The first refinement of xin song (心鬆, mental release) is the release of mental tension (jing shen jin zhang, 精神緊張). Just as the body accumulates unconscious muscular contractions, the mind accumulates subtle forms of grasping (zhi zhao, 執著), worry (you lv, 憂慮), and incessant inner dialogue (nei bu zi yu, 內部自語).

These patterns continuously feed into the nervous system, generating sympathetic arousal — shallow breath, elevated heart rate, scattered focus, and micro-contractions throughout the body. As the classics remind us: xin bu jing, shen bu ning (心不靜，神不寧) — “if the mind is not calm, the spirit cannot be tranquil.”

The Role of Yi (意)

Releasing mental tension does not mean dullness or blankness. Instead, jing shen song tempers yi (意, intent) into a state that is supple (rou, 柔) yet penetrating, expansive (guang, 廣) yet precise. The classics describe this as xu ling ding jing (虛靈頂勁) — awareness suspended and vibrant, effortless yet alert.

Modern Understanding

In modern terms, jing shen song reduces hyperactivity in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, down-regulating the stress response and allowing sensorimotor and interoceptive networks to dominate. This enhances proprioceptive accuracy, smoothens motor output, and reduces antagonistic muscular co-contraction. Psychologically, it alleviates rumination and produces a state of “relaxed concentration,” the mental condition indispensable for advanced Taiji practice.

Ultimately, jing shen song establishes the foundation for shen yi he yi (神意合一) — the unification of spirit and intent. Without mental release, shen song (physical release) cannot penetrate deeply; with it, body and mind resonate as one integrated field.

Methods of Release

The aim of jing shen song is to dissolve this over-activity and restore qing jing (清靜, clarity and stillness). Principal methods include:

• Stillness practice (靜坐, jing zuo) — Sitting quietly to observe the rise and fall of thought without grasping, cultivating wu xin (無心, “no-mind”), where awareness is clear but unbound.

• Internal standing (站樁, zhan zhuang) — Properly understood as nei gong (內功, internal work), not mere “standing meditation.” The practitioner actively releases (song, 鬆), aligns (zheng, 正), and integrates body structures. Through this process, yi (意, intent) stabilizes and permeates the fascia, anchoring the mind in embodied presence.

• Breath regulation (調息, tiao xi) — Deep, continuous breathing (shen chang hu xi, 深長呼吸) calms the xin (心, heart-mind) and roots awareness in the xia dantian (下丹田), shifting the autonomic system toward parasympathetic balance.