The Wild Goose (Dayan) System
There are literally hundreds of different qigong systems, but one of the most widely acclaimed is the ancient Taoist Kunlun system known as Wild Goose (Dayan) Qigong. The tradition of the system is that it began with Dao An (birth name Wei), who was born during the Jin Dynasty in 311 C.E. in the Fu Lin Village, Chang Shan County, Hebei Province. Orphaned at an early age, Wei received a Confucian education until his 12th year when he entered a Buddhist temple to live and study. As with many Chinese systems, Wild Goose has been influenced by Confucian and Buddhist thought, but overall it is considered to be a Taoist system.
The system takes its name from the Bar Headed Goose which breeds in Central Asia and has a natural range covering Burma, China, India, Pakistan and Russia. It is the world’s 
highest altitude migrant, making flights over Mt. Everest in the Himalayas and has been seen at altitudes in excess of 33,000 feel. It can cover over 1000 miles per day by utilizing the high speed winds of the jet stream. They can legitimately be classed as a “super bird” with tremendous strength and aerobic capacity. Their graceful movements and efficient use of energy make them great symbols for a system of Qigong.
Wild Goose was hidden and passed from person to person within the Taoist tradition until 1980 when it was opened to the public by the 27th generation lineage holder Yang Meijun. Yang Meijun learned the art from her grandfather, the 26th generation lineage holder, Yang De Shan. Yang Meijun’s training began at the age of 13 and remained secret, even from many of her family members, until she was well into her 80s. This was in keeping with her grandfather’s admonition that she could not teach the art until she was at least 70. With Grand Master Yang Meijun’s passing in 2002 (at age 106), her eldest son Chen Chuan Gang continues teaching the system as the 28th generation lineage holder.
The system is very broad, encompassing both healing and martial methods (including weapons). Overall, Wild Goose contains some 72 different forms – the foundations of the system being the first and second 64 part forms. The healing aspects of the forms can be profound with anecdotal evidence that it has been effective against a long list of ailments. It has also been the subject of research in China from such organizations as the Chinese Qigong Research Society.
It is important to know that this is not a static system, but rather a system that has continued to develop as it has passed from master to master for 1700 years. The result is that today it represents a profound store of knowledge with tremendous potential – particularly for healing.
This knowledge makes its way to us through my instructor, Sifu Shane Lear. Sifu Lear is a direct student of the 28th generation lineage holder, Chen Chuan Gang. Sifu Lear began his WIld Goose studies in 2009 and was officially inducted into the Wild Goose lineage by Grand Master Chen in 2011.