The Immortal: True Accounts of the 250-Year-Old Man, Li Qingyun

by Yang Sen, Stuart Alve Olson (Translator)

In 1927, General Yang Sen invited Li Qingyun to Wanxian, China, to teach about health and longevity. Li Qingyun was reported to be 250 years old at the time, and his visit to Wanxian was big news. In 1970, Yang Sen compiled a book of his and other's accounts of Li Qingyun, titled "An Authentic and True Record of a 250-Year-Old Man, " which Stuart Alve Olson started translating into English in 1982.
Besides the notion of someone living to 250 years of age, this book goes well beyond the biography of Li Qingyun's life. It has great historical value, especially for Westerners who are unfamiliar with much of Chinese history towards the end of the Qing dynasty. It also explains incredible health therapies and provides information on what is now called Medical Qigong. Much is explained about Daoism on meditation, breathing, qigong exercise, food, sex, and philosophy for Daoist living. Another true gem of this book is the philosophical teachings, as much of this material has never been presented in English. The depth of information provided in this book surpasses any previously published work on Daoist health practices and philosophy. It is rare to come across a text with such abundance of insights and written with such clarity as this material provides.
Although"Qigong Teachings of a Taoist Immortal: The Eight Essential Exercises of Master Li Ching-yun" was published in 2002, which includes translations from Yang Sen's book, the entire translation is now finally available.This book belongs in everyone's library who studies or has an interest in Chinese philosophy, qigong regimes, and biographies.

Genres: Health, Spirituality

422 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2014

Reviews

[Shelton Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty Good

[Vinod · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Özkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe it is a real story. I think it shows the power of belief for a long life and you can find small details to help you live longer. I always find helpful things in small details.

[Joseph Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still reading through this book. From the research given the account appears to be true about Li Qingyun's age. This review details spoilers but I wanted to share certain facts to highlight why this book is worthy of reading.

The secret to a long life Li Qingyun gives is based on cultivating "chi." Exercise, eating healthy helps with this cultivation. But the main factors of creating a healthy internal environment for "chi" are what Li and other centenarians advocate in the book. That of having the right mental state.

Pg 71 mentions "wolfberry." Li eats this 3 times daily. He claims this is part of why he lived so long. Also, Li says on this page as well as throughout the book that negative thoughts and emotions...create illness and reduce "chi," which Li claims is the elixir of life. Cultivating and maintaining "chi" comes through positive emotions and in learning to be at peace (mentally) in any situation. And to let go of the negative things that happen to oneself.

Li also throughout his life, ate predominately a plant-based diet and walked for long periods daily. His belief for his long life was in eating certain "immorality herbs" and in keeping himself in a tranquil state. He did not allow himself to hurt his body by holding in hate, anger or bitterness, etc.
It's interesting that modern research has come to that same conclusion,(that health and long life are connected to one's thoughts/feelings). If you go online and search such themes the data is quite interesting.

I personally have purchased some of the herbs mentioned. I bought a strong liquid ginseng supplement made in China, called "Red Panax ginseng extract." Ginseng is one of the "immortality" herbs. This book also details what other "immortals" eat for food as herbs. This is a term used for those in China who have been recorded to live for a very long time. Li Qingyun is not the only "immortal," mentioned in the book.

The process of "chi" creation and having a mental state of peace, is circular. This book says the more "chi" one has the more one's emotions are at harmony with oneself. And the more a person lives a life of positive emotions/thoughts... the more "chi" is created.

The "Miracle of Fasting" by Paul and Patricia Bragg highlights these thoughts as well. But the term they use is "vital life force." In this book they say fasting produces this "vital life force" and through the regular process of fasting, the heart and mind become more calm and uncompromising...to the stresses of the world. They recommend fasting when a person is struggling with stress or an emotional issue. As fasting helps alleviate such internal struggles.

I only share this, because I am going over this book too, and the parallels are interestingly similar.

Paul and Patricia Bragg are elderly and yet they claim to have the energy of 20 somethings. This is another thing Li Qingyun and the other "immortals" claimed to have. These books complement each other, so I wanted to share the later book in my review. This "chi" seems to slow the aging process, vitalize and protect the body from illness, promote energy, and keep the appearance younger than the actual age. Both books mention this...