| |
History of Qigong
(a.k.a. Chi Kung)
by Xu Xiangcai
 Qigong, as an art of healing and
health preservation, is thought to have originated as early as four thousand
years ago in the Tang Yao times as a form of dancing. Lu's Spring and
Autumn Annals or Lu's History (Lu Shi Chun Qiu)
records: In the
beginning of the Tao Tang Tribes, the sun was often shut off by heavy clouds and
it rained all the time; turbulent waters overflowed the rivers' banks. People
lived a gloomy and dull life and suffered from rigidity of their joints. As a
remedy dancing was recommended. From the experience of their long-term struggle
with nature, the ancients gradually realized that body movements, exclamations,
and various ways of breathing could help readjust certain bodily functions. For
example, imitating animal movements such as climbing, looking about, and leaping
was found to promote a vital flow of Qi. Pronouncing "Hi" was found to
either decrease or increase strength, "Ha" could disperse heat, and
"Xu" could alleviate pain. In this way, Qigong was brought into being.
During the Spring and Autumn and
the Warring States Periods (770-221 B.C.), various schools of thought arose --
such
schools rationalized and raised to the level of theory their knowledge of
nature, society, and life based on the experiences of their predecessors. Through
this process, Qigong found its way to systematization and became an independent
theoretical construct popular with philosophers and scholars. The theories of
Qigong continued to develop and coalesce into powerful new concepts such as the
three treasures of the human body (life essence, Qi, and mental faculties).
Qigong methods also started to develop during this time. "Exhale and inhale
to expel the stale and take in the fresh", "a bear twists its
neck", or "a bird stretches its wings", are a few examples of
such methods.
The Qin (221-207 B.C.) and Han
(206 B. C.-A.D. 220) dynasties saw a rapid development of medical skills, which
in turn enhanced Qigong theory and practice. The
Yellow Emperor's Canon of Internal Medicine, the earliest medical classic extant in China,
described Daoyin, Guidance of Qi, and AnQiao as important curative
measures that could also preserve life. It also offered the following advice,
which besides offering a general life philosophy, describes the state of mind
necessary for successful Qigong practice:
"Be indifferent to fame or gain,
be alone in repose, and take the various parts of the body as an organic
whole."
There is an account of Daoyin found in Plain
Questions
On Acupuncture (Su Wen Yi Pian Ci Pa Lun) that says, "Patients with
lingering kidney disease may face south from 3 to 5 A.M., concentrate the mind,
hold back the breath, crane the neck and swallow Qi as if swallowing a hard
object seven times. After that, there would be a great amount of fluid welling
up from under the tongue." In 1973, a silk book, Fasting and Taking Qi (Que
Gu Shi Qi Pian) and a silk painting Daoyin Chart (Dao Yin Tu) of the
Western Han dynasty (206 B.C. - A.D. 24) were unearthed from the Han Dynasty
Tomb Mawangdui No. 3 in Changsha, Hunan Province. The book records the Daoyin
method for guiding Qi and the chart covers 44 colored paintings presenting
human figures imitating the movements of a wolf, monkey, ape, bear, crane, hawk,
and vulture. Thus, they reveal that the Chinese began to teach Qigong
pictorially as early as the beginning of the Western Han dynasty. The two
outstanding medical scholars, Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo, in the closing years
of the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D. 25-220), both aided in the development of
Qigong. In his great work, Synopsis of the Prescriptions
of the Golden
Chamber (Jin Kui Yao Luo), Zhang Zhongiing stated that "As soon as
heaviness and sluggishness of the extremities is felt, start Daoyin, breathing
exercises, acupuncture, moxibustion, and massage with application of ointment to
prevent obstruction of the nine orifices." The famous exercise Frolics of
Five Animals (Wu Qin Xi) was devised during this time by Hua Tuo and
became widely practiced and it is still popular today.
During the Wei dynasty (A.D.
220-265), the Jin dynasty (A.D. 265-420), and the Northern and Southern dynasties
(A.D. 420-589), Qigong developed as a way of preserving health and as a method
for treating disease through the emission of Qi by doctors. Zhang Zhan of the
Jin dynasty listed in his work Yang Sheng Essentials of Health Preservation (Yao
Ji) ten essential practices, of which thrift of mentality, preservation of
Qi, conservation of constitution, and Daoyin were all related to Qigong.
Tao Hongjing of the Northern and Southern dynasties recorded in his book, Health
Preservation and Longevity (Yang Sheng Yan Ming Lu), many ancient Qigong
methods and theories. In The History of the Jin Dynasty (Jin Shu), there
is an account of doctor Xing Ling who became famous for using outgoing Qi to
cure a patient who had suffered more than ten years from flaccidity arthralgia
syndrome. As a result of this success, many more people became interested in
medical Qigong.
