Our Approach | Inhale

Grandmaster Prof. Xu Mingtang

Prof. Xu Mingtang (许明堂), born May 29, 1963 in Puyang, Henan Province, descends from a storied lineage of shaman-healers and kung-fu masters closely connected with the Shaolin Monastery. As the current lineage-holder, he holds the distinguished title of Grandmaster of the Zhong Yuan Qigong (ZY Qigong) tradition.

Lineage & Ancestral Heritage

One of Grandmaster Xu’s most celebrated ancestors was Prince Kimnara, a 14th-century Shaolin monk revered as a bodhisattva. According to tradition, Prince Kimnara protected the Shaolin Temple, and a pavilion in his honor still stands there today. He is also regarded as the spiritual guardian of the Zhong Yuan Qigong system — a role he continues to hold in the present day.

This spiritual legacy runs deep in Xu’s family: for generations, his forebears have served as healers, martial artists, and custodians of Shaolin’s spiritual traditions.

Education & Early Life

Grandmaster Xu began training in martial arts from a very young age, learning Wushu under his great-grandfather and shamanic healing from his grandmother.

By age seven, he was already accompanying his surgeon father in the hospital and assisting with patient diagnosis; by fourteen, his diagnostic abilities were so precise that he was permitted to examine patients independently.

At sixteen, he left home to study computer science at the Xi’an University of Transportation and Communications, graduating with a bachelor’s degree.

He then earned a Master’s in Computer Engineering from Beijing University.

After university, he worked as a software developer in the Programming Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Transition to Healing & Qigong

Despite his high-powered technical career, Xu never abandoned his spiritual path. While working in science and technology, he continued to practice Qigong and study traditional Chinese medicine — especially the ancient teachings of physician Bian Que.

In 1988, he founded the Chinese Zhong Yuan Association, and a year later, he became an associate professor at the Chinese Research Institute of Human Latent Potential.

Then, in 1991, Xu made a decisive shift: he left his scientific career to teach Zhong Yuan Qigong full-time. He traveled to the West, where he established a growing community of students.

Global Teaching & Research

Over the years, Grandmaster Xu has lectured and taught in dozens of countries. He has built a worldwide network of practitioners and clinics.

In 2008, he founded the Kundawell Medical Research Institute in Beijing, dedicated to researching and treating diseases that Western medicine considers “untreatable”.

He also directs the American Kundawell Institute in Seattle, and serves in several leadership roles:

Board member and Senior Consultant for Medical Qigong.
President of the International Charity Fund “Mingtang”.
Deputy Chairman of the World Academic Society of Medical Qigong.

Chinese Image Medicine

One of Grandmaster Xu’s most significant contributions is Chinese Image Medicine (CIM) — a holistic healing system that integrates traditional Chinese medicine, Qigong, and intuitive diagnosis.

Through CIM, he has helped more than 10,000 people overcome serious or chronic illnesses using non-conventional diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

He remains the primary representative of CIM worldwide and continues to demonstrate its potential during public speeches and seminars.

Vision & Current Projects

Biguan Cultural Center: Grandmaster Xu conceived and is directing the construction of a unique spherical retreat center near Kyiv, Ukraine. Designed for meditation, deep Qigong practice, and healing research, the center will accommodate up to 500 people and includes dedicated “Biguan” rooms for silent meditative retreat. The project is funded mostly by charitable donations through the Mingtang International Charity Fund.

Scientific Research: Prof. Xu is currently exploring the integration of Chinese Image Medicine with artificial intelligence and torsion-field technologies — pushing the boundaries of how ancient wisdom and modern science can converge.

Impact & Recognition

Prof. Xu has served as a speaker in major international forums, including alternative medicine conferences in the U.S. Congress.
Under his guidance, the practice of Zhong Yuan Qigong continues to spread globally, influencing physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
His ethical and spiritual lineage, combined with rigorous scientific inquiry, makes him a bridge between tradition and innovation.

Formal titles and achievements held

Formal titles and achievements held by Prof. Xu Mingtang, Grandmaster of the ZY Qigong spiritual system include:
Principal representative of the Zhong Yuan Qigong system
President of the International Charitable Foundation “Mingtang”
General Director of the Beijing Medical Research Kundawell Institute
Director of the American Kundawell Institute
Vice-Chairman of the World Academic Society of Medical Qigong
Member of the Department of External Healing Methods, Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine
Founder of the modern scientific discipline Chinese Image Medicine
President of the Federation of Chinese Image Medicine
Visiting Professor at the Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
Chief Consultant for the U.S. Educational System in Qigong Therapy
Author of numerous books, manuals, and educational materials

More information about the life and work of Professor Xu Mingtang can be found in the books issued about Zhong Yuan Qigong and on the official website www.kundawell.com

Interviews:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3_7klCBEk/
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPdyU7zjjBa/