Second Son Carrying Mountains is the eleventh of the 18 qigong exercises that make up the Shaolin 18 Lohan Hands. Also known as Carry Mountains, 二 郎 擔 山, and ER LANG DAN SHAN, it is the most straightforward exercise in the set to learn — but its simplicity of form should not be mistaken for limited benefit.
Important Safety Note
Avoid this exercise if you have been diagnosed with hypertension.
Key Benefits of Second Son Carrying Mountains
When practiced as qigong — not merely as physical form — Second Son Carrying Mountains offers the following benefits:
- Beneficial for the back, spine, and neck
- Stimulates four of the eight secondary meridians (also known as the eight wondrous meridians), increasing longevity
The Eight Wondrous Meridians
The eight secondary meridians stimulated by this exercise are notable for their function as energy reservoirs — they can store or release energy as needed, acting like vertical energy grids running through the body. Stimulating four of them through a single, simple exercise is one of the reasons this pattern delivers more than its form suggests.
An Important Note on Form vs. Qigong
The benefits above are only available when this exercise is practiced as qigong — with a Qigong State of Mind (QSoM) and genuine energy flow. Practicing the physical movements alone — the form — will not produce these results. The form is not the art of qigong.
Learning Second Son Carrying Mountains directly from a qualified qigong instructor is strongly recommended.
Next in the 18 Lohan Hands
The next exercise in the set is Lohan Draws Saber — exercise 12 of the 18 Lohan Hands.
