Chinese legend has it that Peng Zu (approximately born 1900 BCE) lived 880 years and survived 100 wives. If you don’t want to compete with Peng Zu but want to enjoy 120 happy healthy years or just want to reach Buddhahood or gain a spiritual fulfillment, Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming’s new book Qigong Grand Circulation for Spiritual Enlightenment can provide you with a roadmap.
As mentioned in my earlier book review (published on 07/25/22) of Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming’s Small Circulation, this 2022 publication is a companion to the Small Circulation. The 76-year-old author stated that due to a genetic issue he had a medical scare in Jan. 2021. As a result, he sped up the writing process and had the book published early this year. Still, he did not sacrifice the integrity and the richness of the content and maintained the scholarly writing format. He continued to define his role as a translator and scrupulously deciphered the classical Chinese documents on the healing art into plain English and facilitated with the extra explanation of the modern science.
The Qigong Grand Circulation has five parts and eight chapters. If you read the Small Circulation book, Part I may look familiar, which addresses what Qi (bio-electricity) is, Qigong and its categories, the theory of Yin and Yang as well of the methods of Kan and Li, Qigong’s impact on health, longevity and spiritual enlightenment, and ancient Buddhist and Daoist Qigong concepts. The last but not least is the quest on the relationship of Qigong study and advancement of human race. In Dr. Yang’s mind, human beings have accelerated leaps and bounds in the last couple centuries on material development but spiritually we have done little to make progress or even digress from the traditional practices. It is important to focus the spiritual research from a whole new aspect, which is based on ancient wisdom as well as modern science.
Qigong is a huge topic and even if you have studied Yang’s Small Circulation, it is still worth your time to review Part I of the Grand Circulation because Dr. Yang discusses the same topic from similar but different angles, which may bring extra clarity to you. Muscle/Tendon Changing or Yi Jin Jing and Bone Marrow Washing or Xi Sui Jing are considered the two most important theories in Qigong practice.
It is generally accepted that the Indian Buddhist monk Da Mo or Bodhidarma arrived in China during the Liang Dynasty (502-557 ACE) to teach Buddhism but due to the political conditions and how the Buddhist monetary was operated, he was disappointed and decided to meditate and self-cultivate. After nine years facing a stone wall in a cave, he came out and shared his creation of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing with the Shaolin monks to improve their health both physically and spiritually. His disciples based on the principles and created a set of exercises for Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing, which is popular nowadays both in China and overseas.
Dr. Yang has studied volumes of Chinese classical documents and concluded that one must understand the true theory and fundamentals of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing to make the exercises true Qigong practice; otherwise, those exercises are nothing but stretching regimens. He expounds the theory of Yin and Yang and further elucidates why and how Muscle/Tendon Changing and Marrow/Brain Washing work. Muscle/Tendon Changing is the Yang practice while Marrow/Brain Washing is Yin. Once people comprehend the theory thoroughly, they can create their own movements without deviating from the principles. Grand Circulations are actual various applications of Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing.
Dr. Yang was trained on Shaolin White Crane in his youth for 13 years. He cherishes that experience deeply because White Crane is a martial art which embraces both soft internal principles as well as hard external techniques. It is a mixture of Yin and Yang with a good balance. In addition to that, he has learned Tai Chi Chuan and other martial arts. He has written books on Shaolin Long Fist, Northern Shaolin Sword, Chin Na (Joint Locks), Eight Simple Qigong Exercises, Xingyi Chuan, Qigong Massage, Baguazhang, Tai Chi Secrets of Wu and Li Styles, etc. After his diverse exposure to various Chinese martial art, Tai Chi, and Qigong, he realizes that many of them actually employ either Small Circulation or Grand Circulation in their practices. Nevertheless, not all practitioners are aware of them or use the Circulation methods to increase or balance Qi.
Part II through Part IV is the core of this book and includes 40 different meditations of Small and Grand circulations for Qigong practices. Owing to Dr. Yang’s study of the ancient classics and his own practice, he considers those meditations the most important ones. He recognizes that there can be other medications just as important but he has not had the opportunity to learn them. Dr. Yang sincerely encourages others to research on the subject and discover or even create more ways to do Grand Circulations. Almost all the meditations in his book can be practiced solo except Sexual Dual Breathing. Some of the practices can be enhanced when practiced with a partner or in a group, for example the Tibetan monks sit in a circle and meditate together to create powerful synergy.
The foundation of both Grand and Small Circulation is Embryonic Breathing in the real lower Dantian; from that base, there are a Yang path for Muscle/Tendon Training and a Yin path for Marrow/Brain Training.
For the Yang path or Fire path, people can use the Conception/Governing Vessel Small Circulation to build up the “fire”, then advance into other breathing methods, such as Girdle Vessel Breathing, Turtle Shell Breathing (or Iron Shirt training), Meridian Qi Breathing, Laogong Breathing, Yongquan Breathing with enhanced Rooting training, Martial Grand Circulation, Alternative Dual Cultivation, Exchange Qi with Nature, Joint Breathing, Skin Breathing, Marrow Breathing, and Internal Organ Breathing. In general, all these exercises are easier for me to learn in comparison to Marrow/Brain Washing.
