Bodyshock: The Amazing Story behind the 256 Year-Old Man

5 years ago Science

By Chris Ingham Brooke - Chief Graffiti Artist

Li Ching-YunPhoto:
Li Ching-Yun. Image from The People's Republic of China

According to the 1933 obituaries in both Time Magazine and the New York Times, Li Ching-Yun was reported to have buried 23 wives and fostered 180 descendants by the time he died at the age of 256.

Was he really that old? Could he have forgotten his own birthday or exaggerated his claim? Environmental Graffiti investigates.

The Secrets to an Interminable Life

"Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a pigeon and sleep like a dog." These were the words of advice Li gave to Wu Pei-fu, the warlord, who took Li into his house to learn the secret of extremely long life.

Li maintained that inward calm and peace of mind were the secrets to incredible longevity. His diet after all, was mainly based on rice and wine.

From 0 to 256

Unsurprisingly, not much is known about Li Ching-Yun’s early life. We know he was born in the province of Szechwan in China, where he also died. We also know that by his tenth birthday, Ching-Yun was literate and had travelled to Kansu, Shansi, Tibet, Annam, Siam and Manchuria gathering herbs. After that, it gets a bit fuzzy…

Apparently, for over one hundred years, Li continued selling his own herbs and then subsequently sold herbs collected by others. He also (according to Time) had six-inch long fingernails on his right hand.

You might be thinking that he looked decrepit, shrivelled, leather-like and creepy, however sources at the time were astonished at his youthfulness. Was this suspect? Was Li Ching-Yun as old as he claimed he was, or was his birthday a clerical error or exaggeration?

Let’s take a brief look at both sides…

The Nine Lives of Li Ching-Yun

By his own admission he was born in 1736 and had lived 197 years. However, in 1930 a professor and dean at Minkuo University by the name of Wu Chung-chien, found records “proving” that Li was born in 1677. Records allegedly showed that the Imperial Chinese Government congratulated him on his 150th and 200th Birthdays.

So the question is, had he forgotten his own birthday? Was this even the same Li Ching-Yun?

Looking at all of this from a medical and documented perspective: Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman who died in 1997 so far holds the title for the person who has roamed the earth the longest: 122 years, which is a phenomenal length of time.

That means, that if the records discovered by Wu Chung-chien were accurate, Li Ching-Yun’s age would surpass the official record by more than 130 years. Is this even medically possible?

The detail, which seems to prove both arguments and debunk them at the same time, is Li’s youthful appearance, noted in a 1928 article from the New York Times. Visually and physically, he appeared to look like a typical 60 year-old. Does this therefore signify a superhuman body capable of lasting one quarter of a millennium, or is the story of Li Ching-Yun based on a series of half-truths, lies or exaggerations?

Unfortunately, we may never know. You may draw your own logical conclusions.

Sources: 1, 2, 3,

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Written by: Chris

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Comments

Old Comments

Amorita Maharaj says

Jun 17th, 2010 at 12am
I don't think it is medically possible.

MekhongKurt says

Mar 21st, 2010 at 12am
I tend towards the explanation that this is, simply, an exaggeration, perhaps with imperial blessings. I lived in China a number of years, and some people there (as everywhere) do tend towards the superlative. In living memory, that was particularly noticeable in official announcements coming out of Beijing, such as during the terrible famine in the late 1950's, which killed somewhere around 20-40 million people. But you wouldn't have known it from government announcements about harvest amounts, particularly staple foods such as rice and wheat, and livestock yields, especially pork. If they really had that much rice and wheat and that many pigs, there wouldn't have been room for all the *people*! Another example came from an official English-language newspaper in my early years there in the 1980's. There was a story saying that as "everyone knows and has always known" -- dead certainties that what was about to come was going to be One HUGE Whopping Lie -- "that all religion is a myth, including the so-called 'Garden of Eden." However, IF there really was a Garden of Eden, then our scientists have discovered it right here in China!" (I think the claim was in Yunnan Province.) I collapsed on my desk laughing hysterically.

Victoria says

Mar 14th, 2010 at 12am
As a few of the comments referred to...the Bible...If one can live as long as Methusla 969 years and endless people believe in the Bible, then why is this such a long shot? The Bible was written by men that said it was 'inspired' of God. How many have seen God? No one. Not even Moses who spoke to a burning bush labeled as God's voice. Open your minds. Wouldn't it be grand to eliminate disease by just eating correctly the fruits of the land? I'm 57 and would love to live a very long life. To me life is what you make it. This gentleman was a wise man and followed a straight path to longevity. Did you know in Okinowa over 500 years ago there was a mass exodus by doctors because most Okinowans live past 100 because of the way they live and eat? Check out the information. Therefore doctors were in fact starving from lack of patients. People is several other countries drink water that runs off the mountainous rocks. There are vast amounts of coral calcium in this water. Therefore, numerous minerals travel down to the people below, which enables extreme good health. Just take the time to learn before you condemn. Knowledge is ever so powerful...use it.

andrew says

Mar 6th, 2010 at 12am
There is in fact evidence that a few parts of the world, people hundreds of years ago lived to be up to 160 years old. Interestingly their secrets for old age are similar: Eat light, be calm, relaxed and peaceful. Being full of stress wears the body, as does obesity or a poor diet. I do believe a person could live to be that old, however I would deem them a medical exception. There certaily ARE medical exceptions. Peoples whose gene make up is a drastic mutation from everyone else on earth. Remember everyone: genetically speaking, We are all exceptions to one another. Do you all believe that, out of the 8.1 billion people that have lived (and died) on planet earth, not ONE of those people could spike the age curve?

Sammi says

Feb 23rd, 2010 at 12am
I hope no one actually believes this. Anyway if something like this was true (which it isn't). Who would want to live that long anyway.

JustMe says

Feb 14th, 2010 at 12am
Very interesting... yes, anything is possible and asian people are very healthy and enlightened in my opinion, that and the gene idea i suppose could be feasable, but it is hard to believe. and if i say i don't believe it is possible then i give up on my creator, who encourages me that anything is possible. to all you christian haters (although this article is NOT about religion) i know the feeling of disliking overly religious people, who want to force their religion on other people and who think you are lost if you don't believe, but haven't you ever believed there is some unknown, beautiful, divine chord that keeps the universe in harmony and makes anything possible? anyway i would rather live an amazing adventurous life and die young than live to more than 200 and hardly have lived.

culomalo says

Feb 12th, 2010 at 12am
"Unfortunately, we may never know. You may draw your own logical conclusions" Thanks for the waste of time, motherfuckers.

Mark says

Feb 8th, 2010 at 12am
Considering the highly suspicious nature of -modern- claims by persons supposedly 120+ years old, & the difficulty 'disproving' them, even a moment of thought to -ancient- claims is a waste of time & effort.

S.M. says

Feb 1st, 2010 at 12am
Josh's comment: For example, molecular plaque buildup can, over time, cause a deterioration of the body’s cells. if that's your comeback then you missed the point you were shooting down.

Paul says

Jan 28th, 2010 at 12am
It is 100% true. I went to school with him.