Wuji Qigong: Bibliography, Links, Instructions, Information (original) (raw)
Wuji Qigong
Wuji (Emptiness, Chaos, Supreme Unknown, Primordial, Body of the Dao, Before the Beginning, State Before Yin/Yang)
Qigong, Chi Kung, Chinese Energy (Qi, Chi) Cultivation Daily Practices
Qigong Research at the Valley Spirit Center
Research by
Michael P. GarofaloBibliography Links Quotations Information Instructions Qigong Home
Last Updated on August 22, 2011
� Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2006-2011
By Michael P. Garofalo, All Rights Reserved.
Bibliography, Links, Resources Wuji Qigong
Aligned, Relaxed, Resilient: The Physical Foundations of Mindfulness. By Will Johnson. Boston, Shambhala, 2000. 137 pages. ISBN: 1570625182. MGC.
Chang San-Feng, Taoist Master, Circa 1300 CE. By Mike Garofalo. 147Kb.
Cultivating Stillness: A Taoist Manual for Transforming Body and Mind. Translated with an introduction by Eva Wong. With a commentary by Shui-ch'ing Tzu. Illustrated
by Hun-yen Tsu. Boston, Shambhala Press, 1992. 156 pages. ISBN: 0877736871. VSCL.
Chi Kung: The Chinese Art of Mastering Energy. By Yves Requena. Healing Art Press, 1996. 120 pages. ISBN: 0892816392.
Ecstatic Body Postures: An Alternate Reality Workbook. By Belinda Gore. Foreword by Felicitas Goodman. Santa Fe, New Mexico, Bear and Company, 1995. Endnotes,
284 pages. ISBN: 1879181223. VSCL.
Eight Section Brocade Qigong. By Mike Garofalo.
Empty Vessel: A Journal of Contemporary Taoism, Winter 2004. Published by Abode of the Eternal Tao, Publisher: Solala Tower.
"Fong Ha on Yiquan Practice." Interview of Fong Ha by Robert Teachout and Kiren Ghei. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Vol. 29, No. 1, February 2005, pp. 26-32.
Google Searches: Primordial Wuji Qigong,Wuji Qigong,Wuji + Taoism
Handbooks of Daoist Practice, #9. By Louis Komjathy.
The Healing Promise of Qi: Creating Extraordinary Wellness Through Qigong and Tai Chi. By Roger Jahnke, O.M.D.. Chicago, Contemporary Books, 2002. Index, notes, extensive
recommended reading list, 316 pages. ISBN: 0809295288. VSCL.
Healing Tao Britian - Primordial Wuji Qigong
"Un Pas Vers la Vitalit�," Une Exp�rience Energ�tique dans L'approche des Troubles Anxieux et D�pressifs. Quebec, June, 1998.
The Magic Pearl Qigong By Mike Garofalo.
Points on Wuji Standing. By William Oliveri.
Primordial Chi KungDetailed instructions by a former student of Michael Winn.
Remembering Wu Ji. By Jonathan J. Dickau. 17Kb.
Qi Gong Courses - Wuji Qigong. Presented by Daryll Mitchell. DVD or VHS formatted instructional media. Produced by Renascent Centre, College of Intuitive Sciences.
Qigong: Essence of the Healing Dance. By Francesco Garri Garripoli and Friends. Book. Wuji Qigong. Kahuna Valley Workshops in Wuji Qigong in Hawaii.
Qigong for Energy: A Century Old System for Renewed Vigor and Healthful Living. Presented by Francesco Garri Garripoli and Daisy Lee Garripoli. Video/DVD. Wuji Qigong.
Qigong for Healing: Slow Gentle Movements Relieve Stress and Promote Good Health. Presented by Francesco Garri Garripoli and Daisy Lee Garripoli. Video/DVD. Wuji Qigong.
Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices
Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits. By Bill Porter
Secrets to Living Younger Longer: The Self-Healing Path of Qigong Standing Meditation and Tai Chi. By Michael Mayer, Ph.D.. Orinda, California, Body Mind Healing Publications, 2004. Index, bibliography, 281 pages. ISBN: 0970431066. This book has a companion instructional video/DVD called "Body Mind Healing Qigong." Website: Body Mind Healing.VSCL.
Sheng Zhen Wuji Yuan Gong: Qigong of Unconditional Love, A Return to Stillness. By Li Jun Feng. Lotus Press, 2004. 224 pages. ISBN: 0914955772.
