Body Subject And Power In Chinese Qigong

This title was first published in 2002. This two volume set collects in a conveniently accessible form the most influential articles by leading authorities in the study of China. It provides an international reference work, combined with an authoritative introduction by the editor.

"Bruce Frantzis demystifies the fundamental principles of chi gung and provides a comprehensive exercise program with detailed illustrations to increase life energy, improve health, boost sports performance, and combat stress and aging."--Provided by Publisher.

Qigong is an integrated mind-body healing method that has been practiced with remarkable results in China for thousands of years. The Chinese have long treasured qigong for its effectiveness both in healing and in preventing disease, and more recently they have used it in conjunction with modern medicine to cure cancer, immune system disorders, and other life-threatening conditions. Now in this fascinating, comprehensive volume, renowned qigong master and China scholar Kenneth S. Cohen explains how you too can integrate qigong into your life--and harness the healing power that will help your mind and body achieve the harmony of true health.

Daoyin, the traditional Chinese practice of guiding the qi and stretching the body is the forerunner of Qigong, the modern form of exercise that has swept through China and is making increasing inroads in the West. Like other Asian body practices, Daoyin focuses on the body as the main vehicle of attainment; sees health and spiritual transformation as one continuum leading to perfection or self-realization; and works intensely and consciously with the breath and with the conscious guiding of internal energies. This book explores the different forms of Daoyin in historical sequence, beginning with the early medical manuscripts of the Han dynasty, then moving into its religious adaptation in Highest Clarity Daoism. After examining the medieval Daoyin Scripture and ways of integrating the practice into Tang Daoist immortality, the work outlines late imperial forms and describes the transformation of the practice in the modern world. Presenting a rich crop of specific exercises together with historical context and comparative insights, Chinese Healing Exercises is valuable for both specialists and general readers. It provides historical depth and opens concrete details of an important but as yet little-known health practice.

Qigong a regimen of body, breath, and mental training exercises was one of the most widespread cultural and religious movements of late-twentieth-century urban China. The practice was promoted by senior Communist Party leaders as a uniquely Chinese healing tradition and as a harbinger of a new scientific revolution, yet the movement's mass popularity and the almost religious devotion of its followers led to its ruthless suppression. In this absorbing and revealing book, David A. Palmer relies on a combination of historical, anthropological, and sociological perspectives to describe the spread of the qigong craze and its reflection of key trends that have shaped China since 1949, including the search for a national identity and an emphasis on the absolute authority of science. Qigong offered the promise of an all-powerful technology of the body rooted in the mysteries of Chinese culture. However, after 1995 the scientific underpinnings of qigong came under attack, its leaders were denounced as charlatans, and its networks of followers, notably Falungong, were suppressed as "evil cults." According to Palmer, the success of the movement proves that a hugely important religious dimension not only survived under the CCP but was actively fostered, if not created, by high-ranking party members. Tracing the complex relationships among the masters, officials, scientists, practitioners, and ideologues involved in qigong, Palmer opens a fascinating window on the transformation of Chinese tradition as it evolved along with the Chinese state. As he brilliantly demonstrates, the rise and collapse of the qigong movement is key to understanding the politics and culture of post-Mao society.

Dr. Liu describes how he risked his life under the Communist regime in China to study Qi Gong and meet secretly with a master who lived in a mountain cave above Shanghai. If there is one concept that comes up in all forms of Chinese medicine it is that of Qi, or vital energy. Qi is the very backbone of the Chinese healing arts. It refers to the energy of the universe that is channeled from nature and runs through all of us. To have Qi is to be alive, while to have none is to be dead. Qi Gong relies on the manipulation of this vital energy, and Qi Gong masters can see this energy. This book explores the basics of Qi Gong to create a guide for greater health, the Chinese way.

Correlating the traditional therapies of Qigong with the most recent outcomes of scientific research, this is the authoritative introduction to the knowledge system and content of Qigong study. Substantially revised and updated reflecting changes made to the new Chinese edition, the text now has an accompanying DVD showing the forms in action, new information about key concepts and practice, and coverage of the applications of Qigong for a range of medical conditions. The only official textbook used in colleges of traditional Chinese medicine in China, this is an essential reference for medical and health practitioners working in complementary and alternative therapies.

The special medical Qi Gong described in this book was developed and perfected over the course of 1,700 years by Taoists, traditional Chinese medical doctors, and Qi Gong experts in China to meet the needs of a woman’s unique anatomy. Author Tina Zhang leads readers through a variety of pleasurable postures and easy exercises that address specific areas of the body. In turn, these exercises, which work progressively to strengthen the spirit-mind-body connection, enhance natural female energy to help prevent or alleviate health issues and conditions from puberty to post-menopause, including high blood pressure, stress, fatigue, endometriosis, age-related problems, and more. Emphasizing a balance between hormones and emotions, the book includes concise descriptions of selected acupuncture points, meridians, and orbits that promote long-range anti-aging and long-term optimal health. Women empowered by these benefits can take control of their bodies and better direct and assist their physicians in maintaining their health without the cost, risk, and side effects of pills, hormones, and supplements. Qi Gong for Women also contains useful information on addressing women’s physical and spiritual health for physicians, acupuncturists, and doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Unlock connection with your body and harness the power of self-healing. A fifth-generation practitioner of medical qigong, Master FaXiang Hou has dedicated a lifetime of study to women’s health. Qigong is the traditional Chinese practice of low-impact body movement based on the ancient theory that the beneficial flow of energy—or “qi”—through the body restores vitality and regulates the functions of the mind, body, and breath. Drawing on centuries-old knowledge, the practice protects against disease and other complications that arise when the meridians through which energy flows are blocked. Qigong has had spectacular results in patients, eliminating the need for medication and surgery that Western doctors often recommend for concerns that are simply part of the natural stages of a woman’s life. This guide contains qigong exercises with photo instructions, as well as mindful breathing techniques, acupressure, herbal remedies, a seasonal fasting plan, and 50 delicious healing recipes, including Ma Po Tofu and Lotus Root and Asian Pear Stir-Fry. Master Hou teaches women at any stage in their lives how to manage their internal energy, awaken their own powers of self-healing, and gain insight into the deep connections within their bodies. Women seeking in natural solutions to sleeping soundly, strengthening the immune system, thriving during childbearing years, taking menopause in stride, and achieving overall wellness in their lives will find answers here.