Qigong

Qigong (氣功 - qi4 gong1) (ch'i kung in Wade-Giles) is an ancient Chinese medical technique based on Chinese religion and philosophy. Proponents of Qigong believe that the body has an energy field known as Qi within it. Qigong is the art of managing Qi in one's body to achieve good health. It has a very long history in China. The written records are as old as 5,000 years, and the relics date back at least 7,000 years. Numerous books have been written about Qigong during the five thousand year long history of China. The development of Chinese Qigong can be divided into three periods:

In ancient China, during the long struggle with the harsh environment Chinese people realized that through certain body movements and mental concentration, combined with various breathing techniques, both physical and mental body functions could be adjusted and enhanced. This accumulated traditional Qigong knowledge is passed down from generation to generation known as Chinese Traditional Qigong.

The second period is the religious period. In this period, religions appeared in China and people in religious circles adopted and combined some of the Qigong techniques into their religions. For example, incense burning was originally used to measure time and also to repel insects during Qigong practice in the ancient times. It now becomes an important part of the religious ritual. The traditional Chinese Qigong in its pure form slowly receded from the society. New forms of Qigong were created and passed down through Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian, Medical, Martial Arts and folk Qigong. The Qigong in this period had included many religious and feudal ideas and superstitions.

The third is the contemporary period. Modern Qigong broke away from religious and feudal superstitions, and kept the essence of its traditional and original form. The traditional Qigong finally re-emerged in the 1970s. Medical researchers and Qigong masters made vigorous efforts to promote Qigong for both health preservation and disease prevention and gained extremely satisfactory results. They also collaborate with scientists to provide a scientific foundation for Qigong so that it can flourish in the modern society.

It is now taught in official Chinese schools of medicine as of 1989.

Sounds almost like a form of Ti-Chi and meditation.

Falun Dafa or Falun Gong is an interesting offshoot of qigong. It is said to be the oral tradition, the esoteric tradition of qigong. Master Li Hongzhi's book Zuan Falun is interesting reading in this regard. He is rather hostile, actually, to the "modern" qigong practitioners, oddly enough.

As for the practices themselves, they are simple enough to learn ... so it is worth trying for yourself to see if they work. People often feel profound movements of energies from the first few moments of Falun Dafa practice. I did, too. At one time there were 100 million practitioners of Falun Dafa in China ... which alarmed the government and then they began a campain to subvert and distort their teachings, and eventually arrest and torture them.

---Rosencruez

I think the Chinese healing modalities are valuable treatment tools for what much of allopathic medicine surgeries or medicates today. Feng Shui is another philosophy that I have personally experienced in the decor of a home and office. It's physical, the effects the placement of simple everyday things, has on someone if one knows the simple mapping involved in the practice.

Thank you for opening this topic.

I agree. Feng Shui.....great philosophy. I do it as well in my home and its pretty cool how it changes the whole atmosphere. Just seems like the energy flows much better in the room.

Have you ever landscaped using FS? I knew a woman in Florida that did this with her back yard. It was one of the most serene outdoor environments, in a major city at that, I've experienced to date. She said even the neighbors pets would spend more time in her yard, (cats hoping the fence) , than at their own homes. Cant I see one of my Tiger kitty's in a setting like that!? "It's the Chi man. I'm here for the Chi!"

I have seen FS gardens. My grandparents did that and my uncle. Oh when I tell you it was amazing it was. You could just sit there all day in serenity. Everything was so balanced and he had this huge Koi-pond waterfall with Japanese Maples. Funny enough just like that lady he told us the neighbor's cats were always over there laxing by the pond. He lived in the city as well. The Fs works so well in an urban garden because most times you don't have much space so to be able to use it wisely and balance it as well is terrific.

I just re-landscaped my front yard and hoping to FS the back. I want a setting like that for my little tigers as well. Seeing the cats in my uncle's yard just so serene was kind of majestic. Majestic Chi...

Excellent. Working your own yard and creating that special feel , makes all the difference. Especially in urban areas. As you said, so little privacy and personal space. (I use to work at Time Warner. A woman there had a book "Feng Shui for the Office Space", and had decorated her work cubicle using the FS principles. In an atmosphere of high stress and "Sick building syndrome", she had the most bonuses on her file and never missed a day of work due to illness.

"Majestic Chi" . I like that. Sounds like the title for a Novella or even a nifty Screen Name.

Time warner ahh yes I think their headquarters is here in my neck of the woods.
Pretty cool about that woman. You have to find serenity somewhere in the rat race now-a-days. I can understand how people perform on a lesser level squashed in those cramped cubicles all day. Been there done that. I brought a little waterfall into mine and people would often stop by and sit in there. There is something to be said for those indoor water fountains as well. This sounds nuts but ever since I placed my Bonzai tree beside my water fountain it seems to be growing and looking spectacular.

The eastern philsophies on this stuff is just ingenius. I know alot of business men in Manhattan are using it. I heard Donald Trump himself said he used it as well. Too bad fung Shui haven't helped me guess the winning lotto numbers. I believe I just have to keep meditating in the feng shui kingdom.
If I win tonight I'll definately change my screen name to majestic chi...feng shuier's anynonmous.

Some myths regarding Chi Gung.

