Table Of Content:vi«-.WmM"r..
“3
ChineseSoaringCraneQigong
byZhao,JinXiang
Translatedby ProfessorChen,HuiXianetal
Copyright©1993,1997by
QigongAssociation ofAmerica
2021NWGrantAve.
Corvallis,OR97330
Acknowledgments
Thistranslationcomestoyouthroughtheeffortsofmanypeople. Thoseofusñnishingitdon't
evenknowsomeofthosethatstartedit. Myapologiestothosewehaveleftout. ltwastranslated
byChenHuiXian. PanRuiandYanling Johnson. Itwas edited byJudith Haber, DeanJohnson,
BenMausandClaireJohnson. KyleJohnsonpaintedthe cover.
Table of Contents
Forward
vii
PointLocations
TheFiveRoutines
RoutineOne: GatheringQifromtheSixDirections
11
RoutineTwo: PenetratingtheSkyandtheEarth
RoutineThree: Crane'sHeadCarryingQithroughDuMaiandRenMai
25
RoutineFour: CraneTouchingWater
RoutineFive: MinglingVWththeSourceofAllQi 33
41
StandingMeditation
TheRemedyRoutines
47
RoutineOne: DischargingTurbidSubstancesfromtheLiver
RoutineTwo: Touching Acupointto DescendTurbid Substances 49
RoutineThree: DirectingQiintoLowerDanTian 51
RoutineFour. GatheringQiintoLowerDan Tianfromthe
EightDirections 53
RoutineFive: CollectingYang QiFourTimesfromtheLeftandThree
TimesfromtheRight 57
RoutineSix: DrawingQifromFiveAcupointsintoLowerDanTian 59
RoutineSeven: MethodofLoweringHighBloodPressure 61
63
TheCraneWalkingSteps
QuestionsandAnswers
l. BasicKnowledgeAboutQigong(1-8) 67
71
Il. ChineseSoaringCraneQigong(9-17)
lll. TheCurativeMechanismandEffect(18-31) 77
lV. CommonSenseOnQigongExercises(32-45) 81
V. ReactiontoQigongExercise(46-73) 87
Vi. The SpontaneousMovementsofStandingMeditation(74-90) 95
VII. TheTutorsandTeachers(91-95) 99
Vlll. Reachinga HigherLevel(96-99) 101
Forward
Aftertwoyears ofdiscussionandamendrnents. lpresenttoyou,the broadreadership, thisbook
about Soaring Crane Qigong. Upto nowthere are morethan 10millionpeople practicingthis type
ofqigong, includingthoseinHong Kongand Macao, overseasChinese, and someforeignfriends.
Allhave benefited. lhopethisbookwillbeofgreat helptothem.
AlthoughIamthe originatorofthistype ofqigong, lcouldnothave done itwithoutthe help of
China's heritageofqigong,withoutthehelpofthe oldergenerationofqigongmasters fromwhomI
have learned, and withoutmyfriendsand colleagues inthe qigongand medicalcommunities.
Eventhe name'SoaringCrane Qigong'wassuggested byaqigongcolleague. Creditforthis
workgoes toallwhohavehelpedmeas muchas itdoes tome. CreditforspreadingSoaring
Crane QigongalloverChinagoes moretothe teachers thanto me. Inpresentingthisbooktoyou
myheart isñlledwiththanks andexcitement.
lnrecentyears, alongwiththe'Four Modemizations,'qigonghasprospered. Various kindsof
qigongtechniqueshavecomeforthlikeahundredtiowersblooming.SoaringCraneQigongis
onlyoneofthe hundredflowers.lt hashelpedbeautifythewholegarden,alongwithother
techniques.
SoaringCraneQigonghasmanymerits,buttherearestillsomeinsufticiencies.However,after
yearsof practicethat haveledtoamendmentsandadditions,thisfirst bookisnowpublished.
Thisbookintroducesthetechniques indetailand explainsthetheories. lnaddition,itsummarizes
fundamentalknowledgeandexperience. Inthisbookweanswerthe questions raised bythe
practitionersandwe solvethe problemsthat have manifestedduringteaching and learning.
