When the Authentic Longmen (Wu Liu) Tradition was Spread Secretly
Original Chinese Language Article By: Qianfeng Daoist Master Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺)
(Translated by Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD)
It is remarkable to consider that even though genuine Daoist knowledge is a rare commodity (due to its historical obscurity) even in China – the place of its birth – how so many supposed ‘masters’ exist upon the internet all claiming to be experts in longevity and good health, as well as possessing the power of flight amongst their many unusual skills! People pay lots of money for very poor Daoist instruction with their health not improving at all. This is because authentic Daoist knowledge is very rare and is not common at all. Indeed, within modern times very few people have received the honour of complete and genuine Daoist instruction.
Last year, Dr Zhang Qingsong (张庆松) – our expert in US History – accompanied a British disciple (named ‘Chris’) on a visit to see the 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty Emperors situated at Yongling, in the Changping District of Beijing. It was here that they inspected the tomb of Ming Dynasty Emperor Jiajing, and discovered that it is by far the biggest and grandest of all the tombs present! This is explained by the fact that he was one of the longest living and longest ruling emperors during the Ming Period. It is assumed that his dedication to Daoist practice strengthened his mind and body and lengthened his life-span.
The last peak in the practice (and transmission) of the ‘Great Dao’ (弘道 – Hong Dao) within China was during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). This was a time of great flourishing with many thousands of people interested in the Daoist teachings, with even Emperor Jiajing (嘉靖) following many of the monastic teachings. After this, the ‘foreign’ Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) actively attacked and destroyed genuine ‘Chinese’ (i.e. ‘Han’) culture, and this included the teaching of the Daoist Schools. The Chinese religions (which are full of hope and expectation of better times), were replaced with the highly negative teachings of ‘Apocalyptic Buddhism’. This led to Daoist practises going underground and being spread secretly over the three-hundred-year period of Qing Rule. The ‘Dragon Gate’ (龙门 – Long Men) transmission is the formal name for the Wu Liu (伍柳) School. This is the root teaching of the Qianfeng School. As we possess the genuine lineage, we of course know its history. During the Qing suppression of Daoism, the Longmen teaching had to be spread ‘outside’ of the temples (which had all been shut-down, destroyed or converted for other uses). This is how the ‘external transmission’ (外传承 – Wai Chuan Cheng) outside the temple began for the Longmen (Wu Liu) tradition. Daoist masters had to hide their true interests, and so the genuine teachings of Chinese Daoism were preserved and passed-on by loyal Confucian scholars and devout Buddhist monks in China, as well as dedicated Daoist laypeople who did not standout. During this period, the ‘Inner’ (内 – Nei) and ‘External’ (龙 – Wai) gate of the Longmen (Wu Liu) was not separated into two distinct streams but passed-on as an integrated and complete teaching as a means to preserve it. This is how the Longmen (Wu Liu) tradition survived into the modern era of the Republic of China and assumed the expression of the Qianfeng School. However, the time of the Republic of China was one of ruin and destruction for the Chinese people. There were multitudes of problems originating from both within China and external to China. There was deceit and trickery everywhere, but in the midst of this evil, good men and women did emerge. One such person was the ancestral master ‘Liao Kong’ (了空) who was the 10th generation descendent of the Longmen (Wu Liu) ‘Outside the Temple’ tradition. His disciple was ‘Zhao Bichen’ (赵避尘) – my great grandfather – and Liao Kong asked him to assume the responsibility of being the 11th generation descendent of the Longmen (Wu Liu) ‘Outside the Temple’ tradition. Zhao Bichen founded the Qianfeng School and broke with the tradition of only passing-on the Daoist teachings to a single disciple.
Liao Kong encouraged Zhao Bichen to found the ‘Thousand Peaks Pre-Natal School’ (千峰先天派 – Qian Feng Xian Tian Pai), and approved of its modern approach to conveying the old traditions of Longmen (Wu Liu) Daoism – including the idea that humanity in general should benefit from the teachings of the true ‘Essential Life Mind-Body’ (性命双修 – Xing Ming Shuang Xiu) self-cultivation techniques. This opened up the authentic Daoist School to public scrutiny and ensured that the various Daoist ‘cults’ (that taught corrupted understanding and techniques) could be exposed for their false attitudes and assumed (false) abilities. With the founding of the Qianfeng School, everyone was able to benefit from the Daoist methods of prolonging life and ensuring robust health, and that early period in its existence saw such prominent people as Li Yuanhong (黎元洪) and Wu Peifu (吴佩孚).
