Translator’s Note: Zhao Bichen was 35-years-old in 1885 (during the late Qing Dynasty) – when he first encountered the two Chinese Ch’an Buddhist monks who would become his main teachers. After providing Zhao Bichen with a ‘secret transmission’ - Zhao Bichen had to practice for a further 25-years on his own before Master Liao Kong would seek him out in 1920 (when Zhao Bichen was 60-yess-old). Zhao Bichen had to maintain his practice even during the Boxer Uprising (1898-1900) - and the collapse of the Qing Dynasty during the 1911 Revolution. Learn from this situation and stop ‘rushing’ your training. After having his ‘attainment’ confirmed by Master Liao Kong in 1920 – even so – Zhao Bichen did not start officially teaching until he was 68-years-old in 1928. (This was the year the Nationalist government deliberately attacked and destroyed the Shaolin Temple in Henan – killing many of the monks – a terrible event that might well have influenced Zhao Bichen’s decisions). Around 1936, Ch’an Master Xu Yun (1840-1959) instructed his English speaking (Chinese) disciple – Charles Luk (1898-1978) - to pay a visit to Master Zhao Bichen and show his respect. In 1937 – at the age of 76-years-old – Master Zhao Bichen handed-over the Qianfeng School to his senior disciples and retired from the world to ‘prepare for his own death’. Master Zhao Bichen left his body whilst sat in the upright meditation position in 1942 – aged 82-years-old. Two Western scholars – Vincent Goossaert and Catherine Despeux (and two Asian scholars) Charles Luk and Yokote Yutaka – all agree that Zhao Bichen inherited the Wu Liu lineage (as claimed by the Qianfeng School) via the Longmen transmission received by Master Liao Kong. This assessment was reached only after studying all the extant written and oral material available in China – and after speaking to modern-day practitioners of the Qianfeng School and being allow to see ‘transmission certificates. This is also the position of the Daoist Association of China and the Government of China – both of which carried-out extensive research in this area. There are a small number of independent Wu Liu practitioners in China who have inherited their teachings through family members in private transmissions. However, the only functioning ‘Daoist School’ to still be teaching the Wu Liu lineage to a wide audience is the Qianfeng School. Therefore, the English-language Wikipage is ‘incorrect’ on this matter and lacks any credible Chinese-language sources to back-up its peculiar interpretation of Chinese history. As a consequence, there are NO genuine Wu Liu Schools outside of China operating independent from the Qianfeng School. Indeed, so rare is this teaching within China, that Zhao Bichen had to inherit it through the Longmen transmission. Do not be misled by those who have a corrupt mind and peddle hidden agendas. ACW (15.3.2021) The 11th Generation Inheritor - Patriarch Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) - was the Founder of the Qianfeng (千峰) School. His Daoist-name was ‘Yi Zi’ (一子) - but he was also known as ‘Shun Yi Zi) (顺一子). His family originated in Yangfang Township, situated in the Changqing area of Northern Beijing. Since his childhood, Zhao Bichen excelled at martial arts practice and had a deep and profound connection with the Daoist path of self-cultivation. In order to pursue his gathering of genuine knowledge regarding the ‘Essential Life Mind-Body' (性命双修 - Xing Ming Shuang Xiu) method of Daoist self-cultivation – he trained with at least 36 different Daoist Masters. The problem was that although many of these Masters were highly respected and possessed certain elements of Daoist knowledge – none that he encountered understood the ‘full’ method. Despite showing great respect for his teachers and listening very carefully to their teachings – no matter how long Zhao Bichen trained in ‘neidan’ (內丹) – or the amount of dedicated effort he expanded; he could not make a profound breakthrough in his training. He was eventually informed of the existence of two extraordinary Ch’an Buddhist monks who were also inheritors of the ‘authentic’ Daoist teachings. These monks were known as ‘Venerable Liao Ran’ (了然) and ‘Venerable Liao Kong’ (了空) of the ‘Linji’ (臨濟) lineage of Chinese Ch’an Buddhism. On the 13th day of the 3rd lunar month – during the 21st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu (光绪) - Zhao Bichen travelled by boat on the canal from Huai'an Pass to the Golden Mountain Temple (金山寺 - Jin Shan Si). This is where Zhao Bichen paid his respects