In remote areas of China, not unlike the one pictured above, Buddhist and Taoist adepts sought to increase their internal energy and keep it flowing freely throughout their long days of seated meditation.
Some say that an Indian Buddhist named Bodhidarma (or Tamo, or Damo) first brought Qi Gong to a Taoist temple in China. This would suggest that Qi Gong's roots are in India. Then again, others say that Qi Gong was first created in China. The offical stance of Acupuncture.com is that Qi Gong is something that any human being can discover within him or herself. Witness a child running onto the warm sands of the beach sometime. Notice how deeply they breath in the salty air or how their arms open wide to embrace all the fun that lies before them. This is Qi Gong in its purist form. Children have a natural relationship with the energy of their environment. Adults have to learn what comes naturally to our offspring. Any argument as to where Qi Gong was "invented" misses the reality of what Qi Gong really is.
The word Qi (Chi) is used to describe breath, vapor, air, and of course, the internal energy that Chinese medicine is so adept at strengthening. Gong (Kung) means work, or achievement.
While you're thinking about that, consider these:
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