Standing Meditation: Doing Nothing and Finding Contentment in Being Alight. Body/Mind Qigong Center,1997 57 page illustrated booklet on standing meditation.
Standing Qigong Meditation (Zhang Zhuan) By Mike Garofalo.
"Standing Still Like a Tree." By Victoria Windholtz. T'ai Chi: The International Magazine of T'ai Chi Ch'uan: Volume 19, No. 6, December, 2005, pp. 6-9.
Tai Chi as Inner Alchemy. Michael Winn. Tai Chi for Enlightenment.
Tai Chi for Enlightenment: Primordial Qigong. Instructional videocassette or DVD and audio CD, 2 hours. Taught by Michael Winn. Produced byHealing Tao USA.
Tao of Yiquan: The Method of Awareness in the Martial Arts. Volume 2 of the Trilogy: Warriors of Stillness. Meditative Traditions in the Chinese Martial Arts. By Jan Diepersloot. Walnut Creek, CA, Center for Healing and the Arts, 1999. Index, notes, 272 pages. ISBN: 0964997614. VSCL.
Unofficial Wuji Qigong Website By William Oliveri.
Valley Spirit QigongBy Mike Garofalo.
Warriors of Stillness: Meditative Traditions in the Chinese Martial Arts. Volume 1. The Teachings of Grandmaster Cai Song Fang. Qigong Qi of the Center, Essence of Taijiquan. By Jan Diepersloot. Walnut Creek, California, Center for Healing and the Arts. Glossary, 226 pages. ISBN: 0964997606. A study of Wu Ji meditation and its T'ai Chi Ch'uan applications. VSCL.
What is Wuji Qigong? By Francesco Garri Garripoli and Daisy Lee-Garripoli.
Wudang Qigong. By Mike Garofalo
Wuji Gong: The Infinite Beginning. Presented by Master Cheng Bingsong. Instructional videotape. Telephone: 209-473-4993.
Wuji Qi Gong. VHS or DVD, 116 minutes. Instructional videotape by Jiang Jian-ye. This form combines the Wudang Mountain Qigong and the Wuji Qigong created by Dr. Duan Zhiliang.
Jiang's Tai Chi Videos. Also available fromWayfarer Publications.
Wuji (Emptiness-Chaos-Primordial State) Qigong from Wudang Mountain Taoists. By Mike Garofalo.
Yiquan: Power of Mind. Karel Koskuba. 31Kb. A very good read.
Yoga of the Mahamudra: The Mystical Way of Balance. By Will Johnson. Rochester, Vermont, Inner Traditions, 2005. 151 pages. ISBN: 0892816996. VSCL.
Zhang Zhuang - Foundation of Internal Martial Arts. By Karel Koskuba. 33Kb. An excellent informative article on the topic.
Zhan Zhuan Gong (Estar Quieto Como Un Arbol) A very good article with photographs in Spanish.
Zhang Zhuan - Standing Qigong Meditation By Mike Garofalo.
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Instructions Wuji Qigong
Coming in the Spring of 2011.
Refer for now to my instructions inZhang Zhuan: Standing Like a Tree Qigong Meditation.
Return to the Main Index on this Wuji Qigong Webpage
Quotations and Information Wuji Qigong
"Primordial Wuji Qigong form combines tai chi, feng shui, chi kung (qigong), and inner alchemy, a powerful form of Taoist meditation. It is designed to capture the primordial original yuan
"subtle breath" or chi ("qi") flow of Heaven and Earth, and fuse it into the human body. It gathers chi inward to the core of one's being in graceful beautiful, effortless spirals. Primordial Wuji Qigong gradually dissolves all the physical and karmic layers of tension in both your physical and Energy Body. It ultimately opens up a profound inner space inside your body where your Original Spirit, the "face of your soul before you were born", can reveal itself. This inner space is called "wuji" (Supreme Unknown) - the Primordial space. The design of the form incorporates every aspect of Tao theory: Yin-Yang body channels, 5 Elements vital organ and seasonal cycles, feng shui (directionology) of the 8 Trigram forces, (Pakua), water and fire alchemy, the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Branches of the Chinese calendar, body-spirit and microcosm-macrocosm resonance, Taoist sexual-numerology, jing-chi-shen-wu stages of inner alchemy, tai chi body movement principles, Original Chi -Tai Chi -Wuji cosmology. It is truly amazing how much is packed into one tiny little form! Grandmaster Chang San Feng created Primordial Wuji Qigong. It has 13 movements: 12 movements of Earth and one movement of Heaven that is done 50 times, ten times in each of the five directions. It was secretly practiced by a lineage of Taoist masters for the last 800 years."
