Historical Influences
Understanding qi flow goes back thousands of years to shamen who first observed nature. They are known as 巫师wu shi. After years of evolution in understanding their observations, practices started to emerge. The first record of qi gong was originally known as 導引 dao yin. The first evidence with drawings distinctly practicing was found in a tomb from the Han Dynasty, the person was buried in the year 168 BC.
Religious and Philosophy
There are three main influences from religion and philosophy: Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. In Chinese, they have a saying, 三教合一san jiao he yi, three teaching combined to one. Most of Chinese culture is this way, so is Qi Gong. Good ideas are good ideas.
Daoism
Daoism is a major source of the origins of Qi Gong. Many of the terms began in Daoism such as 丹田dan tian (elixir field). Daoism is a religion, known as 道教 Dao Jiao that originated as a philosophy, know as 道家 Dao Jia. Today both are very popular. Both draw their inspirations from Lao Zi’s Dao De Jing , basically the bible for Daoism, and Zhuang Zi, another famous philosopher. These philosophies cover, in a manner of speaking, yin/yang, ba gua and the I Ching which are base to Qi Gong.
Buddhism
Buddhism’s Qi Gong is mainly known from the Shaolin Temples. There are other schools of Buddhist Qi Gong that are not from the Shaolin such as those from Emei Shan Temple, but most are from the many lineages of Shaolin.
Daoist and Buddhist qi gong has a different goal to qi gong than of Confucian scholars who practice qi gong. Daoist and Buddhist have a goal of understanding nature or enlightenment. Confucian scholars practiced to improve their health and for reflection of the self to find harmony in society.
Confucian
In Daoism, the ideas of Confucius mean that there has been a breakdown of relationship between humanity and following the virtue of the Dao. (This is an interpretation of Chapter 19 of the Dao De Jing.) However, since humanity is having difficulty with the teaching of Confucius (always has and always will), his teachings are invaluable. Daoist and Buddhist know this and in training students, understanding benevolence, loyalty and faith in family and friendship, ritual, and filial piety are all part of the training to understand qi flow.
Medical
The medical influence comes in the modern form of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) and is a real strong influence on Qi Gong. All acupuncturists learn qi gong because of this tradition. Medical Qi Gong referenced and learned a great deal from Daoist and Buddhist Qi Gong, but the healing for health aspect that many of modern people are aware of is medical. The history is long with very successful and influential doctors and herbalists. The bible of Medical Qi Gong is called the 黄帝内经 The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. This is where the philosophy of the Five Elements is first logged and categorized for acupuncture students. The book also explains how the yin/yang works and balances. Daoist and Buddhist use this book in their own practice too.
Medical Qi Gong aside from the historical influences is actually a relatively new practice in the world of Qi Gong. It started to be promoted only 50 or 60 years ago. It has its base in the ancient practice of Qi Gong, but it actually was part of the Qi Gong practice. People wanted to distinguish themselves from the regular practice because it is a specific practice for those who are trained to be healers.
Martial Arts
Martial arts is as varied as there are styles of cooking! Two popular styles are Kung Fu and Tai Ji Quan. Martial art training is very deep. When America entered World War Two, people who were signing up to fight were coming out from the Great Depression. They were under nourished, basically unhealthy and too thin. Now, there is a new report from retired generals explaining that our children are again under nourished, basically unhealthy, but too fat! Health is very important for a strong military. Since it was well know than practicing qi gong will strengthen the body and mind, many generals in ancient China trained their troops in qi gong along with their martial art training.
Martial artists must learn how to use swords and part of learning this is to put qi into the weapon as an extension of the person. Kung Fu weapons are of all shapes and sizes and must be learned with use of mind, body and qi for the soldier or warrior to be successful.
In training and in combat, people get hurt. Therefore learning how to heal was and is an integral part of martial art training. In training it could be a simple thing as a swollen hand where some acupressure (tui-na) can be used or from a nasty sword cut where Yunnan Bai Yao (external kind) can be used to help seal the wound and promote healing.
All of these influences are equally important to each other. Some Medical Qi Gong doctors believe that practicing martial arts and qi gong do not go together, but as you have read, each have learned a tremendous amount from each other and deserve to be taught to everyone. We must choose one path and follow it, but having a wide base of knowledge of how qi works can only benefit practitioners.