Criticismand suggestionsfromreadersofthisbookwillbeverywelcome.Ihopealsotohavethe
opportunitytolearn fromthe oldergeneration and frornother qigong masters. Iwillwelcome their
helpand adviceformyfurtherprogress.
Qigongcan notonlycurediseasesandimprovehealth,butalsodevelopwisdomand bringoutthe
latent powers ofthe brain. ltcanraise intelligenceand cultivatethe innate abilitiesofthe
individual.ltcan be averyefiicienttoolinthetransformativeprocess. Thiswillhave a profound
influence onthe well-beingofthe nationand the world.Therefore itisworthyofourgreatest
efforts.
Modernday qigongshould make useofmodernresearch methods and equipment.Although
qigongismucholderthan present dayscientificthought,itissuitableformodernscientific
research. We shouldthrowawayanyoldideas ofasuperstitiousnatureand bringqigongintoits
rightful place inthe worldofmodern science.
Thepresent generationofqigongmastersshouldnotbesatistiedonlywiththeirtechnicalskill.We
need tostand tall,lookfartherahead, and byoureffortcauseagreat forwardleap;then wewill
notneed tofeelashamed beforeourforefathersorfearnotmeetingtoday's expectations.
ABriefHistoryof Qigong inChina
Qigongisjust likeothermedicalscience.ltcomesfromthestruggleofhumanbeingsagainst
disease.ThousandsofyearsagothefirstqigonginChinawentbymanyothernames:meditation,
breathinggang,quietsittinggong,walkinggong,Iyingdowngong,sittinggong. BackintheTang
dynastypeopleusedaformofdancetogetridofdisease.Therewasaperiodofexcessive
rainfallandthereforefloodsfromtherivers.Thegreathumiditycausedrheumatismandpain,and
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people danced toget ridofthe pain. This wasanearly and primitiveformofqigong. Qigong is
thus the struggle against a bad environmentand disease.
Ihave astorytotell:inmyhome town,qigongand the martialartsarevery popular.When Iwas
veryyoung,therefore, labsorbed a good bitofknowledgeonthese subjects. When Iwassixteen l
developed pleurisyand tuberculosis. By1962mytuberculosis had reached aserious stage, and I
was unable toworkIwas sent toasanitarium.There llearned a formofsittingqigong,developed
byLiuGueiZheng, head ofthe sanitarium. Ipracticedeveryday, afterwhichlfeltrelaxed and
well.lcontinuedthe practice afterleavingthe sanitarium.
Later,onajourney. lmetaqigongmasterwhose sumamewasalso Zhao. Hewasa manofpro-
foundknowledge,and he raisedmetoa higherlevelofqigongskillandconsciousnessthan Ihad
previoustknown.
Throughseveral years ofpracticeofqigong plusmedicaltreatmentlslowlyrecoveredfromthe
illness.Thereafter lworkedeven harder onqigongand simultaneouslylearned about traditional
Chinese medicinetheory and read someofthe ancient books oftraditionalChinese medicine.
Duringthese years, besides regaining myhealth, Ibegan totreatpatients. Astime passed, so
many patients camethat itwasnotpossible totreatthem all.Seeing theirdisappointmentwhen I
couldn'ttreatthem, and rememben'ng myownillness, lbegan towanttodevelop a kindofqigong
thatwouldhelpthemtreatthemselves.
Å
Withthis intention lbegan tovisitand to learn frommany famous doctors and qigong masters. l
studied the theory ofmeridians and the doctrine ofcirculationand change ofvitalenergy. lalso
learned pathology and physiology.
TheFiveRoutines:
Usingwhat Ihad experienced inmyownqigongpracticeand combiningitwithwhat Ihad learned
inmystudies, linventedaformofqigongthatimitatedthe natureand movementofacrane in
flight. Itisorganized intotive'routines'whichcombinementaland physicalwork.
