Qigong was born into a Manchu family in Beijing in 1912. Both Qigong's great-grandfather and grandfather had the highest Chinese academic title known as Jinshi, and he was the descendant of the Yongzheng Emperor through his son Hongzhou, making Qigong a member of the Aisin Gioro imperial clan.

When Qigong was coming to prominence, he made the decision to not use the Manchu "Aisin Gioro" or sinicized Jin surname, and by declining both he chose to go by the legal surname of "Qi". This decision allowed him to establish a name for himself removed from the Imperial Family.

In his lifetime Qigong became a renowned Chinese calligrapher, artist, painter, connoisseur and sinologist. He was also an advisor for the September 3 Society ...