Li Qingyuan

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Li Qingyuan, or spelled Li Chung-yun and in Wade-Giles, Li Ch'ing-yüen, is the name of a legendary Chinese master, but possibly fictitious personality, who reputedly lived to the age of 256 years, while some sources claimed that he lived to age of 250 or 252 years. The Chinese government, as well as several private investigations, reportedly verified the man's date of birth as 1677 or 1678. He is often cited by promoters of herbal medicine and Tibetan Goji berries. They claim that the fruit contributed to his long life.

The existence of Li Qingyuan is often claimed to be well documented. Dr. Earl Mindell and Rick Handel affirm in their book Goji: the Himalayan Health Secret (Momentum Media, 2000) that master Li Qingyuan's life is thoroughly described by modern Chinese scholars. Primary sources of documentation for his extreme longevity are not given, however. As such, Li Qingyuan's story appears more like an urban legend.

It was often said that he gave a lecture at the University of Beijing at the age of 200 (supposedly in the year 1877 or 1878). The University of Beijing was founded however in 1898, a fact which makes this story questionable.

During the last years of his life, he gave a series of 28 three-hour long talks at a Chinese university on longevity. Those present at the time described a man that looked as if he were in his fifties, standing straight and tall, with strong teeth and a full head of hair.

During his talks, Li said that when he was a child, he left home to follow a band of wandering herbalists. In the mountains of China, he was tutored in the secret medicines of the earth. He practiced Taoist exercises every day, believing that strenuous exercise strains the mind and shortens the life of the body. His preferred method of travel was what he called "walking lightly". Even in his later years, young men could not match his pace, which he could sustain for miles. When asked for advice for lengthening one's life, Li responded "sit like a turtle, walk like a pigeon, and sleep like a dog". His greatest advice for strong health was always "inner quiet".

Li Qingyuan is rumored to have been married 14 times, having 11 generations of descendants when he died.