- Michael Winn, Primordial Wuji Qigong Master
"About 800 years ago a Taoist Master called Chang Sang Fong created a special form called Wuji Qigong that was mostly kept secret but was preserved by being passed down through a lineage of Masters. The magical, graceful movements of this form are designed to gather the Chi or Life Force from the four Cardinal Directions, and from Mother Earth below, and from the Star Father of Heaven above. This Chi when in the body connects you to the deepest centre of your being known as Wuji. Wuj literally means Supreme Unknown, also translated as the Primordial or the Divine Space from which all Creation arises. In western terms the Wuji is the Godhead from which the Primordial Powers of Nature flow. The Tao Masters did not consider the Centre of the Universe was above our head but rather deep inside our body. Primordial Chi Kung is a magical graceful form and an extremely healing experience that takes us deeply into our own Primordial Essence. This secret, easy to learn Tai Chi for Enlightenment form is designed to capture the 'subtle breath' or chi ('qi') flow of Heaven and Earth, and fuse it into the human body. Gathering chi inward to the core of our being, in graceful, beautiful effortless spirals, Tai Chi for Enlightenment, gradually dissolves the physical and karmic layers of tension in both your physical body and your energy body."
- Michael Winn, Primordial Wuji Qigong Teacher and Author, Healing Tao.
"Primordial Wuji Qigong is based on reversing time and Returning to the Source, or Dao. It is based in the tradition of Inner Alchemy of cultivating the Five Elements and transmutations of the Three Treasures: essence (jing), vital energy (qi), and spirit (shen). The form combines a deep qigong meditation while moving the body gently. The circulating of the hands is like gathering in of universal life-forces. Moving in reverse against the seasons - to the left - there is a turning back of time. Energetically, this reversal of time takes you back towards your prenatal or original state - the primordial Qi
state of pure health, pure spirit, and undifferentiated unity. Furthermore, as you perform this form, you are aware that although you may have health problems on one level of your physical self, on a deeper level, the energetic or spirit level, you know you are already healed, whole and united in harmony with nature or Universal Self. In this heightened state of illumination, you absorb the primordial
energies deep into your body and mind. Your qi meridians and dan tian fields are filled. Gradually your focus of healing shifts from the physical to the spiritual. The goal of the universe is to return to nothingness. Nothingness means return. Nothingness is the body of the Dao. Everything is one with nothingness. There aren�t two things in the universe. As you move through the different phases
of this exercise, you move towards an understanding, a realization, that the goal is, indeed, to become an immortal, i.e., to return to the body of the Dao."
- Michael Rinaldini,Primordial Wuji Qigong Techniques and Principles.
"The most basic method of training is zhan zhuang. Zhan zhuang is an exercise common to many Chinese martial arts, including Taijiquan. Usually, the practitioner stands with the arms held as if holding a large ball. However, the zhan zhuang exercise can be practiced using any of the end postures of the Taiji form. During "standing" practice a static posture is maintained for a period of time while using just enough strength to maintain the posture. Benefits of zhan zhuang include deep relaxation, strengthening of the legs, and increased internal qi. The first requirement is to have a calm mind. This can be achieved in a number of ways - for instance, concentrating on the Dantian, paying attention to one's breath, or silently counting. Through standing practice, emphasis is place upon developing awareness of maintaining the most efficient and relaxed structural alignment necessary to hold the position. Prolonged practice, along with enhancing postural awareness and tranquility of mind, greatly develops the strength of the legs. When the legs are strong and can bear weight firmly, then the upper body can relax and sink down into them, making the top more flexible. Taijiquan requires lightness and sensitivity in the upper body. At the same time, the lower body should have a feeling of extreme heaviness and connection to the ground. This feeling is often compared to a large tree with deep roots. While the branches move and sway in the wind, the trunk is solidly anchored by its roots."
- Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim and David Gaffney, Chen Style Taijiquan, 2002, p. 106.
"This set of Wuji Qi Gong was originally from the legendary founder of Taiji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan), Zhang San Feng (Chan San Feng) as a form of enlightenment exercise. It has an unbroken lineage for over 800 years handed down and kept at Wudang Mountain by the Masters. It has made its way into our lives thanks to Master Zhu Hui who received it from Taoist Master Li Tong (106 years old). At first it may be mistaken for another form of Taiji although upon practicing this form those who are able to sense Qi energy, will notice something very special about Wuji Qigong. It brings with it the great Masters of the past including Zhang San Feng."
