Lohan Qigong, (pronounced chi kung), is an internal system of health and is part of a larger school of kung fu and martial arts called Choy Lee Fut.
Origin of Lohan Qigong
The history of the Eighteen Hands of Lohan, according to The Center of Shaolin Studies, traces back to the illustrious founder of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, Bodhidharma or Da Mo (448-527 CE). Legend has it that in the 6th century, the Indian monk Da Mo settled at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province and devised exercises to increase the health and well-being of the resident monks. He is purported to have written two books, one of which still survives today, entitled Yi Gin Ching (Book of Muscle Development).
Dr. Yang Jwing Ming, in his book Chi Kung, writes that the Shaolin monks ‘have trained using the Da Mo Wai Dan exercises’ for more than 1400 years. The founder of Choy Lee Fut, Chan (or Chen) Heung studied with a Shaolin monk in the early 1800s (Choy Fook).
In 1836, Chan Heung established the kung fu school of Choy Lee Fut. Along with Chinese martial arts from both the Northern and Southern Shaolin Temples, Choy Lee Fut embraces and teaches Lohan Qigong, as passed down through the generations by Damo.
What is Lohan Qigong?
The Centre of Shaolin Studies describes the Lohan Form (the Art of Breath of the Enlightened Ones) as ‘an internal exercise that uses movement and breath control to manipulate the flow of Chi along the body's meridians. It is both a physical and mental exercise. Inwardly, it is taught to cultivate the "three treasures" of qi (vital energy), jing (essence), and shen (spirit).’ It also trains the physical body to be healthy, strong and flexible.
Darryl Choy, of the Choy Lee Fut Association of Sydney Australia writes that there are 'four Lohan Qigong sets forming a comprehensive system of progressively more advanced techniques' that lead to mastery of one's energy or chi/qi.
Lohan Qigong and the Eight Pieces of Brocade
Michael Garofalo, an independent online researcher, writes ‘Kung Fu master, Sifu Wong Kiew-Kit, referring to the Shaolin Wahnam style, says "the first eight Lohan Hands are the same as the eight exercises in a famous set of chi kung exercises called the Eight Pieces of Brocade." He adds ‘there are numerous versions, seated and standing, of Bodhiidharma's exercise sets’ and some of them include four levels of attainment.
There is a distinct similarity between the form of Lohan Qigong and some of the variations of the Eight Pieces of Brocade. However, the Lohan Form is a continuous flow of movements that can take a beginner seven or eight minutes to complete, whereas the Eight Pieces of Brocade are literally eight separate exercises that one must repeat a set number of times.
Rather than take away from the authenticity of the Lohan Form, the similarities reinforce the beneficial and therapeutic nature of the exercises themselves as their popularity with teachers and students through the ages attests.
Lohan Qigong has its roots in the moment when Buddhism and Yoga of India converged with the ancient teachings of China. Bodhidharma's legendary ability to create exercises and health inducing visualisations has far reaching effects to the present day in the form known as the 18 Hands of Lohan.
For more articles related to Qigong and Buddhism, read The Origins of Qigong, along with Essential Reading for Understanding Buddhism.
Sources:
Jwing-Ming, Dr. Yang. Chi King Health and Martial Arts YMAA, 1985, 1995. USA.
Tiffany Jones - Born: Black Rock, Melbourne, Australia, 1971 Current Residence: Granollers, Catalonia Work: Yoga, Qigong, Meditation Instructor, ...