Since its momentous conception and development, the modern Qianfeng School has facilitated the spread of genuine and authentic Daoist techniques (that build a robust health and generate conditions for a long life) not only through all sections of Chinese society, but also out into the world. The presence of the Qianfeng School continues to challenge and expose those supposed Daoist Schools which deceive their followers, charge high fees and perform no social good whatsoever. The Qianfeng School is premised upon a firm traditional base from within history, has preserved this tradition in the modern world whilst utilising the logic and reason of modern science, and is fully transparent in its dealings with the world.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China (in 1949), Zhao Bichen’s book entitled ‘The Secret Cultivation of Essential Nature and Eternal Life’ (性命法决明指 – Xing Ming Fa Jue Ming Zhi) was included in the ‘China Encyclopaedia of Daoist Methodology’ (中国道藏大全 – Zhong Guo Dao Zang Da Quan). This book is very popular outside of China and is known in the West as ‘Taoist Yoga’ (translated into English by Charles Luk in 1970), and has since spread globally, being further translated into many different languages. The contemporary Qianfeng School adheres to the wishes of its Founding Father – Zhao Bichen – and opens its doors to anyone who wishes to train in the genuine Daoist techniques. The Qianfeng School is now very well-known and popular amongst all people within China and is spreading through its good reputation across the rest of the world. All are welcome (without exception) to come and visit me – Zhao Ming Wang – at the Zhao Family Ancestral Home in Beijing.
By way of contrast, there are endless streams of special interest groups all claiming to possess innate knowledge of the Daoist methods and to be benefitting the world (in some way). Many unqualified individuals have declared themselves ‘Daoist Masters’ in their own right and are teaching various aspects of Daoist-related misunderstanding far and wide. They claim that they ‘hold up the banner’ of Great Daoist Masters and spread the true and authentic knowledge of ‘nei dan’ (内丹) for the betterment of humanity. These voices can be heard in every corner of the world (and in many different languages), expressing the supposed sacred details of the Daoist health exercises (and discipline) that generate ‘yang’ (阳) and ‘shen’ (神) that is emitted outward apparently for the betterment of others. All this is nonsense and imagination and has nothing whatsoever to do with genuine Daoist practice. Every so often, there are people I have never met who claim that they know me personally, or that they have received advanced training from me, when I have no knowledge of their lives. At other times individuals come to my house stating that they are immortal with advanced powers and that I can become their disciple. To deal with these fraudsters we have devised an interesting method. It is possible to ascertain a true nei dan practitioner from a false practitioner. Within the Qianfeng School there is a technique known as the ‘Immersing the Jade Flower in the Purity Bowl of the Southern Sea’ (玉花清盆南海中 – Yu Hua Qing Pen Nan Hai Zhong). This is how we distinguish fraudsters and liars from genuine Daoist practitioners within the Qianfeng School. Although this sounds very picturesque, the technique consists of a nei dan practitioner agreeing to have a plastic bag (such as found in a shop) secured over the head and sealed around the neck. Can the practitioner continue to sit quietly with no further access to oxygen? A genuine nei dan practitioner of advanced accomplishment can sit for hours without moving, continuing to live on the meagre air trapped in the bag, as the breathing process has become so rarefied as to be seen to have ‘stopped’. Obviously, those without any advanced nei dan skill soon give-up and reveal their lack of ability. Either way the truth is established beyond a doubt.