to Liao Ran and Liao Kong. However, when Zhao Bichen looked at these two Ch’an monks – there appeared to be ‘light’ emanating from both the bodies of both men – with their eyes as bright as sparks caused by electricity! In the still and peaceful atmosphere – Zhao Bichen fell to his knees and with his fore-head touching the floor - he sincerely requested the ‘full’ and ‘genuine’ Daoist teachings! As both monks intuitively ‘sensed’ that Zhao Bichen was the sincere and dedicated disciple they had been waiting to receive for many years – it was agreed that he would be accepted as an ‘outside the temple’ disciple – taking the name of ‘Yi Zi’. He was instructed for three-days and three-nights in secret shut inside a private-room – where he was taught the ‘Inner Secret Transmission of Directly Realising Reality’ (内秘授真功 - Nei Mi Shou Zhen Gong) - designed to build a firm-foundation for the penetration of the ‘Essential Life’ (性命 - Xing Ming) at its root. Zhao Bichen was also taught how to ‘close’ all the vulnerable areas of the body to prevent the unnecessary loss of vital force and essential energy. Although Zhao Bichen did not want to leave the temple, Master Liao Kong advised ‘You are a layman. You must sire children and leave offspring before you can do your great work.’ Zhao Bichen returned to the world and carried-on his practice in secret whilst he worked for a living. Then, in 1920, Master Liao Kong travelled to Zhao Bichen’s home to personally transmit the ‘Essential Life Mind-Body Complete Law’ (性命双修全法 - Xing Ming Shuang Xiu Quan Fa). Master Liao Kong confirmed that he was transmitting the Quanzhen (全眞), Longmen (龍門), (Wu Liu - 伍柳) Daoist Lineage to Zhao Bichen - who became the 11th generation inheritor through the Longmen School. Master Liao Kong also conveyed the Daoist-names of ‘Tian Ming’ (天命) and ‘Fa Juan’ (法卷) to Zhao Bichen. Master Liao Kong agreed to Zhao Bichen Founding the ‘Thousand Peaks’ (千峰 - Qian Feng) School – and officially granted him permission to open its doors and begin the instruction of students to keep the lineage alive for the next generation. Master Zhao Bichen formerly opened the doors of the Qianfeng School in Beijing (and personally taught in it) from 1928-1937. During that time, over 2000 students attended his classes – with around forty disciples eventually receiving ‘lineage transmission’. Zhao Bichen became very popular because of his compassionate and wise nature – teaching anyone (regardless of status) who came to seek true Daoist knowledge. Importantly, a number of Daoist Masters came to Zhao Bichen to train with him – and all agreed that the Qianfeng School retained and taught the genuine ‘neidan’ Daoist teachings! Of course, not all Daoist schools were happy with this situation – as Zhao Bichen was perceived as being ‘too popular’ by those who would not admit that their Daoist knowledge was ‘incomplete’. This situation continues today, with Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺) heading the Qianfeng School - (the great grandson of Zhao Bichen).
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Founding Patriarch Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) composed a 40-character poem to express the spiritual (and physical) essence of the complete teaching of the Qianfeng School: 玄妙先天道,自然性体空。悟真圆光现,慧命上昆仑。 金丹乾坤大,礼意善养功。虚灵清静意,留得万古春。 Translation – Qianfeng School Transmission Poem 玄妙先天道, (Xuánmiào xiāntiān dào,) How Mysterious – How Wonderful! - the Pre-natal Dao (Way). 自然性体空。(Zìrán xìng tǐ kōng.) Nature – Bodily Essence – All ‘Empty’ from Beginning to End. 悟真圆光现,(Wù zhēn yuánguāng xiàn,) Enlightened Reality – Bright and Round – Here and Now, 慧命上昆仑。(Huì mìng shàng kūnlún.) Profound Wisdom – Purified Destiny – Ascend Like the Kunlun Mountains. 金丹乾坤大,(Jīn dān qiánkūn dà,) Golden Energy-Centre Self-Cultivation - If Only the Universe Was So Great! 礼意善养功。(Lǐ yì shàn yǎng gōng.) Correct Ritual and Profound Intention – Goodness Strengthens Self-Cultivation. 虚灵清静意, (Xū líng qīngjìng yì,) Profoundly Empty Spirit – Still and Pure Perception, 留得万古春。