Overview of Chi Kung (Qi Gung)
LEFT: Gerald A. Sharp performing one of the Wu style Tai Chi Chuan Chi Kung (Qigung) exercises.
by Gerald A. Sharp
Chi Kung (qigung) is a healing art for strengthening or enhancing health that was very likely developed out of the ancient exercise of Daoyin. Daoyin is discussed on many ancient relics, and reference is made on bronzes of the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221 B.C.). Chi Kung literally translated means Breathing Exercise, and to this day the quality of breathing and method of practice is essential in Chi Kung. While the Chi Kung practice is ancient, there are also modern developments. The Wu style Taichichuan Chi Gung forms are one example of modern Chi Kung. Another example is the Soaring Crane system of Chi Kung. There are also modern health exercises that are related to Chi Kung, but slightly different such as Dr. Zhong's Lian Gong system of health exercises (Liangong Shi Ba Fa).
Chi Gung and the Chinese Internal Martial Arts
Each of the systems of Internal Martial Arts such as: Hsing-I Ch'uan, Pa- Ku Chang, and T'ai Chi Ch'uan have their own sort of Chi Kung. While the practice of the main forms of these Chinese Internal martial arts are in essence forms 
of Chi Kung themselves, the Chi Kung 
sets within these systems are methods designed to focus more intensely on developing specific joints, stimulating acu-meridian channels and points; as well as enhancing flexibility and strength.
For example, the practice of Zhangzhuang, or standing meditation, is in itself Chi Kung. Usually standing involves postures which encourage the practitioner to hold their arms up for a minimum of 20 deep breaths. Initially, this is painful to the shoulders, neck, or even to the feet. As the practitioner is able to stand for longer periods of time, they are also more able to redistribute their energy. More able to relax the stressed areas by concentrating on other joints that may otherwise be dormant. However, with a concentrated effort, small movements of the body's joints enable the energy to more freely move, and not be held onto at era in points.
Images on Left: Daoyin exercises as drawings on silk found in a cave excavation.
Image Right: Famous Teacher Ma Yueh Liang performing a Wu style Chi Kung exercise.
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1. Getting Started
If a beginning practitioner holds their arms up, palms facing inward, and at shoulder level, after only a short time, they will likely feel stress in their Chi Kung as well as health exercises such as Liangong in 18 forms focus on specific areas. Whereas martial arts forms and practice focus on developing the entire system as one force. This is in some ways a contradiction, because even focusing on one point the size of the tip off a small needle can become a microcosm unto itself. Involving the practitioner's entire being in focusing on one small point and expanding outward and cycling inward around that one point, channel, or area.
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2. Hsing I Ch'uan Chi Kung
Hsing-I Chi Kung developed early on and was called Nei Kung, or inner exercise. The exercises are done slow and methodically, but often focus on one point or area, and through slow, unforced repetition train the specific point to become resilient and release and gather energy from that point. Hsing-I Chi Kung often combines the exercises combined with physical attributes to vibrate sounds internally and externally to further release and circulate energy. These attributes and sounds were first exposed to the public, through the Emperor Huangdi's conversations on the existence of humanity and interactions with the Earth and Universe around them with his mentors Qi Bo and Lei Kung. These Taoist ministers enlightened the young Emperor with the Five Constellations and how these groups of stars, later known as the Five Phases or Five Elements, may be a way of explaining cyclical and destructive cycles in the earth's existence and how these patterns may affect human's lives. The conversations are well documented in the classic book, available in English, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine or Neijing Suwen. Select sounds or vibrations beginning in the nose for metal, the ear for water, the eyes for wood, the tongue for fire, and the lips for earth spread outward and encourage a more specific, subtle circulation of chi. These more specific sounds are not the Chinese words for these elements, but are instead specific sounds based on notes of ancient instruments and are further aspirated in the first and third tones in Chinese, that correspond to hollow or solid organs respectively.
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3. Pa Kua Chi Kung
Pa-Kua Chi Kung combines both aspects of polar and cyclical applications. The polar and cyclical aspects may have been developed from the mutual and destructive cycles of the Five Phases respectively. One method of Pa-Kua Chi Kung is to perform the tea cup exercise which involves rotating the arm cyclically, while moving the arm up and down, left and right, and to four diagonal corners. Another basic method is to walk the circle (or octagon) using the Tang Nei Bu, or Mud Sliding Step for a total of 64 steps before going back the other way for a total of 8 sets, or at least 512 steps with the arms outstretched; palms facing upward to the sky.
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4. Tai Chi - Chi Kung
T'ai Chi Chi Kung, of the Wu Style T'ai Chi, is broken down into two parts. The first part known as the 8 Methods, or the Old 13, focuses on breaking down the body into sections or joints, and circulating the energy through repetition, both by combining the polar and cyclical aspects as outlined in the symbolic theories of Pa-Kua. The second set is based on the 5 Phases, or Wu Hsing Kung as it is called. This Chi Kung practice of the Wu Style bases its movements on the written characters of the phases in the order of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Which is the polar organization of the Five Phases. Other advanced practices in Wu Style such as the Lan Cai Hua (Wu's S-Curve form) and Wu's Hsing-I Form (similar to Pao Ch'uan), are martial but no less Chi Kung methods meant to carry forth T'ai Chi power with specific, efficient methods of attack and defense. |
5. Lian Gong Later developments such as Dr. Zhuang Yuan Ming's Liangong in 18 forms (1974) and Zhao Jing Xiang's Soaring Crane (1960) have been viewed as breakthroughs in  modern Chi Kung. These methods have taken the practice of ancient Chi Kung and exercises to a specific level designed to attack more modern forms of stress using the elaborate ancient methods combined with rigorous, modern scientific testing. |
6. Lian Gong (con't) Liangong is a complete set of therapeutic exercises for preventing and healing pains in the neck, shoulders, back, waist, legs, and other ailments; especially arthritis and more severe acute pain. It has been developed and gradually perfected on the basis of 1) Ancient Chinese Sports Therapy such as: Dao Yin (Breathing Exercises), Wuqinxi (Five Animal Game), Baduanjin (Eight Section Exercises), and Yinjinjing (Changing Muscles); 2) Findings of the causes and pathology of the previously mentioned pains; and 3) The curative methods of massage. Three series were developed by Dr. Zhuang. The first focuses on stress, strains, and sprains in the neck, shoulders, back, waist, and legs. The second focuses on joints and internal organs, while the third focuses on the development and enhancement of chi. |
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7. Soaring Crane
The Soaring Crane is a bird that symbolizes long life. It's movements are quiet and peaceful, relaxed and comfortable. Because of it's gracefulness and specific attention focused directly on therapeutic points, the Flying Crane is a very subtle yet powerful form of Chi Kung. Like the Crane it is quiet and reflective nurturing six main points: round, far, soft, continuous, slow, and happy. The form includes a very active self activated standing meditation which invites the practitioner to free themselves of all blockages and engage the body, mind, and spirit in an altered state free-for-all. Breaking through self imposed limitations of balance, perspective, and movement. Finally returning to a calm, relaxed closing form.
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8. Chi Kung
Regardless of their degree of involvement, their particular branch, or method of practice, Chi Kung practitioners generally agree that disease and discomfort develop over a period of time along points, channels, or meridians that are connected to the internal organs of the body. The channels are not to be confused with blood vessels or nerves. Therefore, when your energy is blocked anywhere in your body, exercise which stimulates the flow of chi (or energy) where it is blocked is most beneficial. Also see the Liangong page |
