. 1t is also worth at
tention that the Chinese have known and
applied gymnastics for otherwise
neglected organs, the tongue and eyes.
Active and passive motions n manifes-
tations of the tongue were designed to in
crease the secretion of the saliva and for
the correction or stammering and i'm
paired speech. To the various modes of
respiration through the mouth, through
the nose, or both at the same time during
the inhalation, quick or slow, forcible or
elongated, no small amount of import
ance was attached in their gymnastic
executions.
1t is quite in accordance with the
ancient and high state OF Chinese culture
that gymnastics should be employed by
this people as q means OF preserving
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warriors and of coping with disease.
When Metzger, some twenty-five years
ago, astonished Europe with his success
full use of massage, very few We're familiar
with the fact that thousands of years be-
fore the Christian era the Chinese had no
other remedy for a~nchyloses, contraction
of muscles, neuralgia and rheumatism
than k~neading, rolling, stocking, hacking,
Gaping and such like dexterous knick-
knacks, in modern times Slnlplified and
and perfected.
The Chinese system of gymnastics has
been developed without influence from
abroad, has sprung up from its own soil
and has never been transplanted to the
benefit of other nations. The Greeks
athletics and games were not formed
after the Chinese model, at least history
tells us nothing about it. From p. H.
Ling, the founder of the Swedish system,
down to the present day, no author or
practitioner has ever quoted any prac-
tical experience, loan or research from
Chinese gymnastics.
Empress Frederick's Gowns.
Messrs. Russell and Allen, of Old Bond
street, have just completed two beautiful
dresses for H. l. H. the Empress Freder-
lex of Germany, to wear on the occasion
of her ~daughter's wedding in Greece.
The reception dress is of a dark gray
tone, u inixthre OF rich soft corded
silk and MORE. The skirt is quite sim
pie, with a thick pinked-out ruche in
front; the bodice is draped on both sides
over the MORE vest, and has a jabOt
Of grey lisse down the centre. For wear