As Daoist methodology is a science built-up over thousands of years, nei dan training is not an easy task. Many do not have access to fully qualified teachers and so have no means of progressing with their training. They do not understand the principles of yin-yang (阴阳), jing (精) or qi (气) energy preservation, energy strengthening, or harmonious energy flow as methods to develop the body and mind. All are welcome at the Qianfeng School in Beijing to train with myself – Master Zhao Ming Wang – and learn to truly understand these Daoist teachings.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Former Residence of Venerable Old Master Zhao Bichen
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2018.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_64e533c90102xmn8.html
中国道家功法最为低谷时代
如今谈及道家功夫以及她独有的养生功夫,大可在网上一搜真是铺天盖地,五花八门道家功无处不在,各路大师满天飞,号称得道高人。
我们纵观历史其实近代弘道炼道者少之又少,明朝是弘道修道的一个顶峰时期,那时可以说修道者众多,就以明嘉靖皇帝都是修道有小成者,我们在去年和美国历史博士张庆松教授以及英国千峰弟子克里斯前往明朝十三陵考察嘉靖皇帝的永陵,发现此陵是整个十三陵中最庞大的一座帝王陵,明朝比较长的一位帝王。
自清朝入关统治华夏大地,为了消除汉人文化把道教文化压制并开始宏藏传佛教,在这三百多年的历史中中国道教以及他神秘的道家功夫,性命双修内丹功夫都是极少数修者在默默传播。
在这段历史期间还要提到龙门派庙外传承,龙门派庙外传承是由社会儒家,佛教高僧以及社会与道有缘者在传播,在这段历史时期内龙门庙外道家内丹功夫不分门派,艰辛的传播到中华民国的成立。
民国时期中国百废待兴战乱频生内忧外患,在这一时期中国道家功夫传播乱做一团,各种歪门邪道层出不穷坑害善男信女,在这一时期龙门庙外第十代了空祖师,要求其弟子龙门庙外第十一代千峰老人赵避尘祖师打破道门历来单传之规,改为普传大众。
千峰老人赵避尘领师之命创立千峰先天派,打破了历代单传为普传道家性命双修真法,而且不惜危险力劈伪道邪教,弘扬真正道家性命双修养生功夫,愿人人健康为要。自此在那一时期拜入千峰先天派者众多如黎元洪,吴佩孚,张作霖以及其子张学良等诸多各界名流等。
在经过历时的洗礼中国道家养生功夫如今依然在华夏大地上传播,新中国成立后,千峰老人赵避尘所著{性命法决明指}一书以被编入中国道藏大全,其著作以被翻译成多国文字传播与世界各地,并申遗成功。
如今千峰先天派依然遵循千峰老人愿望,把道家真正养生功夫传播大众,而如今文化开放鱼龙混杂者层出不穷,很多大师出现在各地,打着道家内丹大师旗号,到处讲课他以结丹,以出阳神为他人发发功就可健康就可百病全治,完全是一派胡言,再有所谓大师说他结丹者,我告诉大家一招定让他原形毕露,道家有部功夫叫【玉花清湓南海中】意思是讲如果修者已经结丹内气自然会在体内运行,可燃香一柱修者头部进入水内可以展示其功夫,如今我们用一食品袋就可以验证。
修炼内丹不是一件容易之事,大部分爱好者修炼他只要健康以可。在各种养生方法中可以说道家性命双修功夫是当今最顶尖的养生功夫,其特点就是真正增补自身精气达到身体强壮健康,不靠外界任何营养以及药物,当我们精气足满自身阴阳平衡自然身体健康。
多年来千峰先天派赵避尘嫡传后裔赵明旺一直在千峰老人赵避尘故居【千峰草堂】传播道家养生功夫,多次参加公益养生活动,得到大众认可。
千峰先天派,千峰老人赵避尘故居,千峰草堂,赵明旺
Last year, Dr Zhang Qingsong (张庆松) – our expert in US History – accompanied a British disciple (named ‘Chris’) on a visit to see the 13 tombs of the Ming Dynasty Emperors situated at Yongling, in the Changping District of Beijing. It was here that they inspected the tomb of Ming Dynasty Emperor Jiajing, and discovered that it is by far the biggest and grandest of all the tombs present! This is explained by the fact that he was one of the longest living and longest ruling emperors during the Ming Period. It is assumed that his dedication to Daoist practice strengthened his mind and body and lengthened his life-span.
The last peak in the practice (and transmission) of the ‘Great Dao’ (弘道 – Hong Dao) within China was during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). This was a time of great flourishing with many thousands of people interested in the Daoist teachings, with even Emperor Jiajing (嘉靖) following many of the monastic teachings. After this, the ‘foreign’ Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) actively attacked and destroyed genuine ‘Chinese’ (i.e. ‘Han’) culture, and this included the teaching of the Daoist Schools. The Chinese religions (which are full of hope and expectation of better times), were replaced with the highly negative teachings of ‘Apocalyptic Buddhism’. This led to Daoist practises going underground and being spread secretly over the three-hundred-year period of Qing Rule. The ‘Dragon Gate’ (龙门 – Long Men) transmission is the formal name for the Wu Liu (伍柳) School. This is the root teaching of the Qianfeng School. As we possess the genuine lineage, we of course know its history. During the Qing suppression of Daoism, the Longmen teaching had to be spread ‘outside’ of the temples (which had all been shut-down, destroyed or converted for other uses). This is how the ‘external transmission’ (外传承 – Wai Chuan Cheng) outside the temple began for the Longmen (Wu Liu) tradition. Daoist masters had to hide their true interests, and so the genuine teachings of Chinese Daoism were preserved and passed-on by loyal Confucian scholars and devout Buddhist monks in China, as well as dedicated Daoist laypeople who did not standout. During this period, the ‘Inner’ (内 – Nei) and ‘External’ (龙 – Wai) gate of the Longmen (Wu Liu) was not separated into two distinct streams but passed-on as an integrated and complete teaching as a means to preserve it. This is how the Longmen (Wu Liu) tradition survived into the modern era of the Republic of China and assumed the expression of the Qianfeng School. However, the time of the Republic of China was one of ruin and destruction for the Chinese people. There were multitudes of problems originating from both within China and external to China. There was deceit and trickery everywhere, but in the midst of this evil, good men and women did emerge. One such person was the ancestral master ‘Liao Kong’ (了空) who was the 10th generation descendent of the Longmen (Wu Liu) ‘Outside the Temple’ tradition. His disciple was ‘Zhao Bichen’ (赵避尘) – my great grandfather – and Liao Kong asked him to assume the responsibility of being the 11th generation descendent of the Longmen (Wu Liu) ‘Outside the Temple’ tradition. Zhao Bichen founded the Qianfeng School and broke with the tradition of only passing-on the Daoist teachings to a single disciple.
