Abstract
Oriental Medicine has long been centered around Qi[vital force], hence adopting Qigong and the art of regimen for training the body and relaxing the mind so as to prevent and heal illness. It has not been such a long time since Qigong method had been performed and spot-lighted out of numerous methods in Oriental Medicine. In China and Korea alone, diverse cases and papers are published, only revealing so many steps toward the establishment of diachronic description, theoretical foundation, and clinical practice. Historical approach is an essential part of recognizing a subject. When you step along its path and comprehend what it were, you can also grasp what it is and what it will be. Establishment of Qigong history is also vital to research Qigong in theory and practice. Generally, Qigong was transmitted from China to Korea, whereas the opposite explanation, that it originated from Korean Taoism, is supported by the minority based on certain texts concerning ancient history. In this paper, I support the theory of Korean originality based on the following grounds: First, the location of Qi and Van, the motherland of Chinese Taoism provides a strong evidence that Korean tradition had been absorbed by them and formed the tradition of mystic hermits(shenxian). Second, Guangchengzi, the originator of mystic hermits, is from Dongyi tribe according to Cheonghakjib. Third, the myth of Dangun has pure form of unique Korean folklore possessing the distinctive feature of mystic hermits tradition, uninfluenced by Chinese Taoism. Fourth, in ideographical aspect, the character 'xian(仙)', was invented as the Korean concept of mystic hermits[xian] was flowed in to China. Moreover, There is high probability that it was based on the concept of mystic hermits shown in the myth of Dangun in Its original formation. Fifth, considering the relation between wild ginseng and the tradition of mystic hermits, that tradition can be formed very naturally in Korean area. Sixth, the analogical similarity between archetype of Korean tradition and Taoistic trilogy, the foundational idea of the tradition, gives genealogical basis to its origin. Seventh, the tradition of mystic hermits and Shamanism, which constitues the prototype of Korean mind as an original religious tradition, are undiscernible in their root In Conclusion, We can reach the idea that the origin of Qigong derives from Korean tradition, not that of China. The tradition of mystic hermits was transformed to ego-centric seclusionism when it faced the anarchy of Warring states period in China, whereas it was developed into humane proriety and worship of Heaven base on the programme of 'universal fraternity in pursuit of interst for man'. In prospect, it is highly required to develop and interpret traditional discipline methods in Korea so as to utilize them for clinical Qigong in practice.
