Opening the Ren and Du Meridians is the central goal of Taoist stillness practice — the moment when Primordial Qi begins to flow freely through the body’s two governing channels.
The Ren Meridian governs all Yin channels. The Du Meridian governs all Yang channels. If these two central meridians are blocked, the body’s entire network of channels falls into disorder, and illness inevitably follows.
So why do practitioners of stillness arts — internal cultivation, sitting meditation, Dan Dao, or reclining practice — so consistently seek opening the Ren and Du Meridians? The answer lies in what happens when Qi moves without obstruction.
What Is Primordial True Yuan (先天真元)?
Let us first understand what Primordial True Yuan is, and what its function is.
Consider the fetus in the womb. It lives within the placenta, completely separate from the mother’s respiratory and vascular systems. It does not breathe — the lungs are still developing, and their function has not yet begun. Yet the fetus not only grows perfectly well, but is in the most vital period of a human being’s entire life.
From the union of Yin and Yang — the sperm and egg joining to form a fertilized egg, visible only under an electron microscope — through the mitotic division of cells, the formation of the embryo, and ten months of gestation, the fetus grows from a microscopic speck to several pounds. In a short period of time, it increases by billions of times.
What does the fetus rely on to sustain such vigorous life? Taoism holds that it is Qi (炁) — Primordial Qi.
The Foundation Must Come First
To successfully practice opening the Ren and Du Meridians, one must first master the Foundation Building practice (筑基功, Zhuji Gong). This is absolutely essential.
Through methods such as intentional guarding (意守) and guidance (引领), this stage cultivates the root and replenishes the source. You must first produce the Primordial True Unified Qi (先天真元一炁), then nurture it until it grows strong and full. Only when Qi has reached a state of robust abundance can you use intention to set it in motion. That is the true beginning of the Small Heavenly Circuit practice.
How long does Foundation Building take? It depends on many factors: your innate capacity, your physical condition, your age, your patience, your perseverance, your moral character, the quality of your teacher’s guidance, and the results of your practice.
Once the foundation is well built, opening the Ren and Du Meridians becomes a natural progression rather than a distant goal.
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What Does It Feel Like When Opening the Ren and Du Meridians?
The experience of opening the Ren and Du Meridians varies from person to person. During stillness practice, nearly everyone encounters visions and inner phenomena of many kinds. Some people take these as signs of success — as proof that they have entered the gate. In truth, these are merely illusions (幻觉).
Why does this happen? What directs human thought, speech, action, the internal movements of the five organs and six bowels, and the circulation of Qi and blood?
Many people say it is the “mind.” But where is the mind? People often touch the center of their chest and say, “It’s here.” But that is impossible. In the left chest is the heart. In the right chest is the liver. Below is the stomach.
The mind is not an organ. It is the body’s central command system — the brain and central nervous system. An ordinary person must study, work, and labor every day. They must think about countless problems. They witness endless phenomena in the world around them. They also dream — because the brain has not rested well. All of this arises from the disordered firing of neurons.
When you practice stillness — through adjusting the body, the breath, and the mind — you enter a state of basic quiet. In this state, the body’s neurons replay images from your life: things you have seen, done, thought, or dreamed. What appears may be a single image, or a composite symbol of many. This is the source of the illusions that arise during stillness practice.
Before reaching a high level of attainment, different illusions will appear at each stage of practice — along with other sensations: soreness, numbness, gentle tingling, local warmth, and light pulsing at meridian points. Some illusions are beautiful. Some are serene. Some are comfortable. Some are almost painful — a kind of sweet agony. Some are terrifying.
The principle is this: When beautiful illusions arise, do not indulge them, and do not chase them. When terrifying illusions arise, do not tense up, and do not be afraid. Simply “see without seeing, hear without hearing.”
Of course, a true teacher will always pass down instructions on how to handle these phenomena. This is an essential part of oral transmission.
The Real Sensation of Opening
When opening the Ren and Du Meridians truly occurs, there is unquestionably a sensation. But this sensation is beyond words — it can only be known through direct experience.
One thing can be shared, however: When the Primordial True Qi gathered in the Lower Dantian becomes highly abundant, it is guided by intention toward the Huiyin point (会阴穴, the perineum), and then ascends along the Du Meridian. When this true Qi reaches the Huiyin point, there is a very distinct physiological sensation. At this critical moment, if one does not understand the method of practice — and if improper thoughts arise — the true Qi can be completely dissipated.
This is why the practice of opening the Ren and Du Meridians is a complete and systematic method. It is not recommended to practice without proper guidance. The best way is to study and practice under a complete, systematic method.
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For the philosophical foundation of Taoist internal practice, see the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s entry on Taoism.
