Up until World War II, a succession of enlightened monks led the Emei Linji School of Qigong. Each monk in his turn was given the title Lineage Holder, and under their guidance, the knowledge and sacred practices of Emei Qigong remained secret for nearly 800 years. But in the mid-20th century, the 11^th Lineage Holder, Grandmaster Yong Yan, had a vision that caused him to change the protocol for succession. The vision was the destruction of his great monastery and the pillaging of sacred Emei Mountain. Therefore, Grandmaster Yong Yan mandated that the position of Lineage Holder alternate between and be shared by a monk and a chosen layperson. The lay Lineage Holder would be charged with making the knowledge of Emei Qigong available to the public, while the monk Lineage Holder would be charged with ensuring that the knowledge remained intact and pure for future generations.