- Daryll Mitchell, Qigong Instructional DVDs
"When the mind is at peace,
the world too is at peace.
Nothing real, nothing absent.
Not holding on to reality,
not getting stuck in the void,
you are neither holy or wise, just
an ordinary fellow who has completed his work."
- Layman Pang-yun (780-808)
"Wuji Qigong is a 600-year-old Taoist cosmic form, created in the Ming Dynasty by the famous Taoist sage Zhang San Feng. This circular form takes the practitioner through the four directions: east, south, west and north, while constantly maintaining the still point in the center. By working with the primal energies of the five directions the practitioner is performing an energetic ritual that works on many different levels. This elegant and magical Qigong form combines movement, breathing and visualization to produce a powerful Qi field that the practitioner can then carry forth into the rest of their life."
- Solala Towler, National Qigong Association Conference
"If I had to choose one qigong technique to practice, it would undoubtedly be this one. Many Chinese call standing meditation "the million dollar secret of qigong." Whether you are practicing qigong for
self healing, for building healing ch'i, for massage or healing work on others, standing is an essential practice. Acupuncturists feel that by practicing standing meditation they can connect with the ch'i of the universe, and be able to send it through their bodies when they hold the acupuncture needle. Standing is probably the single most important qigong exercise. One of the reasons that standing is such a powerful way to gather and accumulate fresh ch'i in the body is that during the practice of standing the body is in the optimal posture for ch'i gathering and flow."
- Kenneth S. Cohen, Way of Qigong
"Wuji Hundun Qigong, is a 1,200-year-old health maintenance system from China handed down by 95 year-oldMaster Duan Zhi Liang of Beijing, China. Drawing on Taoism, Buddhism, the Wuji form conforms to the basic principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which in fact sprung from Qigong concepts that go back 5,000 years. Like all Qigong in this way, the enhanced movement of Qi (life-force, bioelectric vitality) is promoted throughout the body as well as the storing and strengthening of Qi for good health. TCM believes stagnant Qi leads to all pain and disease. Proven useful for healing many diseases, this simple style actually has it's roots in ancient wushu swordplay and gong fu (Kung Fu) inner cultivation of Qi--as useful for the healer as it is for the warrior...and soon we understand how they are one in the same� Wuji Hundun Qigong is a unique blend of inner (Nei Qi) and outer (Wei Qi) cultivating techniques. Master Duan comes from the practical "old school" of healing arts. He believes a practitioner must also be a teacher. A healer must be a warrior. An intellect must pursue the arts. Our prayer is to seek balance�and we seek balance by letting go of "form"�and seek the essence of all things. The Mandarin Chinese word "hundun" can best be described as "chaos." The intention of Wuji Hundun Qigong is to consciously introduce chaos into our experience. I once met Nobel Prize laureate Ilya Prigogine who explained his prize-winning theory. He said, "All evolving biological systems must reach their maxim state of perturbation (chaos) before they take the quantum step up to their next higher state of order." He knew nothing of Qigong (consciously) but understood what Master Duan knew intuitively. All our destructive patterns are steeped in the locked and stagnant habits of our lives. Until we can "break" or change those patterns, we are forever trapped and our growth--and health--is limited. Introducing chaos, mixing things up a bit energetically, can promote our natural healing abilities to engage. Even momentary shifts from our patterned "safe zones" can provide us conscious, and unconscious perspective shifts. Outwardly, Wuji Qigong is an exercise and stretching system, focusing on synchronizing the breath with slow movements and guided visualizations. Upon deeper study, the transformative nature of this health maintenance
modality becomes apparent. Balancing the Taoist and Buddhist traditions of China, Wuji Hundun Qigong seeks to strengthen the body (the mandate of the Taoists) while enhancing spiritual life (the essence of the Buddhist doctrines.) Ultimately, a merging of the two takes place, not intellectually, but through "wu xing" or deep, emotional understanding. Written and oral teaching can only seek to trigger and stimulate you, the true wu xing must come from within--as the truth derives from nature and is constantly accessible. Through cultivating your inner Qi and spirit, you become strong, not as an "individual" against the world but as an integral part of the world; a mirror reflecting light� Sincere practice with an intention to remain receptive is the key�as we come to realize the holistic nature of Wuji Qigong will effect the body, mind, and spirit."
- What is Wuji Qigong? By Francesco Garri Garripoli and Daisy Lee-Garripoli.
