From Bai Yun’s retreat on Mount Emei to Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong’s modern teachings, this is the story of how Emei Qigong grew from a mountain lineage into a complete healing system within the larger Qigong tradition
Two Questions Everyone Asks About Emei Qigong
When people first hear “Emei Qigong,” they often ask me two questions:
Where does this system come from?
How does it fit into the bigger story of Qigong in China?
In this article, I’d like to answer both in a simple, story-based way—so you can see how this rare mountain lineage fits within the long history of Qigong.
Learn Emei Qigong history and lineage—then feel it in your body
Qigong: A Very Old River of Practice
Qigong is not new. The roots of this tradition extend back more than 4,000 years, to the Neolithic period in China, where early healing practices were closely tied to shamanic rituals and working with the unseen world.
Over time, these simple energy practices were shaped and refined through many dynasties:
Early breathing and movement methods during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties
A deeper connection with Chinese medicine around the time of The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine in the Han dynasty
Strong influences from Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, which added philosophy, ethics, and spiritual goals to this work
By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Qigong had become more organized, and three main pathways were visible: Medical Qigong (for healing), Martial Qigong (for strength and protection), and Spiritual Qigong (for awakening and inner peace).
Emei Qigong belongs to this larger story—but it grew in a very special place.
A Sacred Mountain and a Monk Named “White Cloud”
The Emei Qigong lineage begins on Mount Emei, one of China’s four great sacred Buddhist mountains. Its highest point, the Golden Summit, has been a destination for meditators and pilgrims for centuries.
In 1227 A.D., a Daoist monk who lived on the mountain made a deep retreat on the summit.
He fasted, meditated, and received guidance from spiritual teachers. When he completed this retreat, he took the name Bai Yun, which means White Cloud.
Bai Yun did something extraordinary. Drawing from more than 3,600 different schools of thought, healing methods, and spiritual practices he had learned over his life, he wove them into a single, integrated system known as the Emei Linji School of Qigong—what we now call Emei Qigong.
From the beginning, this system brought together:
Buddhist and Daoist Qigong
Chinese medicine and acupuncture
Martial arts and internal training
Meditation, diagnosis, and Qigong therapy
The goal was clear: protect health, treat illness, and support high levels of spiritual realization within one unified approach.Go Deeper
If you’d like a fuller overview, these pages expand on the system and the lineage story.
The Emei Treasured Lotus Canon: A Key Text in Emei Qigong History and Lineage
According to Emei lineage tradition, Bai Yun preserved the heart of the teachings in a text known as the Emei Treasured Lotus Canon.
Rather than being widely circulated, it is described as a carefully guarded lineage text, protected and passed down privately from teacher to student.
This canon is associated with Emei martial arts, Daoist practice, and Emei Qigong.
Here’s What the Tradition Says it Includes:
Detailed training in Emei martial arts and internal power
Meditation practices for calm, focus, and insight
Healing methods, including herbal approaches, acupuncture, and specific Qigong exercises
Philosophical teachings on harmony with nature, virtue, and awakening
You could say the Treasured Lotus Canon is like the “DNA” of Emei Qigong. It preserves the blend of Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian influence that makes this system so rich and complete.
A Healing Frequency and an Unbroken Lineage
Over nearly 800 years, Emei Qigong has been passed from lineage holder to lineage holder—master to master—guided by a very specific healing frequency that sits at the center of all Emei practices.
This frequency links everything together:
- Movement forms like Wuji Gong and The Standing Form
- Sacred Healing Sounds for the organs
- Meditation and silent healing
- Mantras, including the Emei Universal Healing Mantra
Emei Qigong is not “just another exercise system.” It is designed as a complete healing path that works with body, energy, and spirit at the same time.
The Emei Qigong history and lineage story continues through key figures like Grandmaster Yong Yan, Grandmaster Zhou Qian Chuan, and Abbot Ju Zan, who helped carry the teachings through times of war and cultural change. They protected the system so it could reach modern students like us.
Today, Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong is recognized within the lineage as the 13th Lineage Holder of Emei Qigong, continuing this unbroken chain.
Learn more about Mount Emei (UNESCO World Heritage):
Mount Emei is recognized as a sacred cultural and natural site in China, known for its long history of temples, pilgrimage, and Buddhist heritage. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/779/
How Emei Qigong Fits Into Qigong History
Rooted in all three classical streams of Qigong
It has strong medical aspects: forms, healing sounds, therapy methods, and ways of balancing organ energy.
It includes martial training from the Emei School, emphasizing internal power and fluid movement.
It is deeply spiritual, grounded in Chan (Zen) Buddhism and Daoist internal practice, aiming at awakening and direct realization.
A bridge between Buddhism and Daoism
Many Qigong systems lean more heavily toward one tradition. Emei Qigong intentionally blends Buddhist and Daoist teachings: Daoist methods support the physical body and energy channels, while Buddhist methods guide the mind and heart toward compassion, insight, and enlightenment.
