The Seven-Star Drum: For those with timidity or kidney deficiency, it strengthens courage and boosts vitality. The ears are the windows to the kidneys- when kidney energy is sufficient, hearing is sharp; when it is deficient, the ears lack nourishment, leading to symptoms like tinnitus and hearing loss. The low-frequency drum regulates the energy of the organs, stimulates kidney yang, and helps gather scattered energy. The low-frequency drumming acts as an amplifier for kidney energy. Following the rhythm of the drum, night sweats gradually transform into vital energy. (In short, listening to this can boost your courage and make you feel empowered. If you feel uneasy or scared when alone at home at night, you can try playing it.)(cr 圆清吉祥)
In China's popular series 一人之下/Kneel for One/The Outcast, the "Heart Monkey" and "Kidney Water Pig" are metaphorical references related to the concepts of Yang Five Thunder阳五雷 and Yin Five Thunder阴五雷. Here’s a simple explanation:
Yang Five Thunder & Heart Monkey心猿:
The Five Thunder Method is a technique that combines the five elements within the body. Those who haven’t lost their virginity are considered to have abundant vitality and Yang energy. When using this method, the practitioner first activates heart fire (fire element) and lung metal (metal element), resulting in Yang Five Thunder, also known as Crimson Palace Thunder绛宫雷jiang gong lei.
The heart and lungs correspond to Yang energy in the five elements. This Yang energy is compared to a “fire-forged monkey” -restless and lively, reflecting the nature of the heart. Hence, it’s called the “Heart Monkey.” It’s believed that with experience, the mind becomes stronger, so the monkey is also called the “Walker行者xing zhe.” The goal of cultivating the Heart Monkey is to attain “Emptiness” (Wu Kong悟空).
Yin Five Thunder & Kidney Water Pig 肾水猪:
Those who have lost their virginity cannot practice Yang Five Thunder through conventional means, as their Yang energy is compromised. However, a modified method allows them to activate kidney water (water element) and liver wood (wood element) to practice Yin Five Thunder, also known as Water Organ Thunder水脏雷shui zang lei.
The kidneys and liver correspond to Yin energy, visualized as a “water-soaked pig.” This pig represents desires and emotions -greed, lust, and indulgence -must be disciplined. Hence, it’s called “Eight Precepts” (Bajie八戒). Human desires aren’t entirely useless; one must learn control. The pig’s goal is to “Awaken to Ability” (Wu Neng悟能).
The Heart Monkey and Pig are opposites. Cultivating one without disturbing the other is crucial-if the kidney energy is disturbed, Yang energy becomes chaotic; if heart fire flares up, Yin energy goes out of control, ruining progress. The spleen, representing earth element, mediates between heart Yang and kidney Yin, much like the character Sha Wujing (Wu Jing/Sandy悟净), who acts as a peacemaker.
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