Liao Kong encouraged Zhao Bichen to found the ‘Thousand Peaks Pre-Natal School’ (千峰先天派 – Qian Feng Xian Tian Pai), and approved of its modern approach to conveying the old traditions of Longmen (Wu Liu) Daoism – including the idea that humanity in general should benefit from the teachings of the true ‘Essential Life Mind-Body’ (性命双修 – Xing Ming Shuang Xiu) self-cultivation techniques. This opened up the authentic Daoist School to public scrutiny and ensured that the various Daoist ‘cults’ (that taught corrupted understanding and techniques) could be exposed for their false attitudes and assumed (false) abilities. With the founding of the Qianfeng School, everyone was able to benefit from the Daoist methods of prolonging life and ensuring robust health, and that early period in its existence saw such prominent people as Li Yuanhong (黎元洪) and Wu Peifu (吴佩孚).
Since its momentous conception and development, the modern Qianfeng School has facilitated the spread of genuine and authentic Daoist techniques (that build a robust health and generate conditions for a long life) not only through all sections of Chinese society, but also out into the world. The presence of the Qianfeng School continues to challenge and expose those supposed Daoist Schools which deceive their followers, charge high fees and perform no social good whatsoever. The Qianfeng School is premised upon a firm traditional base from within history, has preserved this tradition in the modern world whilst utilising the logic and reason of modern science, and is fully transparent in its dealings with the world.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China (in 1949), Zhao Bichen’s book entitled ‘The Secret Cultivation of Essential Nature and Eternal Life’ (性命法决明指 – Xing Ming Fa Jue Ming Zhi) was included in the ‘China Encyclopaedia of Daoist Methodology’ (中国道藏大全 – Zhong Guo Dao Zang Da Quan). This book is very popular outside of China and is known in the West as ‘Taoist Yoga’ (translated into English by Charles Luk in 1970), and has since spread globally, being further translated into many different languages. The contemporary Qianfeng School adheres to the wishes of its Founding Father – Zhao Bichen – and opens its doors to anyone who wishes to train in the genuine Daoist techniques. The Qianfeng School is now very well-known and popular amongst all people within China and is spreading through its good reputation across the rest of the world. All are welcome (without exception) to come and visit me – Zhao Ming Wang – at the Zhao Family Ancestral Home in Beijing.
By way of contrast, there are endless streams of special interest groups all claiming to possess innate knowledge of the Daoist methods and to be benefitting the world (in some way). Many unqualified individuals have declared themselves ‘Daoist Masters’ in their own right and are teaching various aspects of Daoist-related misunderstanding far and wide. They claim that they ‘hold up the banner’ of Great Daoist Masters and spread the true and authentic knowledge of ‘nei dan’ (内丹) for the betterment of humanity. These voices can be heard in every corner of the world (and in many different languages), expressing the supposed sacred details of the Daoist health exercises (and discipline) that generate ‘yang’ (阳) and ‘shen’ (神) that is emitted outward apparently for the betterment of others. All this is nonsense and imagination and has nothing whatsoever to do with genuine Daoist practice. Every so often, there are people I have never met who claim that they know me personally, or that they have received advanced training from me, when I have no knowledge of their lives. At other times individuals come to my house stating that they are immortal with advanced powers and that I can become their disciple. To deal with these fraudsters we have devised an interesting method. It is possible to ascertain a true nei dan practitioner from a false practitioner. Within the Qianfeng School there is a technique known as the ‘Immersing the Jade Flower in the Purity Bowl of the Southern Sea’ (玉花清盆南海中 – Yu Hua Qing Pen Nan Hai Zhong). This is how we distinguish fraudsters and liars from genuine Daoist practitioners within the Qianfeng School. Although this sounds very picturesque, the technique consists of a nei dan practitioner agreeing to have a plastic bag (such as found in a shop) secured over the head and sealed around the neck. Can the practitioner continue to sit quietly with no further access to oxygen? A genuine nei dan practitioner of advanced accomplishment can sit for hours without moving, continuing to live on the meagre air trapped in the bag, as the breathing process has become so rarefied as to be seen to have ‘stopped’. Obviously, those without any advanced nei dan skill soon give-up and reveal their lack of ability. Either way the truth is established beyond a doubt.
