Vital Breath of the Dao Chinese Shamanic Tiger Qigong (Laohu gong) $29.95 (plus $3 shipping and handling)

Introduction
by Master Zhongxian Wu

Vital Breath of the Dao — Chinese Shamanic Tiger Qigong (Laohu Gong 老虎功) will be the first English book about Chinese Wu 巫(Shamanic) Qigong. This book is about the ancient Chinese wisdom tradition and its spiritual cultivation from W u巫 (Chinese Shamanism). It will be published by Dragon Door Publications in December 2005.

Wu巫 ; Chinese Shamanism — is the origin of Chinese civilization and culture. In the Wu 巫perspective, the balance and union of Heavenly Yang and Earthly Yin Qi (energies) result in a peaceful and harmonious world. Likewise, imbalances in these energies can result in disharmony in the world, which can take the form of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storms, floods, and volcanoes. As part of this dynamic universe, human beings are also subject to the effects of these energies. By following and living by the balancing principles of the universe, it is possible to achieve harmony in the body. Through study and observation of this universal way, the ancient Chinese Wu (shamans or sages) created numerous methods to help people maintain/rebuild their body balancing systems in order to keep their physical bodies, minds, and spirits healthy. People have used these methods to improve their lives for thousands of years in China. Now, we call these modalities Qigong.

Qigong is a practice for cultivating inner knowledge and a way to help people return to the union of the Human Being and the Universe. Qigong facilitates the development of a deeper relationship with Qi, which helps the practitioner understand the laws of the universe and how they influence human life.

As a practitioner of some of the Wu traditions, I want to share my experience with westerners. The reason I am bringing the reader into my personal experience is that in the course of my Wu (Shamanic) Qigong practice, I have realized that the external world is a reflection of the heart and that a peaceful world is brought into existence by the whole of humanity. As a microcosm in the macrocosm, the physical body is a reflection of the heart as well. I hope that through sharing my story, this ancient wisdom will inspire more people to move into a state of well-being and bring peace to the world.In writing Qigong books and articles, my intent is not to teach techniques, but to share the way of my life, the experience of my Qigong practice, and the ancient wisdom I am cultivating.

I am planning to write seven Qigong books in English in my lifetime. These will be:

1. Vital Breath of the Dao—Chinese Shamanic Tiger Qigong
2. Transformation of the Universe—Chinese Shamanic Dragon Qigong
3. The Way of Enlightenment—Chinese Shamanic 28 Lunar Mansions Cosmic Qigong
4. The Oneness (As Above, So Below)—Chinese Astrology and Classical Chinese Medicine
5. Dance the Art of Peace—Martial Arts and Chinese Shamanism
6. The Ritual of the Heart—Classical Chinese Music and Universal Peace
7. The Power of Symbol—Chinese Calligraphy, Qigong, and Yijing (The Book of Changes)

In ancient times, the Wu (shaman) used the ancient Chinese characters as a vehicle to access the universal Qi and circulate the energy network. One of the unique features of this book is that I use Chinese characters to share this knowledge.

This book is comprised of three parts. In Part I, I describe my experience of life as a way of sharing my understanding of Qigong. I bring in some practical Qigong ideas and Chinese culture through the telling of my story. In Part II, I share some basic knowledge of Chinese Shamanic Qigong. This includes symbolism, numerology, and theory. In Part III, I go into the details of the practice. In this part, I share the techniques from the ancient Wu and their cultural background, philosophy, and function.

Another unique feature of this book is that classical Chinese wisdom traditions are taught through joyous stories. It may give the reader a fresh view of Qigong even if he/she is an expert Qigong practitioner. This book will also be a good introduction for Qigong beginners. It can be a classical Chinese medical students’ textbook as well and is a relaxing read for people who are interested in Classical Chinese culture and anthropology.

Live in harmonious Qi!

Zhongxian Wu