What is Qigong Meditation?
Qigong is a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation designed to cultivate and balance qi, the vital energy understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine to animate all living things. The word Qigong is formed from two Chinese characters: Qi (气) — vital life energy — and Gong (功) — skill developed through sustained practice. While qigong broadly encompasses movement-based practices, qigong meditation specifically refers to the meditative dimensions of this tradition—both seated stillness and moving meditation—that aim to regulate the flow of qi through the body’s energy channels. There are two basic types of meditative practice: Concentrative, requiring focus on specific objects such as mantras, breathing, imagery or colors; Mindfulness, which does not focus on any specific purpose, nor does it attempt to manipulate or exert control over any stimuli. Qigong meditation may be practiced while sitting, standing, or lying down, and typically involves mindfulness and visualization techniques, intending to create a state of mental tranquility and promote good health.
Origins & Lineage
Archeological evidence suggests that the first forms of qigong can be linked to ancient shamanic meditative practice and gymnastic exercises. A nearly 7000-year-old Neolithic vessel depicts a priest-shaman in the essential posture of meditative practice and gymnastic exercise of early qigong. Also known as dao yin, qigong has its roots in Daoist traditions dating back to approximately 2146 bce, though documented history is sparse before the Han dynasty. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, which first appeared in writing about 300 B.C. and is still considered the bible of Chinese medicine, is attributed to Huang Ti (The Yellow Emperor), considered the originator of many health and longevity practices linked to qigong.
Beginning about 200 B.C. and extending to about 500 A.D., Buddhism and yoga meditation techniques that had been practiced in India for thousands of years were brought into China and absorbed into the Chinese culture. These techniques, along with Taoist internal alchemy, brought a new era to qi gong, which began to be practiced at a deeper, internal-functioning level. A series of qigong exercises known as the Yijin Jing (“Muscle/Tendon Change Classic”) was attributed to Bodhidharma, the legendary founder of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. These teachings were kept secret for religious purposes and passed down to only a few specially chosen disciples in each generation.
The term “qigong” itself is relatively modern. The term “Qigong” was coined in the 1940s and 50s, unifying various traditional practices under one umbrella. More specifically, in 1949, Liu Guizhen established the name “qigong” to refer to the system of life-preserving practices that he and his associates developed, based on daoyin and other philosophical traditions. In the mid-1960s, qigong was criticised and banned in China. In 1979, qigong’s reputation was rehabilitated thanks to high level supporters, such as scientist Qian Xuesen, General Zhang Zhenhuan, and Sports Minister Wu Shaozu. Qigong was officially recognised and deemed a component of Chinese medicine with healing benefits and scientific value.
How It’s Practiced
Qigong meditation practice integrates three core elements: breath regulation, postural alignment, and mental focus. Practitioners use focused attention to direct awareness within the body. This is not imagination or visualization, but the use of clear, directed intent. This principle is reflected in the ancient Chinese character Yi, often translated as intention. Yi can be understood as “bringing Qi to mind,” emphasizing that where awareness is placed, qi follows.
Qigong meditation generally falls into two categories. Passive qigong requires little to no physical movement. It focuses on relaxation, meditation, and deep breathing techniques. It typically involves mindfulness and visualization techniques, intending to create a state of mental tranquility and promote good health. Active qigong, also known as “Dynamic Qigong,” involves meditating while moving. It involves the performance of movements or exercises coordinated with breathing, and focuses on cultivating, circulating, and harmonizing Qi. Many practitioners integrate both active and passive qigong to optimize the benefits, using active forms to cultivate and circulate energy and passive forms to consolidate and store energy.
A few examples of distinct styles are Tai Chi, Animal Frolics, Eight Pieces of Brocade, Swimming Dragon, Microcosmic Orbit, and Six Syllable Secret. The secrecy around qigong teachings led to thousands of different styles. Each family or village, each religious or martial-arts group, in different areas of that large country, developed their practices separately, for their own particular purposes, and passed them down only selectively within their own lineage.
Qigong Meditation Today
Today, millions of people worldwide practice qigong. Modern practitioners encounter qigong meditation through various channels: group classes at wellness centers and parks, online video instruction, private instruction from lineage-trained teachers, and increasingly through clinical settings where qigong is offered as complementary therapy. A qigong class will involve guided movement and meditation from a seasoned qigong pro. Expect a relaxing environment where you’ll be taken through a gentle qigong flow to activate qi energy. The instructor may correct your posture or position, or may offer modifications to any movement that may need them.
Meditation is one of the four fundamental components of Qigong along with movement/posture, self-massage, and breathing. Meditation is increasingly being used in clinical situations for a range of conditions, and there is a growing scientific evidence base of its benefits. Qigong meditation and mindfulness training cultivates body awareness and promotes self-management of illness. The practice has attracted attention from both Western medical researchers and seekers of traditional wisdom, though questions remain about efficacy for specific conditions.
Common Misconceptions
Qigong meditation is not a quick fix or passive activity. Gong carries the same meaning as Gongfu — skill earned through time and dedicated effort. Qigong is therefore not a passive activity but a discipline: the results are proportional to the consistency and quality of practice. Once you choose a qigong meditation practice, stick with it for a while. Each time you do the same qigong meditation a little bit more energy gets built so that you can eventually feel it. This can’t happen if you are always doing something new.
Qigong is often conflated with tai chi, though the relationship is more nuanced. Tai Chi is an internal martial art that applies Qigong principles within a choreographed form, originally designed for self-defense but now widely practiced for health and longevity. In other words: all Tai Chi contains Qigong, but not all Qigong is Tai Chi. Although the practices of Tai Chi and Qigong are sometimes referred to interchangeably, Tai Chi is a practice that has grown from the Qigong tradition. Qigong, and the movements associated with the practice, was designed solely as a meditative and healing practice.
The concept of qi itself is frequently oversimplified. The character 气 is multilayered in meaning and a singular translation is incredibly inadequate. In the West, Qi usually just gets simplified to mean “energy.” This is not incorrect, but it is a very limited understanding. Western scientific frameworks lack direct equivalents for qi, leading to debates about whether qigong’s benefits derive from energetic phenomena, biomechanical effects, nervous system regulation, or placebo responses.
How to Begin
For beginners, starting with simple breath awareness is most accessible. For beginners, start with simple Qigong meditation techniques such as Breath Awareness Meditation. As you become more comfortable, you can explore more complex practices that involve movement, visualization, or sound. Seek instruction from qualified teachers, particularly those trained within established lineages. Since qigong involves a sequence of movements, it’s best to start with a beginner’s class or online video.
The National Qigong Association maintains directories of certified instructors and offers resources for locating teachers. Books such as “The Way of Qigong” by Kenneth S. Cohen provide comprehensive introductions to theory and practice. Many studios now offer introductory workshops that teach foundational forms like the Eight Pieces of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin), which combines simple movements with breath coordination. Committment to practice requires effort and consistency over time in order to achieve best results. Note that meditation is a part of any Qigong practice session, but the most enduring benefit is obtained by integrating Qigong into your daily life.