(Xū liú dé wàngǔ chūn.) Profound Emptiness Contains All Things – As if Reflected in An Ancient (Eternal) Spring. Short Biography of Master Zhao Bichen: Qianfeng (Thousand-Peaks) Pre-Natal School, is also known as the ‘inner alchemy’ (内丹 - Nei Dan) lineage. This is considered part of the ‘Philosophical’ Daoist tradition – rather than the ‘Religious’ Daoist tradition. The Qianfeng (千峰) School was created by its Founding Patriarch - Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) - in the late Qing Dynasty. Zhao Bichen’s Daoist Lineage (transmission) name was ‘Yizi’ (一子). When in his later years, Zhao Bichen was also known as ‘Qianfeng Venerable Old Man’ (千峰老人 - Qian Feng Lao Ren). He was born in Changping County, Beijing, in the tenth year of the reign of Emperor Xianfeng (咸丰) during the Qing Dynasty (1860). When a child (during the reign of Emperor Guangxiu [光绪]) - Zhao Bichen suffered from a medical ailment that involved him suffering from haematochezia (i.e., ‘blood in the stools’). This illness was completely ‘cured’ through Daoist self-cultivation. A reliable biography of Zhao Bichen’s early life can be read in the Chinese-language text entitled ‘Namo School Energy-Centre (Self-Cultivation) Law Genuine Transmission’ (南无派丹法真传 - Na Mo Pai Dan Fa Zhen Chuan). Later, in the 3rd lunar-month of the 21st year of the Reign of Emperor Guangxu (April - 1895), Zhao Bichen went to the Jinshan (金山) - or ‘Gold Mountain Temple’ - to pay homage to Ch’an Master Liao Kong (了空禅师 - Liao Kong Ch’an Shi) - who was also an acknowledged Master of the Daoist tradition and an authentic Daoist lineage inheritor. Zhao Bichen was accepted as an ‘inner’ disciple and received full-instruction in the Daoist tradition as passed-on by ‘Liu Huayang’ (柳华阳) - also known as the ‘Wu Liu’ (伍柳) School. Twenty-five yeas later, Master Liao Kong ‘transmitted’ the full and complete ‘Wu Liu’ lineage to Master Zhao Bichen in 1920 – following this event in Beijing – Master Zhao Bichen - after receiving ‘permission’ from Master Liao Kong - started accepting disciples and teaching in his own right. Zhao Bichen started referring to his lineage as the ‘Qianfeng’ (Thousand Peaks) School around 1937 – named after a range of mountains in the Beijing area. In his manual entitled ‘The Secret Cultivation of Essential Nature and Eternal Life’ (性命法诀明指 - Xing Ming Fa Jue Ming Zhi) – translated in 1970 by Charles Luk, and published in English as ‘Taoist Yoga’ - Zhao Bichen clearly explains the ‘Sixteen Steps’ that he uses within the Qianfeng School to propagate robust health and longevity. The Qianfeng School exists to in modern China and is led by the great grandson of Zhao Bichen – Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺) - the acknowledged Lineage Head of the Qianfeng School in Beijing, whose family and Training Hall is still in the old house that Zhao Bichen used to inhabit during his lifetime. Between the two eyebrows – situated in the centre of the forehead – is located the ‘ancestral aperture’ (祖窍 - Zu Qiao). In other traditions, this sacred space is referred to as the ‘third-eye’ - which is an apt description – as all ‘spiritual insight’ is perceived through this sacred-space. The ‘zu qiao’ and ‘nasal’ area are ‘balanced’ through an ‘even’ perception as the breath enters and leaves the body (through the nose). Some people keep their eyes slightly open so that the tip of the nose can be visually focused upon whilst meditating. Other practitioners prefer to ‘close’ their eyes fully – both approaches are acceptable. As the Qianfeng School is a modern interpretation of the Wu Liu tradition – and given that Zhao Bichen received full-transmission from two Ch’an Buddhist Masters (that is, Venerable Liao Ran [了然 ] and Liao Kong [了空]) - the Qianfeng School continues the Ch’an Buddhist influence within Daoism, and is known as the ‘Northern School of ‘Pure’ and ‘Still’ Energy-Centre Self-Cultivation Law' (北清静丹法 - Bei Qing Jing Dan Fa). As Zhao Bichen trained with over thirty-six genuine Daoist Masters – and given the purity of the transmissions he received – the Qianfeng School is considered one of the most effective and profound Daoist lineages still active in the world today! So important is the Qianfeng School for Chinese traditional culture that many academic scholars visit Zhao Ming Wang in Beijing to compile various studies involving Qianfeng Teaching and medical effectiveness. This is as well as thousands of people in China (and throughout the world) practicing Qianfeng Daoism on a daily basis and looking toward Master Zhao Ming Wang for authentic guidance and instruction.
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AuthorAdrian Chan-Wyles (內丹 - Shi Da Dao) - Qianfeng Lineage: Zhao Bichen (1860-1942), Charles Luk (1898-1978) and Richard Hunn (1949-2006). Acknowledges Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺) of Beijing as the ONLY Lineage Head of the Zhao Family Lineage of Qianfeng Daoism in China and the world. Archives
February 2024
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