Theexperienceofthose whohave practicedSoaringCraneQigongsince 1980showsthatthe
harmonious relationshipbetween the movementsand the mentalaspect isveryeffective.It
enablespeopletobothgetridofdiseaseandbuilduptheirgeneralhealthatthesame time.ltalso
serves toremolda person'stemperament.Peopleaocumulateqi(vitalenergy-bioenergy)atthe
same timetheyexercise theirwholebodies. Themovementsare clear-cut andeasy tolearn;itis
easy to practice and qicomes quickly,cleaningoutthe channels (meridians).Therefore ithas
quickresultsincuringdisease.
SoaringCraneQigongisbasedonChinesetraditionalmedicineandbionics.ltworks byadjusting
spirit breathingandposture.lttrainsthewillandthepowersofconcentration.lneverymovement
thereisalsotheexerciseofthe mind.Thewholeprocesscleansoutthechannelsandnourishes
theqiandthe blood.
Focusingthe mindisthe essenceofSoaringCrane Qigong.Throughfocusingthe mind,
intelligencecan be developed. Energy, qiand spiritinthe bodywillbe sufñcienttonourish the
inner organs and the Iimbs,thus illness can be overcomeand health improved.
StandingMeditation:
This isapartofSoaringCraneQigongthatcombinesaquietmeditationwith physicalmovement.
Whilethepractitionerisstandingquietly,theqistartstocirculatethroughthebodywithoutany
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visible movements. Thisiscalledthe'inner movement'oftheqi. Whentheqi reachessomepart
ofthepractitionerthathasablockage,itcauses'outermovements'-visiblemovements.The
outer movementsservetohelptheqigetthroughtheblockage. Thentheqicanflowthrough the
channelsandallownaturalhealingtotakeplace.
Theseoutermovementswilloccurveryquickly.Wecallthem'spontaneous'Theyaremildand
simpleto beginwith;theydevelopintocomplicatedandmorevigorous movementaccordingtothe
natureoftheillnesspresentinthepractitioner.AstheOpeningofthechannelsandthehealingof
theillnessprogress,themovementswill becomeslowerandmilderandatlaststop,leavingonly
the innerqimovingwithnooutermovementsatall. Whentherearenooutermovements,the
practitionerishealed.Wemustlookatthisoutermovementfromascientiñcpointofview.We
shouldneitherbeafraidofitnorforceit.
Itis importantnotto neglecteitherthetive routinesorthe standing meditation,and itis important
nottoabandon the practiceofeither,evenafterthe channels areopen and good health has been
achieved. Continuingthe practice when there isnofurther health reasonforcontinuing leads one
toa higherformofnon-physical healing.
I
There are some peopleforwhomthiskindofqigongisnotsuitable, butweare stillworkingtofind
aformthatwillbeneñt them aswell.Forthe timebeing, however, people withserious neurosesor
those whoarementallyillshouldnotundertakethestudyofSoaringCraneQigong.
Thisbookisabouttheñrstlevelofachievementpossiblethroughthe pracüceofSoaringCrane
Qigong.The second book,descn'bingthe second level,waspublished inBeijinginNovember
1987.The thirdand higherlevelswillbe taughtonlytothose whoareproperlyprepared.
Practice has proventhatwhenyouaredoingstanding meditaticn and y0urmindisonweiIuand
the pendulumhangingfromweiIu,thenthe genuineqi(theqiyouwere bornwith)isstimulated
intoactivitytoadjust the govemingchannel, calleddumai,and the receptivechannel, calledren
mai.Renmairunsfromtheacupointcalledchengjiang(locatedbelowthelowerlipandabovethe
chin)downtothe acupointcalledhuiyin. The govemingchannel (dumai),runs fromhuiyinup
the back,overthe head, and downtothe acupointbeneath the noseand above the upper Iip.This
acupoint, calledyinjiao, islocatedwherethe fleshinsidethe upper lipjoinsthe gum.