"This practice is part of an ancient Chinese health system of exercises. One of the first references found about this type of exercise is in the Huang-Ti Nei Ching(Classics of Medicine by the Yellow Emperor, 2690-2590 B.C.E.) which is, by the way, probably one of the oldest books in the medical field. This posture, practiced and transmitted secretly in martial arts circles, has been openly shown to the public since the last century. Wang Xiang Zhai, a very famous martial arts master of that period in China, made of this technique the base of a new martial art that he called I Chuan (Mind Boxing). He used to say, "The immobility is the mother of any movement or technique."
- Victoria Windholtz, Standing Like a Tree
"Wuji Qi Gong was first taught openly byTeacher Cai Song Fang. It is an exercise that involves meditation in a standing position. Wuji employs the concept of "movement within stillness" (Yang within Yin) which means that although the exterior looks calm and peaceful, the interior is working at an accelerated pace. This is exactly the opposite of an everyday physical exercise such a running or aerobics and is a very important point in this exercise. The characteristics of Wuji Qi Gong are divided into two main aspects, the physical and the mental. According to Chinese medicine, the stomach and the spleen from the center or apex of the body and are responsible for the production of post heavenly qi. When food is consumed and the body automatically converts food, combined with air, into qi on a daily bais. Wuji Qi Gong works by stimulating the stomach and spleen meridians located in the legs thereby enhancing and accelerating the conversion process. This is the creation factor of the exercise. An added benefit of standing is the tonification of the center or Stomach and Spleen. It is well know that only when the inner is strong can the outer be strong. This act of stimulating the Stomach and Spleen throught standing deals with the physical. There is also an important mental aspect of Wuji Qi Gong. In practice, the attention of the mind is brought to the Wuji point. If this attention is not focused on the Wuji point the newly created qi will be scattered and will be lost. Both mental and physical aspects of the exercise are equally important and should be practiced in a relaxed manner. That is, no tension in the body or the mind. Complete relaxation. This accumulation aspect of the exercise involves using the mind in meditation. In Chinese thought, the
Yi or intention directs the Qi. Or, to put it another way, Qi follows Yi. When practicing the exercise the intention of the mind is brought to the Wuji point. This point is located in the center of the body directly behind the belly button and in front of the Ming Men point on the back. By focusing the intention on the Wuji point, the newly created Chi is directed to this area of the body and stored rather than lost to the outside world. Within the physical aspect of the exercise, there is a number of points on the stance and posture which are important for success."
- William Oliveri,Unofficial Wuji Qigong Website
"Standing Meditation is the single most important and widely practiced form of gigong, integrating all elements of posture, relaxation, and breathing previously described. It is a way of developing better alignment and balance, stronger legs and waist, deeper respiration, accurate body awareness, and a tranquil mind."
- Kenneth S. Cohen, The Way of Qigong, p. 133.
"All final spiritual reference is to the silence beyond sound ...
It can be spoken of as the great silence, or as the void,
or as the transcendent absolute."
- Joseph Campbell
"Classical admonitions for standing practice include: keep head upright (raise the baihui) and the body straight; eyes gaze forward and level; hollow the chest and raise the back (careful, does not mean "hunch"); relax the waist and huiyin (perineum); sink the shoulders and elbows; extend the fingers; keep the kua (inguinal crease) open and the dang (crotch) rounded; tailbone hangs straight down; weight balanced over yongquan(bubbling well points behind balls of feet); qi circulates freely and completely throughout body."
- Michael Jones, Zhan Zhuang
"What is the color of your head from the standpoint of your eyes? You feel that you head is black, or that it has not any color at all. Outside you see your field of vision as an oval because your two eyes act as two centers of an ellipse. But what is beyond the field of vision? What color is it where you can't see? It is not black, and this is an important point; there is no color at all beyond your field of vision. This little mental exercise gives us an idea of what is mean by the character hs�an. Although its dictionary definition is "dark, deep, obscure," it actually refers to this kind of no color that is the color of your head - as far as your eyes are concerned. Perhaps we could say that the invisibility of one's head, in a certain sense the lack of a head, is the secret of being alive. To be headless, or have no head in just the same sense I am talking about, is our way of talking about the Chinese expression wu hsin, or "no mind." As a matter of fact, if you want to see the inside of your head all you have to do is keep your eyes open, because all that you are experiencing in the external, visual field is a state of your brain."
- Alan Watts, Swimming Headless, 1966
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� Green Way Research, Red Bluff, California, 2006-2010
First published on the Internet in June, 2006.
Wuji Standing (Zhan Zhuang) Meditation
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