Brilio.net/en - Never exposed to the media before, a Chinese man named Li Ching Yuen has lived for 256 years. He was mentioned once in a New York Times article from 1930. A professor of the Chengdu University Wu Chung-Chieh presented Imperial Chinese government records from 1827 congratulating Li Ching-Yuen on his 150th birthday. Another document about him was dated back in 1877 that he was celebrating his 200th birthday. In 1928 a correspondent of the New York Times wrote that a lot of old men in Lis neighborhood claimed that their grandfathers knew Li Ching as an adult when they were only little boys.
Li Ching Yuen learned to read and write at early age and became an herbalist at age 10. When he reached that age, he had been to several places including Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, Annam, Siam, and Manchuria to gather herbs. He handpicked the herbs in mountains and learned about their power for longevity. He had proved himself the benefits of lingzhi, goji berry, wild ginseng, he shoo wu, gotu kola, and rice wine by consuming them for 40 years. Picking herbs was his primary occupation for 100 years after which he then began only selling the much sought after medicine.
In 1749 he entered the Chinese armies as teacher for martial arts. He was 71 year old at that time. All his life, he was known as a loved figure. He was married to 23 women and a father to over 200 children. But according to one of Lis disciples, Li was not the only one who reached the age over 200. He was certain there was a 500-year old man who taught him Qigong exercises and advised him about nutrition in order to help him extend his lifespan.
Lying on his deathbed, Li said that he had done everything he wanted to do in this world. Perhaps these are the key words to longevity. When asked what the secret to longevity was, Li said that a quiet heart, sitting like a tortoise, walking like a pigeon, and sleeping like a dog would do the trick. Li said this to Wu Pei-Fu, the warlord who took Li into his house in order to learn the secrets of longevity from him.
Li also saw that a calm and peaceful mind, in combination with proper breathing techniques as the solution to a longer lifespan. Maybe doing the tai-chi techniques would help here. Although his nutrition obviously played a major role in his longevity, Li attributed his long years of life to his state of mind.
Most of how we live our life is actually opposite to the one that of Lis secrets. No wonder that most peoples lifespan in urban cities ranges only from 70-80 years old. Perhaps if we can copy at least half of Lis lifestyle, combined with a stress-free mind, we can at least live longer than our peers.
(brl/red)
