Introduction to
Qigong Beginnings
It might surprise you to know that the word Qigong has only been in use for about 70 years.
Many styles claim an illustrious heritage, but prior to the 1950s, they were not referred to as Qigong.
1953
The word Qigong was formally adopted by Liu Gui-zhen (刘贵珍) in his book "Practice of Qigong Therapy" (氣功療法實踐). This is considered the starting point of the modern use of the term. Liu was a doctor at a rehabilitation clinic and used qigong as a form of therapy, promoting it as a health practice distinct from religious or martial traditions.
Post-1950s
The term was standardized and promoted by the Chinese government during the Maoist era as a scientific, secular health practice, distancing it from its Daoist, Buddhist, or martial roots. This helped make it accessible and politically acceptable during a time when traditional practices were being scrutinized or suppressed.
QiGong Practices
You can think of Qigong as an umbrella term to describe a variety of practices. Underneath it are five main subcategories—each containing thousands of styles and approaches.
At the highest level, Qigong draws from five primary sources: martial arts, Chinese medicine, Daoism, Buddhism, and street performance. Depending on which techniques are emphasized, different styles of Qigong will aim for different goals and produce different outcomes.
This is, of course, a broad oversimplification—but it can help orient you to the field:
Martial arts techniques often create a unified, strong, and stable structure. They train the body to transmit power—physically and energetically—while moving with minimal effort and maximal grace.
Buddhist techniques focus on the relationship between mind and energy. They cultivate concentration and insight into the nature of mind.
Daoist techniques tend to explore the subtle inner anatomy, promote longevity, and nurture a relationship with the heavenly realms—ultimately guiding one to follow the Dao.
Chinese medical techniques aim to balance health according to traditional principles. They focus on meridians, acupoints, cavities, and internal organs.
Street performance techniques often develop astonishing physical skills—designed to captivate and amaze.
The challenge with this breakdown is that most styles are not purely derived from a single source. In reality, they’re often a blend of two or more of these traditions.
Our Technique
So when someone comes to class and says, “I'm not a beginner—I’ve done a bit of Qigong,” it’s hard to know what they’ve actually studied. A helpful follow-up might be: “What specific skills have you developed?”—though that question can sometimes feel confrontational.
At the IIT, we draw from the first four fields of knowledge. It’s not that we need to master each one in depth; rather, we aim to develop the fruit of each tradition.
Over time, practitioners should learn to cultivate:
– a structure that is strong, stable, and able to move with grace and balance
– a mind that can concentrate and observe itself
– an inner anatomy that is clear, vibrant, and unobstructed—leading to health and clarity in life.
Techniques are useful, but without proper understanding, their benefits often diminish over time.
Clarity on how to practice and why you practice produces the greatest results—regardless of the technique.
