Tianjun Liu
Beijing University of Chinese Medicine professor, chief physician, doctoral supervisor
Honorary President of the Chinese Medical Qigong Society
Psychology supervisor, Chinese Psychological Society
Psychological supervisor, Chinese Mental Health Association
Topic： Talk about the ultimate goal of traditional Chinese qigong practice
The practice of traditional Chinese Qigong can generally be divided into five major schools: Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, Medical, and Martial Arts. Despite the different paths, the ultimate goal of all Qigong practices is the same: achieving the state of unity between Heaven and Man, a concept central to the growth of personality in traditional Chinese culture.
The term “unity between Heaven and Man” (天人合一) is straightforward and free of religious connotations, and it is synonymous with the Buddhist concept of enlightenment, the Taoist concept of nothingness, the Confucian concept of sitting in forgetfulness, the Medical concept of tranquility, and the Martial Arts concept of Tai Chi. These terms differ only in their descriptive angles and habitual use across the various schools, but they all ultimately refer to the same state of unity between Heaven and Man.
Unity between Heaven and Man is a core concept of traditional Chinese culture, and it can be understood and explained from multiple disciplines and perspectives. In the context of traditional practice, it represents the highest level of personal growth—the realization of the cosmic personality. This cosmic personality transcends individual biological and social personalities, representing the ultimate state of personal development. This level of personal growth is not found in Western theories and practices of personality development. It reflects the ultimate goal of traditional Chinese Qigong practice, which is classical, introspective, and focused on personal growth. It also highlights the deep, inherent differences between traditional Chinese culture and Western culture.