For the Yin path or Water path, people can use Two Poles Small Circulation to build up the “water”. Different from the Conception/Governing Vessel Small Circulation using Du Mai and Ren Mai, the Two Poles Small Circulation goes through the Thrusting Vessel or Chong Mai instead. There is danger in doing the Du Mai/Ren Mai Small Circulation, but it is safe to do Chong Mai Small Circulation. For Small Marrow/Brain Washing Circulation, there are Yang Longevity Path to sink Qi to real lower Dantian or gather Qi to its origin and Yin Spiritual Path to refine Qi to sublimate spiritually form Small Circulations.
On the Grand Circulation side, there are Huiyin Breathing, Earth-Human Qi Exchange, Cleaning Body, and Pick Up Earth Qi to engage the Ground energy and Baihui Breathing, Heaven-Human Qi Exchange, Raise Up Spirit Breathing, and Pick Up Heaven Qi to absorb the Heaven energy. Then, there are combined Heaven and Ground Energy practices like Cleaning Body Breathing, Raising Up Spirit Breathing, Nourishing Qi, Nourishing Brain, Bone Marrow Breathing, Sexual Dual Breathing, and Heaven Eye Breathing for Enlightenment.
By now your head probably is spinning after reading the names of the circulations. Have no fear. As long as you read Dr. Yang’s explanation of the Qi Network, conceptually you should be able to understand the circulation paths easily. Aside from detailed instruction for each of the Circulations, the book is full of photos and illustrations that provide great visual guidance. Once you comprehend the principles of Muscle/Tendon Changing and Marrow/Brain Washing, you can layer it over your regular Tai Chi and Qigong practice to enhance the results. For example, you can adopt Martial Grand Circulation breathing as a strategy while doing Tai Chi chuan and make the practice more effective and profound. You also have options to select what suits you best. For example, at my current stage of life, I have no desire to open up the third eye; therefore, I will not practice Heaven Eye Breathing for Enlightenment. My advice for learning an internal art is always studying with a qualified instructor so you don’t waste time or make mistakes. What if time and resources are not available to you, Dr. Yang suggests gathering a small group of people and studying the book first, then discussing it or debating over it because not everyone’s interpretation is the same. Afterwards, your group can practice the selected circulations one by one, exchange your experience, and share the feeling during the practice. Through the process, your knowledge on the healing art will grow and your practice can be more accurate, meaningful and deepen.
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Recommended: Qigong Meditation: Small Circulation
Recommended: “Tai Chi Push Hands: The Martial Foundation of Tai Chi Chuan”
Qi is a word that was first used long ago to describe the source of a feeling. When modern ways of knowing failed to support the existence of qi or the concepts surrounding it, believers sought legitimacy and wrapped their arguments in anatomy and physiology. But with all these adornments, there has still been no explanation of and no evidence for the existence of qi. It is appropriate that this review began with the two words “Chinese legend” because that is all that qi is.
The Chinese word means energy. It refers to the metabolic energy you utilized when thinking and then moving to type to say that Qi doesn’t exist.
Thank you…you prove my point further!
Throwing around cell biology mechanisms (in this case, basic metabolic processes) offers ZERO justification for the vitalist mumbo jumbo that is generally ascribed to “qi” and its myriad of wonders.
I answer in the spirit of kindness. The Chinese word qi means energy. They use it to describe all forms of energy, light, heat, electromagnetic fields, even the weather. It is not a “special” kind of energy, it is merely energy. There is no argument about the fact that human cells run on energy, cells deliver energy, cells even EXIST because of energy. The anti-vitalist argument of the 1800s ended when we began to understand that human bodies circulate bioelectricity, cellular energy, bioelectric fields, etc. This is old science about human energy. An EEG measures the energetic frequency of the brain. That is qi.
Arguing on the internet is always a bad idea. Coming here to fight the premise is like knocking on someone’s door to say you don’t want to talk with them. I recommend further reading:
https://ymaa.com/articles/basic-concepts-qi-and-qigong
I agree that this is not the right venue for much constructive (including the destructively constructive), and I apologize. I am thinking that I could learn from you. But I bring the high threshold skepticism of a once research biologist. The “qi idea” is valuable. But more work is needed before we can distinguish the truly probable from the simply plausible.
With a research biology background, you might be interested to know about the current approach to qi being undertaken in various studies around the world. One team is investigating that nitric oxide may be the medium of cellular energy delivery described as qi in ancient China. This is seeking a more “material” answer at the molecular level. Others at Beijing Hospital claim they have measured the frequency of energy emitted from the palms of qigong practitioners (anyone can emit energy) and it is in the terahertz range, above microwave and below infrared. This is the energy within as the basis of the material form.
Your body is made of 60-100 trillion cells, which are made of molecules, which are made of atoms, which are made of…
David, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge on the subject.
A 2013 study from the Harvard School of Public Health questioned regular users of dietary supplements: “Only one-fourth of users (25.4%) responded that they would cease their use of a supplement if public health authorities stated that it was ineffective.” [JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(1):74-76]
Conclusion: people who want to believe that something is real or valuable do not demand evidence for it, and will not be influenced by evidence that goes against what they believe is true.