Energy science plus direct experience
Emei Qigong speaks in terms of “energy science,” but the real proof is what you feel in your practice. The shaking of Wuji Gong, the stillness of meditation, the resonance of the healing sounds—all of these are designed to let you experience the healing frequency, not just think about it.
Bringing the Story Down to Daily Practice
For me, as a modern practitioner and teacher, the story of Emei Qigong is not just history—it is a living invitation.
When we stand to practice:
We are touching a stream that began with early Qigong experiments thousands of years ago.
We are joining a mountain lineage that passes through Bai Yun, the Treasured Lotus Canon, and generations of masters who protected and refined these methods.
We are using tools that were built to support health, emotional balance, and spiritual growth in one integrated way.
You don’t have to understand every detail of the history to benefit. But when you know even a little of this story, your practice can take on a different feeling.
You are no longer “just doing movements” or “just relaxing.” You are stepping into a living tradition that has been carefully handed down, one practitioner at a time.
A Simple Next Step
If this story speaks to you, the best way to understand Emei Qigong is to experience it in your own body:
Try a simple form like The Standing Form or Wuji Gong
Explore the Sacred Healing Sounds for one organ
Or sit quietly with the Universal Healing Mantra, letting the sound carry your mind into stillness
In doing so, you are connecting not only with your own Qi, but also with a long lineage of practitioners.
From early shamans and Bai Yun on Mount Emei to students around the world today, generations have used Qigong to heal, transform, and awaken. That is the heart of The Emei Qigong Story and its place in Qigong history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Emei Qigong?
Emei Qigong is a complete system of movement, meditation, healing sounds, and internal practice rooted in the Mount Emei tradition in China. It is designed to support health, emotional balance, and spiritual cultivation through a unified approach.
Where Did Emei Qigong Originate?
The Emei lineage is associated with Mount Emei, one of China’s sacred mountains. The tradition describes a long development of methods preserved and refined through generations of practitioners, then carried forward into modern teaching.
How Is Emei Qigong Different From Other Qigong Styles?
Many styles focus mainly on health or movement. Emei Qigong is known for blending three streams: medical healing practices, internal training, and spiritual cultivation. This allows the practice to work with the body, energy, and mind together.
Is Emei Qigong Buddhist or Daoist?
It has influences from both traditions. Daoist methods often support the body and energy pathways, while Buddhist Chan practices support stillness, clarity, and insight. Emei Qigong blends these streams into one integrated training path.
What Is the Treasured Lotus Canon?
The Treasured Lotus Canon is described within the tradition as an important record that helped preserve the Emei teachings. It serves as a blueprint for a complete training system that includes meditation, healing arts, internal methods, and guiding principles for practice.
What Is a Simple Way to Begin Practicing Emei Qigong?
Begin with one clear practice and repeat it consistently. This might be a standing form, a gentle movement practice such as Wuji Gong, or one healing sound connected with a single organ. Keep your sessions short, relaxed, and regular. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Do I Need to Know the History to Benefit From Emei Qigong?
No. You can benefit from the practice without knowing its complete history. However, understanding some of the history can deepen your experience by connecting your practice with a living tradition rather than viewing it only as a set of exercises.
Thank you to everyone who attended Emei Qigong Level 1 Seminar – Part 2. It was a pleasure sharing these meaningful Emei Qigong teachings and practices with you.
During Part 2, we worked with the Emei Sacred Healing Sounds, emotional clearing, Yin and Yang principles, Qi information, empowered objects, and an introduction to karma from the Emei Qigong perspective.
Your presence, participation, and dedication helped make the seminar a very special experience. Please continue practicing and integrating what you learned.
Watch for the upcoming announcement and details. I look forward to continuing this Emei Qigong journey with you.
With gratitude,
Master Stan Pannone | Healing with Qi
EmeiQigongHarmony.com
Still have a question? Feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help you find a good place to begin.
Contact Stan
Master Stan Pannone | Healing with Qi
Qigong Philosophy, History & Lineage
Qigong is more than gentle movement and breathing. It is rooted in a rich tradition of Chinese philosophy, healing wisdom, meditation, energy cultivation, and lineage-based practice.
This category explores the deeper roots of Qigong, including Taoist and Buddhist influences, Yin and Yang, Traditional Chinese Medicine, karma, spiritual cultivation, and the Emei Qigong lineage. These articles help explain where Qigong comes from, how it developed, and why its teachings remain meaningful for health, healing, and inner balance today.
About The Author
Stan Pannone is a 14th Generation Qigong Master. He recently completed his Level 7 Training with Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong, the 13th Lineage Holder of Emei Qigong.
Stan teaches a full schedule of online and in-Person Classes, Seminars, and Training. He is also available for Private Training and Healing Sessions.
If you have any questions, or wish to know more about Stan's services and what he offers, don't hesitate to contact him directly. He'll be more than happy to assist you.
Master Stan's Class Schedule
