Dayan Wild Goose Qigong
Among the hundreds of qigong systems, few are as elegant or
comprehensive as Dayan 大雁 (Wild Goose) Qigong. Inspired by the migratory movements of the barheaded goose—an extraordinary bird capable of flying over
the Himalayas at altitudes above 33,000 feet—this system from the Kunlun 昆仑 Mountain Daoist tradition embodies both the grace of nature and the rigorous discipline
of Daoist cultivation.
Lineage & Origins
Dayan Qigong traces its origins to the Jin Dynasty 晋, when a monk named Dao An 道安 (b. 311 CE) is said to have combined his deep study of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism with observations of wild geese to create a system that harmonized with the laws of nature, yin and yang 阴阳, the five elements 五行 (wuxíng), and the eight trigrams 八卦 (bagua). For centuries, this system was transmitted privately through an unbroken lineage of dedicated practitioners.
In the 20th century, Madame Yang Meijun 阳梅君 (1903–2002), the 27th generation lineage holder, brought the system to the public. Trained from the age of 13 by her grandfather, she preserved and safeguarded the teachings through times of upheaval, eventually beginning to teach publicly in Beijing parks in 1978. Her healing ability and clarity of transmission earned her widespread recognition.
In 1980, she reunited with her son, Chen Chuan Gang 陈传刚, after 36 years of separation and began transmitting the full system to him as her successor. Grandmaster Chen Chuan Gang (b. 1929) became the 28th generation lineage holder and worked to preserve and standardize the system in accordance with his mother’s teachings.
In 2021, the lineage passed to his son, Grandmaster Chen Zhi 陈智, who began training under Madame Yang at age 18 and now continues to carry the tradition forward.
Wild Goose Qigong Instructors
Robert B. Bates DC, MMQ
Robert is a healer and teacher of healing based in Bellingham, Washington. A 1990 graduate of Southern California College of Chiropractic, he has practiced in Washington State since 1992. He has taught many Qigong courses since 1997. He earned his Master of Medical Qigong certificate in 2001 from Jerry Alan Johnson at the International Institute of Medical Qigong.
He has been practicing Wild Goose Qigong since 1999 and has taken Wild Goose Qigong classes and workshops from noted teachers Michael Tse, Bingkun Hu, and Paul Li.
He currently teaches Medical Qigong, Biophysics and Clinical Anatomy at the Middle Way Acupuncture Institute. In addition he teaches workshops in Lymph Drainage Therapy and Fluid Articular Release for the Chikly Health Institute, an international teaching organization based in Arizona.
Matt Van Dyke, AEMP MQP
Qigong has been an important part of Matt Van Dyke's life for over 20 years. Since 2007, he has enjoyed sharing these practices with others, helping students cultivate health, vitality, and a deeper connection with themselves and the natural world.
Matt has studied Dayan Wild Goose Qigong with Robert Bates for more than a decade, and with Sue Johnson and Shane Lear, both indoor students of Master Chen Chuangang. Together, Matt and Robert have explored more than 30 forms and meditations within this extensive tradition, sharing their ongoing study and practice with students.
A longtime student of Dr. Zhang Dong Xun, OMD, Matt has also studied Jingui Golden Shield Qi Gong and Fit 150 Intended Evolution for over 20 years.
Matt is an ordained 23rd-generation Daoist priest in the Quanzhen Longmen Dantai Bidong lineage (全真龍門丹臺碧洞宗), through Parting Clouds Daoist Education. His Daoist name is Zōng Fēng (宗峯, “Ancestral Peak”). While distinct from the Kunlun tradition of Dayan Qigong, his Longmen studies enrich his personal cultivation and inform his understanding and practice of Dayan.
Matt is also a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist whose clinical work focuses on quality of life, longevity, and helping people tap into their innate capacity for healing. He serves as Core Faculty at Middle Way Acupuncture Institute, where he teaches Chinese Medicine and Qigong.