Qigong was widely put into
clinical application in the Sui (A.D. 581-618) the Tang (A.D. 618-907)
dynasties. The books General Treatise on the Causes and Symptoms of Diseases
(Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun), Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies (Bei
Ji Qian Jin YaoFang) and The Medical Secrets of Official (Wai Tai Mi Yao)
contain a wealth of Qigong therapies for treating specific pathologies. The
General Treatise on the Cause and Symptoms of Diseases, records than
260 Qigong therapies, while Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for
Emergencies, the Brahman Method of Indian Massage and Laozi Massage are
introduced in complete form along with other Qigong Daoyin massage
methods for health preservation. Master Huan Zhen's Knacks in Taking Qi (Huan
Zhen Xian Sheng Fu Nei Zhi Qi Jue) of the Tang dynasty describes the Pithy
Formulae of Qi Distribution, which introduces the essential principles and
techniques for emitting outgoing Qi.
During the period of the Song (A.D
960-1279), Jin (A.D. 1115-1234), and Yuan (A.D 1271-1368) dynasties, an upsurge
of Daoist exercises for cultivating spiritual energy Qigong began to merge with
these exercises giving rise to more sophisticated forms of therapeutic Qigong.
Within the book The Complete Record of Holy Benevolence (Sheng Ji Zong Lu) is
a wealth of Qigong information. Many Qigong descriptions can also be found
in the works of the four eminent physicians in the Jin and Yuan dynasties. Li
Dongyuan wrote in his book, Secret Record of the Chamber of Orchids (Lan Shi
Mi Cang), "Falling ill, the patient should sit still at ease to
replenish Qi." Liu Wansu mentioned, in his Etiology Based on Plain
Questions (Su Wen Xuan Ji Bing Yuan Shi), the application of the Six
Character Formulae in the treatment of diseases. Zhu Zhenheng stated in his
book, Danxi's Experiential Therapy
(Dan Xi Xin Fa), that
"Patients with syncope, flaccidity, or cold or heat syndrome due to
stagnation of Qi should be treated with Daoyin exercises."
During the period of the Ming
(A.D. 1368-1644) and Qing (A.D.1644-1911) dynasties, doctors characterized the
development of Qigong by deeper mastery and wider application. This enriched the
medical books with Qigong literature and data. Abundant Qigong information was
included in several influential books: A Retrospective Collection of Medical
Classics (Yi Jing Su Hui Ji) by Wang Lu, Wanmizhai's Ten Categories of
Medical Works (Wan Mi Zhai Yi Shu Shi Zhong) by Wan Quan, and The General
Medicine of the Past and Present (Gu Jin Yi Tong Da Quan) compiled by Xu
Chunpu. The great physician Li Shizhen stated definitively in his book, A
Study on the Eight Extra Channels (Qi Jing Ba Mai Kao), that "The
internal conditions and the channels can only be perceived by those who can see
things by inward vision." This famous thesis indicated the relationship
between Qigong and the channels and collaterals.
Qigong has gained higher
priority and more rapid development since the founding of the People's Republic
of China. In 1955, a Qigong hospital was established in Tangshan. During this
time two important books introduced exercises such as internal cultivation,
keep-fit, and many others, thus, giving an impetus to the development of Qigong
research throughout the whole country. These books are The Practice of Qigong
Therapy (Liao Fa Shi Jian) written by Liu Guizhen and Qigong and
Keep-fit
Qigong (Qi Gong Ji Bao Jian Qi Gong) written by Hu Yaozhen.
Since 1978,
medical workers and Qigong masters all over China have made vigorous efforts to
popularize Qigong for health preservation and disease prevention. Some
scientists and technicians have not only studied Qigong in terms of physiology,
biochemistry, and modern medicine, but they have also conducted multi-disciplinary research efforts to analyze the physical effect of outgoing Qi. A study
on the nature and essence of Qigong has thus been initiated, and Qigong, as a
new branch of science, has entered a period of vigorous development. Qigong
research societies, hospitals and departments have been established to research,
teach and use Qigong. Qigong practice and study have become commonplace
throughout China.
 This
article is excerpted from Practical
TCM: Qigong for Treating Common Ailments/The
Essential Guide to Self Healing, ©
2000, by Xu Zangcai. Reprinted with permission
from the publisher, YMAA Publication Center,
Boston, MA. www.ymaa.com.
Info/Order
this book.
More
Books on Qigong
Videos
on Qigong
|
|
Categories |
|
|
|
Most
Popular |
|
|
|
Community Links |
|
|
|
Latest
News |
|
|
|
Donation |
|
|
|
Subscribe Free
|
|
|
|
InnerSelf Market |
|
|
|
Advertiser |
|
|
|
Advertiser |
|
|
|
Syndication |
|
|
|
