Li Chung Yun was born either in 1677 or 1736 and died in 1933. So, even in the worst case scenario, he lived a whopping 197 years! But it appears that his correct age was actually 256 years. He himself gave his birthday as 1736, apparently, desiring to conceal his real age. It didn't work, because a reputable witness wrote in 1928 that "many of the old men in Li's neighborhood asserted that their
grandfathers knew him when they were boys, and that he at that time was a
grown man." Supposedly, he outlived 23 wives who bore him 200 children!
What did he do different to live this long? First, he ate very little. He claimed that from the age of 10 until 40 he lived on wild mountain herbs, berries and rice wine. Second, he exercised regularly, but not the way modern people exercise. He didn't believe in strenuous workouts, he thought they wear you out and actually make you age faster. He walked a lot, but not too fast, he recommended to tread lightly. He did breathing exercises daily, as well as slow and graceful movements and martial arts.
He probably could have lived longer, had he not got bored and got a job in the Chinese army as a teacher and tactical adviser. The job and generally too much socializing appeared to have cost him about 300 years. He met a 500-y.o. hermit in the mountains who taught him a lot of useful secret longevity techniques. Li Chung used them religiously, but just couldn't become a good enough hermit, so he didn't live as long as his friend. I guess too much contact with people can shorten your life. I attest to that. I feel weeks and months slip-sliding away every time I ride a public bus. In fact, Leonard Orr wrote that all the immortals he interviewed in Tibet stayed away from people. They assured him that most people carry too much negative energy that shortens one's life. Staying away from everyone is another necessary ingredient to longevity formula, in addition to eating as little as possible and doing the right kinds of exercises and meditations.
What did he do different to live this long? First, he ate very little. He claimed that from the age of 10 until 40 he lived on wild mountain herbs, berries and rice wine. Second, he exercised regularly, but not the way modern people exercise. He didn't believe in strenuous workouts, he thought they wear you out and actually make you age faster. He walked a lot, but not too fast, he recommended to tread lightly. He did breathing exercises daily, as well as slow and graceful movements and martial arts.
He probably could have lived longer, had he not got bored and got a job in the Chinese army as a teacher and tactical adviser. The job and generally too much socializing appeared to have cost him about 300 years. He met a 500-y.o. hermit in the mountains who taught him a lot of useful secret longevity techniques. Li Chung used them religiously, but just couldn't become a good enough hermit, so he didn't live as long as his friend. I guess too much contact with people can shorten your life. I attest to that. I feel weeks and months slip-sliding away every time I ride a public bus. In fact, Leonard Orr wrote that all the immortals he interviewed in Tibet stayed away from people. They assured him that most people carry too much negative energy that shortens one's life. Staying away from everyone is another necessary ingredient to longevity formula, in addition to eating as little as possible and doing the right kinds of exercises and meditations.
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