High Priestess of the Tao

Li was a beautiful young girl who fled to the sanctuary of Wudang Mountain in order to escape an arranged marriage. Only 8 or 9 years old at the time, she took readily to the training and soon became a Taoist priestess at the age of 10. Li eventually went on to become High Priestess of the Wudang Longmen School and the 24^th generation inheritor of its internal alchemy tradition. Grandmaster Li devoted her entire life to preserving, developing and promoting Taoist wisdom, healing arts and internal practice.

Grandmaster Li’s commitment to the Taoist path was so strong that she refused to leave the mountain when the Red Guards closed the temples during the Cultural Revolution. They dragged her for miles away from the temple, yet she crawled back every time. Although the experience severely injured her back, she continued her cultivation and healing work throughout her life. Even in the last few years of time with us, she still did healing on 200-300 people per day. National Geographic’s Special on Wudang Mountain has featured her in the documentary, including how her hair turned black from gray in her later years.   

She was born in 1872 and passed away in 2002. During her 130 years with us, she was well known by her Daoist name Cheng Yu – Pure Jade.  Those who have known her regard her as a living manifestation of determination and compassion.

TCCII directors Dr. Yinong Chong and Mr. Shawn Cartwright are both 26^th generation indoor disciples of the Wudang Longmen School, trained in Grandmaster Li’s lineage by Master Chen, the 25^th generation inheritor of Wudang’s alchemy, Qigong, and Tai Chi systems.

Follow this link for a National Geographic special that features Grandmaster Li.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=faVE_ebNsg8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_6ksfSY0oxw&feature=related

These are parts 3 and 4 of a 5-part video. Grandmaster Li is featured toward the end of part 3, beginning of part 4 and also in other parts of the video. (Note, the show mistakenly reports her age as 103 instead of 130)

Move of the Month: Opening the Small Heavenly Circulation

Opening the small heavenly circulation is one of the early goals of every serious Qigong practitioner. Although there is no short-cut in opening the small circulation, there are certain secret Taoist exercises, such as Shen Dian Qigong, that can make it easier. TCCII Directors Yinong Chang and Shawn Cartwright recently taught Shen Dian Qigong at TCCII’s monthly seminar series. This powerful form of Qigong comes to us from Grandmaster Li. Shen Dian Qigong combines Qigong with internal alchemy to aide the practitioner in opening the small heavenly circulation.

If you missed the Shen Dian seminar - don’t worry! Our Move of the Month gives you a few more “secrets of the mountain” for opening your small circulation.

This month we present the first three movements of the six-movement exercise. Stay tuned for the next three movements in the August TCCII newsletter!

Recipe of the Month: Eating Cool in the Summer

Summer is hot and humid, and the summer heat makes things grow and move. Qi and blood become more active in the summer than in any other season. Summer is a great time to practice and train hard, but it can be a challenge to stay cool. One way to stay cool is to eat cool. We don’t mean eating cold foods, but eating cool from a Chinese medicine perspective.

To learn more about how to eat for “coolness” read our article on Eating Right for Your Type All Year Round. You will also find advice on food for all seasons!

Upcoming Events

July 12, 2008, 9am-Noon, Crossings Healing Center

Wudang Yang Shen Qigong

This Wudang Qigong form is designed to teach you how to collect Qi and emit Qi. These skills are invaluable for nurturing life, healing, and internal martial arts. All serious Wudang adepts are required to learn this form alongside their Tai Chi and Qigong training.

August 2, 2008, 9am-Noon, Crossings Healing Center

Hsing-I Five Elements

Hsing-I is one of the crown jewels of the Chinese internal arts. Come and learn the Five Element form as well as the associated Qigong. This form is excellent at intensive conditioning for all practitioners and a “must” for serious internal kung fu students.

TCCII News

June 7, 2008 – TCCII co-sponsored the cultural exchange concert Bridges to China in Annapolis, Maryland. Dr. Yinong Chong, Director of TCCII, was the Mistress of the Ceremony. 

June 8, 2008 - Dr. Yinong Chong, Director of TCCII, was one of the MCs of the Earthquake Relief Concert sponsored by 22 organizations at the University of Maryland. The event raised tens of thousands of dollars for victims of the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province in China.

June 27, 2008 - TCCII Directors Yinong Chong and Shawn Cartwright gave a lecture and demonstration of Qigong at the US Postal Service at Gaithersburg.

June 28, 2008, TCCII taught the Wudang Shen Dian Qigong form at Crossings. This form is excellent for preparing the students in alchemy practice and assisting in the opening of the small heavenly circulation.