Li Ching Yuen was quite the extraordinary man. As a Chinese herbalist, he lived 256 years or, “only” about 200 years by his own account. Either way, this is far more than is recognized as the maximum human life span. Let’s learn why he chose a diet containing herbs like Reishi medicinal mushrooms, He Shou Wu, Ginseng, Gotu Kola and Goji Berries!
The famous photo of Li Ching Yuen holding what appears to be a Ginseng root.
(The longest confirmed lifespan comes from Shirali Muslimov with the French woman Jeanne Calment, at 122. Another front runner, with similar debate about his, is Shirali Muslimov at an alleged 168 years old.
This modern day Methuselah had the picture taken above in 1927, a few years before his death, at the invitation of general Yang Sen in Wan Xian, Szechuan. The general, fascinated by his age and the youthfulness he displayed despite it, investigated his background and later published a report with his findings.
The New York Times covered Li Ching-Yuen several times including after his death in 1933.
Li Ching-yun, a resident of Kaihsien, in the Province of Szechwan, who contended that he was one of the world’s oldest men, and said he was born in 1736 — which would make him 197 years old — died today.
A Chinese dispatch from Chung-king telling of Mr. Li’s death said he attributed his longevity to peace of mind and that it was his belief every one could live at least a century by attaining inward calm.
Compared with estimates of Li Ching-yun’s age in previous reports from China the above dispatch is conservative. In 1930 it was said Professor Wu Chung-chien, dean of the department of education in Minkuo University, had found records showing Li was born in 1677 and that the Imperial Chinese Government congratulated him on his 150th and 200th birthdays.
A correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES wrote in 1928 that many of the oldest men in Li’s neighborhood asserted their grandfathers knew him as boys and that he was then a grown man.
According to the generally accepted tales told in his province, Li was able to read and write as a child, and by his tenth birthday had traveled in Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, Annam, Siam and Manchuria gathering herbs. For the first hundred years he continued at this occupation. Then he switched to selling herbs gathered by others.
Wu Pei-fu, the war lord, took Li into his house to learn the secret of his living to 250. Another pupil said Li told him to “keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog.”
Li Ching Yuen at a younger age. (Not clear if he’s the tall guy or one of the others.)
According to one version of Li’s married life he had buried twenty-three wives and was living with his twenty-fourth, a woman of 60. Another account, which in 1928 credited him with 180 living descendants, comprising eleven generations, recorded only fourteen marriages.
This second authority said his eyesight was good; also, that the finger nails of his right hand were very long, and “long” for a Chinese might mean longer than any finger nails ever dreamed of in the United States.
And here’s a few more details from Wikipedia:
One of his disciples, the Taijiquan Master Da Li reports that his master said that his longevity “is due to the fact that I performed the exercises every day – regularly, correctly, and with sincerity – for 120 years.”
Certainly his practice of qigong and exercises was a contributor to his longevity.
Li Ching Yuen Diet and Herbs
What herbs did he like best?
With this blend alone you cover the three treasures of Jing, Qi and Shen, including several qualities of each.
[pt_view id=”8114fcctew”]In the future, we at Lost Empire Herbs might put this together as the Li Ching Yuen herb formula.
His diet was made up primarily of herbs, along with rice wine (suggesting that many of these were in tincture form). According to many immortal legends of Daoist hermits, one of the ways to live far longer than most humans is to gradually shift away from a diet of regular food and subsist mostly on the tonic herbs.
Although there is no way it can be 100% verified as a fact either way, Yuen certainly was an old man. And it wouldn’t become legendary without some amount of truth to the story. Plus he’s not the only one to achieve such legendary status. Not only in age, but in sexual prowess. The man from which He Shou Wu got its name, has a similar story.
The commonalities of such legends, including how to live your life and the taking of tonic herbs, is something well worth doing for anyone looking to live an advanced age, even just 100 years or beyond today.
Want even more details on Li Ching-Yuen and his diet and practices? Here’s two books that you may be interested in…
- Herbs for Lowering Blood Pressure - December 7, 2023
- Your Perfect Herbal Dose? More or Less Than You Think - December 3, 2023
- Blood Pressure and Hypertension - November 29, 2023
Lost Empire Herbs
I’m not sure if it’s possible to live long into the 100s and by using herbal formulas we may not live until were 150 (although I don’t think it’s impossible) but we will certainly improve the quality of our health which in turn should increase our life expectancy. So it’s a win win in my eyes
Agreed! I hope we are all still able to run and jump into our century celebrations.