As Daoist methodology is a science built-up over thousands of years, nei dan training is not an easy task. Many do not have access to fully qualified teachers and so have no means of progressing with their training. They do not understand the principles of yin-yang (阴阳), jing (精) or qi (气) energy preservation, energy strengthening, or harmonious energy flow as methods to develop the body and mind. All are welcome at the Qianfeng School in Beijing to train with myself – Master Zhao Ming Wang – and learn to truly understand these Daoist teachings.
Daojia, Qianfeng Prenatal School
Former Residence of Venerable Old Master Zhao Bichen
Qianfeng Hermitage: Zhao Ming Wang
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2018.
Original Chinese Language Source Article: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_64e533c90102xmn8.html
中国道家功法最为低谷时代
如今谈及道家功夫以及她独有的养生功夫,大可在网上一搜真是铺天盖地,五花八门道家功无处不在,各路大师满天飞,号称得道高人。
我们纵观历史其实近代弘道炼道者少之又少,明朝是弘道修道的一个顶峰时期,那时可以说修道者众多,就以明嘉靖皇帝都是修道有小成者,我们在去年和美国历史博士张庆松教授以及英国千峰弟子克里斯前往明朝十三陵考察嘉靖皇帝的永陵,发现此陵是整个十三陵中最庞大的一座帝王陵,明朝比较长的一位帝王。
自清朝入关统治华夏大地,为了消除汉人文化把道教文化压制并开始宏藏传佛教,在这三百多年的历史中中国道教以及他神秘的道家功夫,性命双修内丹功夫都是极少数修者在默默传播。
在这段历史期间还要提到龙门派庙外传承,龙门派庙外传承是由社会儒家,佛教高僧以及社会与道有缘者在传播,在这段历史时期内龙门庙外道家内丹功夫不分门派,艰辛的传播到中华民国的成立。
民国时期中国百废待兴战乱频生内忧外患,在这一时期中国道家功夫传播乱做一团,各种歪门邪道层出不穷坑害善男信女,在这一时期龙门庙外第十代了空祖师,要求其弟子龙门庙外第十一代千峰老人赵避尘祖师打破道门历来单传之规,改为普传大众。
千峰老人赵避尘领师之命创立千峰先天派,打破了历代单传为普传道家性命双修真法,而且不惜危险力劈伪道邪教,弘扬真正道家性命双修养生功夫,愿人人健康为要。自此在那一时期拜入千峰先天派者众多如黎元洪,吴佩孚,张作霖以及其子张学良等诸多各界名流等。
在经过历时的洗礼中国道家养生功夫如今依然在华夏大地上传播,新中国成立后,千峰老人赵避尘所著{性命法决明指}一书以被编入中国道藏大全,其著作以被翻译成多国文字传播与世界各地,并申遗成功。
如今千峰先天派依然遵循千峰老人愿望,把道家真正养生功夫传播大众,而如今文化开放鱼龙混杂者层出不穷,很多大师出现在各地,打着道家内丹大师旗号,到处讲课他以结丹,以出阳神为他人发发功就可健康就可百病全治,完全是一派胡言,再有所谓大师说他结丹者,我告诉大家一招定让他原形毕露,道家有部功夫叫【玉花清湓南海中】意思是讲如果修者已经结丹内气自然会在体内运行,可燃香一柱修者头部进入水内可以展示其功夫,如今我们用一食品袋就可以验证。
修炼内丹不是一件容易之事,大部分爱好者修炼他只要健康以可。在各种养生方法中可以说道家性命双修功夫是当今最顶尖的养生功夫,其特点就是真正增补自身精气达到身体强壮健康,不靠外界任何营养以及药物,当我们精气足满自身阴阳平衡自然身体健康。
多年来千峰先天派赵避尘嫡传后裔赵明旺一直在千峰老人赵避尘故居【千峰草堂】传播道家养生功夫,多次参加公益养生活动,得到大众认可。
千峰先天派,千峰老人赵避尘故居,千峰草堂,赵明旺