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.
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About The
Author
Xu Xiangcai is President of the Great Wall
International College of TCM, Associate President of Shandong University of
National Culture, Standing Deputy Director of the All-China Society of English
About TCM, and Professor at Shandong College of TCM. He is the Chief Editor of
all 21 volumes of "The English-Chinese Encyclopedia of Practical Traditional Chinese
Medicine". Xu Xiangcai resides in Jinan City, China.
Another InnerSelf article by this author: The Basics of Qigong
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