Chi kung originated in China more than 3,000 years ago, and can be divided into four different periods. It has contributions from Buddhism, Taoism and martial arts. Chi kung is a term used to describe a range of Chinese health practices, and can also be written as chi gong or qigong. The main aim of chi kung is to clear energy blockages from the body and encourage energy flow. This practice involves a strong mind-body connection.
First Period
Though little is known about this period, chi kung can be traced back as far as 1122 B.C. and possibly even earlier, around the time when the book "Yi Jing," or "Book of Changes," was written, according to Acupuncture.com. The book discusses the formation of chi, a concept that refers to life energy formed by three natural energies: Tia, Di and Ren.
Religious Period
The second period of chi kung occurred between 206 B.C. and 502 A.D., when the original chi kung methods were combined with Buddhism and various other meditation techniques. While much of the Buddhist chi kung training was kept secret, with monks only training and practicing within their own monasteries, other types of chi kung were being developed and learned outside of the monasteries. For example, the Taoist Jun Qian developed a type of chi kung known as wu qin xi that used five different animal movements to teach practitioners how to increase chi circulation, as stated by Wudang Daoist Gongfu Academy.
Liang Dynasty
The third period of chi kung was initiated during the Liang Dynasty in the fifth century A.D. by Da Mo, a Buddhist monk of Indian origin. He developed a fusion of martial arts and chi kung, known as martial chi kung. There was an explosion of growth in chi kung literature during this period. Chao Yuan-Fang put together a list of 260 different ways to increase the flow of chi, which also included the origins and symptoms of various diseases, according to Acupuncture.com. The importance of breathing and the use of herbal remedies to increase chi circulation was the subject of the book "Wai Tai Mi Yao," also written at this time.
Chi Kung Today
This period of chi kung began in 1911 when the Qing dynasty was overthrown. Chi kung is now supported by the Chinese government, with financial assistance given to help with research and teaching, according to Wudang Daoist Gongfu Academy. Taiwan and Hong Kong are more accepting of the modern styles of chi kung, and do not emphasize the more traditional ways, notes Acupuncture.com. Today, chi kung is available to a much wider audience, with many websites and schools around the world devoted to the practice.
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