Short history of Buddhidarma Luohan Qigong

The Luohan System of Qigong was created in 527 AD by Buddihidarma , the 28th Patriarch of Buddha's teachings. He travelled from India to China to bring Buddha's teachings to the monks. He is known as the founder of Chan Buddhism, later known in Japan as Zen. The legend says that Buddihidarma spent nine years meditating in a cave. After years of meditation in the cold and windy mountain retreat he and his disciples suffered of fatigue and body aches. To fight this illnesses he created a set of exercises, based on the Indian yoga and Chinese health and longevity exercises. He included also own observations from wild animals (the movements of the crane, the tiger, the leopard, the snake, etc.). This first set of exercises is known as "The 18 Hands of Luohan" and is considered as the source of Shaolin Qigong (Chi-Kung) and martial arts.

The Luohan Qigong system, also known as the "The art of respiration of the enlightened ones", is an internal set of exercises to cultivate the three treasures of Chi (vital energy), Jing (essence) and Shen (spirit). The complete set of the Luohan Qigong system is:
1. Luohan 18 hands (luohan kung),
2. Siu Luohan,
3. Da Luohan, and
4. Wu Chi.
These forms cover the whole range of internal Kung-Fu system and can be an excellent basis for all internal and external martial art. All this forms use relaxation, posture and the control of the breath and mind to direct chi through the meridians. If practiced regularly, it activates the chi flow along the meridians, promotes a good posture, strengthens the internal organs, strengthens joints and muscles and improves the hability to relax. top

Technical aspects of Luohan 18 hands

	Starting posture
	Raising Palms towards heaven
	Topple Mountain range with palms
	Tiger pushes the mountain
	Wild Goose unfolds its wings
	Bow with hands
	Deep meditation stance
	Separate as drawing a bow
	Drawing a bow
	Tiger shows its claws
	Front kick and punsh
	Strike with leg sweep
	Vertical high kick

 

top