A) It's not some secret magical formula. You have to work for it. Hard.

It's not just some hippie healing crap. Chi Gung is an INTEGRAL aspect of many Chinese martial arts, especially the three primary Internal styles of Ba Gua Zhang (8 Trigrams Palm based primarily on the theories of I Chin), Tai Chi Chuan (Supreme Ultimate Fist, also Taoist but primarily rooted in Yin-Yang theories), and Xing Yi Chuan (Shape-Mind Boxing, which is based off of the 5 Elements in Taoism as well as 12 Animal theory).

Chi Gong can be used both contructively or destructively. "Hard Chi Gong" include things such as iron palm training, iron body training, bone conditioning, etc. These are dangerous if not trained correctly, and can result in permanent disfiguration of joints, chronic injuries, etc. Again -- in Chinese training methods such as hard Chi Gung, the healing aspect is just as important, if not more so, than the conditioning aspect.

Chi Gung is also harnessed for striking -- primarily seen through the more subtle systems such as Bak Mei (White Eyebrow), Nan Tong Long (Southern Praying Mantis), Lung Ying (Dragon Shape) -- these are the three Hakka styles. Such methods of "Internal Energy" include transferring of energy through destructive, high-pressure attackes utilizing single and multiple fingers, single-knuckle strikes (such as protruding out the index or middle knuckles to increase pressure), palm strikes, etc.

These are not "magical" formulas or tricks. Internal energy MUST be transferred through physical means, and thus the line between "Internal" and "External" can be extremely flawed and confusing. . . . without External projection and physical touch, there can be no Internal energy flowing. Without Internal energy, an External strike may not contain (although it could) as much power.

Therefore in conclusion, we must think of Internal/External as integrated. Truthfully speaking, I think all martial arts combine the two, but some focus much more on the "External" side. However, Internal is present in virtually martial arts through usage of breathing methods, etc.

And again, Chi Kung can be extremely destructive as well. It's not just a healing tool.

Infrazael,

Have you ever tried Falun Gong?

Negative. Although I've read some of their books.

Seems pretty peaceful to me. I need to do more research though; while I was living in China there was alot of government spewed data regarding Falun Gung players burning themselves or something like that.

But currently my martial art (choy lee fut) is mainly external, although I do plan on changing my Art for a more internal one (Bak Mei).

However I've been on the recieving end of some internal systems; not very great feeling (getting pummeled by some Tai Chi techniques).

I have experienced very briefly traditional healing involving Chi, and it was very basic (I think it was for my muscles or something. . . . I forget).

Honestly, to NOT need any form of healing is the best. Although sometimes conditioning can take its toll and you need some for of healing. I for one is a firm supporter of using traditional, herbal and natural methods before reverting to Western methods (note, however, that I support the usage of both to a certain extent).

Yeah, that case of the Falun Gong practitioners supposedly setting themselves on fire was a pretty eggregious case of Chinese propaganda. Outrageous, really. You then have to ask yourself why the CCP would go to such lengths to discredit Master Li and his group? Well, I suppose they viewed 100 million people ---- more than the numbers in the CCP itself --- to be a rather large threat. No doubt they viewed this group as a politically subversive group, even though it really represented a traditional part of Chinese practice.


Which part of China were you in?

I've been to Canton ... and woke up in the morning to witness workers doing Tai Chi in the courtyard. It was kind of refreshing.

---Rosencruez

One of my favorite fantasies since a little girl was a beautiful magical feeling garden.
Thank you so much for this wonderful idea that can make it actually become more of a reality.
What a sweet and wonderful gift from you people.

A privilege.

Feng Shui Landscape and garden Video*An excellent primer, imo*

World of Feng Shui

I'm from Shenyang, which is located in Manchuria. Again, in Northern China you won't get hardcore martial artists. The majority of them are modern Wushu people, and old people practicing Taiji Chuan (without the combat applications).

I'm actually 1/4 Manchurian or something like that. . . . . my Father's side is partly Manchurian.

Anyways, Falun Gung -- yes, I believe the Chinese government viewed them as a threat. I know this because I grew up there and have been FED TO DEATH with propaganda regarding Mao Ze Dong and the "Communist" Party as a child. Always thought of Mao as some sort of "great bringer of peace."

Always taught that Taiwan is a part of China. Always thought the Nationalist party that fled to Taiwan was evil, corrupt, and capitalistic (before you ask, yes, I am actually anti-capitalism and a strong proponent for socialism).

Chinese Government. . . . . . . . it's, something else altogether.

Don't cross them and they won't cross you.

Good to see a fellow practicioner of Choy lee fut.I am a little retired today for lack of time, but its a wonderfull excersice.

My mother was in Taiwan in 1969. She said that Madame Chang kai Shek creeped her out, although she could not explain to me exactly why. She said she had an erie feeling. There was some archway of gold there and some other gold stuff that creeped her out too.

My mothers Chinese friends were from Hong Kong and those who had left the mainland but when to locations other than Taiwan. Maybe they told her things that she never told me that caused her to feel this way. All she said was when she looked at the gold she saw blood, which was a weird thing for her to say because she did not talk like that. She never claimed to be psychic or anything like that.

Strange indeed.