Neigong

Neigong, also spelled nei kung or neigung, is any of a set of Chinese breathing and meditation disciplines associated with Daoism and especially the Chinese martial arts. Neigong practice is normally associated with the so called "Soft Style", "Internal" or Nèijiā 內家 Chinese martial arts, as opposed to the category known as Waigong 外功 or "external skill" which is historically associated with Shaolin Quan or the so called "Hard Style", "External" or Wàijiā 外家 Chinese martial arts. Both have many different schools, disciplines and practices and in reality much cross over and sharing exists between the two and distinguishing precisely between them is the subject of much debate.

One clear differentiation worth considering is the Taoist quest for immortality or Return to the Source 一歸無極 as it is known to the Daoists themselves. This quest led them to develop many different and varied esoteric arts, including meditation techniques, ingestion of medicinal herbs, and also calisthenics for achieving and maintaining desired mental and physical states (of which Neigong practice is one). Some or all of these arts can be drawn upon by the Daoist adept to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to become at one with the Dao 道 and become an immortal or Cheng Xian 成仙 in Chinese. Neigong practice is closely associated with this culture and although some modern theorists and practitioners attempt to disassociate it from its original tradition, through doing so they can inadvertently lose much of the tradition’s rich colour and charm.

There is both martial and non-martial Neigong, one example of martial Neigong is the breathing and focus training utilised in some traditional Tai Chi Chuan schools, or an example of non-martial Neigong is the discipline known as Daoyin.

Neigong and the Internal martial arts
The martial art school of Neigong emphasises training the coordination of the individual's body with the breath, known has the harmonisation of the inner and outer 內外合一, thus creating a basis for mastery of a particular schools method of utilising power and technique.

Neigong exercises that are part of the Neijia tradition involve cultivating physical stillness and or conscious (deliberate) movement, designed to produce relaxation or releasing of muscular tension combined with special breathing techniques known as the "tortoise" or "reverse" breathing methods to name but a few. The fundamental purpose of this process is to develop a high level of coordination, concentration and technical skill that is known in the martial arts world as Neijin 內勁. The ultimate purpose of this practice is for the individual to become at one with heaven or the Dao 天人合一. As Zhuangzi stated, "Heaven, earth and I are born of one, and I am at one with all that exists 天地與我並生, 萬物與我唯一".

Neigong and meditation
This type of practice is said to require concentration and internal reflection which results in a heightened self-awareness that increases over time with continued practice. Neigong practitioners report awareness of the mechanics of their blood circulation, peristalsis, muscular movement, skeletal alignment, balance, etc.

Neigong is considered by its adherents to be a valuable health maintenance regimen, and the practice has therefore seen a resurgence of interest (especially in its association with some schools of Tai Chi Chuan) in recent years.

What is said to be occurring as the result of continual practice is a type of internal alchemy, that is a refinement and transmutation of the "Three Treasures" or San Bao 三寳, in Chinese. The Three Treasures are known as Jing 精, Qi 氣 and Shen 神 and can be loosely translated as Essence, Vitality and Spirit.

According to Daoist doctrine the Three Treasures can be described as three types of energy available to humans. The Dao De Jing purported to be written by Lao zi states in chapter 42 that "The Dao 道 gives birth to the One, the One gives birth to the Two (Taiji 太極 or Yin and Yang 陰陽) and the Two gives birth to the Three (which some interpret to mean Jing 精, Qi 氣 and Shen 神, or sometimes Heaven Tian 天, Earth Di 地 and Man Ren 人) and lastly the Three gives birth to the 10,000 Things (Wanwu 萬物); which is all that exists in heaven and on earth.