<
Morality
AlthoughSoaring Crane Qigongisawayofovercomingdisease and promotinghealth, the highest
levelofitsdevelopmentisñrmlybased inhighmoraldevelopment Ispeak here oftwokindsof-
morality. The first kindimpliesbeing inhannony withthe Iawsofthe Universe and withNature
the Tao. The second relates toone's activityinsociety. Bothofthese aspects must be properly
developed inthe practitionerofqigong.
TraditionalChinesemoralityincludespatriotism,familyloyalty,filialpiety,diligence,simplicity,
modesty, kindness,courtesy,justice,truthfulness,self respectandrespectfor others. Whilewe
inheritthetraditionalskillofqigong,wefeelweshouldalsobedevelopingourtraditionalChinese
morality.
Whythisemphasison moralitywhilewe practiceqigong? Becauseqigongpracticeisgovemed
byaveryspeciallaw. To receivethefull benefitsofqigong,whichincludehealth,increased
intelligenceandpsychicpower,youneedto beableto letgooftheconcems,problemsandself
involvementthat havebeenbuildingsinceyourbirth,sothatyourpre-birthconscicusnesscan
reappear. Highpurposeandsinceredesirearepre-requisitesto learningqigong. Whentheseare
met,thepracticeofqigongcancausethedesiredreturntopureconscicusness. Onceyour pre‑
Fonlvard
birthconsciousnesshasbeendeveloped,youneedagoodenvironmenttonourishitandgood
moralitytomaintainit.
Herearesomesuggestions:
1. Beselfless. Donotspendyourlifepursuingfameor money,butratherinactivitiesforthe
benefitofothers. Donotdebaseyourselfwithlowpursuits. Donotconcernyourselfwith
unimportantinconveniences,butkeepyour heartgratefulandforgiving.
2. Bemoderate. Letpositivefeelingsleave noroomforthe negative. Acceptthingsas theyare,
being satisfied withyourgains and beingabletoaccept loss and suffering. Onewhosuffers from
chronic illness should take anactive part inregaininghis health rather than feelingsony for
himself.Worryand griefare a bad influence.
3. Qigongpractitionersmusthavepositiveideas,becausepositiveideasbringpositiveqi‑
Positiveqibringsaboutpositivegongfu,(Gangfurefersto psychicdevelopment.)The universeis
ñlledwithqi. ifyou havepositiveideasthenegativeqiwillhavenowaytoinvadeyou. Shouldyou
seesomethingfrighteningduringyourpracticeofqigong,youdon'tneedtoñghtwith ittogetridof
it;just bringinmorepositivethoughtforms. Goodideasactuallyareforces.Theyaffect people,
helpingtoreleasetheirgriefandpainsandworries.Badideasalsohaveforceandbringharmto
people.
4. Relationshipbetween teachers and students: Students should respect teachers; teachers
shouldlovestudents. Inthepast,qigongmastersusedtopass ontheirskillstothebeststudent
theyselected,and theythoughttheywouldneverpass ontheirskillstounworthypeople.They
wouldrather have the skilllostthan pass itontothe unworthy. Nowthere has appeared anew
kindofrelationshipbetween qigongmastersand theirstudents soweshould have mutualrespect
and mutual love.
Qigongteachers aredifferentfromother teachers; they can notonlypass onthe qigongskillsand
knowledgetotheirstudents, butalsotreattheirillnesses and helpthemtorelievetheir pains and
grief.Soifateacherhasdonehisbesttolovehisstudentsandbeagoodexamplefortheir
behavior, then the students willlovehimfromthe bottomoftheirhearts. Soallteachers should
worktoimprovethemselvesmorally,notonlytoimprovetheirskill.
Amongpractitioners,notallcanreallyworkatahighlevel. Somepeoplewhoarejust beginners
andknowvery littlethinktheyareveryskillfulandstarttoteachothers. Thisisverydangerous. It
notonly bringsharmtothereputationofqigong,butsuchaonecanalsoleadhimselfandothers
astraybybringinginstrongspiritsofnegativity.