Dr. Silver has no “knowledge on the subject” of Qi. While he has correctly interpreted the Chinese word as meaning, more or less, “energy”, he has simply decided that scientific findings about energy must offer support to the Qi concept. And mentioning nitric oxide??? When Solomon Snyder published his famous 1992 paper about nitric oxide, the biomedical world went wild. (I got involved in it a little in my work on trigeminal pain pathways). Nitirc oxide and its biochemical precursor machinery seemed to be EVERYWHERE! And doing everything! What better a choice for Qi!!?? A biocompound that is everywhere! OMG! Qi must be real!!!
But where is the logic?
Dr. Silver has devoted a number of years to the development of treatments for some very complex problems that plague millions: e.g. fibromyalgia, low-back pain, sleep disorders, PTSD. His usual approach has been to give patients amino acid-based supplements (made by a private company where he served in an executive position) and claim benefit or hint of benefit. If these approaches had proven to be extremely valuable for most patients, his work would have been published in top journals and his treatments established as gold standards of care. Neither of these occurred. Why? Because these are health problems that are very very difficult to define, study, and explain. The same is true of Qi.
Energy from the palms of qigong practitioners? So what? My palms emit heat (i.e. energy) when I rake leaves.
Einstein once said ““I have little patience for scientists who take a board of wood, look for its thinnest part, and drill a great number of holes when the drilling is easy.” Qi is NOT easy to understand. Maybe because it is too broad a concept. Maybe because it is essentially a construct based on what individual humans FEEL. Maybe because it really doesn’t physically exist the way pre-scientific thought imagined it. In any case, Qi is a very thin piece of wood. It is ethereal. And drilling into any wispy metaphor is very easy.
Im not a Doctor, I don’t sell supplements. I make videos and teach qigong, aka energy work = not a metaphor. Goodbye.
My mistake. Doppelgänger for sure.
Obviously (duh!) there is energy working in animal cells. As for “human energy” in 1492 or 2022 …is this a thing or a slogan?
You need to provide some details that show us that this “energy” is the actual Qi that the ancients have discussed. Please (PLEASE!) explain how this energy (or is it a force?) moves around the body and does all the things that believers attribute to it. To do anything less is intellectually dishonest, spiritually bankrupt, and will leave us where we started: Qi as an idea without ANY physiological, anatomical, or biochemical underpinnings.
Hi, I can only explain it as best as my humble understanding. Perhaps you can translate this in the language used as modern medical science understands bioelectricity.
1. Hold your hand in front of your face.
2. Wiggle your fingers.
3. The Yi (intention) leads the Qi (energy).
How did your fingers move?
Your electric brain signaled your electric meat fingers and the miraculous movement occurred.
You don’t need to capitalize or use exclamation points. It is quite clear you are and have been exclaiming. You seem intent on vaguely asserting a nihilistic, materialistic view. You’re in the wrong place for that chat. This is a qigong article by a tai chi teacher. I have provided various book references and article links for you to learn from. Reading them will help you ask less questions.
Energy is simultaneously heat, light and bioelectromagnetic circulation. This is qi. Energy is described by modern medical science with terms like “ion channels, electron uptake, ATP molecules, mitochondria”. The Chinese word Qi means energy. What are those cells, molecules and atoms made of? There is not much more I can tell you. Read a qigong book, or focus on something else perhaps. Good luck!
I have watched the martial arts community have this same conversation for 25 years. Im a qigong teacher, and a perennial tai chi beginner. When you study and practice qigong, then you understand. Describing it to other practitioners is easy. Explaining it to those with a predisposition of arguing is is pointless. It is truly confusing why anyone would bother trying to argue that human energy doesn’t exist in the year 2022. Or, try to argue that their misunderstanding of qi means its some “different” kind of energy. Its not.
For anyone reading who doesn’t understand clearly, I will summarize: the Chinese word Qi, the Japanese word Ki, the Indian word Prana, the English word Bioenergy are describing the life-force inside your cells. There is nothing to argue about. For most people, energy is a mundane thing: I eat a sandwich, and I metabolize energy. For yogis who train their energy to be more abundant than normal, then other things will manifest. Don’t take my word for it. Read the Buddha discussing the winds and channels in the sutras, read the Dalai Lama discussing the energetic experience in his book “Mind of Clear Light”, and read qigong books by Dr. Yang and dozens of other great teachers.
Master Violet, I think you did a very thorough and concise description of Dr. Yang’s book, “Qigong Grand Circulation for Spiritual Enlightenment”. His book contains so much information that you were able to interpret the information so that it is easy for new learners, practitioners (always learners) or people who are just interested in the subject to pick and choose which sections of the book would be most useful to them. I also like the way you, as a Master and Tai Chi Instructor, compared the different Qigong practices and your additional thoughts of which are helpful to us practitioners. Violet, you deserve many thanks because you are such a caring and dedicated person to continue to summarize many books, articles and explanations of the various forms which are needed by many to understand the vast information that is made available.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Really appreciate this. — Violet