Levels 1–4 · 築基 · zhu ji

The Foundation

The only publicly described portion of the system. Yin qi is accumulated, forced through the spinal gates, married to yang qi, and finally projected beyond the skin. Every demonstration John Chang was ever filmed performing belongs to this band — which is the single most important and least understood fact about Mo Pai.

This band division comes from the sources, which consistently treat levels 1–4 as a single unit.

Core practice

Seated stillness, perineal lock, breath retention, and unbroken attention on the lower dan tien. The method does not change much across these four levels; what changes is the quantity of stored qi and what is done with it.

Testing

Tested directly by the teacher, by hand, on the student's abdomen. Pass or fail. There is no partial credit and no self-certification.

Classical stage

Jing → Qi (essence refined into energy)

Time

3–12 years total for the band, per Danaos

Levels in this band

1 Gathering the Yin 採陰 · cai yin Accumulate yin qi in the lower dan tien until it becomes a palpable mass. documented 2 Opening the Gates 小周天 · xiao zhou tian Force the accumulated yin qi up the spine through the three gates and complete the small circulation. documented 3 The Marriage of Yin and Yang 坎離交媾 · kan li jiao gou Draw yang qi and fuse it with the stored yin. The body becomes bipolar — and electrical. documented 4 Projection 外放 · wai fang Send the fused qi outside the body. Every filmed demonstration John Chang ever gave lives here. documented