Qigongteachersshouldshowmodesty,notonlyinfront oftheirownteachersbutalsototheir
students. Theyshouldsharethestudents'worriesandhelpthemwholeheartedly.
Therewasonceaqigongteacherwhooftenhelpedhisstudents. Onedaywhilehewasteaching
qigongthestudentsweredoingthestandingmeditation. lt began'torainbutoneofthestudent
couldnotstophisspontaneousmovement. Theteacheropenedanumbrellaandhelditoverthe
student,followingwherehewentuntilthestudentfinished. Someqigongteachershaveevenleft
sickfamilymemberstogototheparkandteachtheirstudents. Theynevermissedaclassin
spiteoftheir difñcultiesathome. Whenstudentshavefaced life-threateningemergencies,
teachers haverushedtotheiraidwithoutprotectingtheirowngenuineqi(alsoreferredtoaslife
message). These teachersareexcellentexamplesofwhat isbestinSoaringCraneQigong.
Aqigongpractitionerswordsand actionsshouldretlecta beautifulinterior.The practitionershould
be someone ofhigh publicand private morality, devoted to service.
iv
Fonlvard
Wenowhavemanymillionsofpeoplepracticingqigong.Iftheyallembodytheseidealstheywill
createapotenttransfonnativeforce.
*Thiskindofqiwillbe explained alittlelateron.
Notes For Soaring Crane Qigong Practitioner's
1. Proper motivationforthe learning ofqigong isthe guarantee ofgood results. Our purpose isto
prevent disease, release disease. recover health and prolonglifeto makea greater contributionto
society. Qigong should notbe learned either tosatisfy curiosityer tobringmaterial gain.
2. Theessenceofqigongpracticeistoachieve realserenity. To guarantee thisserenitywemust
havehighmorality,selliessness,generosityand nobilityofmind.These qualitiessafeguard us
against woridlyworries.
3. Allthe instructionsinthisbookmustbeadhered tostrictly. Noneofthe movements ofeither
bodyormindare accidental;allhave been carefullydesigned forspecificfunctions.
The qualityofthe results has adirectrelationshiptothe degree ofmastery ofthe skill. Accurate
movementandcorrectmindhelptoclearoutthechannels. Wrongmovementandwrongmind
willcauseblockages inthe channels. Therefore, practitionersmust have athorough
understandingofthe exercises and mustpracticethem repeatedly, exactlyaccordingtothe
instructions.
Alwayskeep inmindthe followingtwoprinciples:
A. Whendoingthetiveroutines, useyourmindtoguidethe movements.
B. Whendoingthe standing meditationthe principleistohave yourwhole bodyand mind
fullyrelaxed soyou canconsciouslyexperience what happens toyou (whilealways preserving
theconsciousabilitytocontrolitifnecessary). ShouldyourmovementseemtooViolenttoyou,
tellyourselftoholdbackandslowdowna bit.Whileyouaredoingspontaneousmovements,hold
inmindsomethoughtofyourdan tian.
4. You must practice qigonginaquietand clean place, freefrominterruptionsand disturbances.
Thereshould befresh air. Whentheweather isbad (rain,fog,thunderstorrns)avoiddoingqigong
outdoors. AlwaysdoyourqigongpracticefacingSouth.
5. Itisadvisabletopracticethefiveroutines,(whichtakes abouthalfanhour)onceortwicea
day. The standing meditation should be done onceaday fornomorethan halfanhour.
6. When practicingqigong.wear loose clothing,neither toowarm nortoo light. Remove eye-
glasses, wristwatchesandalljewelry. Itisadvisabletowearshoes withclothsoles.
Donotpracticeonafullstomach, butalso donotpracticewhenyouareveryhungry. Usethe
bathroom beforeyou start
7. Duringthestandingmeditation.besureyoudonotmakeanythinghappen;simplyletit
happen. Othewviseyoucouldbringharmtoyourhealth,anditcouldbemisleading.
8.Aregular lifeand a healthydietarepartofyourqigongpractice.
