Xiao Zhou Tian (Minor Circulation) is the first stage in the practice of Taoist Neidan (Internal Alchemy) school, namely the process of refining essence into qi, also known as "a hundred days of foundation building".
The Taoist Neidan school holds that when a person reaches adulthood, due to the consumption of material desires, their essence and qi are insufficient. It is necessary to warm and nourish them with innate primordial qi, so as to enrich the acquired essence and qi and make them return to the innate essence and qi. This is the purpose of refining essence into qi in Xiao Zhou Tian.
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Completing this practice can prevent and cure diseases. Specifically, it refers to the circulation of internal qi in the body along the Ren Meridian and Du Meridian for a week: internal qi starts from the lower Dantian, passes through the perineum, anus, travels along the Du Meridian on the spine through the three passes of the coccyx, Jiaji (the area between the scapulae) and Yuzhen (the occipital region), reaches the Niwan (Baihui point) on the top of the head, then descends separately along the cheeks on both sides of the ears, meets at the tip of the tongue (or reaches Yingxiang points and passes through the Queqiao, the connection between the tongue and the upper palate). It connects with the Ren Meridian and goes down along the middle of the chest and abdomen back to the Dantian. It is called "Xiao Zhou Tian" because its scope is relatively small.
