Qigong comes to us from China. The origins of Qigong go back thousands of years. The most ancient records that refer to the practices seem to indicate that it was already a long established system. The philosophy and practices of Qigong have been passed from generation to generation in China for all that time.
Such a long history makes it difficult to trace the origins of Qigong. However, we do have some historical information. One influence appears to have been the introduction of Zen (Chan) to China by Bodhidharma, a buddhist monk. Another influence has been the teachings of Confucius. The central text of Daoism, the Tao Te Ching, attributed to Lao Tsu, is seen by many as the central influence on the development of Qigong. The words "Tao Te Ching" may be translated literally as "Way Power Classic". My understanding of this is that the title means that the book lays out the truth of how the world (i.e. all aspects of creation) actually works.
While all three of these influences are strongly associated with religion (Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism), Qigong is not a religion. Qigong simply works. It is repeatable. The results are quantifiable. I see Qigong as a gift from God that provides a means to achieve good health physically, mentally and emotionally.
In modern China, the government controls who may call themselves a teacher, a master or a grandmaster of Qigong. In other places, there is no such control. Qigong is practiced and taught all over the world. I am fortunate to have been recognized by Grandmaster Jiang Jian-Ye and by Master Teresa Yeung and certified by them to teach Qigong.
There are many styles of Qigong and many categories. Some Qigong has the purpose of supporting the practice of martial arts. Some Qigong has the purpose of maintaining health and wellness. Some Qigong has the purpose of healing illness and injury. Some Qigong has the purpose of preventing illness and injury. Some Qigong is traditional, some is modern and some is spontaneous.
In my experience, every person who teaches Qigong teaches their own version. Every person who learns Qigong learns their own version. Qigong must be based on what actually works or it something other than Qigong. Qigong must be founded on the true nature of reality, or it is something other than Qigong.