Silk drum is a tai chi exercise based on the movements of a silk craftsman. It emphasizes continuous fluid movement and is a neigong exercise. It is an essential component of Chen and Wu styles of tai chi chuan and focuses on training the individual from an internal and external point of view. The exercise imitates the movements of the craftsman and requires the body to lead the movements with the dantian. Over time, the body becomes better acquainted with the coordination of movements, and the joints achieve a greater range of motion.
The silk drum is a tai chi exercise focused on a set of movement principles. These principles are based on the actions performed by an individual harvesting silk from a silkworm cocoon. The exercise emphasizes the importance of continuous fluid movement. With proper practice, silk rolling can increase flexibility, joint movement, and balance.
The silk winding movements are an exercise in neigong, which is a meditative breathing practice. This exercise is considered an important component of the traditional Chinese martial arts tai chi chuan. Classified as a form of internal martial arts, tai chi chuan contains five families within itself. Two of the families, the Chen and Wu styles, consider silk winding exercises to be essential. Internal martial arts focus on training the individual from an internal and external point of view.
Based on the silk spool craft, this exercise imitates the movements of the craftsman. The delicate nature of the trade requires the craftsman to perform his actions at a constant and medium speed. This tempo is reflected in the exercise. If the practitioner moves too fast, the floss will break, and if he or she moves too slowly, the floss will stick to itself and be ruined. The shape of the movements is circular in nature, and the practitioner takes care never to dissuade from the established path or make sudden and drastic movements.
The body must lead the movements with the dantian. In most East Asian internal martial arts and meditation techniques, the dantian is considered the central focal point within the body. This center does not originate in a muscular or nervous component of the body. Instead, the dantian is seen as the center of gravity of the body. From this focal point, all movements begin to take the form of the non-linear division within the taijitu pattern. The taijitu is the symbol commonly associated with yin and yang, a circle with an s-shaped line dividing it into two equal parts.
Once the arms have started to remember the movements, the rest of the body is mobilized. This full body movement mimics the silk winding form of a true craftsman. Over time, the body becomes better acquainted with the coordination of movements, and the joints achieve a greater range of motion. Practitioners believe that the energy channeled from the Dantian spirals to the rest of the body and enriches the joints and extremities.
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