Find someone that can see chi and you will discover that his chi is reverse polarized. The rest of the population has chi which is polarized…. spinning in a clockwise fashion. Having chi which spins in the opposite direction would surely reestablish the growth of telemire strands during mitosis of the cells, effectively deaging the body or keeping it at a specific physical age.
Edgar, so how do we reverse the spinning of the chi?
Kriya yiga is the Indian form of the oractice, which Chinese taoists later learned and taught in a similar form in Qigong practice. A recent form of it was taught by Mantak Chia, and calls its translation Microcosmic Orbit.
Thanks for your wisdom!
Please look carefully at the gentleman’s hand. That is not ginseng root, but his fingernails. A mistake that is easy to make, since extremely long finger nails are not common today in America. I will bet a gallon of immortal wine on it. Thank you for this large amount of important information.
I will have to look into this more Mark. You speak the truth about that custom we are so not use to anymore!
Yes that is his nails
Did you get your gallon?? I agree with you on the stylish nails.
wrong. all you have to do is zoom in on the picture. I don’t know what that is but it is obviously Not his finger nails. You owe me a gallon of wine.
Want have better sex can anyone help me out
Hi Brian,
I suggest you try out our Thor’s Hammer Formula or the Tongkat Ali. They both can certainly get the blood boiling for the bedroom. There is also more information in the blog posts about a lot of different aspects of balancing your hormones which leads to better performance. You also might check out Kim Anami’s Sex Salons where she teaches the ins and outs of learning a exquisite sexual practice that definitely enhances the experience. Her website is below:
http://kimanami.com/
Take matters into your own hand. :)
There is a recent Study about Resveratrol,(He Shou Wu content) It has better absorb-ability if its taken with Piperine. resveratrol is more bio-available if it is consumed Orally, lasts only for 2 hours before a re dose would be rqd. Li Chen took it 3 times a day it was said as a Tincture.
How much does resveratrol cost, and where is it available
Ho Should Wu is an amazing root food. It makes the body perform. By cleaning your organs you get healthy skin,eyes,hair, nails,muscles,joints,tendons,clear thinking with better memory. Plus way more than just a better attitude it’s clean long lasting energy.
Where would you suggest buying some? Is the pill just as good as organic?
I wa very impressed with the articel given to me, as I am 74 years now, drinking coffees and teas infused with Reishi. Very happy with my health, and now more Yoga exercised to do.
My dad introduced me to ginseng at a younger age and I have been taking the root tonic for 20 years. He did and he lived 4 days short of celebrating 96 and in astonishing mental health. I will now be able to add He Shou Wu to my daily intake. My goal is to harness longevity through exercise and herbs. Thank you Logan and Lost Empire herbs team for helping my goal become a reality.
You’re welcome!
Wow, in the younger picture of the four people together, the tall man looks like a giant. I think two of the smaller people are full grown adults and the boy is probably 12 years old in that picture. Was Li Ching a giant?
I did come across one thing that suggested Li Ching was 7 feet tall so perhaps that is the case here.
He born in 1736.
The photo was taken when he was almost 10 years old.
As a result in china they have being using photo since 1746!!!!
Impossible?
I was thinking the same thing. At best one could say that it is a picture of one of Li Ching’s progeny.
It is unclear when photography was discovered as it seemed to gradually evolve. But it wasn’t until the 1850’s that one didn’t have to sit for 8 hours in front of a camera, and it was around the same time that one of the processes for developing used yielded that brownish-yellowish look.
The 7 footer in the photo looks young but if you go so far as to assume that he is at least in his 30’s that would mean he would have been born on 1820 at the very earliest. That person would have been 113 by 1933. That would have been extremely old by any standard, but a more plausible claim than 250+. Personally I hope that is just one of his 200+ progeny that inherited his height. I’m sure more than one did.
Hopefully some one can come up with better evidence to counter my argument.
Gerontology the. Herbal way with Raggong Meditation is essential for longevity combined with internal organ exercises. My. Age is 80years.
There are 5 essentials one must consider
Stomach …….. bones …… Brain …… Muscles …… Hormones.
I like this message. Thanks Alan.